(James 4:17): "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good,
THE FAITHFUL CHRISTIAN
"For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all" (James 2:lO).
How do you balance? Today you are being weighed in the balance of God. On one side is God's holiness, summed up in the Ten Commandments. On the other side are you, a lawbreaker, condemned and guilty.
These commandments were summarized by Jesus in Matthew 22: 3740.
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Commands to do are simply particular details of the one great command to love. Obedience to God's commandments which doesn't flow simply and naturally out of a heart of love for God and all mankind is not genuine fulfillment of the law. Outwardly you may be perfectly blameless concerning the Ten Commandments, yet you may have violated every one of them in your heart.
2. If you have neglected a known duty, you have sinned (James 4:17): "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin." Every time you abstain from what you ought to do, you sin. "And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin" (Romans 14: 23). If you fret or worry, that is sin. Faith is the highest virtue a man can have. Unbelief is the worst sin.
3. Even the thought of foolishness is sin (Proverbs 24:9): "The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men."
4. If you have made a vow to God and not kept it, you have sinned (Deuteronomy 23:21): "When thou shalt vow a vow unto the Lord thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the Lord thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee." Have you kept all the resolutions