“offend in one… guilty of all…”

James 2.10

The whole verse says this, “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”  So, I may think that I’m doing everything right, but if I make one mistake, then I’ve broken all of God’s law?  Yes, in fact it should be simple for us to see that we have all sinned against God:

SELF!  I worship myself!  “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”

SELFISH!  I bow down to my things!  “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image”.

SWEAR!  I swear and say whatever I want to, and I use God’s name to do it!  “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain;”

SLAVE!  I work hard for my money, my satisfaction, for ME!  “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.” (Though we are not Sabbath-keepers, God teaches that rest is important.)

SORRY!  I can treat my parents in such a sorry way!  “Honour thy father and thy mother”

SLY!  I can treat people in the most horrible way!  “Thou shalt not kill.”

SLEEPING  AROUND!  Jesus taught that the look and the lust was the same as the act!  “Thou shalt not commit adultery.”  (Matthew 5.28)

STEAL!  I take whatever I want, whenever I can!  “Thou shalt not steal.”

SAY LIES!  I tell “white lies,” and “half-truths” so easily!  “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.”

SEE IT, WANT IT, TAKE IT!  Yes, never happy with what God has given me!  “Thou shalt not covet”    Exodus 20:1-17

The above applies to me… but the truth is, “all have sinned”.  Thank the Lord for Jesus!  “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”!  And I thank the Lord that He saved me – though I still have many faults.

Quickly now, obey the Lord Jesus Christ and be forgiven!  Because without Christ we are all “guilty of all…”  Jesus said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” 

And Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”  Quickly now!  Turn from self, sin and self-righteousness and call on the Lord Jesus Christ to save you!

Jesus said, “him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”   “I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.”

(Romans 6.23, I Timothy 1.15, Matthew 11.28, John 14.6, John 6:37, John 10:28-29)