Key verse: 'So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty' (James 2:12).
Introduction
In John 10:10, Jesus Christ as the Good Shepherd declared, "The thief (Satan) comes only to steal, kill and destroy. I came that you may have life and have it more abundantly". These statements confirm that witnesses and witnessing paschal faith communities of true faith, self-surrender, humility and obedience, follow Jesus Christ in living the Paschal Mystery in the mind of the spirit. In true faith, witnesses turn from the mind of the flesh, to be filled, guided and empowered by the Godhead, in the mind of the spirit. They speak and act as those who live and are judge by God's law of liberty, in the Godhead's agape love, grace and truth, as revealed in Jesus Christ (Mark 8:31-34, John 1:14-18, 10:14-21; Romans 8:12-17). Today's epistle assures us that when living the Paschal Mystery, true faith begins in the mind of the flesh. More importantly however, James reminds us that true faith and true religion are fulfilled here on earth, in the mind of the spirit (1 Corinthians 15:45, James 2:12).
Speaking and acting in God's law of liberty means that witnesses follow Jesus Christ by setting their minds on the thing of God, heavenly things, in the appropriate right-brain hemisphere dominion of the mind of the spirit. They let go their inappropriate obsessions and preoccupations with the things of men, the inappropriate left-brain hemisphere dominion of the mind of flesh (Matthew 16:33, Mark 8:33, Romans 8:1-11). They proclaim, affirm and manifest mankind's deliverance and freedom, from the bondage, slavery, condemnation, incivility, sinfulness and spiritual death of Satan, the inappropriate left-brain hemisphere dominion of the mind of the flesh. In the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit, they embrace and fulfill God's promises of salvation and righteousness in Christ, in the appropriate right-brain hemisphere dominion of the mind of the spirit (2 Corinthians 5:16-21). These spiritually resurrected believers realize and make daily practical application of God's promises of pardon, peace, civility, agape love and eternal life in Christ, while living here on earth, in the mind of the spirit (Genesis 1:26-31, John 3:16-17, Romans 8:1-11).
Are you people of faith or judges of the poor? (Verses 1-4)
The Christ-centered witnesses and witnessing paschal faith communities which James exhorts and encourages in today's Epistle, can be found in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups, throughout the earth. These spiritually resurrected believers can be readily identified, because like Jesus Christ, they seek, serve and surrender their lives to the universal, indwelling Christ, the Godhead's invisible presence, image and likeness, in the spiritual body of Jesus Christ, themselves and all persons (Genesis 1:26-31). In the appropriate right-brain hemisphere dominion of the mind of the spirit, these witnesses love the LORD their God, with all their hearts, their souls, their minds and all their strength. In the mind of the spirit, they are discovering the awesome and daunting reality, that when dwelling in God's law of liberty, in the mind of the spirit, it is normal, natural, effortless, compassionate and civil human behavior to love their neighbors, as they love themselves (Matthew 12:34-40, Mark 12:28-34, Luke 10:25-38).
Because they live in the mind of the spirit, these witnesses discern that all human beings are designed by the Godhead, to be forever bound together as one visible spiritual family, in Christ. They know, embrace and honor God's planned, normal spiritual unity and planned normal mental, emotional and physical diversity, within all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups, throughout the earth. In the mind of the spirit, these spiritually resurrected witnesses learn to naturally discern differences and to show no partiality. They learn not to despise the poor, because they know they are called by the indwelling Godhead, to use their resources to protect, provide for, care for the poor. In the mind of the spirit, they learn not condemn others, because they know that there remains so much to be forgiven, in their own hearts, souls, minds, relationships and lives (James 2:1-4).
Who are the poor and the rich, in the kingdom of God?
In the mind of the spirit, witnesses discern how the Godhead so often chooses the people who are the poor in the context of material possessions, to be rich in true faith and kingdom living, here on earth. Many holy men and holy women have demonstrated, that when believers follow Jesus Christ, in living according to God's law of liberty, that is living the Paschal Mystery in the mind of the spirit, they become rich in true faith and true works that please the Godhead, whether they are rich or poor in the material possessions of this world. In the mind of the spirit, these witnesses are able to possess, dwell in and demonstrate the invisible kingdom of heaven, which Jesus Christ declared and revealed, is forever within each person and in our midst (Luke 17:20-37).
These Christ-centered, spiritually resurrected believers are now becoming iconoclasts and intrapreneurs, within their own traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups. Like Jesus Christ and his brother James, they are also called by the indwelling Godhead, to remind all people that too often, those who are rich in material possession, find it most convenient and easy to live their lives, in the inappropriate left-brain hemisphere dominion of the mind of the flesh. Those who choose to live in the inappropriate left-brain hemisphere dominion of the mind of the flesh, are often the ones who consciously or unconsciously, who practice incivility, speak evil of, and often oppress and drag down those witnesses, who choose to live in the mind of the spirit, within their traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups (Matthew 22:38, Mark 12:29-31, Luke 10:25-37, James 2:5-8).
The Essence of true faith
To James, the essence of true faith is following Jesus Christ in fulfilling the letter, as well as the spirit of the ten commandments, in the mind of the spirit (Matthew 5:17). It is thinking, speaking and acting as believers, who are liberated and free from the laws of the sin, incivility, condemnation, and spiritual death of the inappropriate left-brain hemisphere dominion of the mind of the flesh. James declares that God will not show mercy and forgiveness to those who choose not to have mercy and forgive themselves and others (Matthew 6::5-14, James 2:11-13).
Daily practical application of true faith
James summaries his statements of exhortation and encouragement by asking these questions, "What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith, but do not have works? Can faith save you? If a brother or sister lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, keep warm and eat you fill", and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what good is that? James then declares that true faith is based on works, which have their origin, goals, and ultimate fulfillment in seeking, lifting up, honoring and serving Christ, God's invisible presence, image and likeness, within the spiritual body of Jesus Christ, ones own spiritual body and the spiritual body of all persons, in the mind of the spirit (John 3:14-17, James 1:14-17).
Conclusion
Today's Epistle of James reminds us, that believers who choose to live their lives in the inappropriate left-brain hemisphere dominion of the mind of the flesh, cannot practice true religion. The inappropriate left-brain hemisphere dominion of the mind of the flesh is the universal reason why, many sincere believers in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups, continue the practice false religion in mindsets, attitudes, behaviors and works, which are displeasing to the indwelling Godhead. Unless they repent and lay down living their lives in the mind of the flesh, carnal, mortal and worldly minded believers do not and cannot live their lives, in God's law of liberty, within the context of God's agape love, grace and truth, as revealed in Jesus Christ (Romans 8:1-17).
Are you willing to follow Jesus Christ, in laying down living your life, in the inappropriate left-brain hemisphere dominion of the mind of the flesh? Are you willing to follow Jesus Christ, in taking up thinking, speaking, behaving and acting, in the practical application of true religion, in the mind of the spirit, within you witnessing paschal faith community? Are you willing to follow Jesus Christ as a Christ-centered, Holy Spirit empowered iconoclast and intrapreneur, living the Paschal Mystery, in the appropriate right-brain hemisphere dominion of the mind of the spirit (Mark 8:31-34, John 10:14-21, Ephesians 2:12)?
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