This is Flip's response:

Marilyn,

It is an answer to a problematic verse in James that has often been taken way out of context.

Suffice it to say, in the whole context of this passage, that James is talking about the law of Almighty God as being the instrument of judgment here. The people James was addressing were not using the law of God, they were judging by appearances (showing favoritism) James 2: 1-7. This was verboten in the OT (Dt 1:17; Lev 10:10) as well as the NT, of which the book of James is a part.

James expands this in 2:8-13 where he talks about a law that shows no favoritism. This law, of course, being the very law of God. God's law is meant to smash us, showing the absolute holiness of God and the absolute depravity of man. So you and I are to speak as those who have been judged by the law that gives freedom. That's right! The law that convicts me and condemns me in my own moral depravity is the law of freedom. It sets me free to have a correct opinion of myself through the holiness of God. I am a complete mess in desperate need of a Savior.

God's judgment applied to my life causes me to run to Him for mercy. There is no where else to turn. His law and judgment turn me to Christ as my only hope. Romans 10:4 tells us that, "...Christ is the end of the law..." meaning that all law points to Him. It does not mean that the law is abolished and now we live in the "dispensation" of grace. The law crushes us and brings us to an end of ourselves and turns us toward Christ which is the beginning of our salvation.

It is the law then that gives freedom - freedom to make an honest assessment of who we are and our desperate need of Christ. I am able to be merciful because God's mercy through Christ has been extended to me. He who is forgiven much loves much.

Yes, mercy triumphs over judgment because judgment now is no longer the last word. The good news is that mercy, through the blood of Christ, completely covers our sin and the righteous judgment of God. Mercy triumphs over judgment but mercy can never be had apart from judgment.

This is the problem with the American Church today. She dispenses mercy with no judgment. Mercy is freely given to everyone from the practicing homosexual, to those lost in the bondage of Islam, to those going to have an abortion. There is no right or wrong, there is only mercy.

The problem with this luv, luv, luv, false gospel is that it never allows anyone to confess their sins. "He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy." Proverbs 28:13. If we are going to prosper the law of God must do its awful work of exposing our sin, so that we might run to Jesus and find mercy. Yes indeed, mercy does triumph over judgment. But it can never be had apart from judgment.