<p>2:12 <i>So speak and act as men that are to be judged by a law of liberty</i>- The Saviour came more to save than condemn (Jn. 12:47); it is men who condemn themselves as inappropriate to receive eternal life. It is <i>their</i> words, not His, which will be the basis of their rejection. We must so speak as those who will be judged, knowing that he who shewed no mercy in his words will receive none (James 2:12,13); our words of mercy or condemnation, and perhaps <i>the way we say them, </i>will be the basis upon which we will be accepted or rejected.<br />This lack of love was especially shown in their words: &quot;So speak and act&hellip;&rdquo;. Notice the equation of words and actions (&quot;speak... do&quot;), continuing the theme of thoughts and words being the same as physical actions. &quot;The law of liberty&quot; is normally used elsewhere in contrast to the Law of Moses- another subtle swipe at the Judaist tendencies in the early Jewish ecclesias. We must speak our words in accordance with the fact that we will be judged by the word; if we have the word/law of liberty (cp. 1:25) in our hearts and therefore influencing our words, we need not fear our judgement by that word. Thus we judge ourselves now by our response to the word in practice, by how far we let it influence our words and doings, especially in the area of showing love to our brother.</p>