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James 2:1-13 The Sin of Partiality
James 2:1 My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong? 8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11 For he who said, "You shall not commit adultery," also said, "You shall not murder." If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. 12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
Discussion
Character traits such as truth, kindness, morality, and ethical behavior, are attributes which are likeable qualities. There are also the opposite of these character traits that one avoids. Then there are other traits such as genealogy, ethnic background, geographic location, education, income, age, sex, popularity, skin color, dialect, etc. These are character-neutral attributes. It is easy to accept the likeable character traits in those we meet and associate with, and it is easy to understand how one would want to avoid people with the opposite traits. But how do we treat with equality any one with gender neutral attributes which are different from ours. Any purposeful avoidance or preferential treatment of one over the other is inconsistent with faith in Christ. Jesus washed the feet of His disciples, touched lepers and showed love to the kinds of people that others shunned. If the living God of the universe is humble enough to do those things, then how can we be above serving our fellow man? Jesus set an example for us, we in turn set an example for others, through our actions. (Luke 10:30-36).
James tells us favoritism is a sin. We are forbidden to hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ with partiality. These things do not go together (claiming faith in Christ and showing partiality). Partiality or discrimination, is "favoritism" or "prejudice." When we discriminate against people merely on the basis of a social position, or a character neutral attribute which we consider different, we are doing something that isn't compatible with faith in Christ. It makes us "judges with evil thoughts”. The treatment we give to people depends upon our thoughts about them. Any type of insulting, dishonoring, or repulsive treatment is unchristian and it stems from wrong or evil thoughts. Why should we disrespect someone because of an attribute with which we differ. 1 Peter 2:17 says we are to honor all men. It violates the law of love (vss. 8-13)…If you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.(Read Mathew 5:38-48)
Questions
1. From the scripture just read, do you have questions about our choice of friends or enemies?
2. The command to love God I grasp, what about the command to love your neighbor as yourself?
3. How does society help us to discriminate against our fellow man?
4. How was discrimination practiced in Jesus' day? What about in our world today?
5. How does our faith affect the choices of friends and the things we do?
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James 2:14-26 Faith and Works
14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 18 But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder. 20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? 21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend. 24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. 25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
Discussion
Where do works fit in with my Christian faith. What works are we to be doing. Jesus said it, Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. And he was a living example of a loving caring human being in every aspect of life. Jesus Christ died so that believing on Him, we would be forgiven of our sins and would have Heaven as our eternal home. (Luke 23:39-43).
James 2:14 begins with two questions. First, “What does it profit a man if someone says he has faith but does not have works?” The follow-up question is similar “Can faith save him? “Yes, but there are conditions. The answer to that can be found in that portion of scripture we just read.
There seems to be a conflict between what James is saying and Ephesians 2:8-10 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. Not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. “Do these two ideas conflict? The answer of course is the point which we are to resolve. If we are to hold these two ideas side by side and believe them both we are going to have to resolve the matter, which means we must find the truth of each. To be sure, there are two idologies expressed here. But we lose sight of that which we are studying if we try to resolve the matter with a practical humanistic solution. God will have mercy on whom he will, and that is all we need to know, for God knows the heart of a man. James is speaking to Christians about God’s purpose for man, and His judgment of our lives as Christians. There is such an event as the Judgment Seat of Christ where all will stand and answer for our thoughts, words, deeds, and the truth of our convictions. It is not ours to question the faith and commitment of another, ours is but to live as a true disciple of Christ and do the works that God has set before us. Yes, a faith without works is not a true faith, and anyone who thinks they can say they have faith, yet do no good works, is fooling themselves,
Questions
1. True faith will produce what kind of works?
2. What would be the reason one would question the faith or works of other believers?
3. What reason would one have for claiming to have faith yet do no good works?
4. Are there works that will prove ones faith? Give an example.
5. What faith did Abraham exhibit when he was willing to sacrifice Isaac?
6. Which came first to Rahab, her faith or her works?
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Opening Prayer; Father God open our hearts and minds to your word, as we study this the second chapter of Your servant James. Lead our thoughts and our words as we seek your wisdom in how we are to treat our fellow man. Teach us in this study how we are to be without prejudice in this life. Let the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in thy sight Lord, and may You bring to our hearts and minds those things that you would have us learn from this study tonight. Bless us now as we seek the truth of your teaching, and it is in Jesus name we pray….. AMEN
Scripture Reading
Luke 10:30-36 In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.' 36 "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"
Matthew 5:38-48 "You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. 43 "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Luke 23:39-43 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!" 40 But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." 42 Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." 43 Jesus answered him, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise."
Closing Prayer; Father God dismiss us with thy blessing. And as we go let us remember that it is Jesus Christ who is our salvation, not we ourselves. Let us also remember that we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. We pray now for those who are suffering illness and infirmity __________We pray for those mentioned That You will give them peace and strength, and that your healing touch will deliver them to a better place in their path of life. Be with us naw as we leave this place and bring us gback together next week. In Jesus' name we pray.... AMEN.
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Meditation: Faith Equals Works
“So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead” James takes it for granted that believing in Christ (trusting in God) will move you to feel compassion for— and act to help—someone in need.
This is the heart of the book of James. James does not imagine that work is at odds with faith. There can be no “justification by works” because there can be no good works unless there is already faith (trust) in God. James doesn’t mean that faith can exist without works yet be insufficient for salvation. He means that any “faith” that doesn’t lead to works is not a true faith at all but it is dead. in other words, it is not really faith at all, The ones who decieve themselves are those who come to church, on Sunday to hear the preacher speak the word of God, listen politely, believing what the preacher tells them and then they return to their homes to await next Sunday's sermon, doing nothing in the interim. “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead”.
James doesn’t command Christians to work for the benefit of those in need instead of placing faith in Christ, or even in addition to placing faith in Christ. He expects that Christians will work for the benefit of others in need as a result of placing faith in Christ. It is because of Christ that we work. The insight that Christian faith always leads to practical action is in itself a lesson for the workplace. We have opportunities every day to meet the needs of people with whom we work, or people we see when we are out who need help, or the homeless man needing a helping hand, or someone who may be in bad health and needing assistance.
Advent Presbyterian Church has a very involved ministry of disciples doing the work that God intends for Christians to perform. Are you looking for a palce to serve? Just read our weekly bulletin. There you will find a host of ministries needing doers of the word.
Paul was also committed to this idea. He describes a faith that will, indeed, be hard at work.
Ephesians 2:8-10: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith ' and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God ' not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Just as clearly as Paul said we weren't saved by works, he immediately adds that we are created in Christ to do good works, work that God had long ago planned for us to be about.
If one would save their soul, it is only by trusting what Jesus Christ has done, that one can be saved. If, outside of God's sacrifice of His only Son, a man is to purpose a work,that will save one's soul, would that not be a denial, a statement that what God has done through Jesus Christ, is of no effect. There is no duty, no work, no effort which one must perform which will do what the finished work of Jesus Christ has done for our souls. Salvation is by faith, through grace. But discovering what it is to follow Jesus isn't just a case of emotional involvment in a spiritual movement or something that happens to Christians even if they never put forth the effort to live in a Christ like manner. Consider the way Jesus made "disciples." He invited people to follow him giving up everything, but only those who actually responded experienced discipleship. Peter and Andrew knew that experience, but the rich young ruler and others who walked away did not. Nicodemus slowly came to follow, but most of the other religious experts did not. most tried to refute Jesus, denying the fact of His finished work as our salvation.
A true believer must tell the story, must believe that Jesus meant it when he said “Go and make disciples of all nations”. A true believer will become a part of the movement of doers who have heard, and then put forth the effort, and a true believer will have a heart for working in the kingdom of God. And will follow the admonition of James 1:22 “But be ye doers of the word and not hearers only decieving your own selves”.....And by so doing, cause God great joy by sharing His love with others as we have experienced it in Jesus Christ....AMEN
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