James 2:1-7

Derek Del Rosario

James • Sermon • Submitted 3 years ago

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Intro: Welcome my Friends

BIBLE TEXT: James 2:1-7 “My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there,” or, “Sit here at my footstool,” have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts? Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are called?”

Sermon Title: Beware Of Personal Favortism

Joke:

People do judge you by what you wear.

A young man came into our worship service a few weeks ago. He was wearing lots of leather and chains. His hair was spiked blue. He wore black eye liner and had a ring in his lip. I could tell what lots of people were thinking when he strolled down the aisle and sat up front. They were thinking this kid must be a rebellious teenager who is probably hooked on alcohol and drugs. He probably has a criminal record and uses filthy language. Little did we know, he was in costume. The guest speaker that day had him come in dressed that way to go along with the sermon on showing favortism. It may be sad, it may be wrong, but people do judge you on the way you dress.

God judges you on the way you dress spiritually. He will judge us based on the kind of "spiritual clothes" we are wearing. Are we wearing sexual immorality, impurity, rage, anger, filthy language? or are we wearing love, compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

Title Points:

Outline 1

Bible Text :James 2:1 “My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality.”

One Teaching Idea: (1 Sentence or Less)

Brethren - To the Family of Christ

I believe James is making a point for the family of Christ has to Obey these things

Paul gives us a number of his reflective names for Jesus:

• his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord (1 Corinthians 1:9)

• Christ, the power of God and the wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:24)

• the image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15)

• the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead (Colossians 1:18)

• our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13)

James says in this verse not just my Lord but OUR LORD

Cross Reference: John 13:13-14 “You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.”

1st Point: Do as Your Master

One Application:

Jesus set the example we must follow it . If we are going to call him Lord

Personal Story: I thought I could just show up and call Him Lord when I needed something

Outline 2

Bible Text: James: 2:2-4 “For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there,” or, “Sit here at my footstool,” have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?”

One Teaching Idea: (1 Sentence or Less)

With gold rings, in fine apparel. One man was rich, as noted by his clothing and jewelry. A ring signified upper class and power. Rings were the same kind of visible status symbols that cars function as today.

And a poor man in filthy clothes. This poor man was dressed in filthy rags; he was most likely a beggar. James makes it very clear that the action about to be taken, if not guarded against, will be based entirely on the appearance of these two guests.

Partiality - Special taste or liking

James (Do Not Favor the Rich / 2:1–13)

Scripture had warned against favoritism

Deuteronomy 1:17 “You shall not show partiality in judgment; you shall hear the small as well as the great; you shall not be afraid in any man’s presence, for the judgment is God’s. The case that is too hard for you, bring to me, and I will hear it.’”

Psalm 82:2 “How long will you judge unjustly, And show partiality to the wicked? Selah”

Proverbs 18:5 “It is not good to show partiality to the wicked, Or to overthrow the righteous in judgment.”

James emphasized two clear points:

1. Shunning the poor contrasts with God’s attitude because he chose the poor to be rich in faith

James 2:5 “Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?”

.2. Favoritism goes against God’s royal law to “Love your neighbor as yourself” (2:8). Showing favoritism based on external considerations is inconsistent with faith in Christ, who breaks down the barriers of race, class, gender, and religion

(Colossians 3:11 “where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.”

QUOTE: God must love the common people because he made so many of them.—Abraham Lincoln

Cross Reference: Galatians 6:7-10 “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.”

!st Point: Treat Your neighbor as yourself

One Application:

James’s command remains important for churches today. Often we treat a well-dressed, impressive-looking person better than someone who looks poor.

We do this because we would rather identify with successful people than with apparent failures.

The irony, as James reminds us, is that the supposed winners may have gained their impressive life-style at our expense.

Our churches should show no partiality with regard to people’s outward appearance, wealth, or power.

Spiritual - We can treat church like another business mixer. Look at the heart of others. God may be speaking to you through them

Physical - When you see others walking in the gym and they don’t look like they belong. Go up and welcome them. Always encourage don’t dicsourage

Personal Story:

Outline 3

Bible Text :James 2:5 “Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?”

One Teaching Idea: (1 Sentence or Less)

God has a special place fin His heart for the poor

Cross Reference: Luke 6:20 “Then He lifted up His eyes toward His disciples, and said: “Blessed are you poor, For yours is the kingdom of God.”

3rd Point: Let your heart show your true wealth

One Application:

Poor people, however, are usually more aware of their powerlessness. Thus it is often easier for them to acknowledge their need for salvation. One of the greatest barriers to salvation for the rich is pride. For the poor, bitterness can often bar the way. Don’t allow plenty or poverty to keep you from God’s gift of eternal life.

Personal Story:

Outline 4

Bible Text :James 2:6-7 “But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts? Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are called?”

One Teaching Idea: (1 Sentence or Less)

But you have insulted the poor.

James’s readers had dishonored the poor because they did not treat them as God treats them.

None of us have been forgiven little. But we betray an attitude of pride when we treat each other without honor.James showed how evil their actions were by asking three questions.

Do not the rich Oppress You

In this society, the rich oppressed the poor. To exploit means to use someone for profit—to take advantage of someone and to use him or her selfishly for one’s own purposes. As we are reading these questions, we must remember James’s original case study

Is it not they who drag you into court?

The rich typically showed no mercy or concern for the poor. They would take the poor to court, most likely for not repaying a debt. Wealthy moneylenders often took advantage of the poor. A creditor, if he met a debtor on the street, could literally grab him and drag him into court.

To dishonor the poor is to dishonor those whom God honors, and so to invert the order of God.—John Calvin

Cross Reference: Exodus 22:25 ““If you lend money to any of My people who are poor among you, you shall not be like a moneylender to him; you shall not charge him interest.”

4th Point: Have Grace…Because Jesus did

One Application:

Don’t Take advantage of those who canot pay and also who are not in the same status as you