let us be fair james 2:1-13. let us be fair question: what do we feel about these two pictures?...

Let Us Be FairLet Us Be Fair

James 2:1-13James 2:1-13


Question: What do we feel about these two pictures?

Another question: can we do anything about it?


• In per capita terms South Africa is an upper-middle-income country, but despite this relative wealth, the experience of most South African households is of outright poverty or of continuing vulnerability to being poor. In addition, the distribution of income and wealth in South Africa is among the most unequal in the world, and many households still have unsatisfactory access to education, health care, energy and clean water.

Poverty and Inequality in South AfricaReport prepared for the Office of the Executive Deputy President and the

Inter-Ministerial Committee for Poverty and Inequality


• Here is a comment of a church member in the United States, “… a particular member of my church refers to her fellow members as coming to have their ‘white, middle-class social club’ instead of getting serious about spirituality and education the way she thinks they should.”

• Question: would you feel “at home”, or comfortable being a part of this church?


• What is our attitude towards people around us?


• Where are we?

Let us be doers of the Word

James 1:21-27

Let us be fairto one anotherJames 2:1-13

That is, WE MUST SHOW NO PARTIALITYTOWARDS ONE ANOTHER!


• First of all: we become JUDGMENTAL as we show partiality BASED ON MAN-MADE STANDARDS (vv. 1-4).

Context =SYNAGOGE

(v. 2; literally, “assembly”)that could refer to

a COURT OF LAWor

a JEWISH,a CHRISTIAN CONGREGATION


• What exactly happened? The word “partiality” literally means “lifting up the face” which is a two-edged sword!!!

The LORD lift upHis countenance upon you

… (Num. 6:26)

…You shall not be partial

to the poor (Lev. 19:15)

Vs.

PARTIALITY WAS ALREADY A REALITY IN THE FIRST-CENTURY CHURCHES (vv. 2-4): the cultural had infiltrated the spiritual!! This is why James prohibited them from doing this – he basically said to the JEWISH CHRISTIANS, “You’d better stop doing this right now!!!”


• What, in effect, is at the heart of partiality? JUDGMENT, a right that ONLY GOD HAS. Even though we judge, we just according to GOD’S STANDARDS AND NOT OURS.

In righteousnessyou shall judge your neighbor

to the poor (Lev. 19:15b)

The judgments of the LORDare true and righteous altogether

(Ps. 19:9b)

… andsends rain on

the just and the unjust(Matt. 5:45)

…has God cast awayHis people?

Certainly not (literally“May it never be!”)

(Rom. 11:1)

IMPARTIALITY


• James’ prohibition was – and is – clear (v. 1)! So, what, then? DO AS JESUS DID AND DOES, For

Christ is the end of the lawfor righteousness to

everyone who believes(Rom. 10:4)

＋ My yoke is easy andMy burden is light

(Matt. 11:30)

Authentic impartiality, righteousness becomes a realityas GOD’S PEOPLE DO WHAT THEIR LORD DOES!!!


• Secondly: being judgmental IS A DISGRACE TO OUR CHRISTIAN IDENTITY (vv. 5-7). Two keys, “chosen” and “have dishonored”:

“choose” = eklegeomaiLiterally, “elect”

(Matt. 24:31; Rom. 11:7; 1Pet. 1:10, 2:9; 2Pet. 1:10)

BEHAVIORALPATTERNS

AREASSOCIATED

!!!“dishonor” = atimazo

Literally, “treat shamefully”,“insult”

(Jn. 8:49; Rom. 1:24)

Implying


• As a spiritually poor “chosen generation” (Matt. 5:3; 1Pet. 2:9-10; James 2:5), what should be the behavioral pattern that demonstrates the Christian identity? Some examples:– “You shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the

LORD” (Lev. 19:18)

– “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matt. 5:16)

– “Let love be without hypocrisy …” (Rom. 12:9)


• James said:

• Why? As Christians become partial in any way, they will NO LONGER BEHAVE IN THE PATTERN OF A CHOSEN GENERATION. Examples, abuse of the legal system, the “middle-class social club”, …

Showing partiality to thepoor ＝ Disgrace

to the poor(v. 6)

No differentfrom

the rich(vv. 6b-7)

＋


• Thirdly, being judgmental IS A SIN (or hamartia; vv. 8-13).

– Our Lord has made it clear that the two commandments are equally important, and “On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matt. 22:37-40) What does this imply? THAT WE MUST DO EVERYTHING!!!

Love the LORDwith

everything we are(Deut. 6:4)

Love the neighboras oneself

(Deut. 19:18;James 2:8)


• How is it possible to “do everything”?

– Question: do we have to follow these signs? What if we don’t?

– Is it not ironic that we obey earthly authorities, but when it comes to the Divine Authority, we become hesitant – or DELIBERATELY DISOBEDIENT!!

＝


• Remember: – OBEDIENCE IS NOT AN OPTION. And THERE IS

NO ROOM OR SELECTIVE OBEDIENCE (v. 10).• The Sixth Commandment, “You shall not murder.” (Exod.

20:13; James 2:11)• The Seventh Commandment, “You shall not commit

adultery.” (Exod. 20:14; James 2:11)• Why these two commandments in particular? Because they

speak heavily on MORAL JUDGMENT!! Along with partiality, they are all moral judgments on others that THEY ARE INFERIOR!! (cf. Matt. 5:21-30)

– THE BASIS OF OBEDIENCE IS “law of liberty”, i.e. LOVE. (vv. 12-13; James 1:25)


Question: What do we feel about these two pictures?

Another question: can we do anything about it?

The LORD lift upHis countenance upon you

… (Num. 6:26) ＝ THE LORD’S GRACE AND MERCY

let us be fair james 2:1-13. let us be fair question: what do we feel about these two pictures?...

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