Christian Life Church
August 14, 2024 at 7:00 pm
When we show favoritism, we misrepresent the gospel of Jesus for He came to break down the barriers of nationality, race, class, gender, and religion.
Locations & Times
Christian Life Church Columbia
2700 Bush River Rd, Columbia, SC 29210, USA
Wednesday 6:30 PM
The Book of James: Pride & Prejudices August 14, 2023
Part One
Scripture: James 2:1-8 NIV
“My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 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. 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,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?”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? 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? Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?”
Believers must not show favoritism, because to show partiality or favoritism is sin.
Deuteronomy 10:17 NIV
“For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes.”
Galatians 2:6 NIV
“As for those who were held in high esteem—whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism—they added nothing to my message.”
Ephesians 6:9 NIV
And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.
God does not show favoritism and neither should we.
Understanding Its Origins
The Greek word for favoritism means, literally, “receiving the face.”
To “receive the face” means to make judgments about people based on external appearance.
You cannot separate favoritism and partiality from judgment; where you see favoritism, you’ll find judgment.
When we show favoritism, we misrepresent the gospel of Jesus for He came to break down the barriers of nationality, race, class, gender, and religion.
Discriminating Among Yourselves
1. James is condemning the Christian’s inability to be consistent in their faith.
2. They are torn between the standards of God and those of the world.
3. I.E. Discriminating among themselves, judging between themselves, making distinctions among themselves, creating divisions in their assembly.
4. “Consistently Christian conduct comes only from a consistently Christian heart and mind.”
Becoming Judges With Evil Thoughts
1. James teaches by a clear implication that in both status and judgment the Lord Jesus must reign supreme.
2. It is not our position to sit in judgment on others.
3. Christians have a tendency to make their judgment according to worldly, ungodly standards, and with motives that aren’t pure or godly.
4. This type of example or behavior misrepresents a God who judges righteously and without partiality.
5. Judgment is best left to the Lord because of how we fail to judge justly.
Dishonoring The Poor
1. God’s choice of poor people to inherit His kingdom is evidence of His regard for them and shows how wrong Christians are to discriminate against poor people.
2. To dishonor the poor is to dishonor those whom God honors.
3. A Christian is called to defend the poor, uphold the cause of the poor, and help in their needs.
4. Choose to uphold the cause of the poor vs. the material advantages of favoring the rich.
Favoritism Towards The Rich
1. Do not show discrimination against others in favoritism towards those who you might gain materialism, status, prestige, profit, etc.!
2. “The rich” represent the ungodly or those who are not for the way of the Lord.
3. Don’t show undue respect for someone for the wrong reasons (I.E. - their wealth, fame, selfish gain, etc.).
4. Don’t show undue respect for someone at the expense of someone else.
Part One
Scripture: James 2:1-8 NIV
“My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 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. 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,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?”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? 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? Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?”
Believers must not show favoritism, because to show partiality or favoritism is sin.
Deuteronomy 10:17 NIV
“For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes.”
Galatians 2:6 NIV
“As for those who were held in high esteem—whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism—they added nothing to my message.”
Ephesians 6:9 NIV
And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.
God does not show favoritism and neither should we.
Understanding Its Origins
The Greek word for favoritism means, literally, “receiving the face.”
To “receive the face” means to make judgments about people based on external appearance.
You cannot separate favoritism and partiality from judgment; where you see favoritism, you’ll find judgment.
When we show favoritism, we misrepresent the gospel of Jesus for He came to break down the barriers of nationality, race, class, gender, and religion.
Discriminating Among Yourselves
1. James is condemning the Christian’s inability to be consistent in their faith.
2. They are torn between the standards of God and those of the world.
3. I.E. Discriminating among themselves, judging between themselves, making distinctions among themselves, creating divisions in their assembly.
4. “Consistently Christian conduct comes only from a consistently Christian heart and mind.”
Becoming Judges With Evil Thoughts
1. James teaches by a clear implication that in both status and judgment the Lord Jesus must reign supreme.
2. It is not our position to sit in judgment on others.
3. Christians have a tendency to make their judgment according to worldly, ungodly standards, and with motives that aren’t pure or godly.
4. This type of example or behavior misrepresents a God who judges righteously and without partiality.
5. Judgment is best left to the Lord because of how we fail to judge justly.
Dishonoring The Poor
1. God’s choice of poor people to inherit His kingdom is evidence of His regard for them and shows how wrong Christians are to discriminate against poor people.
2. To dishonor the poor is to dishonor those whom God honors.
3. A Christian is called to defend the poor, uphold the cause of the poor, and help in their needs.
4. Choose to uphold the cause of the poor vs. the material advantages of favoring the rich.
Favoritism Towards The Rich
1. Do not show discrimination against others in favoritism towards those who you might gain materialism, status, prestige, profit, etc.!
2. “The rich” represent the ungodly or those who are not for the way of the Lord.
3. Don’t show undue respect for someone for the wrong reasons (I.E. - their wealth, fame, selfish gain, etc.).
4. Don’t show undue respect for someone at the expense of someone else.