Living Out Our Faith Openly - Chapter 2/Paragraph 1
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Tonight we are going to a quick synopsis of all that we learned from the first paragraph of James 2. However, before we get into that, let’s take a minute to review the outline for the entire book.
The overall theme of the entire book is Living Out Our Faith as believers.
In chapter 1, we explored Living Out Our Faith Victoriously. In that chapter, we learned that we can live victorious over trials and temptations. In fact, we are told to “count it all joy” when hard times come into our life. We also learn how we can live victorious over self and sin. The Holy Spirit taught us about the pattern of sin. He then went on to challenge us to overcome sin our lives by simply hearing and doing the Word of God.
Chapter 2 is all about Living Out Our Faith Openly before others. The first paragraph which spans the first 13 verses speaks to how we treat others. Treating others God’s way is important. It is important for the simple fact we are commanded to obey. It is important in that as we obey and treat others God’s way we show openly to other’s a good testimony of the Lord working in our lives.
SYNOPSIS
SYNOPSIS
Let’s read the these 13 verses and then get into a summary of what learn from them.
My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
Here is quick sentence-by-sentence of what we learned.
My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
SUMMARY
SUMMARY
The Holy Spirit opens this chapter speaking about partiality. Specifically, He immediately holds up the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, as our example. Without a doubt, Christ is the perfect example of how we must treat others around us. Thus, right at the beginning, we are challenged to model the Lord in our relationship with others.
For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?
SUMMARY
SUMMARY
The Holy Spirit then gives an illustration of how we, as believer, will often treat others. The illustration involves two different people entering our assembly, our local church. One person is dressed to the hilt as we might say. He wears a gold ring. He has on nice apparel. The other person is poor. He wears vile raiment meaning that his clothes are ragged and he smells terrible. To the one wearing the fine clothes, we say to him “Sit thou here in a good place.” However, to the one who is noticeably poor, we say “Stand over there or sit here under my footstool.” In doing so, we favor highly the one who appeals to us because of his clothing and his smell. The other we despise and give him the lowliest place in the church preferably as far from us we can manage. Here is where we must be honest with ourselves. All of us have a heart condition. We are selfish and we are sinful. We are selfish in that we treat the poor with disdain. They have nothing to offer us. They smell. For that reason, we don’t have to deal with them. The other guy, however, is different. He has money. He wears nice clothes. He smells good. And, in our heart of hearts, we prefer this person because they appeal to our lustful desires. We want the same things. We want money. We want nice clothes. We want to smell good and we want to hang with those who do. In our minds, if I hang around the poor, stinky guy others will think that I am poor, stinky guy as well. However, I know that I am better than that. Are we? Such judgmental attitude immediately reveals who we truly are. That is why the Holy Spirit pointedly indicates we are “partial” in ourselves and we are “judges of evil thoughts.”
Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?
SUMMARY
SUMMARY
Here we find several questions used by the Holy Spirit in provoking us to think about sin issue. The point being that poor believers are just as much part of the God’s kingdom as any other believer. In fact, God often uses the poor to confound the rich just as He uses the weak to confound the mighty. Yet the indictment against believers who show partiality to the rich over the poor is that we have despised the very ones God sees as rich in faith and heirs of His kingdom. The Holy Spirit reminds us that it is the rich who often oppress us and drag us before judges. Thus why would we want to appease the rich when they are the very ones who often oppress us. You know the old saying “The rich get richer and the poor just get poorer!”
Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
SUMMARY
SUMMARY
The Holy Spirit give us one more question for our consideration. One of the things that you find with many rich people is the totally lack of respect for the Lord. In fact, the rich often feel that have no need for God and anyone else. They have all the world can offer and they need nothing else. This is one of the reasons why Christ himself said...
It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
Verses 8-9 brings us back to one of the main teachings of Scripture. Throughout the entire Old and New Testament, we are told time and time again to love the Lord God and to love our neighbors. As we already know, the entire law and prophets hangs on these two things - Love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and love our neighbor just as we love ourselves. The fact the Holy Spirit brings us back here shows that we can be impartial when we are obedient. Thus, He is reminding us to be obedient. However, when we do show partiality to one over another we are committing sin and we become transgressors of the law.
For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
SUMMARY
SUMMARY
The Holy Spirit now emphasizes the significance of violating God’s commands. He states that anyone who manages to keep all the law yet “offend” in one point is completely guilty of all offending entire thing. Thus, in God’s eyes, sin is sin; disobedience is disobedience. There are no grey areas. An offense of the law is an offense of the law. There are no little white lies and there are no small areas of compromise.
For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.
SUMMARY
SUMMARY
Verse 11 is an illustration thus providing a clear picture of what God demands. You can live your entire live and never commit adultery. However, that same person can murder someone and they would be guilty of adultery just as much as murder. Any violation of God’s law is a violation of its entirety. Thus, that person becomes a transgressor of the law. They are guilty.
So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
SUMMARY
SUMMARY
You may recall that the word “so” means “in the way indicated.” Here we find the Holy Spirit commanding us to speak and do as He has already indicated. We are to speak and act as Christ exemplified in our relationship with others. This means there is no room for prejudice, discrimination, or partiality. We are to treat everyone the same as Christ did when He ministered on earth. He was patient and kind to sinners as He pointed them to Himself as Savior of the World. We are to do the same. We are to mindful our testimony and we are to look for opportunities when we can patiently and graciously point people to Christ. We are to do so regardless of status, education, or color. We are to so as remember we will one day stand for Christ and give account how well we followed His commands which are found in the “law of liberty.”
For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
One of the many wonderful attributes of God is His mercy. Everyday we experience His great mercy. As a believer, I am saved and on my way to Heaven because of His great mercy. Therefore, I must as a child of God show the same mercy to those around me as God does to me each day. I don’t and I decide to live my way instead of God’s, I can expect God’s judgment.
For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
In the end, when I choose to live God’s way and I follow His commands it is always a win-win situation. He is glorified. I win because God is able to work through me. Other people around me win because they find mercy instead of judgment. The fact is that doing things God’s way is always a win-win situation.
Another aspect of this last verse is this. If I follow God’s commands out of love and a desire to obey, God has no need to judge men. There is guilt or offense in obedience. However, when I transgress I stand ready to be judged. It is possible that God could judge me without mercy. It is certainly within His rights as Sovereign God. However, praise God that He is a God of mercy. For even though I stand condemned, He has mercy upon me. And, thus, mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
Spiritual Application
Spiritual Application
What is RIGHT? (Doctrine)
What is RIGHT? (Doctrine)
It is right to follow the example of Christ. (verse 1)
It is right to show impartiality to those around me. (verse 1)
It is right to love others even as love myself. (verse 8)
It is right to live as much as possible in accordance with God’s Word. (verse 12)
It is right to exhibit mercy even as God does to me each day. (verse 13)
What is NOT right? (Reproof)
What is NOT right? (Reproof)
It is not right to show partiality to others. (verses 1-4)
It is not right neglect believers poorer than me since they too are part of God’s family and will inherit His kingdom. (verse 5)
It is not right to violate God’s commands. (verses 8-11)
How to GET right? (Correction)
How to GET right? (Correction)
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Acknowledge that you have indeed been partial and judgmental towards others even believers who are part of our local church. Confess it to the Lord. Repent of our actions with a renewed determination to live out God’s command to love others even as you love yourself. Seek God’s forgiveness by praying to Him and asking for it. You must say the words “Lord please forgive me for my judgmental attitude and my prejudice actions against ????” Then ask Him to cleanse your heart from all its unrighteousness. Then, get up and go be obedient realizing that you can as you rely on the Holy Spirit’s power.
How to STAY right? (Instruction in Righteousness)
How to STAY right? (Instruction in Righteousness)
Staying right is a matter of coming back again and again to this passage. Learning it. Memorizing it. Implementing it in your life as a daily habit. Put on good spiritual habits based on God’s Word. Put off old sinful and fleshly habits. Live a life pleasing unto the Lord.