Hold Your Faith Steady and True

Introduction

Good morning, my dearest and best in the Lord. I am grateful for the blessed opportunity to serve and worship with you through the ministry of God’s word. May God's word, wisdom and counsel abundantly bless us today.

Welcome back to our series on the book of James. Let's take a moment to recall what we studied back in October.

As a reminder, we are in James 2:1-13, please open your Bibles and put a bookmark there. We have divided the topic of the Sin of Partiality into two parts and back in October we studied the first part found in James 2:1-7 with the title “Hold Your Faith with Holiness and Righteousness.” Today, we’ll be studying the second part of the Sin of Partiality found in James 2:8-13.

From our previous message, James expanded on the subject of faith, and remember, the three themes of his letter were trials, wisdom and sanctifying faith. The purpose was to exhort them to be lead with sheer joy through their trials, emphasizing that their faith in Christ should reflect God’s glory rather than their partiality. Here are the three key points we gleaned from that message:

Hold Your Faith in the Glory of Christ (James 2:1)

Hold Your Faith in the Testimony of Christ (James 2:2-4)

Hold Your Faith in the Calling of God (James 2:5-7)

From our previous study, we discovered James's rebuke, which he expressed by questioning the intentions and motives of these Jewish Christians. Through his inquiries, he aimed to highlight their unfair, unjust, unfaithful, and inconsistent judgment of the poor man. He framed his questions negatively, using the word “not,” so that they may have a positive and resounding agreement to each question. Let's revisit those questions. Have a look in verse 4 (James 2:4) where James instructed them to carefully look at their heart and intentions. “Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?”

After presenting an example of their differential treatment between the man with the gold ring and the poor man in verses 2 to 3 (James 2:2-3), James posed a question that demanded them for self-reflection and their acknowledgment: "Yes, we have discriminated against the poor man, and yes, we have judged him with evil motives." These Jewish Christians were scattered outside of Jerusalem due to persecution by unjust people, they sinfully removed Christ from the stronghold of their hearts. Consequently, they turned into persecutors, causing suffering to others. James's second question, found in verse 5, prompts these Jewish Christians to contemplate God’s sovereignty.

Look at verse 5 (James 2:5): "Has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith?"

James is emphasizing God’s sovereignty, His will, and His election in favour of the poor. He is exhorting the church to know God’s divine and royal rule over His creation.

What should their response be? "Yes, God is sovereign. His election of choosing the poor and enriching them in faith aligns with His wisdom, will, purpose, and pleasure. We have neither the authority nor the power to favour the man with the gold ring over the poor man. We should have treated both of them justly and fairly, consistent with the faith we received to the glory of Christ." James's third question, situated in the middle of verse 5 (James 2:5), directs the church's attention not only to God's sovereignty but also to His authority and power to bestow His Kingdom. It is God’s covenantal love He made with Himself to those who love Him, and it is His prerogative to determine who is worthy to become heirs of His kingdom.

"[Has not God made them] heirs of the kingdom which He has promised to those that love Him?"

How should they respond? "Yes, God has every right, power, and authority to decide who will receive His inheritance." Then, in verse 6 (James 2:6), James directed their focus to the character and wrongdoing of the man with the gold ring.

"Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?"

In this context, James is not encouraging them to harbor feelings of vengeance towards the wealthy. Instead, he is urging them to focus on how the rich have persecuted and oppressed them. This includes attacks on their civil and religious liberties, unfair treatment, and unjust lawsuits that could lead to imprisonment or even death.

However, before pointing fingers at the rich man, James highlighted their own wrongdoing at the start of verse 6: "But you have despised the poor." In response to James's question, their only appropriate answer would be agreement. "Yes, the man with the gold ring persecuted us. He exerted his power over us, treated us unfairly and unjustly. He even wrongfully sent us to jail without proper cause. And yes, we are the ones who dishonoured and treated the poor man unjustly because we want to impress the man with the gold ring." Now look at James’s last question because this is the root of the sin.

Take a look at verse 7 (James 2:7):

"Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?”

James underscores the rich man's actions using the potent term "blaspheme." The man with the gold ring is transgressing in every aspect related to God. He slandered, reviled, and maligned the worthy name of Christ.

Furthermore, James charges this church with aligning themselves with these blasphemers. By treating the poor man unfairly and unjustly, by discriminating against the poor and favouring the man with the gold ring, the church displays contempt and irreverence towards God and has become blasphemers themselves. How else would they answer this question but to agree to it. “Yes, they are blasphemers and we have blasphemed the worthy name of Christ by aligning ourselves with the man with the gold ring”. Have you noticed the sequence of questions that James presented? First, he encouraged them to reflect on the sinfulness of their own hearts. Next, he prompted them to contemplate God's sovereignty, power, and authority. Then, he directed their attention to the injustice of favouring the man with the gold ring, while also acknowledging their own sin of despising the poor. Finally, he urged them to recognize that the wealthy, symbolized by the man with the gold ring, blasphemed the name of Christ and that they too had become blasphemers because they aligned themselves with the man with the gold ring. I want you to see this thought-provoking sequence of questions presented by James serves as a powerful tool for self-reflection when we measure ourselves against the royal law of God.

I exhort all of us here that when we examine the sinfulness of our own hearts, contemplate God's sovereignty, and recognize our inconsistent faith and injustice towards others, that God’s word would further reveal and expose our sinfulness before the holy God.

The more we undertake this exercise, the clearer we perceive God’s righteousness and holiness, recognizing that our own unworthy and sinful hearts are nothing short of an abomination before Him.

These profound questions are not merely meant to convict but, more importantly, to lead us towards repentance. As we earnestly examine ourselves, these inquiries prompt us to acknowledge our shortcomings, our corrupted and sinful thinking, to seek God's forgiveness, and implore His boundless mercy and grace. James provides for us a roadmap for genuine self-examination, leading us to a humble posture of repentance and a fervent cry for God's transformative forgiveness and grace. Let's now focus our attention to our main text. Please stand and read James 2:1-13 with me so we may prepare our hearts and minds in the ministry of God’s word.

James 2:1–13 NASB95

My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism. For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, “You sit here in a good place,” and you say to the poor man, “You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,” have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives? Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose 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. Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into court? Do they not blaspheme the fair name by which you have been called? If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not commit murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.

Prayer

Father, Almighty, we come to you this morning to offer our worship and praise. We are grateful, Father, for the blessed privilege of hearing and understanding your precise, powerful, and precious words.

Father, we seek your forgiveness for the sin of partiality. May your words expose and magnify our sin before us, helping us recognize how we have offended you. Please grant us discernment to treat everyone with righteousness and fairness. May we demonstrate the faith you have given us with holiness, truthfulness, and kindness.

Father, magnify your word. Challenge and humble our hearts, convict us, and bring about transformation through your living words. Father, please forgive and restore us to your fellowship. Be our guide as you minister to us through your word.

We pray for all these things in the name of Christ, who is just. Amen.

1 Hold Your Faith According to God’s Word v8

James 2:8 NASB95

If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.

I encourage you to pay attention to the first half of verse 8 because the better rendering is, "If you really keep the royal law..." James asked this question in a way for the sake of argument. Why? Despite persuading them to agree with his questions, they remain unconvinced that they have sinned.

Even though he explained their sin (partiality) and how they sinned (through his questions) using reasonable and logical arguments, and they agreed to his charges, they still deny that they committed sin.

Beloved, aren't we the same in this regard? We share a common aversion to receiving correction, discipline, and confronting our sins when it comes from a fellow brother or sister. Similarly, we find it challenging to correct, discipline, confront, and expose the sins of others within our church.

This is James's exhortation to the dispersed church outside Jerusalem. He navigated through those questions using reasonable and logical arguments. While these methods, known as apologetics, serve as effective tools to expose sin, it is crucial to understand that ultimate conviction and heart transformation come from the direct impact of the word of God. The Word has the power to convict and move individuals toward repentance. In essence, James emphasizes that while reasonable arguments are valuable, the true catalyst for change lies in the profound influence of God's word on the human heart.

However, my loved ones, it's crucial to recognize that James is urging the church to engage in precisely these actions—correcting, disciplining, confronting, and exposing sins. The significance of the church becomes evident in this context. It is within the church that we discover the necessity for these practices. The church's role is to diligently watch for and address sins that manifest within, thus emphasizing the importance of our fellowship to the church and its ministry.

Now see that James redirects the church's attention to the "royal law”. This is not James’s commands or laws. What is the royal law? It's God’s word. God’s word is the ultimate source of authority that a church should apply—not their own judgment, not self-serving laws, and not the influence of the world. The church is governed by God’s divine sovereignty, authority, and power, as revealed in His word. James calls it the royal law acknowledging God as the King of His church and His children as heirs of His Kingdom, governed by His royal decree. They submit to the Sovereignty and will of the King. The royal law of God the King is above our selfish desires and ambitions, it’s above the world’s government and its world rulers.

James imparts an understanding of what it means to "fulfil the royal law." Have a look at the beginning of verse 8. When James used the word fulfil, it goes beyond merely meeting the minimum requirement of the royal law. And here’s the reason why.

The Greek word for "fulfil," is “teleo”. The root word tel in teleo signifies reaching the end. The best illustration I can think of is an old single telescopic binocular unfolding andextending one section at a time, operating at its full capacity when fully extended. When you don’t fully extend the telescope, you won’t see the object clearly that is too far away. James is emphasizing that merely meeting the minimum requirements of God's word is unfaithful and inconsistent with the worthy name of Christ who called them. Instead, they should wholeheartedly extend their faith, service, and worship, ensuring that God is glorified.

How does James exhort the church? He engages them in reasoning, exposing their sin. He then clarifies that God’s word, the royal law relevant to the only Kingdom they should trust, have faith in, and be loyal to, not only sets a high standard but demands a perfect, pure, and holy commitment to fulfill. My dear loved ones, when God's Word exposes our sin and guilt, we should not treat it casually because we know that God is faithful to forgive. Beloved, God is not only faithful but also just in His forgiveness.

God's Word demands a perfect, pure, and holy commitment from us to fulfill His word. We are not meant to be part-time Christians, casual members, or passive observers in worship. Our gathering this morning is not for self-fulfilment.

God rejects mere religious hearers. He rejects worship that is unfaithful, untrue, unjust, and inconsistent. He does not accept half-hearted worship. He rejects those who call Him Lord but do not live according to His word, and those who profess in His name without true commitment. We must hold our faith according to God’s word.

2. Hold Your Faith According to the Truth v9-11

James 2:9–11 NASB95

But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not commit murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.

James continues to expand and explain the contrast of a doer of God’s word against a mere religious hearer. He continues to define what it means to be swift to hear, slow to speak and slow to wrath. He cited the ultimate law from Leviticus 19:18 in the second half of James 2:8.

Leviticus 19:18 NASB95

‘You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord.

Why did James select the royal law to "love your neighbour as yourself"? Isn't the first and greatest commandment is “to love God," with the command to love your neighbour being considered the second greatest? Why didn't James choose the first and greatest commandment? Please listen to this carefully as we examine this royal law. It's crucial to note that the lawyer specifically inquired about the greatest commandment, (single only one) he did not ask Christ for His top 2 favourite law. (Matthew 22:34-40, Mark 12:28-34, Luke 10:25-37). The Lord declared that the greatest commandment is, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. This is the great and foremost commandment."

However, it's important to understand that the Lord didn't merely add or designate the command to love your neighbour as yourself as the “second greatest commandment”. He said, loving your neighbour as yourself is similar and resembles the command to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind. Christ presented only one single greatest commandment, one royal law, encompassing both the love for God and the love for your neighbour as yourself as one greatest command. And James uses the command to love your neighbour as yourself because he is addressing the social ministry and fellowship of this church and their relationships with others. In other words, if you love your neighbour as yourself, you are fulfilling the first half of the greatest commandment of loving the Lord God with all your heart, soul and mind. And James implied if you are loving your neighbour as yourself, you are doing well because it means, you love the Lord God with all your heart, soul and mind. And here’s the contrast of having inconsistent love in verse 9.

Let’s go back to our main text James 2:9 But if ye have respect to persons (if you show partiality or favouritism), ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

James 2:9 NASB95

But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

James is unequivocal to hold our faith according to the truth here: inconsistent love, partiality, or favouritism is sin and immoral. The royal law asserts that their worship and service are false because they have violated it.

Pay attention to the word “convinced” near the end of verse 9. This word is a present passive participle, indicating an ongoing process. Through His divine and royal law, God is continuously convicting this church of their sin.

James exhorts this church to see that despite their testimony being tainted by favouritism and inconsistency in their love of others, God persists in showing them mercy and grace by convicting them of their sins. My dear ones, as I read that, I am broken before the Lord. Don't we persist in sinning against God, and yet He continues to convict us of our sins? Our lives do not align with the truth. In fact, we are consistently inconsistent in our faith, service, and worship. Nevertheless, God persists in showing us mercy and grace by rebuking us and offering forgiveness upon repentance. Beloved, repent and turn to Christ before He ceases to convict you of your sin. While God is patient and longsuffering, there is an appointed time when He will halt conviction and initiate His judgment. Repent and turn to Christ today. Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation. Let’s look at verse 10 as James declares to the church the seamless unity of the royal law of God and makes an illustration of someone who may keep the entire law.

Please look at your Bible on James 2:10

James 2:10 NASB95

For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.

What does this mean? It signifies that even if a person obeys all other laws but neglects to love their neighbour as themselves, God deems this person guilty, just like anyone who disobeys all of God’s laws. And what’s the tendency of people who attempts to live and obey God’s law? They find themselves “bound” as they make constant efforts to keep the entire law. Even now, people persist in attempting to adhere to the entirety of God's law. They hold the belief that salvation comes by fulfilling the do’s and don’ts of the law. However, James brings forward a sobering reality. It is impossible to keep the entire law of God because, by breaking just one law, you are already guilty of violating the entire law.

Why? James provides the reason in verse 11.

Look at your Bible

James 2:11 NASB95

For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not commit murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.

Firstly, I'd like to direct your attention to the two laws that James quoted: "Do not commit adultery" and "Do not kill." Notice how they are connected to the greatest law of "Love your neighbour as yourself." These are the same laws James refers to in Chapter 4 when addressing conflicts among people who have allowed the sin of lust into their hearts.

Notice where James highlights and magnifies the reason that breaking one law entails breaking the entire law. Where did he emphasize this reasoning? He directed it toward the speaker, the one articulating or stating the laws, there in the beginning of verse 11, “For He that said...” Why did James say that? It's because he acknowledges that neither he nor the others in the church are the lawgivers. This church deliberately desires to place their selfish interests in the stronghold of their heart, and they have been unjust in their judgment, seeking to seize authority and power that rightfully belongs to Christ. James emphasizes that the true Lawgiver is God the King. He stresses that the church received this royal law from the Sovereign Ruler, God the King. Highlight those crucial words, "For He that said." These words are significant because the commandments, "Do not commit adultery" and "Do not kill," reflect the will, power, and authority of the Lawgiver.

By identifying the one who issued these commands, James provides the only acceptable explanation for why violating one law implies breaking all other laws. They are committing their sin against the Lawgiver, making them transgressors of the law and, consequently, transgressors against the Lawgiver.

My loved ones, are you holding your faith according to the truth? How frequently do we sin and overlook that we are transgressing against God Himself? How often do we commit sins in secrecy, forgetting that nothing remains hidden from God? It is God's Word that exposes our sins. What deceptive or inconsistent love can we conceal from Him? Here is the rebuke found in God’s word: our false and inconsistent love towards others is not acceptable to Him. Our deceitful hearts and inconsistent love fall short of His standards. Let us turn to the Lawgiver, repent of our false and inconsistent love, and strive to hold our faith in accordance with the truth. In our final point, James distinctly clarifies that he is presenting two distinct laws. He highlights the contrast between the royal law and the perfect law of liberty, so that this church may apply their faith according to their testimony.

3 Hold Your Faith According to Your Testimony v12-13

James 2:12–13 NASB95

So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.

After James engaged in apologetics and established God as the Lawgiver, emphasizing the imperative to obey His words perfectly and consistently, he makes an appeal against partiality as a serious sin.

Did you take note of the laws James used as illustrations—adultery and murder? These two laws are among the most severe social laws, carrying the penalty of death. James used those laws to illustrate how serious the sin of favouritism and partiality is against God.

My loved ones, did you ever think that showing more favour to someone you like better than another person is a serious offence against God? James could have chosen other laws to make his point, but here's the key insight. We often aspire to obey the entire royal law of God, yet we treat these laws as if they are separated from one another. We judge and rank them from less offensive to more offensive in God's eyes. We gauge ourselves based on our own corrupted judgment of what is least and most tolerable to God. Are we not usurping God’s wisdom in matters of justice? Doesn't this render us guilty of displacing God from the stronghold of our hearts, replacing His wisdom with our selfish desire for justice and effectively appointing ourselves as judges? Consequently, we tally our sins in an imaginary record book, justifying each transgression with our corrupted sense of justice, all in the pursuit of, somehow, establishing a moral credit in the end.

Beloved, the word of God is urging us to repent from the sin of rationalizing God's grace as a license to sin and assuming that He overlooks our unjust and inconsistent love. This sense of self-justice is not only foolish but also blasphemous, constituting a form of self-righteousness.

Given that partiality is such a severe sin, James appeals to this church to recognise the divine judgment of the Lawgiver.

What did James say at the beginning of verse 12?

“So speak ye, and so do.”

The better rendering of this is “In such a way speak and in such a way do”.

James revisits his earlier command, “be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath”. This is the way Christians should be speaking and doing.

How? By holding your faith according to your testimony.

Why? Because your testimony should mirror God’s impartiality, and your actions are judged according to the law of liberty. In this context, James provides clear evidence of two different laws: the royal law and the perfect law of liberty. He first introduced the law of liberty which he describes as perfect in

James 1:25 NASB95

But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.

What distinguishes the royal law from the perfect law of liberty?

The royal law condemns, coercing people into compliance, binding and trapping without providing salvation. As James highlights, we understand that the repercussions of violating these laws lead to eternal separation from God, which is death.

On the other hand, the perfect law of liberty is founded on God’s grace and mercy. Living and abiding in the law of liberty is a blessing, rooted in the righteousness of Christ. This law grants freedom to believers, releasing them from the constraints of the royal law.

I want to use the illustration that Paul used here in Romans about these two laws and we’ll do a quick object lesson.

Romans 7:1–6 NASB95

Or do you not know, brethren (for I am speaking to those who know the law), that the law has jurisdiction over a person as long as he lives? For the married woman is bound by law to her husband while he is living; but if her husband dies, she is released from the law concerning the husband. So then, if while her husband is living she is joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is not an adulteress though she is joined to another man. Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death. But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.

If someone tries to live by the royal law, they are bound to fail because no one can fulfill it perfectly. Additionally, attempting to adhere to the royal law implies nullifying the work of Christ, who lived a sinless life and met every term and condition of the law. James is urging the church to speak and act in a manner that truly reflects their faith.

So, what is that testimony? It's the testimony of being born again, a new creation. It's the testimony of someone liberated from the bondage of sin and the law. It's the testimony of someone blessed, consistently living in the perfect law of liberty. It's the testimony of someone forgiven and empowered by the Holy Spirit. It's the testimony of someone who lives in the highest joy even in the midst of trials.

And so loved ones, our faith will be judged not by the royal law but by the law of liberty when we hold it in accordance with our testimony. Our Lord Jesus, the King of glory, will intercede and act as our sacrifice to God the Father. He covers our works with His precious blood and His sacrifice is the only offering acceptable to God. Then James gave a sobering warning and magnifies God’s grace as he creates a contrasting difference between the judgement of the royal law against the judgement on the law of liberty. Have a look at James 2:13

James 2:13 NASB95

For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.

What does this mean? God will not show mercy to those who were not merciful. My dear loved ones, hold your faith according to your testimony, ensuring there is no room for partiality and inconsistent love in your hearts.

Just as God has shown us, who are unworthy, His mercy and grace, we should embody that law of liberty and act justly and fairly for those who need Christ as their personal Savior.

Those who are mere religious hearers, those who disregard and forget the law of liberty, those who are unfaithful, unjust, unkind, and inconsistent in their love and faith, those who do not speak and act in accordance with the testimony of their faith will face the unrelenting wrath of God.

But here’s the blessing to those who do speak and act according to their testimony. Have a look at the end of verse 13. “and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.”

Another better rendering for this blessing is, mercy glories against judgement or mercy triumphs against judgement.

My loved ones, do you know what this means? God’s mercy is victorious over God’s judgement. God’s mercy conquered and was victorious over His judgement on us! How incredible is that?

The one who speaks and acts according to God’s word, according to the truth, according to their testimony finds God’s conquering and victorious mercy in Christ who sets captive free.

Conclusion Application

What’s our takeaway in all of this? Our impartial, just, and righteous actions towards those deemed unworthy authenticate our faith. James's letter underscores the gravity and seriousness of partiality and inconsistent love as conveyed by the Word of God. We are commanded to hold our faith steadily and truthfully, recognizing that through our testimony, we align ourselves with God's Word and the truth. May our faith be not just a declaration but a living testimony that glorifies God and manifests His mercy in our lives.