Avoiding Favoritism- Expressing Faith through works

This morning open your bibles to James 2. Today we are going to be looking at the second chapter of James. So far in this series we have looked at how to profit from trials, and how to be doers of the word and not hearers only. The second chapter begins by addressing having a heart of favoritism.

We must remember that James is writing to the early church. He was part of the Jerusalem counsel who were instrumental in the development of the early church. He once again is addressing a practical matter of faith and practice in James 2.

Let’s read James 2:1-13 together.

It says, James 2:1–5 “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?”

James 2:6–10 “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? If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well; but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.”

James 2:11–13 “For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”

The essence of this portion of scripture is that God looks at the intents of our heart before he looks at our deeds as we live out the Gospel. James is conveying that predetermining who gets to receive honor and the kingdom is evil.

If we show honor only to the esteemed in our society, and simultaneously disregard the poor based on wealth we are in error. The good news of the Gospel has been sent to all people. The power of his blood and the saving grace of His kingdom is to all who will hear and believe.

Our hearts rooted in love will show mercy and compassion to all without partiality.

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Submit:

We must remember this morning that God does not see as we see.

Isaiah 55:8–9 ““For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.”

1 Samuel 16:7 “But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.””

Jesus convey this same truth many times.

In the sermon on the mount in Matthew 5-7 he preaches a series of thoughts by saying you have heard it said, but I say. Revealing the discrepancy between what God had actually said vs. what they believed.

To the scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 23:27 He said, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.”

What we are seeing is that God desires a genuineness to our faith. He is not evaluating our lives based on outer appearances or social standings. Instead he looks at the heart and its motivations.

Proverbs 24:12 “If you say, “Surely we did not know this,” Does not He who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, does He not know it? And will He not render to each man according to his deeds?”

The aim of our faith is Luke 10:27 “So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’ ”

Living out these two things will require honor, humility, and mercy. James 2:13 “For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”

A few cross references to this verse are: Proverbs 21:13. Matthew 18:32-35. Luke 6:37.

Proverbs 21:13 “Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor Will also cry himself and not be heard.”

Matthew 18:32–35 “Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”

Luke 6:37 ““Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”

To express genuine faith we must walk in love without partiality.

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Apply:

As we continue in chapter 2 James gives practical example of the expression of faith. In doing so, James inserts a question into his instruction. Keep in mind He just finished speaking about showing partiality between the rich and poor.

James 2:14 “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?”

Many have seen this as contradictory to what the Apostle Paul taught in Ephesians 2.

We understand from Paul in Ephesians 2:8–9“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

James is not contradicting Paul. We have to remember that the Apostles were responsible for the establishment of the Church of Jesus Christ. They had to address behaviors, mindsets, patterns of living, etc. that were off course from the kingdom.

James question on faith goes once again to the matter of the heart. He is essentially asking is faith a belief and profession in Christ only, or is there intended to be demonstration of what is professed? James gives this example in James 2:15-16.

James 2:15–16 “If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?”

James is dealing with the reality that we can have profession of faith without corresponding action. His message is James 2:17 “Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”

The simple truth is this. We are not saved by works, but we work because we are saved. James 2:18-20.

James 2:18–20 “But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?”

James is speaking to the serving nature of the believer. Jesus said no servant is greater than his master. Matthew 20:28 “just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

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Closing:

Faith was never intended to be confined to a verbal profession that is empty and void of action. It is to be expressed and evidenced through action. Christianity is not sterile. It is expressed through good works.

Paul in Ephesians 2:10 after He expressed that we are saved by grace through faith also made this statement, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

To close out his instruction in James 2 he gives example of Abraham’s action in obedience to God’s instruction and also of Rahab a prostitute who was justified by receiving messengers in Jericho.

Faith in Christ was never intended to be lifeless. It didn’t originate as going to a building. It was a group of people who were joined together in Christ who went about doing good works. They served one another, loved people, declared the message of the cross, and preached salvation to all who would hear.

It should be the same for us today. The inward work of the Holy Spirit and the kingdom is always seen outwardly (fruit). Kingdom transformation in our lives is not idle head knowledge. It’s change and works activated by the word.

The old man was selfish and idle, the new man is created to express the nature and values of the kingdom of God. If we are becoming more like Him it will change our outward action. We will serve because He served. We will love because He first loved us. Works are simply obedience in action revealing the inward change we have experienced.

I will conclude my message with the final verse of chapter 2.

James 2:26 “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”

Let’s Pray!

Holy Spirit speak to our hearts. Help us to see if there are places that don’t line up with your word. Are there places that are idle? Reveal them and help us to change. Give us ears to hear, and hearts ready to respond to your instruction and leading.