Favortism is Sin

Good morning and welcome to Community Christian Church. We are so glad you are here with us this morning.

We made it to March and what a beautiful day it is outside today. Isn’t God so good to us? His love is on full display in His creation.

This is an exciting time at CCC. A time that God is bringing lots of ideas and ministry to His children and you are going to see a lot of things happening designed to save the lost and grow the saved. Praise the Lord!

That is one of the reasons I felt God lead me to bring the announcement time back to worship service. The announcements will be playing on the tv before service but wanted to have someone read them prior to service so you could also hear them. Tommie and Nolan have volunteered to read them, if you would like to join them please let me know.

Let’s Pray

START RECORDING

This morning we will continue with our James: A Christian’s Guide To Living From Jesus with the message Favoritism is Sin. We will be in James 2 so if you want to start turning there in your Bibles or if you have your Bible on your phone or tablet or device go ahead and get it out and turn to James 2.

If you have not picked up a notes sheet please do so at this time if you want one. Again these are designed to help you write down what God says to you this morning and give you some scriptures to dive into during the week to continue to work out what God has for you

James 2:1-13

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My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. 2 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; 3 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: 4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? 5 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? 6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? 7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? 8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: 9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. 10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 11 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. 12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

Favoritism is a sin.

You and I as Christians must not be a respecter of persons.

We must not show favoritism

Our flesh wants to show favoritism

Our flesh wants accept some people and reject others

Our flesh wants to love some people and hate others

As Christians we are to

1. Welcome Everyone vs 1-4

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James 2:1–4

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“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?”

You know this is true

Someone walks in to church dressed nicely…suit and tie....nice dress…well done hair and make up and jewelry

it is easy to greet them

it is easy to welcome them

It is easy to put a visitors card in their hands

All because you want them back

Someone walks in dirty

probably not smelling the best

shabby clothes

messy hair

it is easy to ignore them

say something to them only if you have to and in fact most hope they don’t come back

Here is the thing

You have no idea about who they are

you have no idea if they are saved or lost

you are solely basing your favoritism on appearance and preconceived judgment and emotions

No one should ever walk into a Bible preaching, Bible teaching, Bible living church and feel unwanted

or unwelcomed

or unloved

No one!

I have been asked Pastor what would you do if a blatant homosexual walked into your church

Maybe a couple or a man dressed as a woman

I would welcome them

I would help them find a seat

I would hand them a visitors card

Listen they are in the right place to find the cure for their sin problems......JESUS!!!!!

Would I allow them to lead…absolutely not

Would I allow them to act on their sin…hold hands.....kiss etc…absolutely not

I would welcome them and love them and pray for them

The problem is their sin is easy to see so therefore people think they are different or should be rejected

That is like sitting in the doctors office and being offended a sick person walked in......

They are no different than you or me…they are struggling with sin....so are we

That leads to why favoritism is a sin

here is where part of the sin of favoritism lies..look at vs 4

James 2:4

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“Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?”

When you show favoritism based on appearance you are judging..condemning based on nothing substantial

You and I can’t judge or condemn anyone that is God’s job and He is the only true Judge

John 7:23–24

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“If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day? Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.”

The Jewish leaders showed favoritism at all times

Jesus here is pointing that out

The law says no work on the sabbath day as it belongs to the Lord

however they were okay with someone becoming circumcised on the sabbath…joining the Jewish tradition but were very angry at Jesus for healing on the sabbath day

Favoritism is more about our judgement than the act

Jesus came to fulfil the law

to make a way to salvation and forgiveness

They wanted to kill Jesus because He healed on the sabbath yet to keep the tradition they would circumcise on the sabbath jesus ends with judge their fruit....Judge His fruit

James 4:10–12

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“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?”

Whey you show favoritism you judge

When you show favoritism you speak evil against your brother and condemn yourself

You are no longer a doer of the law but a judge and that is sinful brothers and sisters as only God can judge

2. God Has Chosen The Poor vs 5-7

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James 2:5

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“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?”

Another reason it is a sin and wrong to show favoritism is you are rejecting those God has chosen

This world has defined success as wealth.

If you are wealthy you must be successful.

The world defines wealth by physical possessions

big house

nice car

fancy clothes

etc etc etc

When you show favoritism based on physical appearance you agree the world is right and therefore agree that God is wrong and reject Him

God and the world are complete opposites

it is all or nothing

one or the other

1 Corinthians 1:26–28

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“For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:”

God never calls people based upon what the world defines as good and successful and powerful

Vs 27 “but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise and God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty”

God doesnt work the way the world works

Praise God for that!!!! Amen?

No His ways re higher than our ways

His thoughts are higher than our thoughts

when you show favoritism you reject the things of God and accept the things of the world and will be confounded by God....scary place to be friends

3. Why show favoritism to those who want to destroy you? vs 7

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James 2:6–7

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“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?”

When you show favoritism you despise those God has called......the poor and lift up those who oppress you

those who sue you

those who blaspheme the name of Jesus

The rich......those who we tend to hold in high standing

professional athletes

musicians

movie stars

politicians

CEOs etc

Those with power and money and wordly prestige

Very few of them bring glory to God

In fact many stars are openly praising the devil right in front of us and Christians are flocking to see their shows and listen to their music and call themselves Swifties.....yes Taylor Swift is a self-proclaimed witch and carries out satanic rituals in the dancing of her shows

Sam Smith has a song called Unholy talking I think about adultery.....I read the lyrics but I am still not sure what I read

He performed this song at the Grammys dressed as the devil

Church it is time to wake up and stop showing favoritism to those of the devil and despising those God has chosen!

4. You Are Guilty vs 8-11

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James 2:8–11

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“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.”

If you have broken any part of the law you are guilty of breaking the whole law

vs 9 “but if ye have respect to persons, you commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors”

Favoritism is sin

you and I are incapable of keeping the physical law

If we could keep the law Jesus would not have needed to come to earth and die in your place and my place

When we reject God we are judged by that law and are doomed!

I have sinned

You have sinned and we will sin again

We have broken the law and will break the law not man’s law but God’s law and are guilty

That guilt requires your death and eternal separation from God in hell

That is fact

That is truth

The wise of this world reject that as foolishness however those enlightened by the Holy Spirit accept is as truth

Jesus came to this earth to live among His creation

Jesus came to this earth to be rejected and beaten and hung on a tree to be the perfect, atoning sacrifice for sin.

Again the wise of this world reject that but those enlightened by the Holy Spirit accept Jesus and forgiveness and salvation

You cannot tell the two apart by physical appearance which is why favoritism is judging and sinful

You could be accepting those of satan and rejecting those of God

5. Your actions show your heart vs 12-13

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James 2:12–13

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“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.”

This is really where the rubber meets the road here

Mercy

You are guilty and deserve death but through Jesus receive life

However when you show favoritism you judge death upon others

God says you will be judged how you judge others

You will be shown mercy how you show mercy to others

This is why God also says you will be forgiven as you forgive because forgiveness shows salvation!

Matthew 18:21–35

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21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. 23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. 24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. 28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. 29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. 31 So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. 32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: 33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? 34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. 35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

I did a little research and found how much 10,000 talents would be worth today and found as always varying amounts from hundreds of millions to into the billions....all were huge

The most common explanation was a talent was worth 6000 denarius

A denarius was worth a days wage so one denarius = pay for one day of labor

1 talent = 6000 denarius or 6000 days of labor

So to pay off his debt the servant would have to work 60 million days…that my friends is an unpayable debt

Pence is another word for denari which is pay for one day of labor

So the servant was owed 100 days of work

60 million days of work were forgiven but 100 days of work was enforced

He refused to forgive little despite being forgiven of much

He had a massive debt....an unpayable debt.,..if he worked 365 days a year it would have taken 164,383 years to pay off that debt and it was forgiven

Unpayable

Notice also that judgement had already been placed upon the first servant....himself and his wife and his kids and all that he had was to be sold.

The king had proclaimed judgement upon him and he begged for mercy because He was guilty and condemned

Sound familiar?

You and I are guilty

we deserve our judgement…death and hell and eternal separation from God but through Jesus shedding His blood on the cross He forgave us that debt

paid it in full

We are free and clear despite it being a debt we could never repay

Yet when you or I refuse to forgive others who owe us far less than we owe God it shows our hearts

When we show favoritism it shows our hearts

it shows we are not who we claim to be

Forgive as you have been forgiven

love the poor

serve the poor

refuse to show favoritism and freely.....fully…quickly forgive as you have been forgiven

This morning you have heard the truth of God presented to you

You have heard God speak to you

The question now becomes what are you going to do in response

Be a hearer only and reject God

Or be a doer and please and honor God

You response shows the answer to that question

STOP RECORDING

Invitation