Avoid Snobbery: Keep the Royal Law

Bible Reading

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Problem with Partiality

If you haven’t read through James you might be surprised about today’s theme; respect of persons, partiality, favoritism, snobbery

Handout: Avoid Snobbery: Keep the Royal Law

the word "snob" originates from the Latin sine nobilitate ("without nobility") The opposite of a VIP list.

You may not consider this an big issue, I have inspired written documentation that this matters.

Application individually and as a church.

We should see it is a continuation of what are the expressions of true religion or the Word abiding in us.

This is a good opportunity for me to remind us of the fact that when the New Testament was written, it did not have the chapter breaks in it that are present in our English translations.

James 1:26–27 (KJV)

26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.

27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

We are continuing on this idea of not being deceived from v. 16

a controlled tongue, chapter 3.

a compassionate heart, which James is now about to tackle in chapter 2.

an uncompromised testimony, chapter 4.

James 2:1–13 (KJV)

1 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.

Sermon Introduction

Have you ever been somewhere where you didn’t feel welcomed? For me its the golf course. I think the whole process is designed to make sure people like me that feel comfortable there.

Jesus experienced this on a very real level. John 1:46 “46 And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.”

Maybe you have experienced this type of judgement. If that is the case. I am sorry to hear that. That treatment does not represent the character of our God. We are meeting today as a church to recognize that we are to “Avoid Snobbery: Keep the Royal Law”

We must not combine snobbery with faith

You cannot hold them both in the same hand

James 2:1 “1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.”

The faith of our Lord

The faith delivered to all saints in Jude 3 “3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”

James calls his older brother divine glory in human flesh, the Lord of Glory.

Emphasis given on the perfect nature of Jesus. Hebrews 1:3 “3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;”

With respect of persons.

partial in yourselves v.4

It is to judge based on looks, race, wealth, rank, or status.

It is to lift up or put down based on money, power, or status.

If ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin v.9

The combination of faith and respect of persons is sin.

Sin; that which is contrary to the nature of God.

God shows no partiality. Neither should those who follow our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 2:11 “11 For there is no respect of persons with God.”

Partiality is inconsistent with a Christian faith because the Christian faith is consistent with the nature of God, and God is impartial.

The Father

Romans 2:11–13 “11 For there is no respect of persons with God. 12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; 13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.”

We all are measured by the same definition of sin.

We all are offered grace through the death of His son.

Life of Christ.

Look at His earthly genealogy; Rahab - the prostitute

Jesus would stop and help the poor.

Work of the Holy Spirit.

Only looks upon the heart.

The wealthy are not given Him in a greater measure.

Transition: When Christ is glorified, there is no place for partiality in the church. 

How can we overcome the sin of partiality?

Recognize God’s prohibition and perspective of partiality

Live according to the royal law.

Live knowing we will be judged by God’s Word

1. Recognize God’s prohibition and perspective of partiality

Prohibition: Cease-and-desist order

James 2:1 “1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.”

The problem of partiality illustrated: Story of Two Guests on a Sunday Morning

James 2:2–3 “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:”

Young people refer to this as “the drip.” The jewelry is the “bling.” The poor man walks is less than “mid”.

Rich man dressed in a manner to communicate he was rich. It had served him well in other places.

Problem was not the treatment of the rich man.

James condemns the church for treating the rich man better than the poor man based on external appearance.

The question: Have you not done the same thing in your life? James 2:4 “4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?”

Setting yourself up to judge who a man truly is from what is on the outside

We are put ourselves in a place we do not belong. 1 Samuel 16:7 “7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”

Like a snake, the spirit of the age slithers into the church. We have subtle ways of judging people based on age, ancestry, appearance, achievement, and affluence. The word of God says to each of us, “Stop it!” - HB Charles

Transition: Let us never attempt to combine snobbery with faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ! JUST STOP IT! HAVE NOT! /

Heard that 5,000 churches a year close their door. I fear many of them do so because they did not listen to this prohibition to partiality. God would send people they could minister to and with, and decided to hold out for someone else. But let’s not just consider the churches that closed, let’s consider if our own lives are open and willing to let others in or if we are guilty of the sin of “respect of sins”

Perspective: Comparison of how the Lord and the rich treat the poor

James 2:5–7 “5 Hearken, (Listen up - try that word with your kids.) 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?”

How the Lord treats the poor. v.5

It is not saying “The poor are not automatically saved or have an inside track to salvation.”

It is saying “God is on the side of the poor in the world. The world mistreats the poor.”

God makes those “who love him” heirs of the kingdom regardless of their finances. There is no financial pre-approval process needed.

We must all come to the Lord as poor. Luke 6:20 “20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.”

How the rich treat the poor. v.6

The despise the poor.

They oppress the poor. Personally and legally; draw them into court (judgement seats).

One commentator asked ““Why honor your executioners?”

How do we treat the poor? v.7

Are we acting like the world. James 2:7 “7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?”

We are to live lives for “that worthy name” not our own.

To blaspheme is to speak with contempt about God or to be defiantly irreverent.

Transition: The church was more concerned about who could help the church than who the church could help.

2. Live according to the royal law.

James 2:8 “8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:”

God has authority in every area of our lives, including the treatment of others.

Occasionally in discipleship, I like to ask “What areas of life do you believe are off limits to God’s authority?”

This Law of Love is first seen in Leviticus 19:18 “18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.”

What a standard? On board with treating the poor like the rich. But treat them both like I would treat myself?

We are taught by Jesus our neighbor is “anyone on our path that needs a hand.” / Good Samaritan

Theme throughout Scriptures: Philippians 2:3–4 “3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.”

The breaking of this law is sin.

Obvious, but needs to be said because of the tendency to make this an optional trait in our lives. James 2:9 “9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.”

Transgression is rebellion against divine authority.

It is to know what the law is and decide to break it. 

It is to know the right path and turn to your own way. 

It is to know the boundaries and choose to cross them.

We cannot just say “this is just how I was raised.”

To break any law is to be a lawbreaker.

James 2:10 “10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”

There are no small, little, or minor sins.

John MacArthur reminds us that “Sin is not like bowling pins. You can’t knock somedown and keep some up and get a good score. Sin is like taking a hammer (of any size) to a mirror. Sin makes us a law breaker.”

We must recognize that Jesus died for our sin of snobbery, our problem of partiality, our faulty view of favoritism.

It is listed with other well known sins. James 2:11 “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.”

3. Live knowing we will be judged by God’s Word

The Appeal: So speak ye, and so do

James 2:12 “12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.”

Appears there were some in the congregation/synogague that were living according to the royal law.

Others needed to be reminded of a coming time of accounting for their treatment of others.

In other words, you better speak, and you better act as people who are headed for a future judgment.

I need to slow down here. I expect most things thus far have been fairly simple. We have experience in these areas. But now we speak of something we don’t have experience but something of the future. Something that we don’t talk about often enough.

Stated positively

Remember we are blessed in the doing of this book. James 1:22

We receive mercy. Matthew 5:7 “7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.”

Stated negatively

James 2:13 “13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.”

In our passage we have seen “brethren” and “beloved brethren”

Recognize our lives are to be judged by this book; the law of liberty.

We have to give an account to God of the way we treat people; So speak ye, and so do.

We want justice when wronged and mercy when we do wrong.

Understand confusion. Romans 8:1 “1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

You say, “I thought I was judged by my faith in Christ.” Yes, but your faith in Christ is made evident through your works.

Redemption always brings about obedient living.

It is a characteristic of the unsaved not to be merciful.

Mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

What does he mean? If your life is characterized by mercy, you will triumph over judgment.

You will escape judgment. Because one who is merciful proves he has a transformed life.

This is what we mean when we say the Gospel-transforms our lives.

Showing of mercy is not a matter of working to deserve salvation by our own good works. The mercy we are to show is itself a work of God for which he can take no credit!

Partiality is inconsistent with a Christian faith because the Christian faith is consistent with the nature of God, and God is impartial.

Partiality is inconsistent with the purpose and the plan of God in choosing the poor of this world to be rich.

Partiality is inconsistent with loving your neighbor as yourself.

Partiality is a sin that shatters totally the entire law of God and makes a person a transgressor.

If you come before the judgment of God, and looking at your life He sees that you have shown no mercy, then He will show you no mercy, because that would be evidence that you are not possessing the life of God; you’re not saved.

Conclusion

Time to examine our hearts.

Every one of these is a test that James has given to see the validity of our faith.

Christian, this is an exhortation to us to be certain that we are living out these principles in the church of Christ, and that we are showing love for one another.

This is why we meet to look into the mirror of God’s Word.

But when you see those times when you violate that, that’s time to confess, to seek his face, to seek forgiveness, and to be restored to the place that God would have you be restored to.

If you do today believe that God has this right in your life. If these words have no place in your life, than you are not a believer.

Look at your own heart, and you see the absence of a continual pattern of love toward one another, then you ought to do a little bit of a deeper look and see if you really know Christ at all.

Someday, unless you repent of your sin and find forgiveness, you will hear “depart from me, I never knew you.” At that time you will recognize the power of His Words.

I have good news for you today.

You past, your status in this world, even the nature of your sin does not keep you from coming to Jesus today. He is inpartial and welcomes all those who will come.