Beware of Personal Favoritism

Outline:

(V1) Do not hold onto the faith with partiality (Favoritism)

(V4) Making you judge rather than God

(V9) Showing partiality is committing sin

2. (V8) Fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture

Love your neighbor as yourself

Who is your neighbor?

Introduction:

Question:

Have you ever treated someone different because of the way the look?

Or maybe because of the things they own?

Maybe the clothes they wear?

Illustration: (Get them thinking of how they treat others)

When I was in middle school, I can remember this kid by the name of James Devite. He used to get picked on because of his clothes weren’t cool, and his clothes were often dirty.

This kid had a tough time at school because of how his peers mistreated him

The something happens in church

One thing we have to remember is God does not like favoritism among His children

Christ in common, everything in common

Context to keep in mind:

The time of this letter were filled with prejudice and hatred based on class, ethnicity, nationality, and religious background.

In the ancient world people were routinely and permanently categorized because they were Jew or Gentile, slave or free, rich or poor, Greek or barbarian, or whatever.

Christianity has no room for favoritism or treating someone different for any reason, but yet it happens all the time.

1. (V1) Do not hold the faith of our Lord with partiality

a) Do not hold the faith: The glorious faith we have, the faith of our Lord

Jesus Christ should never be associated with partiality  (discrimination or the literal translation is favoritism)

Jesus died for everyone…

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

John 10:9 “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.”

Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”

b) Remember the times they are living in

The time of this letter were filled with prejudice and hatred based on class, ethnicity, nationality, and religious background.

Ephesians 2:14 “For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,”

Jesus Christ broke down the separating wall

Park illustration:

On Thursday, I was meeting with a man at the park.

I noticed a homeless man who was clearly on drugs.

He asked to use my phone.

I met the physical need which opened the door to meet the spiritual need

I was able to witness to him and speak truth that I believe was recieved and we laid hand on him and prayed with him

I did not judge or treat him differently based on the dirty clothes or the fact that he was a drug user. I saw him as a child of God, who need Jesus to restore his life

1.1 (V4) When we hold the faith with partiality it makes us the judge

When we insult people or put them down your’e taking the place of God

Romans 14:4 “Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.”

1.2 (V9) Showing partiality is committing sin

Placing ourselves as Judge through showing partiality is sin

2. (V8) Fulfill the royal law according to the Scriptures

Matthew 22:37–39 “Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”

What is the royal law?

The Royal Law is anchored in the commandment found in Leviticus 19:18, “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against any of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD” .

This commandment is reiterated by Jesus Christ in the Gospels, where He identifies it as the second greatest commandment, following the command to love God with all one’s heart, soul, and mind (Matthew 22:37-39).

Conclusion: We’re called to treat others as we want to be treated. Nobody wants to be judged based on material things, etc.