The Sin of Partiality

James 2:1-13

22 Aug 2007

Review: We had been talking about trials and the attitude that we should have in them. We talked about how when we sin we are saying no to God and yes to us. We talked about how we should cleanse ourselves from filthiness and wickedness because all that junk keeps us from knowing God more fully. Remember how we talked about that word was really close to wax and when we don’t clean our ears all that wax builds up and we can’t hear.

James is a really convicting letter because he points out all kinds of things that we all do and he goes even farther to say that these things that we do are sin! As I was studying this section I was convicted because I know I am guilty of the very thing he is talking about here.

I. The Glory of Jesus Christ (James 2:1)

A. Glory

To understand this whole passage we need to realize what James is talking about in verse 1. We know that He is talking to Christians, he says ‘My Brethren’ and he is talking about saving faith in Jesus Christ.

Why are we supposed to give Christ glory? What does the Bible tell us about Christ that makes it evident that Christ is worthy of our praise?

Hebrews 1:3; John 1:14; Colossians 1:13-18; Revelation 5:8-14…

Jesus Christ is the God man. He is literally God in the flesh. We have talked about how Jesus was not part man and part God but He is 100% both. He was present at the creation of the world, He spoke the worlds into existence. He holds all things together. The world around us was made to glorify God. Psalm 19:1 says “The Heavens declare His glory…” you and I were created to glorify God, Isaiah 43:7 (NKJV)
7 Everyone who is called by My name, Whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him.”

However, we messed that up didn’t we? What happened? SIN! This gives us another reason to glorify Jesus Christ. This is the aspect that we really need to focus on when we are looking at this section of James. Christ’s humility.

B. Humility

Philippians 2:8; 2 Corinthians 8:9… these are just a couple of verses that help us to see that Jesus Christ in all His glory stepped into this world to save you and me. He stepped into this world took on the likeness of sinful flesh and dwelt among us. He went through this world without sin that He might be a perfect sacrifice for us. When it came to the end of His life, He suffered greatly. He suffered death. However, it didn’t just die in His sleep in peacefulness. He was beaten and bruised. His flesh was laterally ripped off of Him as He was being whipped. SMACK! SMACK! SMACK! Then as He carried His cross to Golgotha it dug into is bloody back. It didn’t stop there. Then the Romans drove nails into His hands and feet: POUND! POUND! POUND! The very creator of the universe, the stars, the planets, you and me and all the intricacies of what makes us human stepped down into this sin tortured world and paid for your sin!

James says take all that into consideration in the way that you treat people. The faith that you have in Jesus Christ is not something to be kept seceret or held in partiality. You and I both deserve Hell but God in His love has given us a way out.

II. The Sin of Partiality

A. Example (James 2:2-4)

James then goes on to give us an example of what he means by partiality. The Christians that James is writing to are probably poor either because they had no money before their conversion. Or they were persecuted because of their new found faith. Believe it or not but Christians were looked down on. A Jew who converted to Christianity would probably lose his job, or wife that converted would probably get kicked out of the house with nothing.

James is directly talking about the people in these churches that were giving better treatment those who had money. Instead of just treating the rich people better, they were furthering the gap because they treated the poor even worse.

Does this kind of thing happen in churches today? Rich people getting treated better than poor people?

Okay, so it happens. Now let’s take this illustration a little bit farther… We can be partial with anything really… looks, money, skin color, clothing style, the way people talk… Have you ever treated someone different because they were different? Give me an example! Has someone done that to you? How does it make you feel?

Does it happen at HBC? Does it happen right here in this room?

B. The sin itself (James 2:9)

James 2:9 (NKJV)
9 but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. Let’s look at some verses: Matt: 22:16; John 7:24; Deut. 10:17-19. Acts 10:34; Romans 2:11… God does not show partiality with us how dare we show it with other people. When we step back and think about what we are really doing it is a pretty serious thing. Who are we to judge who is better or more deserving? We are all equally sinful, we are all equally destined to hell? Rom. 3:23 “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” None is righteous no not even one. When we do this we are violating God’s law, we are breaking our fellowship with Him and putting a wall between us and Him.

Let’s look at this whole thing in it’s context so far: If it is hard for us not be partial we should rejoice in it because it is an opportunity to make us more like Christ. What better way than to take on an attitude of Christ-likeness to love everyone like Christ loves everyone? Remember if anyone deserves be picky it is Jesus Christ, He was offended by everyone through sin. Secondly, all the ‘stuff’ around us is going to perish one day! So if we choose certain people because they may benefit us or give more or because they have nicer stuff it won’t make any difference when we get to eternity.

C. Enough to condemn

James goes on to point out that even this one sin is enough to make us guilty. A good way of looking at this is like a BALOON!

III. Living to Glorify God

A. ‘love your neighbor’ (share the gospel) I Sam 16:7;

We have a great privilege/ responsibility as Christians to share the love the God has so graciously given to us. James had been telling us about the law here in this last couple of verses. Jesus says that there are two commandments that can summarize the whole law. Does anyone know where in the Bible He says this? Mat. 22:34-40 Love the Lord your God and Love your neighbor.

In order for us function the way God created us we have to love God with our whole hearts. This is impossible if you have never trusted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. There is a great void in our hearts before we place our faith in Jesus Christ. We are sinful and depraved. There might be some people, maybe even someone here tonight says this, I am a good person and I do love God. This is simply not true until you have realized that Christ is your only hope. The Bible says that we are all sinners (Rom. 3:23) no one is righteous (rom 3:10) the penalty for that sin is death (Rom 6:23) we are disobedient and wrathful (Eph 2:1-3). We cannot Love God if we are against Him. It is only when we have realized our sinfulness and helplessness and turn to Christ that we can truly love God with our whole heart. I want to invite you to consider this, if you have never out your faith in Jesus Christ please, please, please consider this right now.

If you have out your faith in Jesus Christ you know it is still hard to do what Jesus says here. It is hard to love God with all your heart. That requires us to depend on the Holy Spirit for guidance and strength. And you know it can definitely be hard to love your neighbor. Because, that takes turning from your selfish desires and looking at the needs of other people. The biggest need for this world is the gospel of Jesus Christ. We need to be sharing our faith with any and everyone that we come in contact with. We need to show people the love of Christ and by this I don’t mean accept their sin and tell them everything is going to be okay. I mean reach out to people that you normally wouldn’t, show no partiality to people because the need the message that you carry.

How dare we as Christians, accept the love and forgiveness of Christ Jesus and keep it to ourselves. That is a very sinful attitude and action.

Conclusion:

Growing deeper