Sin of Partiality

Mercy & Justice  •  Sermon  •  Submitted
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2 My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. 2 For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, 3 and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” 4 have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?

8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. 9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. 11 For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. 13 For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Faith Without Works Is Dead

14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

Introduction

31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ 45 Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Does this make you nervous?
It should!
What side will you be on?
Why?

Tension

Big Question
What causes us to be partial to people?

Truth

What kind of community should christians be?
Justice and mercy

Justice

We shouldn’t make favorites inside the church
Race
Politics
Education
Wealth
If we do this - Judges who take bribes (vs 4)
James - example - Acts 6
Greek speaking Jews/Hebrew speaking Jews

Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution.

Mercy

Seems like James is kind of being a little strong / extra.
Vs 13

13 For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

What does he mean?
God will Judge us if we just talk about love, but don’t live it out
If we are a people whose theology is perfect but neglect the poor we are sinning.

Why should we become a community about mercy and justice?

My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.

If you understand the gospel you will be a people of mercy and justice.
Does every person deserve rights?
What rights do they deserve? Not Americans but all people
Is this common sense? Do you think this is universal?
Aristotle said
When you look at some groups of people you can tell they are bound to be slaves.
This isn’t a universal thought.
Its the reason we have the word white trash
Why do we have human rights? where is its origin?
Mid-evil jurists who were pondering the implications of the image of God
To God there isn’t variations with people. No one has more or less of God’s image.
Bottom Line

Lovelessness is the seed form of hate

When we draw lines as people, we first have to see that group as less human.

21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.

Insults = Raca - you nobody
Not simply bad thoughts - neutral thoughts

2 For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, 3 and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” 4 have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

Indifference leads to

What needs to change is out identity

Vs 5
James 1:9–10 ESV
Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away.
We all have a low position
We all have a high position
If you are rich - see how desperately poor you were to Christ
If you are poor - rich you are in Christ
when your identity doesn't change - still merit based in your heart
consumer / take away from the community of believers.
Seek out like minded people.
vs 5
Poor - Christianity has been for the poor
Why?
leave everything you have and follow me.
Easy for the poor
Middle class - not so easy
Christianity is not based on works
If you believe that you life a good life God will bless you are middle class in spirit
The Gospel says you cannot earn your salvation and must throw yourself on to the bleeding charity of Christ.
Poor - don’t have a problem accepting charity
Middle class people - harder for them
Want what’s owed to them

Landing

In this next section I am going to quote a passage from C.S. Lewis’ book The Great Divorce. In this book, a man from Hell is visiting a man in Heaven he once knew on earth. The man in Heaven is trying to plead with the man from Hell to stay in Heaven.
Ghost (from Hell):
“Look at me, now," said the Ghost, slapping its chest (but the slap made no noise). "I gone straight all my life. I don't say I was a religious man and I don't say I had no faults, far from it. But I done my best all my life, see? I done my best by everyone, that's the sort of chap I was. I never asked for anything that wasn't mine by rights. If I wanted a drink I paid for it and if I took my wages I done my job, see? That's the sort I was and I don't care who knows it."
Bright People (in Heaven);
“It would be much better not to go on about that now."
Ghost:
”Who's going on? I'm not arguing. I'm just telling you the sort of chap I was, see? I'm asking for nothing but my rights. You may think you can put me down because you're dressed up like that (which you weren't when you worked under me) and I'm only a poor man. But I got to have my rights same as you, see?”
Bright People:
Bright People: ”Oh no. It's not so bad as that. I haven't got my rights, or I should not be here. You will not get yours either. You'll get something far better. Never fear."
Ghost:
"That's just what I say. I haven't got my rights. I always done my best and I never done nothing wrong. And what I don't see is why I should be put below a bloody murderer like you."
Bright People:
"Who knows whether you will be? Only be happy and come with me."
Ghost:
"What do you keep on arguing for? I'm only telling you the sort of chap I am. I only want my rights. I'm not asking for anybody's bleeding charity."
Bright People:
"Then do. At once. Ask for the Bleeding Charity.”

Questions

In what ways do you show that you are middle class in spirit?
So, what should we do now because of this? Is the answer to simply try not to be partial or not be indifferent towards people?
What about the gospel teaches us to love each other as image bearers?
How can Venture become better at not just having right teaching, but care for all people?
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