This past Sunday, I had the opportunity to preach the 4th message of a nine week series we are doing, preaching through the book of James. Our series is entitled "The Gospel At Work." I preached from James 2:1-13. Below are the key sermon notes. You can listen to the sermon online here.
What is partiality?
“to be biased”
“to accept/judge according to face” and refers to favoritism on the basis of status
“It means that you base your treatment of someone – or your attitude toward someone – on something that should not be the basis of how you treat him.” - Piper
I. Consider…“our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory”
1)No partiality in living His life
Hebrews 1:3 = He (Jesus) is the radiance of the glory of God
Romans 2:11 = For God shows no partiality.
Jesus lived in a cultural context that was known for division, prejudice, and partiality and yet His life was radically counter-cultural in how He embraced all people regardless of their background and/or social status. During his life and ministry Jesus honored, accepted, and loved those who were despised and looked down upon. Consider how Jesus treated children, lepers, tax collectors, women, and Samaritans. Jesus didn't allow class divisions, racism, and "the way things are" to effect how He interacted with people.
2)No partiality in giving His life
Revelation 5:9 = And they (the four living creatures and the 24 elders falling down before the Lamb in worship) sang a new song saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation”
There are 16,789 people groups! Jesus died for all of them!
Justification by faith alone puts all of us on a level ground of utter dependence.
Ephesians 2:8-9 = For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ leaves no room for pride or arrogance. It’s all His grace!
II. The Gospel frees us from partiality!
Ephesians 2:13-14 = But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in His flesh the dividing wall of hostility.
Galatians 3:26 = For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith…v. 28 = There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all ONE in Christ Jesus.
The Gospel demands a drastic new paradigm in how we approach relationships.
“Before we fell in love with Jesus, we were seated at the head of our own tables. For some, prior to Jesus, they may have lived naturally segregated lives, where the maxim ‘birds of a feather flock together’ was true of them. But now, having entered the marriage covenant with Christ, they are seated at the multi-ethnic, multi-socioecnomic dinner tables of the church, where Christ is the new head. Now they are told to do life with one another, to serve one another, and encourage one another. The covenant of salvation demands a radical re-patterning of relationships.” - Bryan Loritts
Why would a church show partiality to the rich?
Image
Status
It makes us look good!
Think Biblically:
God created the poor in His image
God sent His son to die for the poor
The poor who trust in Christ for their salvation are “heirs of the Kingdom”
In dishonoring the poor man…you are dishonoring God!
Level Ground of Utter Dependence: The Gospel makes the wealthy poor, because they can no longer depend on their wealth. The Gospel makes the poor rich because they become fellow heirs of the Kingdom (this should radically effect how we view one another!).
In the “World” this is what is happening…
Oppression, exploitation, social polarization, and an unjust legal/court system (this was the context of James)
Consider James 1:21-27
The Hope of Salvation (James 1:21)COMPELS us to practice "Pure Religion" = outward practice or service to God (James 1:27)
Pure Religion is marked by two things:
(1) “to visit orphans and widows in their affliction” – Justice/Compassion for the vulnerable
AND
(2) “keep oneself unstained from the world” - Holiness (to be distinct from the world)
1
By showing partiality to the rich, something that was happening in the world…they were violating the very 2 things, James said were the marks of true religion, or rather the marks of a truly transformed heart: compassion for those who are vulnerable and holiness from the ways of the world!
1)The Law can’t save you…you have to uphold ALL of it!
-Favortism and discrimination are violations of the kingdom law of love
2)The Gospel frees us to live under the law of liberty
Law of liberty – True freedom is freedom to obey God and do what pleases Him. That law of Christ provides freedom from sin through the Gospel.
Grace doesn’t produce lawlessness, it produces love!
3)In light of the Gospel, we are compelled to SPEAK and ACT as recipients, partakers, and givers of His Mercy!
Grace = when God gives us something that we don’t deserve
Mercy = when God withholds from us that which we do deserve
"Christian love means treating others the way God has treated me." Warren Wiersbe
The Gospel transforms us from "judges with evil thoughts" to loving givers of mercy!
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