Partiality in the Assembly

Jun 8

Written By James Dyck

Partiality in the Assembly (James 2:1-13)

I. Faith in Christ ought to change how you see others (James 2:1).

A. Christian faith leaves no room for prejudice.

1. James refers to his half brother, Jesus, as the Lord of glory.

2. The earliest Christians believed Jesus to be God.

B. James was writing to a very partial society.

1. Jesus breaks down barriers.

2. The unity and openness of the early church was shocking to the ancient world.

II. A real-life example of partiality (James 2:2-4).

A. What is this ‘assembly’?

B. And in come a rich man and a poor man.

C. James pulls no punches.

III. Man’s partiality rarely agrees with God’s heart (James 2:5-7).

A. A general statement regarding the rich and poor.

B. Many rich and powerful men have a history of oppressing the poor.

IV. Do not mistake partiality for love (James 2:8-9).

A. Royal law

B. The Author of Scripture knows the heart of man.

C. “If you show partiality, you commit sin…”

V. The chain of God’s commands (James 2:10-13).

A. God’s Law does not allow for selective obedience.

B. “So SPEAK and so DO…”

C. “For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy: mercy triumphs over judgment.”

Guard Your Tongue