1. When we were studying the book of James, we learned that it is sinful for us to show partiality.
Proverbs 28:21 (NKJV) 21 To show partiality is not good, Because for a piece of bread a man will transgress.
It’s true, partiality has been used to divide & destroy for years.
• It definitely wasn’t the life that Jesus lived.
• Jesus loved & taught & reached out to everyone.
• To rich… & poor. The well… & sick. The humble… & prideful.
THINK of how many sick people came to Jesus with eyes oozing, limping, groaning, reaching out…
• Some w/ their hands missing fingers from the ravages of leprosy.
• Some unbelieving, uncaring, hopeless and hurtful.
• There was one woman who was sick for 7 years, outside of society, unclean…
• There was another woman who was thrust down before Jesus, caught in the act of adultery.
• Then there was Zacheus, up in a tree. That’s an interesting place to meet Jesus. I’m coming to your house tonight.
• (Jesus invites Himself over to dinner, very Scriptural I think!)
YES, Jesus met people all over the place in all sorts of conditions from all sorts of backgrounds… Jews, Gentiles, Samaritans.
• He met religious leaders, military folks, rich, poor, you name it.
• Basically, Jesus hung around with everybody.
Now… Paul says in 2:11, the judgment of God is without partiality.
• That is, everyone, will be judged righteously & fairly.
• Back to v2, God’s judgment is according to truth!
• There will not be anyone anywhere that will be able to accuse God of judging unfairly.
John 5:30 (NKJV) 30 I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.
The word PARTIALITY in v11 gives us the picture of ‘not being swayed by a person’s face.’
• That is, our position in life, our intelligence, our education, our good works and good deeds will not sway God’s judgment.
• No, all of us will face the RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT OF GOD.
This phrase would have shocked the Jewish listener in Rome.
• He thought himself in a special class, that he deserved special treatment because he was chosen of God.
• But Paul says that the Jewish Law only made the guilt of Israel that much greater.
NOTE: Paul is speaking of the righteous judgment of God that will be based upon our deeds, our works. (look back at vv6-11)
• But wait a minute, aren’t we justified by faith?
• Didn’t Paul say, the just shall live by faith? YES & YES
• We are saved by grace through faith…
• But judgment is according to works!
If you’re an UNBELIEVER, you’ll be judged by your works.
• They won’t measure up to God’s holy standard and the work that will be the final straw is your rejection of Jesus Christ.
• Flip over to John 3:16-21
If you’re a BELIEVER, you’ll be judged by the work of Jesus on the cross. It is sufficient to save us and by faith you’re saved!
2. (12-16) God judges according to truth.
a. God never judges person by a standard they haven’t known.
b. If a person lived apart from the Law, then God will not use the Law as a standard.
c. But if you have known it, then that will be your standard.
d. REALLY Whatever we know will be the standard uses!
APP: This is important for us because we will be held accountable for what we DO KNOW not for what we DON’T KNOW.
Here’s the danger we all face:
• Because we love the Scriptures… and we study the Scriptures… and we spend much time in the Scriptures…
• We love the Word, it’s powerful, it’s comforting, it’s wonderful!
• But the danger is this: We begin to think that hearing the Word automatically implies that we’re doing & obeying the Word!
Well I was in Bible study today… but did you obey what you heard?
Well I had great devotions this morning… but did you do what God spoke to your heart?
Well I went to church… but what did God say right to your heart and how will you respond!
AND so whether it’s in your devotional time, or in a Bible study, or whenever you have the Word flowing…
• Ask the Lord to give you ONE THING to do… not just to write it down or think about it, but to put into action.
Psalm 40:8 (NKJV) 8 I delight to do Your will, O my God, And Your law is within my heart.”
Here’s what happens when God’s word is not mixed with faith… we may know the Lord, and know about our Lord…
• But who knows our Lord through us?! Who sees Jesus at work? Who receives a compassionate note? A helpful hand? The gospel?
• It becomes profitless… until it’s shared & shown in our lives!
Hebrews 4:2 (NKJV) 2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.
• What happened with the children of Israel is that they wandered & wandered… and eventually died in the wilderness!
• An 11 day journey into the Promises of God BECAME
• A 40 years wandering in unbelief! That’s not for us guys!
2 Corinthians 1:20 (NKJV) 20 For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.
Here’s the encouragement… God is both our strength and source of faith! He’s our motivator…
Romans 12:3 (NKJV) 3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
Galatians 3:3 (NKJV) 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?
Since God is our strength then you and I just trust Him by grace that He’ll make us what He wants us to be.
• You don’t have to worry about what you’re not… you can be encouraged by what you will be and how God can use you!
It’s been said…
You can give a man a dollar & you can CHEER up his heart.
You can give a man a dream & you will CHALLENGE his heart.
You can give a man Jesus Christ & you will CHANGE his heart.
Oswald Chambers said, “God is not saving the world, it is already done. Our business is to get men and women to realize it.”
BUT How can men & women realize it when we are fighting and infighting & not living out what we hear!?
• Our responsibility is to help men and women realize the offer of salvation is already made… and how is that possible?
• But by allowing His love to flow in us & through us & among us!
• Love… loving our neighbor, forgiving our neighbor, seeking more of Jesus… Flip over to John 3:26-35
John the Baptist is living up to the light of what he’s been given.
• He is a messenger with a message and he lives up to his calling!
• But in v26, after the dispute with the Jews, they run to John with a conclusion that Jesus is taking everyone away!
• You get the picture of despair & anguish!
• John’s response would either incite the division or calm it.
BY THE WAY… this is a good time to be reminded on how to handle difficult things that people bring to us.
• It could be gossip. It could be a problem. It could be slander.
• It could be anything that has the possibility to divide...
• On the one hand we can be a listener and spreader.
• OR we can be a light and a shield!
• The latter is what John does… He sheds light OR TRUTH on the whole matter and He becomes a shield for the Glory of God!
• He answers with 3 truths…
#1 - (27) What we’re doing is a gift!
• All that we have, all that we’ve experienced is a blessing!!!
• Our gifts to serve come from God so He alone must receive all the glory for great things He does!
#2 – (28) I’m Just a voice.
• John was perfectly content to be the voice announcing the coming of the Messiah.
#3 – (29) Jesus is the bridegroom, I’m his friend!
• I love this one. He says look, I’m so happy for Jesus.
• Friends rejoice for each other while enemies despise.
#4 – (30) He must increase.
• It’s in these 7 words we find the freedom to be used mightily of the Lord in these last days!
• Great joy comes when Jesus is honored, when Jesus is glorified, when Jesus alone gets all the credit.
APP: Well Pastor Ed, I don’t want to decrease, I want to increase.
• Well friend, that’s a large problem that needs to be crucified!
• Pride has blinded you to the reality of Jesus that you’re missing out on His love flowing through you!
Might I ask you… EVEN admonish you to decrease today so that the Lord Jesus might increase through your life?
Mark 10:45 – Reminds us we must be the servant of all.
Mark 10:45 "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."
• If you want to be great in God’s kingdom, you must be the servant of all. There is no other way to grow in Jesus.
• Jesus’ style & example of ministry has always been & will always be the way up is down!
• We ARE ALL servants exercising the gifts Jesus gave us.
• I’m constantly reminding the pastors, the leaders, the volunteers, and myself that we’re just servants… nothing more.
• We’re here to serve you to see God glorified in all things.
• Jesus is our greatest example as He washed the disciple’s feet.
• John 13:3-5 - And so YOU TOO are servants of the Lord.
• NEEDS: Even if it’s just picking up trash or cleaning the bathrooms here… wherever you see a need, prayerfully jump in.
Of course Servanthood isn’t as easy as it sounds.
• But Jesus will equip you and help you to die to yourself.
• REMEMBER This: You will know just how much of a servant’s heart you have when as you serve, you’re treated like a servant!
• Our church, Calvary Chapel, is filled with servants…
• Not celebrities, not superstars, not lords… just servants!
Jews… judged by the Law. Gentiles judged by the law written on their very hearts…
Listen… as we head out know this…
#1 – You can’t hide anything from God. Secrets will be judged.
#2 – Your hidden insecurities, and pains, and sorrows, are known by the Lord too and He wants to minister to you today to bring you not only into hearing, but doing His Word.
