SERMON OUTLINE:
(1). The Principle Stated (vs 1).
(2). The Principle Illustrated (vs 2-4)
(3). The Principle Explained (vs 5-11)
(3). Principle Applied (vs 12-13).
SERMON BODY
Ill:
• We have expression that goes; ‘blind justice’.
• It comes from the Greek statue for justice, which is a woman wearing a blindfold;
• Lady Justice is actually the Roman goddess Iustitia (I-a-sti-tia).
• There are three distinctive features of Lady Justice:
• They are a set of scales, a blindfold, and a sword.
Lady Justice, but she has been represented in different ways in the various countries:
• For example, atop the Old Bailey courthouse in London,
• A statue of Lady Justice stands without a blindfold;
• This is because Lady Justice was originally not blindfolded,
• And because her "maidenly form" is supposed to guarantee her impartiality;
• Which renders the blindfold redundant.
• But from about the Since the 16th century,
• Lady Justice has often been depicted wearing a blindfold.
• And in other countries such as the U.S.A.
• She wears a blindfold to symbolize impartiality.
• The reason is she cannot see who comes before her,
• If they are friends or enemies, high or low, rich or poor.
• On the evidence alone
• She will weigh one side against the other with her scale of justice.
• Both of those individuals will be treated the same.
• TRANSITION:
• This is what it means when the Bible says that God is no respecter of persons.
• It simply means that with God there are no favourites.
• He is not impressed by social standing or by the colour of a person’s skin.
• God shows no favouritism.
• But unfortunately so often his followers do!
Quote:
• "An unprejudiced mind is the rarest thing in the world"
• Unless you happen to be like the man who said:
• "I am not prejudiced, I hate everyone !"
• But if we are honest;
• All of us are biased or prejudiced,
• And the things that affect me are probably very different to the things that affect you;
• And vice-versa.
• We all concise or un-concisely have a list of certain people we like to be with;
• And if were honest we have a list of people we don’t like to be with!
To be blunt there are desirable people and there are undesirable people:
• i.e. Some of us would rather spend time with educated people;
• And we can look down on those who don’t have a strong academic background.
• i.e. Some have certain race or ethnic groups they don’t want to associate with,
• i.e. Some would rather be with young people so they don’t make time for the elderly.
• i.e. Some would…you can fill in the blanks.
• The apostle James says in chapter 2, verses 1-11:
• That prejudice and partiality are wrong!
• And when we see it in action we need to deal with it!
James presents his case against prejudice in a sermon style way:
• First, he introduces a principle in verse 1,
• Second, he illustrates it in verses 2-4,
• Third, he explains it in verses 5-11,
• Fourth, he applies it in verses 12-13.
• So, let’s follow his outline and division;
• And start with the first point.
(1). The Principle Stated (vs 1).
“My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favouritism.”
James refers to his readers as ‘brother and sisters’:
• It is a reminder that this letter is written to the family.
• He is speaking to believers, committed followers of Jesus.
• Maybe it’s a reminder to these Churches that you can choose your friends;
• But you are stuck with your family!
• I think the point he is making is very clear:;
• The world in which we live may live and act one way;
• But in the family of God we are to act and live differently!
• And one of the ways we should be different to the world in which we live;
• Is in the area of relationships.
• In the area of accepting people, valuing people and befriending people.
So the apostle James is dealing with the topic of favouritism:
• In fact our word ‘favouritism’ here comes from two words in the Greek language;
• Which, when put together, mean "to receive by face."
• It's the idea of judging others solely on external face values.
• Externals such as clothes, money, social standing etc.
Ill:
• In his autobiography, Mahatma Gandhi wrote that during his student days;
• He read the Gospels seriously and considered converting to Christianity.
• He believed that in Jesus Christ;
• He could find the solution to the caste system that was dividing the people of India.
• So one Sunday he decided to attend services at a nearby church;
• And afterwards talk to the minister about becoming a Christian.
• When he entered the sanctuary, however,
• The usher refused to give him a seat;
• And suggested that he go worship with his own people.
• Gandhi left the church and never returned, he said:
• “If Christians have caste differences also, I might as well remain a Hindu.”
• That usher’s prejudice not only betrayed Jesus Christ,
• But also turned a person away from trusting Him as Saviour.
• TRANSITION: In these verses:
• James is dealing here with our tendency to be prejudiced toward others;
• Because of outward appearances i.e. ethnicity, social class, or any other reason.
• God is not impressed by those things;
• When He judges, He judges the heart, not outward appearances.
Ill:
• Incident in the Old Testament (1 Samuel chapter 16 verse 7);
• When God chose a new king;
• Samuel the prophet lined up Jesse’s boys,
• Who were all physically impressive.
• Yet God rejected them all one by one;
• Samuel was perplexed and so God explained to him why they had been rejected.
“Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
• TRANSITION: God is not impressed by externals;
• When He judges, He judges the heart!
(2). The Principle Illustrated (vs 2-4)
• Following the statement of his principle,
• James fleshes out the issue with a vivid illustration.
THE SCENARIO (VS 2).
“A man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes.”
• James says, imagine you are the ‘meeter & greeter’ at a Sunday morning service;
• When two people come in through the front doors.
• First comes Mr. Have and he is followed by Mr. Have-Not.
• Mr Have, is wearing a nice suit, an expensive watch;
• And you noticed he pulled in to the car park in a very luxurious motor.
• Mr Have-Not however is unshaven, wearing shabby jeans, and a dirty t-shirt;
• He looks like he cannot afford a bike never mind a car!
THE RESPONSE (VS 3).
• James says, if you pay special attention to Mr Have
• (the one who is wearing the fine clothes)
• And give him preferential treatment by saying, "You sit here in a good place,"
• And to Mr Have-Not (the poor man,)
• You show Second-rate treatment by saying;
• “You stand over there, or sit down on the floor at the back,"
• James says, by showing that type of double standards;
• You are practicing clear discrimination,
• And God says that is wrong!
THE MOTIVE (VS 4).
• Question: Why would we treat people differently?
• Answer: Because we are flawed, sinful people. Our motives are wrong!
“Have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives?”
James highlights our sinful motives:
• We might do it consciously or we might do it unconsciously;
• But by giving Mr Have preferential treatment over Mr Have-Not;
• We ae really hoping for a payback;
• We are out to impress, and win his approval,
• We are hoping that in the long run,
• Any friendship with Mr Have will somehow have benefits to you.
(3). The Principle Explained (vs 5-11)
• James now presents three reasons why prejudice is wrong.
• Three explanations why we should seek to treat everybody as equals.
FIRST: FAVOURITISM IS INCONSISTENT WITH WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES ABOUT GOD’S LOVE (VS 5).
“Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?”
• James tells his readers to look at the situation from God’s perspective;
• As we have noted already;
• God bases his choices on the heart, not the wallet.
• Don’t misread the verse, James is not saying that all poor people are saved,
• No, of course not.
• The verse informs us that God has given those who are poor in money;
• The opportunity to be rich in faith.
• Their social poverty does not have to make them spiritual paupers as well.
• In fact they can be rich in Christ and rich in the things of God!
Ill:
• In the Old Testament as well as the New Testament;
• The Bible consistently emphasizes that the Lord cares for the foreigner, the stranger,
• The outcast and the unprotected, particularly the fatherless and the widow.
• And God challenges us to share that concern.
• Because God has imparted his nature and his compassion to you and me,
• We are going to have to show the same kind of care,
• The same kind of concern, that God has shown.
• He cares, and we need to care.
SECOND: FAVOURITISM IS WRONG BECAUSE WE OFTEN END UP HELPING THE WRONG PERSON (VS 6-7).
“But you have dishonoured the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?”
• James reminds his hearers that the ones they are showing special favoritism to;
• Are the very ones who were exploiting them.
• We know the saying; “The rich get richer and the poor get poorer”
• That is what was happening in this society at the time James wrote this letter.
So James reminds them of fact asking a series of three questions.
• Question 1. Who is exploiting you?
• Question 2. Who is dragging you into court?
• Question 3. Who is blaspheming the name of Christ?
• The answer to all three questions is the same.
• It is the rich,
• And he goes on to say they are often unbelievers who blaspheme Jesus Christ.
• Sadly this Church was mixed up:
• They were helping those who exploited them;
• And ignoring the people who needed them!
THIRD: FAVORITISM IS WRONG BECAUSE THE BIBLE SAYS SO (VS 8-9).
“If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself, you are doing right. 9 But if you show favouritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as law-breakers”
• What James is saying in these verses is nothing new;
• In fact centuries before James wrote this letter,
• Moses had already issued a commandment from God (Leviticus chapter 19 verse 18),
• "You shall love your neighbour as yourself."
• That was the law then, and it is still the law today.
Ill:
• On one occasion Jesus was put on the spot and asked some questions;
• He reminded those listening that the greatest commandment is to love God with everything;
• And the second greatest commandment; "You shall love your neighbour as yourself."
• (Matthew chapter 22 verse 39)
• TRANSITION: Therefore whenever we show favouritism, we break this law;
• In fact we sin and we become a lawbreaker.
Now, for some of us, James' condemnation of partiality may seem a little too harsh.
• We know we are not perfect,
• But at least we're not murderers or adulaters or thieves etc!
• The apostle James knew some of us would react this way,
• So notice what he says in verse 10.
“For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point
is guilty of breaking all of it.”
Ill:
• The Law of God is not a checklist;
• Where we tick what we have kept and what we have broken.
• It is more like a pearl necklace;
• If it snaps in one place, then who necklace is lost.
• Now obviously some sins are more heinous than others,
• But we need to realise that showing favouritism is a big deal to God!
(4). Principle Applied (vs 12-13).
“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”
The real test of whether our faith is real is how we treat other people:
• Quote: Malcolm S. Forbes who first said:
• “You can easily judge the character of a man;
• by how he treats those who can do nothing for him.”
• The real test of whether our faith is real is how we treat other people.
• And James remind us here that we will be judged in at least three ways.
FIRST: WE WILL BE JUDGED BY OUR WORDS.
• Verse 12; “Speak”
• Our speech is always a giveaway!
• We might not show any hostility towards those we don’t like;
• But how often do we ignore them and do not say anything to them!
• We normally are keen to speak and engage with people we like.
• And by speaking encouraging words;
• We can make a huge difference to someone;
SECOND: WE WILL BE JUDGED BY OUR DEEDS.
• Verse 12; “Act”
• As we have noted already;
• It is a sin to show favoritism, prejudice or be biased against someone.
• And God makes it very clear that that attitude needs to be corrected and put right!
THIRD: WE WILL BE JUDGED BY HOW MUCH MERCY WE SHOW TOWARD OTHERS (VS 13).
13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”
• A prejudiced person cannot help but be judgemental,
• We have already made our minds up regarding that individual,
• Long before we have made the effort to get to know them as a person.
• But the individual who is motivated by the law of love;
• Will be different, they will accept people, value people;
• They will exude mercy in their relationships.
Question: What is mercy?
Answer:
• Mercy is being mindful and compassionate towards someone;
• Especially if that individual is undeserving or an enemy.
• Let’s make it practical;
• We naturally have our close circle of friends, that is human nature.
• We have a select group that we hang out with and we fellowship with.
• But you and I also claim to be indwelt by the Holy Spirit;
• Therefore we possess God’s nature,
• And so we are to be godlike, that is a merciful people
• So this morning ask yourself this question:
• How long has it been since you reached out to include someone new in your circle?
• What are you going to do this week to make that happen?
Quote: David Henderson:
“I have read countless numbers of books through the years on what it takes to grow a church. I know that it takes strong leadership. I know that it takes solid preaching. It takes great music. But in the end, the biggest factor is relationships. How we treat people. For the most part churches grow through two things friendship and kinship. Those that we are friends with and those that we are related to... That is who is generally attracted to our church. It’s about relationships it’s how we treat God’s people. That’s what matters more than anything.”
Ill:
• We celebrated our 20th Wedding Anniversary on Friday;
• (I know to some of you out there we are just beginners but to others that’s quite a time!)
• I gave Penny a card/poster that I made on the computer;
• She gave me one that was hand made.
• Mine, well, I could print a 100 copies off in 5 minutes;
• He’s was a one off, made with love, patience, creativity and time.
• It reminded me of the story of the little girl who was asked by her teacher;
• For your mother's birthday are you going to make a birthday card on your computer.
• The little girl replied;
"No. If you make one on the computer they don't keep it on the refrigerator as long as when you make one yourself."
• TRANSITION: People know when we fake it and take the easy option;
• People know when we show favouritism and when we are genuine.
• People know when we give time and make the effort and when we give the minimal.
• So with God’s help;
• Let’s be real and try to treat all people with respect and dignity.
SERMON AUDIO:
https://surf.pxwave.com/wl/?id=zZmLoTqqnsnx7JxxKiNQrlGca8Hl42C3
