Show No Partiality

Was Tucker Bibles list go back to James were in James chapter 2 tonight, as the apostle is rotting to his church and this is actually a number of scattered congregations because of the persecution they have dealt with significant suffering, and I was just drawn to something that Cory said about the face of Christ being seen. If Christ is going to be seen and glorified on the earth.

He's going to be more most fully seen in his local church. Certainly Christ is seen in you and eyes individuals the same as we live in the world as the workplace, the school, whatever it may be. And of course that's important, but there's something about the bride being together.

There's a completion, a fullness and so we want to be all the church that we can't be, because God's honor his witness in the world is on the line if we are what were called to be James writing to these congregations that are scattered around. He writes to them, and he's talking to them now about some practical ways they can do better as a local church at some very similar actually to what were looking at in first Timothy and lines up with some parallels even this evening's message with what we talked about this morning but to he's Artie talked to them in the previous chapter about God's process of maturity that God sovereignly designs, orchestrates multifaceted trials that come in our lives and do these trials, we grow to where our first response is God's up to something good. He's up to something for his glory. And I'm going to trust him in this process this trial. This testing that I'm in. He's talked about them being doers of the word.

A person who practices the truth that we come to very practical issue here in chapter 2 were James is going to talk about making sure that everyone is viewed equally in the church is just no place for division. There's no place for classes clicks any type of prejudice or partiality. I remember many many years ago, goodness, decades ago as a as a very young preacher I was visiting the Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis Tennessee and I remember Dr. Rogers talking about the first African-American person, who joined Bellevue Baptist Church and he brought them before the church and of the church overwhelmingly unanimously voted the minute he told the church. My tenure here was on the line if you had rejected these folks because of their ethnicity or because of their race than I would resign as your pastor, and I'm sure I don't remember that I wasn't in church hardly grown up. I don't remember that since a Bob prejudice are racism within the church. But I'm sure it exists in individual hearts and I'm sure it's existed in congregations in the past and not just racism rich against poor that's going to be the issue here, and by the way these things cut both ways and as one of the nieces of Martin Luther King said hate didn't come in one color, people can learn to hate the unloving 4001 different reason. There are those who have been hurt and abused by certain segments of society, maybe, maybe a girl was abused by her father, and she's not careful site would like to turn that into you hate and a bitterness toward people that remind of her father and on and on and on we could go with. Things were just fallen human beings in a fallen world and we are so prone it is so very solicitous without even thinking about it, and sometimes without even being aware of it that we can put people in different classification and what James is going right to the churches is that can not happen. Partiality cannot stand in Christchurch.

That means we are always read pictures when eating at that evil arises in our heart's favoritism.

Partiality has no place of the church. Sometimes as a staff from will be discussing the sheet and you not might not be aware of this but some sheep are stranger than other sheet some sheep are just more difficult than other sheet of no I say straight don't mean strange wrong just strange different.

It's hard to figure out why is this brother feel this way or why does this sister respond that way it would scratch her head talking. We minister to them when I remind them I said look Phyllis if everybody was just wonderfully perfectly mature, they would need Shepherd. We all need shepherds and we need the great Shepherd in his book, by the way, so that we can keep being repeaters and learners and do better because again God's glory is on the life and whatever else matters. It matters chiefly God's church is in harmony is a lot of asphyxia that the modern church. Mrs. brightly in one of those is is the concept of regenerate membership. I'm thinking about doing our true church conferences next year on a regenerate membership by like that's the only membership there is coming, you don't join a football team lets you plan to play football.

You don't go to football playing team to play baseball. We don't join a church. If you're not born of the spirit, regenerate, and I remember talking to pastor after pastor after pastor as a young minister and them saying to me, will I know a big part of my congregation don't act like they know Chrysler don't really know Christ. But it's okay we just going to try to reach them to with the gospel without it's not right. Sure, we try to reach all people with the gospel, but we don't knowingly accumulate members who haven't come to faith in Christ. So first of all, that aspect and by the way, that's a long difficult journey for a pastor to leave the church to where they have a good sound spiritual scriptural process of counseling in bringing those into the church that God has converted and as the New Testament says in an acts chapter 2 the Lord added to his church did you get that we do not build his church.

He does not build our church. He builds his church were to discern what the Lord's doing, based on the thought of Scripture, so there's a lot to say about church unity and those factors have a lot to do with it. Obviously if you got a church that 40 that is 40% goats, and 60%.

She will be disunity brought so that the foundation stone, but with in the congregation of the elect and the true regenerate.

We can fall in the cultural prejudices and when I say cultural that there just so multifaceted. I get really put out with the simplicity. The simplistic argument of modern progressive liberals should be called digressive liberals as I like to paint this broad generalization. If you're a white European and male than your all of these things. If you're if you're an ethic person from this grace was your oppression, your all these things know there's all kinds of mixed up stuff all in the there's actually somewhat male European folks who are good people there Zach to some folks of minority groups who are evil and wicked in me, and there's some white European descendent folks are mean and wicked and how to be called out for it and there's some some very wonderful and godly in special people who are of non-white European descendents itself on and on we could go in my thing is in Christianity, we never just label groups because you miss it is just not that, but individuals within groups and individuals within the church can fall into certain rights that sometimes many within the church can fall into these kind of prejudices are these kind of partiality toward one group not to the other and that must stop in Christchurch clears the way words James chapter 2 beginning is in verse one my brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus with an attitude of personal favoritism that is not just plain straightforward 1st to 4th.

A man comes in your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes and you spent pay special attention to the one who is wearing fine clothes. You say you sit here and a good place to save the poor man you send over there are sit down by my footstool. Had you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil motives. Listen, my beloved brother did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to those who love and but you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into court. They not blaspheme the fair name by which you been called it however you are fulfilling the royal law according to the according to Scripture, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. You're doing well, but if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he's become guilty of all. He did not say our brother, for he who said, do not commit adultery also said do not commit murder if you do not commit adultery but you do commit murder, you become transgressor of the law. So speak and so active though as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty, or judgment will be merciless to the one who is shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

No I verses one through five mistress. Note the partiality problems stated the partiality problems stated in verse five he said listen, my beloved brother Debbie stop right there. That's a powerful statement of equality and unity. Your all brethren.

Some brethren are rich, some brother to poor some brethren are rich because they worked hard. They had more initiatives they have more drive. Some brethren are poor because they're just not as hard workers, they don't have the initiative they don't have the drive.

Some brethren are rich because, in the province of God, they fell in the right places at the right time are born with). Some folks are poor they work hard they tried that going for base provided for their family.

But I don't have a lot they did the best they knew how to do. Here's what I'm saying in God's providence we all found our separate different places, but were all brethren. He says listen brethren.

Are we all saying as as has been said many times, but it's a good expression. The ground is level at the cross, the ground is level at the cross. Now the Jews of this day before they're converted to Christianity, and I'm sure a lot of this carried over. You don't get perfect when you get saved you should become a repent or ago they coveted recognition than they coveted honor interest in their culture list. Don't let the old Greek Gentiles off the hook. They were the same way that they they were so work feverishly if you will, to be a person of standing in the society and of honor, one to the other. They sought for men's parades, but on site. He says in verse five. Listen number beloved brethren on some back up in verse one, my brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism. They skinny at something we says in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ is a do not understand culturally speaking, the lowliest person who comes into your assembly is marked by the love and righteousness and glories of Jesus Christ. I do not understand the man of highest esteem and greatest wealth in your assembly is marked by the same righteousness honor and glory of Jesus Christ. There's just no difference ceasing see how warped you are and you think it see how some Christian you are when you show partiality when you show favoritism.

In this case of a rich person over poor person in our culture. There's ladder climbing. There's political savvy. Their social standing and there's click send. Too often, some of this gets over and your obsidian too many times God put you in a small group the jury and so that you would learn to love people who are lacking who don't fit your clicker not in your niche, so to speak, because we need to learn to walk in this truth that were all a part of the glories of Jesus Christ. Earthly classifications have no bearing in the church of Jesus Christ. It's quite possible not affect chapter 3 verse one would point this out that some within the church or even jockeying for position and to have a high standing within the church, alluding in the flesh.

Someone said some people go to church to close their eyes and others go to church to the clothes see who's of what standing who stands out who is special will were all special in Christ and we are equally so we are all in the process of sanctification were all humbled re-printers. I think what Paul is saying here. He points out, my brethren don't hold your faith in the glorious Lord Jesus Christ with attitude personal favoritism the same.

Here's what you doing here you're looking at the brethren. But you're missing the Christ in the brethren. As Paul said on another occasion, to the Corinthian church. He said aren't you thinking like mere men and that how a person would think, who Christ hasn't changed is about how the fallen natural heart with think you can't think that way cannot charge you on this Sunday night dear friend in Christ.

If you have the slightest smidgen of prejudice, partiality, racism, whatever is must be repented and today. I promise you any action on it would not be tolerated here, but the attitude of it needs to be slain and drag before the Lord Christ is bigger than that. It is just like Jesus to save people from the class in the group that you don't lock the best bring rod into your church and all are welcome only qualification here is do you know Christ Jesus always looked on the heart. Remember the poor widow who gave her mind in the treasury at the temple and by the way, culturally speaking, she was at the bottom of the bottom of the bottom she had nothing and yet Jesus praised her that she had done more that honor God than all the rest of the Pharisees were in the crowd and they always thought they were special and they had wealth and power and they were so devoted to the Lord. I made up new laws to illustrate how spiritual they were Jesus and know that little lady who has culturally almost nothing gave more than all the rest. When Jesus looked at people, he was prone to see the potential that was in them. You could not have blundered much more than Simon did. You could not of stuck your foot in your mouth more than Simon did he deny the Lord three times during his earthly ministry. The Lord looked at Simon.

He said you're going to be Peter the raw the rock which is in the Gospels, usually more like a tumbleweed just bounce around all right. But Jesus saw what he could make of them.

Millicent brothers and sisters when you're in your small group in your fellow shipping with one another. Lord yes there people who don't do right understand that there's a place for loving correction. The church is responsible to do that, but you need to look at people in terms of where is God going to take where is God going to take God kitten can take some of the roughest material and make some of the most beautiful clothing. I remember I told you this for a while these things pop in my mind while I'm preaching, but I remember when Billy Graham was on the Johnny Carson show us back when late-night was halfway decent, and Johnny Carson was trying to be funny and he told Billy Graham. He said do you think I could be a preacher in the grandson, the gods made some of the best preachers are some the worst sinners well there that actually that's true. It was funny in my life, but it is true, you think that there might be brothers and sisters in your class and you have no concept of where they came from home. They grew up in the marriage and the difficulties they might've endured.

They may have really been oppressed. They may really be no we didn't. We have a culture that makes everybody a victim of something, but there people who really are victim we need to be patient with one another and not show partiality not not just be prone to those who are easiest and more comfortable get on with their part of the bride of Christ purpose to learn how to view them like Jesus with potential. He looked at Simon who would deny him three times and you will be a rock Sangha will make your rock member. The sinful woman at the well of Sarkar. Jesus told her about the truce of salvation. I believe she was converted and she goes out end and she gets converted entire city to Christ are least tells a evangelized entire sections I converted Sinbad to life the cheaper the last one on the list to do anything like evangelizing the city walls too often are found among professing Christians today dress shouldn't matter. Color of skin does not matter are fashion does not matter. What's important is do they know Christ. If they do their one with us and if they don't know Christ. We still love them as a fellow image bearer of God. There is a sanctity to human life were all in this thing together. We must look at all believers. Though equally as possessing Christ they possess. Christ love like we possess. Christ love. I possess Christ forgiveness like we possess Christ forgiveness they possess Christ righteousness. We could look there's nothing there's nothing that matters in this temporal world, but whether or not you have the imputed righteousness of Christ does matter. Whoever they are they have that like you have in the glory of Christ is there's just like the glories of Christ are ours. Look at verse five.

As we get to the end of this section as we talk about the partiality being stated.

He said listen, my beloved brethren did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to those who love them. He said matter fact if this will get practical about it. Look around you has it not been true that more folks from the lower strata, says of the society seem to come to genuine faith in Christ and though flows from the upper classes of society. If you're here tonight and sir are man you come from more money than most of us, God can use you just didn't choose to use people like you often.

Generally, God didn't choose those factor why is that true wife often said this one reasons as troopers is a lot more poor folks in our rich folks know the reasons God is sovereign and that's what the Bible says he does what he wants to do. Lisa says we're practically her look around and in the you not understand the folks that show the most faithful faith and love for Christ, tend to be not the wealthiest folks in the community that can happen but don't they don't tend to be no say word to him. Verse five listen, my mother did not God choose the poor. This morning noticed to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom. In other words, culture views them as lower-class, but they are the wealthiest people in town. There are rich in Jesus Christ rich in faith. A person's wealth may buy them the things of the world, but they cannot buy them eternal life and wealth never impresses God and shouldn't impress us this word to use here is the same Greek word Paul uses in Ephesians 1. Ephesians chapter 2, when he gives us the doctrines of sovereign grace how God elects our chooses those who is going to say that he chooses them. And as James says there poor in the world's eyes, but there rich in faith. Poor in this life, but they have great wealth in Christ now and have great wealth in the future life, the words God makes the saved poor man rich in God makes the rich lost man, poor more often than not. God does choose the poor of this world over those who are in high places of wealth or power or position. First Timothy 617 and eight to let me read that one right quick as a good cross reference here will you guys are sold to the screens years ago, I'd say let's look at the script which turned and made a slight look for the screen to tell you something this day and that's not your bad it's just different. First Timothy 617 that they listen and struggle those who are rich in this present world not to be conceded are to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but only God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy not having to know some rich people least compared to the rest of us and I know some rich people who do this very think they understand this could be gone tomorrow. This is a stewardship from God that they enjoy the nice things they have, but they don't make an idol out of them.

But if you do, you need to repent of that unit. Understand that whatever gifts you have and whatever work ethic you have the back of all of that is the grace of God, you're no more special than anybody else but a fact James is in the balance of things. God didn't think many people like you to be asking them. Verse 18. He says instruct them. The rich people to do good to be rich in good works to be generous to be ready to share. I'm thankful for those whom God's blessed in this way that they have a heart to be ready to share.

We have a lot of nice things. Grace, like church because people that God's blessed have been very generous with new knowledge that Whitney only got a few folks here that have a lot in their stingy pastor. How do you know that I don't look at the given out of snow.

I watch them over the years. I'm not in this about it. I'm not upset about it here so I feel about if you keep it keep it keep it but he loved Jesus just seems to come on through you. I don't know the proportion I don't know the amount. I don't know if I told you before how I don't know how much to retire wrong. I feel like I'm behind, but I just leave that Lord's hands. I don't know how that works on the side for you.

You should decide for me was certain I will judge each other but the point is, in this particular church at this time they had a real hang up on making the wealthy. Feel welcome in making the poor man feel unwelcome in the church that should not happen. That should not have well spiritual common sense fix in here. Look at front versus excessive. That's my second point. Spiritual common sense. You know I'm one who talks about how much I dislike pragmatism and I dislike pragmatism and how to build the church. But there's another things as to what we are to do that. The old Puritans and they were the best expositors that's ever what I know of any generation. The old Puritans were the greatest expositors and I came up with the phrase called spiritual common sense or something's to about speak exactly to which is obviously true Unitas.

The Bible didn't say a lot about it because we have the. The principles of the word in the spirit of God to help us in this common sense and this is what James is getting to here in verses six and seven, he said, but you have dishonored the poor man.

Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you in the court and do they not blaspheme the fair name by which you been called. He said I think about it.

Of of all the persecution your enduring by being a Christian in this product present A's don't play most all of them come from rich people that I think the trick would be yeah most all of them do it. So this is a stern rebuke to them. You're acting just like the lost rich man your your your taking advantage of those whom you can take advantage of your miss treating those because you could miss treat them and get away with it now. The court system. This day was was known to be corrupted and the wealthy and the powerful could manipulate the judges to get the verdicts they needed to favor themselves and the poor man will be left standing with injustice we so that's kind of the way you're treating people you're acting just like those, and those are the kind of folks who are persecuting the most think about our Lord.

He was poor as far as the world was concerned he gave himself over to be lonely and meek and poor in this world. He was the victim of injustice that was perpetrated against him by the wealthy of this day. So whether it's at the hand of the rich corporate executive, or whether it's the hand of the rich labor union boss, it seems that the small guy are the poor guys are always getting this bad end of the deal in our culture today. Yes, we see a lot of this in the rich politician who are constant constantly exploiting the lower class are the poor folks of our culture constantly promising this and promising that this is free, that is free this handout that handout and at the end of the day that actually you you you lose your humanity.

When everybody does everything for you men used to lose their dignity and their self-respect and I don't know there's there's some things here that perhaps our government needs to address.

But young guys go to school and and in the rack up a huge debt. And now the attitude is I don't have to pay it off while that's a great way to start adulthood. That's a great principal to teach young people just rack up the debt and let somebody else pay it off.

The government paid off pretty good but didn't have anybody they just have other people's money. My phone is is the principal and so see you. Can you a lot of times liberals take these verses and talk about will have these great social welfare programs want them tell you there exploiting the poor, the exact way this verse is condemning now don't misunderstand me. Rich capitalist conservatives can be very explicated and vicious and mean-spirited to again hate and greed and injustice didn't just come in one political party, but I think it's the lowest of the low to fly the banner of helping the minority in the poor when really you're exporting them for your own power and wealth is not a small thing.

Look for if a politician is constantly constantly constantly building their position on helping the poor.

How do they get into office in after they get into office 1520 2530 years. They got $100 million to personal wealth if they really believe that, then limit personally. Bernie Sanders gave what 1% of his wealth to charity last year but he so concerned about the poor. I look the Scripture would teach bear this out in your own life.

The reality of it out and maybe will believe you little bit better love there's a lot of exploiting of the poor, and I think the point James is making what ever happens in the church that must not happen.

Got absolutely must not happen in God's church and in verse seven. Again, do they not blaspheme the fair name by which you have been called in other words by the things that these the wealthy of the culture around them was doing to the church. They they were blaspheming God by blaspheming God's children.

They work hurting Christ by hurting those who belong to Christ will quickly III he says walk in this superior law of liberty uses two phrases for law he talks about a royal law then later on down in verse 12 he talks about the law of liberty verse eight. If however you are fulfilling the royal law you're saying you you function according to a higher law than just the moral law contained in the Commandments. Those are always true. But there's a higher law, a royal law. We embrace Scripture says you shall love your neighbor as yourself. He said if that's what you're functioning you're doing well is it if you will walk in that love God put a love in you, at conversion, you have a capacity to love in a way, you did not have before conversion now mature in that growing that in an flesh that out any feud that you'll find you're treating everybody like they'll be treated when you mature in the royal law love your neighbor as yourself, then you don't need a lot of rules you just naturally do with the law would ask you to do you fulfill the law. Romans 1310 says love does no wrong to neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law, so we walk in this new law.

This royal law because there's a new love, the love of God's been shed abroad in our hearts.

The Bible says and when you love that. That way you overcome the temptation to be prejudice or show partiality or favoritism based on ED classification. The world may put on people. Someone said hatred makes a person a slave but love sets us free to reign as King's.

Let's watch the royal law. Hatred always enslaves prejudice always enslaves you racism always enslaves you the love of Christ set you free to live as a king. Love enables us to obey the word of God, and treat others as the law of God within 10 forced to do verse nine but if you show partiality, you are committing sin and you're convicted by the loss transgressor. If you show partiality to someone based on worldly classifications, then you left the royal law you're not functioning down on the base law of of the moral law of God and by the way you're violating your falling way, way, way below the standard of Christian conduct. If you show partiality. This is a serious sin. I think probably in the context what we see is that the church that James is writing to was saying well. We know this isn't good but you know it's not that big a deal. He said no it is a big it's very big deal not only violating the moral law of God, you're leaving the royal law of love. God's put that capacity in your heart and your abandoning what you are your falling below the level you're to be living on verse 10 forever keep whoever keeps the whole law yet stumbles in one point become guilty of all. Verse 11 for he who said, do not commit adultery also said do not commit murder if you do not commit adultery, do commit murder, you become a drug treatment transgressor the law. Another words just did. You said only show some partiality we show some favoritism but is not Sears it's initially his lucky break and all the wall. Verse 11 verse 12 read the so speak and so act as those hard who are to be judged by the law of liberty, not fearful, but the principle is that we value bait evaluate rather ourselves as followers of Jesus Christ we been accepted in grace. Therefore, we should look at one another in grace when you look at somebody resisting your small group class or visiting your congregation and use come to meet the site, whether or not they're not my time. They don't fit me. When Jesus looked down from heaven at you.

You definitely were not his type. You didn't fit his group.

He chose and love beyond comprehension to extend grace to that, he says now you your my children that you walk in that same love and grace one toward another.

Didn't matter what they fit matters at their child of grace we've been accepted in grace so we judge in grace we've been placed in this new law.

This law of liberty. In other words, we are liberated from any confinement to the drudgery of and the guilt of that I keep this law perfectly today not keep that law the next hour. In the last hour was my heart rock that's just bondage were saved by grace through faith, not by the law were rated for that kind of concept facing that same kind of generosity and acceptance and grace must flow one to another in God's church. Verse 13. Judgment will be merciless to the one who shows no mercy, and mercy triumphs over judgment. Think the simple point is the believer of all people ought to be able to show temperance patients long-suffering and kindness and acceptance to that difficult person who may be in church. If you can't show mercy. How can you be one who knows the mercy you've Artie gotten from God.

You can't really be saved if the pattern of your life is to hold grudges if the pattern of your life is to be unforgiving if the pattern of your life is to classify people as not being fit for your fellowship in your kindness and your acceptance. You can't be a child of mercy. If you're like that and if you do it like that and you fall into that if you are God's child, your broken and humbled and repentant about it. So God don't let me walk in that.

That's contrary to the truth of what Christianity's will. That's what James is saying to the church 2000 years ago and I think it has a lot to say to the church today that as your pastor, I'm just being honest. I know know of no systemic issues in this church but I don't know hardly any systemic issues in the culture. All there's plenty of hate and unkindness means spiritedness and unloaders, but it goes everywhere of the news media tries to blow things into sensationalism is way, way too much of it out there, but is not simplistic and even in the church that I think by God's grace is a good church in a fairly mature church. It's very possible that sitting here this day you have some issues in your own heart that you need to take and drag from their lurking places and slay them before the Lord say father that attitude that viewpoint that disposition is wrong is wrong. I don't have to say this but I will say it absolutely anyone and everyone from any segment of the culture he wants to hear about Christ is welcome here. Anyone from any part of any part of our culture one that knows Christ and wants to join this church is welcome here as a fella air of mercy. That's where James is getting how was your heart tonight. Check out okay with God