James 2:1-3

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James 21-3
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Introduction

• In NT times people were either rich or poor,
  slaves or free, Jew or Gentile, Greek or
  barbarian.
• Galatians 328 There is neither Jew nor Greek,
  there is neither slave nor free, there is neither
  male nor female for you are all one in Christ
  Jesus.
• Colossians 311 where there is neither Greek nor
  Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian,
  Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and
  in all.

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Introduction

• It takes time for these truths to sink in
• Peter struggled with this truth
• The Sin of Partiality is still prevalent in
  many forms today.
• Today we look at
• The sin of partiality
• Why it is wrong

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What is the sin of Partiality?

• Jewish Christians often showed partiality toward
  the gentile Christians, also rich vs. poor
• James 22-4 2 For if there should come into your
  assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel,
  and there should also come in a poor man in
  filthy clothes, 3 and you pay attention to the
  one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, "You
  sit here in a good place," and say to the poor
  man, "You stand there," or, "Sit here at my
  footstool," 4 have you not shown partiality among
  yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?

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What is the sin of Partiality?

• Jewish Christians often showed partiality toward
  the gentile Christians
• Today partiality is still a problem
• Rich vs. poor preferential treatment
• Racial partiality
• Gender partiality
• Friends vs. visitors at our worship service
• Prejudice is more than black / white

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Why is Partiality a Sin?1 - Jesus is our
glorious Lord

• James 21 My brethren, do not hold the faith of
  our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with
  partiality.
• We must be like Jesus Luke 640 A disciple is
  not above his teacher, but everyone who is
  perfectly trained will be like his teacher.
• If we show partiality, we show that Jesus is
  partial (biased, racist, prejudiced).

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Why is Partiality a Sin?2 - We become judges

• James 24 have you not shown partiality among
  yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?
• God always hated unjust judges
• Matthew 71 Judge not, that you be not judged.
• If we judge against others we are fighting
  against God.
• Psalm 10932 For He shall stand at the right hand
  of the poor, To save him from those who condemn
  him.

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Why is Partiality a Sin?3 - We despise whom God
as honored

• James 25 Listen, my beloved brethren Has God
  not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in
  faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised
  to those who love Him?
• The gospel was preached to the poor Luke 722
  the poor have the gospel preached to them.
• Most who believed and obeyed were poor 1
  Corinthians 126 For you see your calling,
  brethren, that not many wise according to the
  flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are
  called.

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Why is Partiality a Sin?4 - We honor those who
oppress us

• James 26-7 6 But you have dishonored the poor
  man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you
  into the courts? 7 Do they not blaspheme that
  noble name by which you are called?
• Who is most likely to oppress you?
• Acts 1034-35 34 Then Peter opened his mouth and
  said "In truth I perceive that God shows no
  partiality. 35 But in every nation whoever fears
  Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.

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Why is Partiality a Sin?5 - We Break the Royal
Law

• James 28-9 8 If you really fulfill the royal law
  according to the Scripture, "You shall love your
  neighbor as yourself," you do well 9 but if you
  show partiality, you commit sin, and are
  convicted by the law as transgressors.
• Love your neighbor as yourself.
• Jesus Matthew 2236-40
• Paul Romans 138-10
• You sin, you are a transgressor of God's law

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Why is Partiality a Sin?6 - We will be judged by
law of liberty

• James 212-13 12 So speak and so do as those who
  will be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For
  judgment is without mercy to the one who has
  shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
• The law of Christ sets us FREE John 832
• Partiality restricts, binds, enslaves us
• If we show no mercy to others, thenNO MERCY will
  be shown toward us.

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Conclusion

• I hope you understand why James wrote
• James 21 My brethren, do not hold the faith of
  our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with
  partiality.
• We can understand why we mustaccept the Gentiles
• Acts 1117 If therefore God gave them the same
  gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord
  Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand
  God?"