My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?

     If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are 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 but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. —James 2:1-13

Partiality - Prejudice - Favoritism

Love God - Love Neighbor

     But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

     If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. —James 1:25-27

True Religion -vs- Bad Religion

Bad Religion:

• Professed Faith but no Action
• Merely outward
• Pride for religious conformity
• Guilt for failing to meet the cultic standards

Bad Religion is a merely outward conformity to a standard of cultic behavior.

True Religion:

• Lived Faith
• Heart Change
• Love for God and people

True Religion is a specific way in which your heart relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ is given outward expression.

A merely religious person, who believes God will favor him because of his morality and respectability will ordinarily have contempt for the outcast.

“I worked hard to get where I am, and so can anyone else.”

That is the language of the moralist.

“I am only where I am by the sheer and unmerited mercy of God. I am completely equal with all other people.”

That is the language of the Christian heart

A sensitive social conscience and a life poured out in deeds of mercy to the needy is the inevitable sign of a person who grasped the doctrine of God’s Grace.

What?

My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. —James 2:1

Partiality is Sin

Definition:
Partiality, Prejudice and Favoritism is showing disdain or preferential treatment for someone because of their standing in life.

The Illustration:

For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? —James 2:2-4

Why?

Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called? —James 2:5-7

• Partiality is inconsistent with our Faith.
• God is the only Judge
• Prejudice and Favoritism is contrary to the Gospel.
• Prejudice is dishonoring Image Bearers
• The rich and powerful are the ones who oppress you.
• The rich and powerful are the ones who blaspheme the name of Christ.

How?

If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are 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 but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. —James 2:8-13

The Royal Law: Love your neighbor as yourself.

Redemption first - Law second

• The Passover Lamb - Sinai
• Salvation - obedience
• Justification - Sanctification
• Grace - Devotion

Jesus became poor for the sake of the poor:

• 2 Corinthians 8:9
• Revelation 3:17-18
• Hebrews 2:14
• 1 Peter 2:24
• Galatians 3:13
• 2 Corinthians 4:4-6