James 2
Hypocrisy in the Church
Pastor Scott Campbell
Part of Wed Night
January 25, 2024
                                       James Chapter 2 Hypocrisy in the Church

Jas 2:1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
1. James ascribes the title Lord of

to Jesus.
2. The book of James most likely being the book of the new testament was written between 44 ad and 48 ad.
3. This is an example that from the beginning the church believed that Jesus is .
4. Chapter 2 begins just as as the rest of the book by saying it is not right to say you have faith in Christ yet show partiality to certain believers.
Jas 2:2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;
Jas 2:3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:
Jas 2:4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?

5. Apparently those with money were being catered to even to the point of assigning them good in the assembly.
6. In this case the poor were being placed were there was no seating or at the .
7. The footstool was the place around the of the speaker.
8. At the footstool would have been no seats just the floor and it also associated a person as a to the person at whose feet they sat.
9. The problem was not the shown to the rich but the lack thereof shown to the poor.
10. Its obvious that the partiality that James is referring to is toward those with much money, but the truth applies to all .
11. Verse 4 says these types of actions reveal in our minds.
Jas 2:5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
Jas 2:6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?
Jas 2:7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?

12. Many times it is the poor in money that are rich in .
13. Often wealth can be a to our faith.
14. These verses are not meant to attack the rich but to point out they have as well.

Jas 2:8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
15. The answer to the problem of all prejudice is to love your

.
Jas 2:9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
Jas 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
Jas 2:11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

16. We should understand these verses to say if you commit murder you will also be charged with adultery or vice versa.
17. We should understand these verses more like a breach of .
18. This is to protect us from selective obedience AKA .
Jas 2:12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
Jas 2:13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment
.
19. These verses tell us that how we show mercy to other will be when we stand before the Lord.
Jas 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
20. The second issues James deals with here is the of faith and works.
21. James is saying that a faith that is not followed by good works is not .
Jas 2:15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
Jas 2:16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
Jas 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

22. James is not teaching us that we are not saved by faith but that there is only one type of faith and that is a faith.
23. A faith is not faith at all!
Jas 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
24. This is a to the person claiming to have faith. Look also at what James didn’t say.

Jas 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
Jas 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

25. Here James shows that belief as used throughout scripture is more than just acknowledging

.
Jas 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
Jas 2:22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
Jas 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
Jas 2:24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
Jas 2:25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
Jas 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

26. This is not the justification of as in Romans 5.
27. These last verses are all talking about a visual faith, the justification referred to here is the justification of .
28. Abraham’s faith was made known to men when he offered .
29. Rahab’s faith was made known when she helped spies allude the soldiers of .
30. Just as our proves our body is alive our works prove our faith is alive.