Faith in Action Lesson 2: Honoring Your Faith James 2:1 13 Favoritism Condemned In a nutshell ~ Christians are not to discriminate regarding others whether in favor or against them because faith and favoritism are mutually incompatible. James says we are to live in anticipation of the day when we will stand before God, having our words and works judged by Him. Living in the light of this eternal perspective will help us to keep our motives pure and our manner of behavior acceptable at all times. Read James 2:1-13. If you awoke one morning to get ready for an appointment with the President and First Lady of the United States, how much time would you take with your dress and makeup, all the while rehearsing the words you would share with them? If, on the other hand, you knew you were going out to face a group of homeless people, would you go to the same trouble? This is the point James is working towards: that we re all guilty of treating people differently based upon outward appearances and status in life. This perspective is contrary to our Christian beliefs and we need to call it what it is sin! James would have us listen learn and live rightly by allowing God s Word to permeate every relationship we have. 1. How does James address those to whom he is speaking in verse 1? The severity of his exhortation in verses 1 13 is tempered first of all by letting the audience know that he is speaking to the brethren the family of God. He points to the tenderness of togetherness that is ours from being a part of the body of Christ. 2. Let s consider for a moment who this Jesus is from verse 1 that James says binds us all together as one with Him... He is ours: Not only is Jesus mine in the personal sense but when believers meet together for fellowship and worship, He is ours. Think how this truth binds us in unity as one body. Please share what comes to mind. 1
He is glorious: God in the flesh, manifested for all humankind. How does John 1:14 describe Him? Do you realize how amazingly wonderful this is? He is Lord: He is Master of all who believe in Him, the One to whom we surrender our lives in complete confidence and trust. Look up and briefly note what the Scripture has to say about Him as Lord in the following verses... a. John 13:13 b. Acts 10:36 c. I Corinthians 15:47 d. Philippians 2:11 e. Revelation 17:14 f. What does Revelation 17:14 have to say about those who are with Him that includes you? He is Jesus Christ: Jesus means Yahweh saves ; Christ means Messiah, or anointed one. He is the promised Savior, sent to save people from their sins. Personal~ You may recognize Him as glorious, you may realize Him as the Promised Messiah; but do you know Him as yours? Is He the Lord of your life? Would you like to pray to receive Him into your heart? Pray the following: Lord Jesus, I want to know you as my personal Savior today. I know I m a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. Please cleanse me and forgive my sin and fill me with Your Holy Spirit. Help me to follow You all the days of my life! If you prayed that prayer to receive Christ into your heart, tell your group leader or pastor of your commitment and welcome to the family of God! 2
Now that you are aware of your position as a believer in Jesus Christ, James is speaking to you as one of the brethren and about your responsibility in the family of God. 3. James literally lays the law down with a command in verse 1 what is it? The word partiality (NKJ) can also be translated as favoritism (NIV). James command is in the present tense, meaning that he is forbidding an action that the people were already in the habit of practicing. James says, don t do it or stop showing favoritism. Why was this worthy of special attention in James eyes? Because, as we will see, favoritism goes against God s law to love others and the very act of showing favoritism is cause for questioning the validity of a person s faith in Christ. This is serious business! Key Verse ~ (Memory verse) James 2:12 So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. Review this verse often throughout the week. Write it out a couple of times in the space provided to help you commit it to memory. By week s end, try to notice how and where you are able to put it into practice. Note your results. Read James 2:2-4 for review. The Illustration between Rich and Poor The irony of James point in this chapter about favoritism stems from the fact that the people we try to impress the most are usually those who care about us the least. Those who would be receptive to hearing the Gospel from us are usually the ones for whom we think we don t have the time. If James were here, he would ask us to wake up and smell the coffee and realize how susceptible we are to this problem and do something about it! In verses 2 4, James illustrates the discrimination commonly present in any Christian assembly. 1. What does James say about the rich man and the respect shown him? vv. 2 3 3
a. How does he describe the poor man and the lack of respect shown to him? vv. 2 3 b. Even in the Mosaic Law of the Old Testament, such discriminatory practices were condemned. Put Deuteronomy 1:17 in your own words. (Notice that the example given in this verse speaks of decisions being handed out in a court of law.) c. How does Leviticus 19:15 back up the teaching in Deuteronomy? To relate the point to James present day, he creates a situation where a finely dressed man walks into a Christian assembly and is given preferential treatment, followed by a shabbily dressed man who is made to feel less welcomed. 2. Both men were assigned seating based upon their outward appearance. We aren t told whether the men in James example are believers or non-believers, but how could this discrimination be dangerous in both cases? Such discrimination would send the wrong message to both men but would also potentially drive away the poor man who would not recognize his value in Christ due to the fact the Christians were inappropriately modeling it. 3. Just as the example in Deuteronomy and Leviticus reveal the evil actions of judges, so too James accuses the believers of wrong motives. What does he say? v. 4 a. The fruit of this kind of favoritism went so far as to create divisions in the Christian assembly, despite the fact that such distinctions were abolished by Christ. What does Galatians 3:28 say about this? If God commanded that no partiality be shown in the Old Testament law, surely He would not condone it among His people in the New Testament church, for the fruit of it is grounded in evil. Jesus taught in Matthew 7:1, Judge not that you not be judged. 4
Touchpoint~ Personal: Think about it for a moment... do you think that your perspective as a believer reflects an attitude of partiality toward others? Does your actions/behavior show any kind of favoritism? Can you share a time when it did? Briefly explain and be as honest as you can in your answer your understanding of this lesson depends on it. Reasons for Rejecting Favoritism Practicing partiality prevents God s best in the life of believers. In verses 5 7, James readdresses what he first brought up about the rich and poor in chapter 1. 1. James says God chose the poor. In what way did He make them rich? v. 5 God loves the poor even more than most of us realize. Not only are they rich because of their future inheritance based on who they are in Christ, they are also more likely than the rich to be converted. They recognize their need and their dependence upon God. 2. By their treatment of the poor, what had they done? v. 6a a. By their actions, these Christians were not helping their own cause. What does James say the rich were doing to them? v. 6b b. Whose name was being insulted as the result of such practices? v. 7 The recipients of James letter belonged to Jesus, and the discriminatory practices of people in the church dishonored His holy name! Up close~ Why do you think showing favoritism would be inconsistent with what Jesus taught? What do you think is the true motive behind showing any kind of favoritism? 5
3. James goes on to speak of the royal law of the Scripture, which was what? v. 8 See also Leviticus 19:18. What does James say about the one that honors this way of treating others? a. The command to love others as ourselves is commended by James. Who in fact makes this command possible to fulfill? See John 13:34 35 b. What do others understand when believers live by this law of love? v. 35 4. In verse 9, James straight talk reveals a startling fact; what is it? The word transgressors could also be translated as lawbreakers, meaning someone who had stepped over a line God s boundary and performed something that was strictly forbidden. In verse 10, James states clearly why those who practice favoritism are lawbreakers: if you try to obey the whole law but stumble in one point, you are guilty of breaking the whole law. He is not talking here about different degrees of sins, rather the fact that it only takes one sin to make a person a sinner. Verse 11 reveals the unity of the law and the fact that it has its origin in God. To resist one part of the law is to resist Him! Verses 12 13 are an appeal of obedience to the royal law of liberty or love in words and actions. When we think we are free to judge others we often forget that we will one day face God s judgment. The reality of His coming judgment should motivate all believers to speak and act in a way that pleases Him. 5. Verse 13 reveals the standard of judgment all believers will face on that day; what is it? a. To what words in Matthew 5:7 does James refer when making this statement? b. If you have shown mercy to others in this life, you will also receive God s mercy. If you are forgiving, kind and compassionate with others, then when you are in need of mercy, it will be given to you. How did Jesus describe this in Luke 6:38? Close your study with a time of prayer. 6
The wisdom to be discovered in James is likened to beautiful pearls held lovingly in the Father s hand, waiting to be dropped one by one into the reader s mind and heart. The value of each is priceless (Matthew 13:45 46). At the Spirit s leading, select one Pearl of Truth from your lesson and explain why it is precious to you. Pearl of Truth ~ Take the Pearl of Truth you ve selected and pray it back to God. Praying the Word not only blesses His heart, it allows you to make it your own! As you showcase it by putting it on display in your life, others will be drawn to the Lord by its beauty. Write out your prayer in the space provided below. Pray the Truth ~ 20010 Janis J. Vance, All Rights Reserved. Used by permission. 7
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