The Hurdle of Partiality
Sermon Title: The Hurdle of Partiality
Sermon Text: James 2:1-13
Sermon Purpose: To call hearers to live out the evidences of a genuine faith, by avoiding the sin of partiality.
Sermon Proposition: There are 5 concepts tied to the sin of partiality.
I. The initiative demands that Christians not show partiality. V.1
What does it mean to show partiality or favoritism? It means to favor some people over others or to pay special attention to a person because of his wealth, social standing, position, authority, popularity, looks, influence, race, class, and culture.
Quote: “Jesus Christ is the Lord who rules and reigns in glory, in majesty and perfection, dominion and power of God Himself. His glory is so majestic that the appearance of man fades into oblivion – into utter nothingness before the Lord of glory. Therefore, any person who stands before Him is not thinking of his own worth and preference, but of the Lord’s glory.”
Proverbs 24:33 A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest;
Job 13:10 He will surely rebuke you If you secretly show partiality.
1 Timothy 5:21 I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality.
Leviticus 19:15 ' You shall do no injustice in judgment. You shall not be partial to the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty. In righteousness you shall judge your neighbor.
Everyone who is in the body of Christ is a brother, equal heir, everyone stands on an equal footing before the Lord Jesus Christ. Wealth, status, social standing, position or appearance – nothing matters except all men coming to the Lord Jesus Christ and worshiping Him.
II. The illustration demands that Christians not show partiality. V.2-4
A. Showing partiality sets one up as the judge of men. V.4a
Showing partiality sets one up as a judge of men. It makes one as God; it says who can worship God and who cannot. Where one can worship and where they cannot. Only God can make these determinations.
Romans 14:4 Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.
Romans 14:13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way.
1 Corinthians 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one's praise will come from God.
James 4:12 There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?
B. Showing partiality reveals evil hearts and thoughts. V.4b
1 Corinthians 10:24 Let no one seek his own, but each one the other's well-being.
Philippians 2:4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
III. The intent demands that Christians not show partiality. V.5-7
A. Showing partiality discriminates against the poor and lowly. V.5a
B. Showing partiality discriminates against people loved by God. V.5b
Psalm 12:5 "For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, Now I will arise," says the LORD; "I will set him in the safety for which he yearns."
Psalm 14:6 You shame the counsel of the poor, But the LORD is his refuge.
Psalm 140:12 I know that the LORD will maintain The cause of the afflicted, And justice for the poor.
Isaiah 25:4 For You have been a strength to the poor, A strength to the needy in his distress, A refuge from the storm, A shade from the heat; For the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.
C. Showing partiality displays a disgraceful attitude. V.6a
Luke 4:18 "The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
Ecclesiastes 9:16 Then I said: "Wisdom is better than strength. Nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, And his words are not heard.
D. Showing partiality displays a disgraceful behavior. V.6b-7
1 Corinthians 11:22 What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you.
Acts 13:50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region.
1 Peter 4:16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.
Deuteronomy 15:7 " If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the gates in your land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother,
Psalm 41:1 To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. Blessed is he who considers the poor; The LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.
Proverbs 19:17 He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD, And He will pay back what he has given.
IV. The integrity demands that Christians not show partiality. V.8-11
Luke 10:29 But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" 30 Then Jesus answered and said: "A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 "Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 "Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. 33 "But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 "So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 "On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.' 36 "So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?" 37 And he said, "He who showed mercy on him." Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."
Leviticus 19:18 'You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.
2. It violates the royal law of the kingdom.
Luke 10:25 And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" 26 He said to him, "What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?"27 So he answered and said, " 'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,' and 'your neighbor as yourself.' "
Matthew 22:39 "And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'
B. Showing partiality makes a person guilty of violating all the laws of God. V.10
Galatians 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them."
Deuteronomy 27:26 'Cursed is the one who does not confirm all the words of this law.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen!'
C. Showing partiality is just as serious a sin as adultery and murder. V.11
Romans 12:9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.
Romans 13:10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Romans 15:1 We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification.
Galatians 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
V. The instructions demand that Christians not show partiality. V.12-13
A. The fact that we shall all face the judgment of God. V.12
B. The fact that we shall all receive a reciprocal reward for our behavior. V.13
Matthew 7:1 "Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 "For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.
Matthew 18:35 "So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."
Micah 7:18 Who is a God like You, Pardoning iniquity And passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in mercy.
Romans 12:8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.