James 2:1-13 (p 178, NT)
How to Treat
People
Like
People
How to Be A Doer…
1. Look and listen intently…not casually.
2. Make intentional effort to remember and
not forget what you see when you look into
God’s Word.
3. Seek God’s highest blessings.
4. Walk what you talk…and make sure your
talk matches what you say is your walk.
5. Actively engage in social needs around
you.
6. Let your moral purity be your marker.
A principle….
James 2:1-13 (p 178, NT)
My brethren,
do not
hold your faith
in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ
with an attitude
of personal favoritism.
“προσωπολημψία” –
to receive by face
James 2:1-13 (p 178, NT)
James is not forbidding discernment
of character or showing honor
those to whom honor is due.
He is forbidding making value
judgments based on external
appearances.
An illustration…
James 2:1-13 (p 178, NT)
For if a man comes into your assembly
with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes,
and there also comes in a poor man
in dirty clothes,
and you pay special attention to the one who is
wearing the fine clothes,
and say, “You sit here in a good place,”
and you say to the poor man,
“You stand over there, or sit down by my
footstool,”
What motivates prejudice?
James 2:1-13 (p 178, NT)
have you not made distinctions
among yourselves,
and become judges
with evil motives?
James 2:1-13 (p 178, NT)
If there is one place in this world where
class distinctions,
color,
political affiliation,
nationality,
education,
financial status,
fashion,
physical or mental capabilities,
or personal appearance
are not the basis for acceptance
it is in the place of worship.
Why prejudice is wrong…
Listen, my beloved brethren:
did not God choose
the poor of this world
to be rich in faith
and heirs of the kingdom
which He promised
to those who love Him?
But you have dishonored the poor man.
Why prejudice is wrong..
1. Prejudice is inconsistent with
God’s Kingdom methods.
Negative prejudice – assuming
the worst based on
appearances.
James 2:1-13 (p 178, NT)
Is it not the rich
who oppress you
and personally drag you into court?
Do they not
blaspheme the fair name
by which you have been called?
Why prejudice is wrong..
2. Prejudice ignores the
universality of sin.
Positive prejudice – assuming
the best based on appearances
Why prejudice is wrong..
This is upside down thinking!
They are lowering what God has
elevated and elevating what
God has lowered.
Treating people like people….
James 2:1-13 (p 178, NT)
If, however, you are fulfilling 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 “ἁμαρτία”
and are convicted by the law
as transgressors. “παραβάτης”
sin “ἁμαρτία”
- Missing the mark; falling short
transgressors. “παραβάτης”
- willfully going outside the limits
Sin can be
- Not going far enough
- Going too far
Treating people like people….
James 2:1-13 (p 178, NT)
For whoever keeps the whole law
and yet stumbles in one point,
he has become guilty of all.
For He who said,
“Do not commit adultery,”
also said, “Do not commit murder.”
Now if you do not commit adultery,
but do commit murder,
you have become a transgressor
of the law.
Why prejudice is wrong..
3. Prejudice breaks scriptural
commands. Period.
There is no “spiritual net worth”
formula
Wrapping it up…
James 2:1-13 (p 178, NT)
So…..
speak
and so act
as those who are to be judged by the law
of liberty.
For judgment will be merciless
to one who has shown no mercy;
mercy triumphs over judgment.
Treating people like people….
James 2:1-13 (p 178, NT)
1. Prejudice is incompatible with faith in Jesus.
2. Let the Scriptures – not your heritage or your
preferences – be your standard.
3. Let love be your law.
4. Let mercy be your lifestyle.