March 20, 2016 Dr. Jim Cecy The Divine Solution to Human Prejudice James 2:8-13
Introduction Jesus ministered to people from all walks of life.... Jesus expects His disciples to do the same.
Romans 2:11 “...there is no partiality with God.”
James 2:1 “My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism.” • It is our unity that often attracts people to the gospel of Christ. • It is our disunity that too often repels people from the gospel of Christ James 2:4 “...have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives?” Today’s Text: James 2:8-13 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 and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 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. 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. 1 Samuel 16:7 “...God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance...” In our sinful natures we are prone to measure people by externals then draw false conclusion, broad generalities and ungodly stereotypes that violate the very purpose of God who uniquely created every one of us in His image! 1 Samuel 16:7 “...God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” The sin of prejudice, bigotry, racism, elitism and favoritism is, at its core, the idolatrous and unloving sin of snobbery that believes that our loving God did not create all people in His image. The solution to the prejudices that exist in the human heart is not to be found in some governmental law demanding that all men be treated equally. The solution is not even to be found in some Christian reconciliation program. We can program behaviors and even try to legislate fairness and equity but we cannot program change in the human heart. The Divine Solution to Human Prejudice (James 2:8-13)
I. Fulfilling the Royal Law: Loving Your Neighbor as Yourself James 2: 8 If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law, according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. Luke 10:25-28 And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and put Him (i.e. Jesus) to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” And He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?” And he answered and said, “ You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” And He said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” The Summary of the Old Testament Law: Love God and Love Others. What does it mean to love my neighbor as myself? The Greek word agapao was originally a banking term, referring to the value of something based on the price someone was willing to pay for it. What is a Person Worth? The Human Answer: Whatever Value I Think They Have (Based on My Human Measurements) The Biblical Answer: Whatever Value God Knows They Have (Based on Whatever Price He Paid for Them) • 1 Corinthians 6:19 “You have been bought with a price...” • 1 Peter 1:18-19 “...you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.” Fulfilling the Royal Law means placing God’s worth on a person, like placing a royal crown upon their head. “For God so loved (i.e. valued) (_______________) that he gave His only begotten Son...”
“I love you” = “You are valuable to God. Therefore you are valuable to me. You are worth the blood of Christ to me.” James 2:9-11 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 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. cf. 1 John 4:7-12 John 13:35 “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” “God, help me to place on every human being the same value You place on me and them.”
II. Following the Law of Liberty: Showing Mercy Rather Than Judgment James 2:12-13 “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.” In order to speak and act out the royal law—to love our neighbors as ourselves—we must first look at ourselves, not as we see ourselves but as God sees us, as objects of His mercy! And thus it is a law of liberty that gives us freedom and removes us from all the shackles and bondage of sin, including the sin of measuring people by our standards and not God's “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). Should we not then treat others as the same objects of God's mercy? James 2:13a “For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy...” Matthew 5:7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.” James 2:13b “...mercy triumphs over judgment.” The Example in the Early Church (Acts 2:9-11; 41-47) How Can We Break the Chains of Prejudice? Fulfill the Royal Law: Love Our Neighbors — Follow the Law of Liberty: Extend Mercy Jer. 9:23-24 Thus says the Lord, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the Lord. Concluding Challenge: Romans 5:5 “...the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” 1 Thessalonians 4:9 “Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another...” “No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love....” (Nelson Mandela) “I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” (Martin Luther King, Jr.) “Let us be a generation of reconciliation and peace; Let us be a holy nation where pride and prejudice cease.”
Discussion Questions: 1. In what ways have you been mistreated simply because of your gender, race, religion, social status, or position? How did it make you feel? 2. In what ways have you recently been guilty of mistreating or misjudging others? 3. What are the ways you can fulfill the Royal Law of Love? 4. What are the way you plan on following the Law of Liberty and Mercy? 5. In what ways did God’s Holy Spirit speak to you most in this message?
© 2016 Dr. James M. Cecy, Campus Bible Church, Fresno, CA. 93726 www.campusbiblechurch.com