CHAPTER 2
Again, James is writing to a church in it’s infancy. He is reminding them that for the gospel of the Kingdom to advance they need to mature in their faith… GROW UP!
James has laid the foundation of a mature faith; now he embarks into developing his argument through practical examples that believers encounter daily.
Read James 2:1-13
- If we engage in the sin of being a respecter of persons we are not applying wisdom that is from above – instead we are applying man’s wisdom.
Paul tells Timothy that a gathering of believers will not survive if partiality is shown in administering appointments within the gathering.
- Partiality is an unfair bias of one thing or person compared with another… favoritism… bias…
The picture James paints is of two believers in a dispute in a court of fellow believers. Jewish law required that each party sit at the same level or stand. It also demanded that if one were rich they either dress the poorer man as they are dressed or dress “down” to match the dress of the poorer man. Often the “judge” would sit with his back to the two plaintiffs as they spoke their argument and defense.
The root principal that James is touching upon is the Kingdom principal of Honor: Extending honor asks that we forgo our preconceived ideas of people and have an impartial regard for them.
The problem with PARTIALITY is that it positions our hearts against redemption.
- If my heart is biased against anyone, if I am un-accepting of another, by default I must be biased and un-accepting of myself.
- If there is uncertainty in regard to the significance of others based on appearance, then I will be uncertain about my significance.
- If redemption is conditional (by how one appears) then I cannot have assurance of my redemption.
PARTIALITY is grace-less. If we are partial we are engaging in a behavior that is inconsistent with what we profess to believe – namely that Christ died for all.
- We are anti-Christ as Jesus declared, “whoever believes in me shall not perish but have eternal life.”
- Partiality sets the foundation for legalism; a tradition or code of conduct not spoken of or demonstrated in the life of Jesus Christ.
The issue with legalism is that the foundation is ever changing and the structure fails from generation to generation. Because the bricks are man made rules and regulations – the mortar is fear and materialism.
For example: the seat belt law… why is it that I need a law to force me to preserve my life? I have no regard for my life.
With Grace – the foundation is the cornerstone of Christ and is unshakable… for example: The VALUE of each life as given by God – including my own. (If I don’t value my life I cannot value yours – love neighbor as you love yourself…) You and I are to build upon grace so that the next generation can begin upon our APEX.
PARTIALITY is defiant to truth, “I have already made up my mind and have an answer about who you are… don’t bother me with the truth.”
The people in the city of Nazareth (LUKE 4:21-22 and 29-30) succumb to PARTIALITY and because of that Jesus could do only a few miracles there because of their unbelief – “Unbelief” is an unwillingness to accept TRUTH.”
- By Jesus’ example we see that it is only within a culture of honor that sets the atmosphere for an ongoing lifestyle of miracles.
- Partiality is a lie I agree with that tells me it will prevent me from being deceived: I realize that no one wants to be gullible – we have all been hurt.
- So we establish ‘categories’ with people based on who we think they are.
BUT… “If I believe that establishing categories can prevent me from being deceived, I have already been deceived.”
Jesus is described as “having no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.” (Isaiah 53:2) In other words - if we based our determination of spirituality on appearance - we would have missed the Savior.
Learning to recognize the presence of God on another’s life is one of the most important abilities for believers. So how do we discern God’s presence or lack of presence upon another person’s life?
- Turn to Galatians 5:18-24 - are they loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, merciful and do they demonstrate self-control?
For believers to be united it is necessary to do away with partiality and replace it with a spirit of honor. Some of us here today have been crying out to God for a breakthrough and God has heard your prayer. However, he has placed it in a package that you are unwilling to receive – because of the unclean spirit of “Partiality”.
James in simply noting the tendency of people to have regard for certain people over others based on the superficial.
- The church (according to James) is judging as the world does, not as God does.
- “For the LORD your God is God of gods… who is not partial and takes no bribe.” (Deuteronomy 10:17)
PARTIALITY establishes the measure with which we approach every other area of our life.
In the Kingdom of God each of us sets the “measure” – “For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.” (Matthew 7:2). In other words… if we show partiality based on appearance that is the ‘measure’ with which our life is established.
- Not character.
- Not behavior.
- Not kindness or mercy.
- Not the fruit associated with God’s Spirit.
The problem is that I will not be able to arrive at a place where my measure equates to heaven. WHY? Because any-time I have a measure other than GRACE I have succumb to the spirit of legalism and death. Because according to the bible. “The letter (law) kills but it is the Spirit that gives life” (2 Corinthians 3:6). Because the spirit of legalism is contrary to the spirit of grace. Therefore, when I am partial based on appearance (or a preconceived idea) of someone (group of people) I am anti-grace… meaning I am anti-Christ.
Partiality can kill:
Over the course of years I have encountered parents, whose children battle addictions, that when confronted with the truth about the addiction reply, “I had no idea they were addicted, I never saw any issues.”
Really: the 3 DUI’s, missing credit cards and cash, sleeping until 3:00 in the afternoon, weight loss and radical mood swings never tipped you off? To which they reply… “Well now that you mention it – that did seem sort of odd.”
Unfortunately one of those parents told me of “their surprise that it was so bad” as I was preparing to perform their daughters funeral.
This is one side of the sin of partiality: being blind to truth and it has an element of denial associated with it – it is having bias to one party, inclined to favor one part in a cause or circumstance.
The other side of the sin of partiality deals with forming a judgment based on superficial conditions and not intrinsic conditions.
In other words: seeing with the natural and determining the condition of that person based on a familiar spirit that is associated with what is seen. If I determine the condition of a person by their appearance I can “miss” the outcries of a person in depression or desperation. The pendulum swings both ways; from the “well dressed” being perceived as being “blessed” and the “destitute” as being cursed.
Partiality allows comparison – it is for CHILDREN because it provides the environment of comparison v 10-13
Have you ever heard children argue… Mine is best because it is the most expensive – or mine is the fastest because it looks the fastest… They form an idea of themselves based on “THEIR PERCEPTION” as compared to others.
What is the danger in comparison?
I am able to discount my sin by comparing my life to others – instead of judging with the true judgment that God has established for my life.
“Well… at least I’m not as bad as they are.”
Partiality does away with grace and establishes law – by creating a set of rules that equate to holiness: NOTE: where there is no grace… law ensues. Legalism never works. Rules will never change the human condition – the law is an external attempt at reformation.
“But the new covenant has been placed into our minds and hearts so that we may know the LORD.”
Partiality is detrimental to our destiny –
The spirit of partiality sets the course for our life – instead of the Spirit of God.
What do I mean? If I am partial to people who live in a large house but am called by God to go into the mission field in the Amazon – I must now breakdown the stronghold of materialism and undo the curse I have placed upon my life by being partial to what “success” is. Part of the reason Jesus is desired is because through His life we see a representation of a person who perfectly fulfilled His God ordained destiny and call. He was impartial – he judged with the true judgment – he was not a respecter of persons…
