| CHRISTIAN FAITH |
April 29, 2021
- Starting point: 1 Tim. 2:1-6
- Praying from: JAMES 2
THE SIN OF SOCIAL PARTIALITY
“ My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
FAVORING THE RICH AND DESPISING THE POOR
2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;
INVIDIOUS DISTINCTIONS
3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:
4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?
5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?
7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?
8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
OBLIGATION TO LAW
9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.
12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
FAITH AND WORKS
14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
EVEN EVIL SPIRITS BELIEVE
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
FAITH APART FROM WORKS
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. “
- THE PARTIALITY—vv. 1–9
THE SIN OF SOCIAL PARTIALITY
- Sameness—v. 1. Not being a respecter of persons.
FAVORING THE RICH AND DESPISING THE POOR
INVIDIOUS DISTINCTIONS
- Special—vv. 2–3. No special treatment should be given to anyone. All are same in God’s sight!
- Selection—vv. 4–5. The poor (rich in faith, were chosen to be the heirs of the kingdom.
- Sacrilege—vv. 6–7. The rich despising the poor. The rich curse the name of Christ, which we are called.
OBLIGATION TO LAW
- Sin—vv. 8–9. Fulfil the “royal law.” This means we practice Matthew 22:37, 39. If not, we are sinning.
- THE PERFECTION—vv. 10–13
- Condemnation—v. 10. If you insist on keeping the Old Testament law, yet break one part, you are guilty of breaking it all.
- Commands—v. 11. Repeating some of the Ten Commandments. If break these, then a trangressor.
- Consecration—vv. 12–13. Judged by how we live.
- Judged—v. 12. How we live, act and talk.
- Judgment—v. 13. His judgment will be final.
III. THE PRACTICE—vv. 14–20
FAITH AND WORKS
- Profit—v. 14. There is no profit in faith alone. Faith must be active. It must have works.
- Personal—vv. 15–16. Not a Christian, when we see our brother in need, and not help him.
EVEN EVIL SPIRITS BELIEVE
FAITH APART FROM WORKS
- Practice—vv. 17–20. Without faith being put into practice, it is dead and useless.
- THE PROBLEM—vv. 21–26
- Wrong—v. 21. Abraham was not justified by works, but by faith. He had faith, but offered his son. This was faith in action.
- Works—vv. 22–23. Faith brought good works.
- War—vv. 24–26. Constant war between spirit and the flesh. Body dead without spirit, so faith without works.
- THE A-MEN OF ROMANS 16:20, 24, 27
16:20 “And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. A-men.”
16:24 “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. A-men.”
16:27 “To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. A-men.”
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