James Shepherd
Series: The End Of Hypocrisy
Speaker: Steve Jeffrey
Date: 24th September 2015
Passage: James 2:1-13
00:00:00 --> 00:00:02 Don't judge a book by its cover.
00:00:03 --> 00:00:08 This is what my primary school teacher in my class told me time and time again
00:00:08 --> 00:00:10 every time we had a library lesson.
00:00:11 --> 00:00:13 Does anyone remember library lessons back in primary school?
00:00:14 --> 00:00:16 You have like one morning every single week
00:00:16 --> 00:00:19 and we would go to the library to read a book.
00:00:19 --> 00:00:22 Our teacher would read a book to us, a classic children's book,
00:00:22 --> 00:00:25 and she would encourage us to read it together
00:00:25 --> 00:00:28 and tell us how great this book was
00:00:28 --> 00:00:36 and the importance of not judging a book by its cover.
00:00:37 --> 00:00:41 My teacher constantly hammered this idea to us as kids, as children,
00:00:42 --> 00:00:44 because she said that it was important that we realise
00:00:44 --> 00:00:47 that what's important is the content of a book, not its cover.
00:00:47 --> 00:00:51 You can't judge a book or base a book on its cover.
00:00:51 --> 00:00:53 It has to be on its content.
00:00:53 --> 00:00:55 Now this didn't really work for me.
00:00:55 --> 00:01:00 I always judged a book by its cover because I hated reading.
00:01:00 --> 00:01:03 So anything with words in it didn't really work for me.
00:01:03 --> 00:01:08 And so to me, if a book's cover was very exciting and very colourful,
00:01:09 --> 00:01:11 plus if it was very big,
00:01:11 --> 00:01:15 it most likely meant this book had less words and more pictures.
00:01:15 --> 00:01:17 See, I didn't mind books with lots of pictures in them.
00:01:17 --> 00:01:18 It was just the words I didn't like.
00:01:18 --> 00:01:24 And so whilst my primary school teacher is telling me and telling our class
00:01:24 --> 00:01:28 about books and about the importance of reading a book,
00:01:28 --> 00:01:29 not judging it by its cover,
00:01:30 --> 00:01:35 I'm eyeing off the Where's Wally book in the shelf across from her
00:01:35 --> 00:01:37 and looking forward to reading it
00:01:37 --> 00:01:39 because Where's Wally was a fantastic cover,
00:01:39 --> 00:01:41 very exciting, very colourful,
00:01:41 --> 00:01:43 and also it was very big.
00:01:43 --> 00:01:45 So, you know, put the four of them together,
00:01:45 --> 00:01:47 a big book, exciting cover,
00:01:47 --> 00:01:49 most likely not many words.
00:01:49 --> 00:01:51 And in this case, no words in Where's Wally,
00:01:51 --> 00:01:52 and just pictures.
00:01:52 --> 00:01:53 It was fantastic.
00:01:53 --> 00:01:56 And so I would go and borrow the book after class,
00:01:56 --> 00:01:57 after reading with the teacher,
00:01:58 --> 00:01:59 and my teacher would come up to me and go,
00:01:59 --> 00:02:02 oh, again, James, with the Where's Wally.
00:02:02 --> 00:02:03 Far out.
00:02:03 --> 00:02:04 When are you going to learn?
00:02:04 --> 00:02:05 And that's where I told her,
00:02:05 --> 00:02:07 don't judge a book by its cover, okay?
00:02:07 --> 00:02:13 This phrase, don't judge a book by its cover,
00:02:13 --> 00:02:15 is not just one we use in regards to books.
00:02:15 --> 00:02:18 It's a lesson that we learn as children growing up
00:02:18 --> 00:02:20 in regards to many areas of our life.
00:02:20 --> 00:02:24 We're taught to not judge something based off its appearance,
00:02:25 --> 00:02:27 that therefore we should give people a chance
00:02:27 --> 00:02:29 and that we should give jobs a go
00:02:29 --> 00:02:31 and give that sport a try.
00:02:31 --> 00:02:34 We're taught not to make judgments off the appearance,
00:02:34 --> 00:02:38 but to actually see for itself and explore for itself
00:02:38 --> 00:02:40 if it's worth it by the content.
00:02:42 --> 00:02:45 But being taught to think this way is one thing.
00:02:46 --> 00:02:46 The question is,
00:02:46 --> 00:02:50 do we actually live in a world that practices this idea
00:02:50 --> 00:02:52 where we don't judge a book by its cover,
00:02:53 --> 00:02:54 but by its content?
00:02:55 --> 00:02:57 We don't judge something on its appearance,
00:02:57 --> 00:03:00 but by our experience and our exploration into what it is.
00:03:01 --> 00:03:03 I'm not sure if we do.
00:03:03 --> 00:03:06 And I think, and I imagine most of you would agree with me.
00:03:07 --> 00:03:11 You don't need to look very far to see this.
00:03:11 --> 00:03:14 I mean, most glossy magazines have story after story
00:03:14 --> 00:03:17 about how to lose the most weight the fastest,
00:03:17 --> 00:03:20 what celebrity look will look best for you this summer,
00:03:21 --> 00:03:23 how to get that bikini body ready for summer,
00:03:24 --> 00:03:26 how to get those ripped abs in four weeks,
00:03:27 --> 00:03:29 how to grow that perfect beard,
00:03:29 --> 00:03:32 which I am beginning to perfect, as you can see.
00:03:32 --> 00:03:37 You don't see many articles on how to shed greed in 10 weeks
00:03:37 --> 00:03:38 or 10 easy steps,
00:03:39 --> 00:03:42 how to become a man of integrity in four weeks,
00:03:42 --> 00:03:45 the top 10 secret tips celebrities don't want you to know about
00:03:45 --> 00:03:48 to become a more compassionate and patient person.
00:03:49 --> 00:03:53 The world is not interested in the content of a person's character.
00:03:54 --> 00:03:57 What matters to the world is a person's image.
00:03:57 --> 00:04:04 We might exist in the world that teaches children not to judge a book by its cover,
00:04:04 --> 00:04:10 but the reality is our children are growing up in a world that teaches them the exact opposite.
00:04:12 --> 00:04:15 We are in the middle of a series titled The End of Hypocrisy,
00:04:16 --> 00:04:18 a series going through the book of James
00:04:18 --> 00:04:22 as he deals with one of the most prominent issues in Christianity,
00:04:22 --> 00:04:24 hypocrisy.
00:04:24 --> 00:04:28 James writes his letter to believers scattered across the world
00:04:28 --> 00:04:34 because he is convicted that the gospel message impacts us in a profound way,
00:04:34 --> 00:04:39 that when someone is confronted with the resurrected Lord Jesus as he was,
00:04:39 --> 00:04:44 it changes everything and transforms our lives forever.
00:04:44 --> 00:04:49 And here in chapter 2, we once again are confronted with this reality.
00:04:50 --> 00:04:51 It reads in verse 1,
00:04:51 --> 00:05:03 Glorious is the key word here.
00:05:04 --> 00:05:07 Whenever in the New Testament someone speaks of Jesus' glory,
00:05:08 --> 00:05:12 most of the time they are referring to his resurrected state.
00:05:12 --> 00:05:14 When Jesus was on the Emmaus Road,
00:05:15 --> 00:05:17 he meets two people and he walks with them,
00:05:17 --> 00:05:18 and he says to them,
00:05:18 --> 00:05:24 did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter into his glory?
00:05:24 --> 00:05:26 Talking about his resurrection.
00:05:26 --> 00:05:28 Paul, in Philippians 3,
00:05:28 --> 00:05:35 describes Jesus' resurrection body as literally the body of glory.
00:05:36 --> 00:05:39 And so James is making the point explicitly
00:05:39 --> 00:05:44 that no one who holds faith in the resurrected Lord Jesus,
00:05:44 --> 00:05:47 no one who has been impacted by the resurrection of Jesus,
00:05:48 --> 00:05:49 the glorious Lord Jesus,
00:05:49 --> 00:05:51 shows favoritism
00:05:51 --> 00:05:56 or judges a book by its cover.
00:05:57 --> 00:06:00 James provides us with a corrective
00:06:00 --> 00:06:03 saying those who have been impacted by the resurrection
00:06:03 --> 00:06:05 don't show favoritism.
00:06:05 --> 00:06:08 Those who have been saved by grace
00:06:08 --> 00:06:10 have been enabled by God's Spirit
00:06:10 --> 00:06:13 to live the life God has called them to live.
00:06:13 --> 00:06:15 The whole point of this chapter
00:06:15 --> 00:06:17 is to point towards the fact that
00:06:17 --> 00:06:20 people who have been saved by grace,
00:06:20 --> 00:06:22 people who have been impacted
00:06:22 --> 00:06:24 in a profound way by the gospel,
00:06:24 --> 00:06:25 by the resurrection of Jesus,
00:06:26 --> 00:06:28 do not show favoritism.
00:06:28 --> 00:06:33 So as we look at this,
00:06:33 --> 00:06:35 let's now dive into the text
00:06:35 --> 00:06:38 and see how James unpacks this idea.
00:06:38 --> 00:06:41 First, he sets up a scene in verses 2 and 3.
00:06:41 --> 00:06:42 I'll read it out for us.
00:06:43 --> 00:06:45 Suppose a man comes into your meeting
00:06:45 --> 00:06:46 wearing a gold ring and fine clothes,
00:06:47 --> 00:06:50 and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in.
00:06:50 --> 00:06:52 If you show special attention to the man
00:06:52 --> 00:06:54 wearing fine clothes and say,
00:06:54 --> 00:06:56 here's a good seat for you,
00:06:56 --> 00:06:57 but say to the poor man,
00:06:57 --> 00:07:00 you stand there or sit on the floor by my feet,
00:07:02 --> 00:07:04 have you not discriminate among yourselves
00:07:04 --> 00:07:06 and become judges with evil thoughts?
00:07:07 --> 00:07:11 James provides an example of favoritism
00:07:11 --> 00:07:13 that might take place in the local gathering.
00:07:13 --> 00:07:15 Believers here are measuring
00:07:15 --> 00:07:18 people based off their appearance
00:07:18 --> 00:07:19 and social status.
00:07:19 --> 00:07:21 They are judging a book by its cover,
00:07:22 --> 00:07:23 not its content.
00:07:23 --> 00:07:25 They are drawn to those with money,
00:07:25 --> 00:07:27 with social power,
00:07:27 --> 00:07:30 and are indifferent or even repulsed
00:07:30 --> 00:07:32 by those who walk into the meeting
00:07:32 --> 00:07:35 wearing rags and filthy clothes.
00:07:35 --> 00:07:39 What we have here in this example of religion
00:07:39 --> 00:07:42 is a live example of religion
00:07:42 --> 00:07:45 that is totally opposite to that of James 1.27,
00:07:46 --> 00:07:46 which says,
00:07:46 --> 00:08:03 The believers in the example here
00:08:03 --> 00:08:05 have obviously failed at this.
00:08:06 --> 00:08:08 They have neglected the poor,
00:08:08 --> 00:08:08 the widow,
00:08:08 --> 00:08:09 the orphan,
00:08:10 --> 00:08:12 and decided to show favoritism
00:08:12 --> 00:08:13 towards the rich and wealthy
00:08:13 --> 00:08:15 who look like they can contribute
00:08:15 --> 00:08:17 to their church more beneficially.
00:08:18 --> 00:08:19 In so doing,
00:08:19 --> 00:08:20 they've shown and proven
00:08:20 --> 00:08:21 that they are polluted
00:08:21 --> 00:08:23 by the world's influences,
00:08:24 --> 00:08:25 that their church has become worldly
00:08:25 --> 00:08:27 instead of godly,
00:08:28 --> 00:08:29 instead of being impacted
00:08:29 --> 00:08:32 by the resurrection of Jesus.
00:08:34 --> 00:08:36 He, James, describes a church
00:08:36 --> 00:08:38 that has become polluted,
00:08:38 --> 00:08:41 whose religion is worthless
00:08:41 --> 00:08:43 and unacceptable.
00:08:44 --> 00:08:46 It is contradictory to a faith
00:08:46 --> 00:08:48 that is in the Lord Jesus,
00:08:49 --> 00:08:50 the glorious Lord Jesus.
00:08:51 --> 00:08:52 And so he concludes in verse 4,
00:08:53 --> 00:08:55 Have you not discriminated among yourselves
00:08:55 --> 00:08:58 and become judges with evil thoughts?
00:09:00 --> 00:09:00 For James,
00:09:01 --> 00:09:03 you really can't get worse than this.
00:09:04 --> 00:09:07 Being a church that treats the poor
00:09:07 --> 00:09:08 and outcast with disdain
00:09:08 --> 00:09:11 in order to keep the rich
00:09:11 --> 00:09:12 and powerful happy
00:09:12 --> 00:09:14 is considered evil.
00:09:17 --> 00:09:18 To measure someone's wealth
00:09:18 --> 00:09:19 and value
00:09:19 --> 00:09:21 when the church has been bought
00:09:21 --> 00:09:23 with the precious blood of Christ,
00:09:23 --> 00:09:24 which we are told in 1 Peter,
00:09:24 --> 00:09:26 is more precious than gold
00:09:26 --> 00:09:27 or any material thing,
00:09:28 --> 00:09:30 is evil.
00:09:31 --> 00:09:32 It is sickening.
00:09:33 --> 00:09:34 And no doubt,
00:09:34 --> 00:09:36 this problem exists
00:09:36 --> 00:09:37 in the church today.
00:09:38 --> 00:09:41 The moment we see someone among us
00:09:41 --> 00:09:42 who is a bit awkward,
00:09:43 --> 00:09:44 a bit odd,
00:09:45 --> 00:09:46 and we avoid them,
00:09:47 --> 00:09:48 in that moment,
00:09:48 --> 00:09:49 we've become judges
00:09:49 --> 00:09:51 with evil thoughts.
00:09:52 --> 00:09:54 People who have been polluted
00:09:54 --> 00:09:56 by the world.
00:09:57 --> 00:09:58 The moment we see someone
00:09:58 --> 00:09:59 who looks really nice,
00:09:59 --> 00:10:00 maybe quite attractive,
00:10:01 --> 00:10:02 someone who looks competent socially,
00:10:02 --> 00:10:04 whether new or not,
00:10:04 --> 00:10:05 and we make an effort
00:10:05 --> 00:10:06 to serve them
00:10:06 --> 00:10:07 and to meet their needs
00:10:07 --> 00:10:08 over and above
00:10:08 --> 00:10:09 the other person
00:10:09 --> 00:10:09 who's awkward,
00:10:10 --> 00:10:11 in that moment,
00:10:12 --> 00:10:13 we become judges
00:10:13 --> 00:10:14 with evil thoughts.
00:10:15 --> 00:10:17 We've become polluted
00:10:17 --> 00:10:19 by the world.
00:10:20 --> 00:10:22 It's a strong conclusion
00:10:22 --> 00:10:24 to make about us.
00:10:25 --> 00:10:26 Because we might do this
00:10:26 --> 00:10:28 every single time we meet.
00:10:29 --> 00:10:30 And the conclusion James is making out
00:10:30 --> 00:10:32 is that if you do this,
00:10:32 --> 00:10:34 if you're showing discrimination
00:10:34 --> 00:10:35 amongst the poor
00:10:35 --> 00:10:36 and the rich,
00:10:36 --> 00:10:37 then you've become
00:10:37 --> 00:10:39 a judge
00:10:39 --> 00:10:42 with evil thoughts.
00:10:45 --> 00:10:46 James responds to this scene
00:10:46 --> 00:10:47 in two ways.
00:10:47 --> 00:10:49 To help us see
00:10:49 --> 00:10:50 how favoritism
00:10:50 --> 00:10:53 does not belong
00:10:53 --> 00:10:55 in the place of those
00:10:55 --> 00:10:57 who have been impacted
00:10:57 --> 00:10:59 by the resurrection.
00:11:00 --> 00:11:00 He points out,
00:11:00 --> 00:11:01 he does this in two ways.
00:11:02 --> 00:11:03 He firstly points out
00:11:03 --> 00:11:03 the irony
00:11:03 --> 00:11:04 of the whole situation
00:11:04 --> 00:11:06 and then he points out
00:11:06 --> 00:11:08 the hypocrisy
00:11:08 --> 00:11:09 in a much broader way.
00:11:10 --> 00:11:11 So firstly,
00:11:11 --> 00:11:11 the irony.
00:11:12 --> 00:11:13 Verse 5 says this,
00:11:13 --> 00:11:13 Listen,
00:11:13 --> 00:11:14 my dear brothers and sisters,
00:11:15 --> 00:11:16 has not God chosen
00:11:16 --> 00:11:17 those who are poor
00:11:17 --> 00:11:18 in the eyes of the world
00:11:18 --> 00:11:19 to be rich in faith
00:11:19 --> 00:11:21 and to inherit the kingdom
00:11:21 --> 00:11:21 he promised
00:11:21 --> 00:11:22 those who loved him?
00:11:23 --> 00:11:24 But you have dishonored
00:11:24 --> 00:11:24 the poor.
00:11:25 --> 00:11:26 It's not the rich
00:11:26 --> 00:11:27 who are exploiting you.
00:11:27 --> 00:11:28 Are they not the ones
00:11:28 --> 00:11:29 who are dragging you
00:11:29 --> 00:11:30 into court?
00:11:30 --> 00:11:31 Are they not the ones
00:11:31 --> 00:11:32 who are blaspheming
00:11:32 --> 00:11:33 the noble name of him
00:11:33 --> 00:11:34 to whom you belong?
00:11:36 --> 00:11:38 James firstly points out
00:11:38 --> 00:11:40 the way God views the poor
00:11:40 --> 00:11:41 and if he wasn't clear enough
00:11:41 --> 00:11:42 back in chapter 1,
00:11:43 --> 00:11:45 he is very clear here.
00:11:45 --> 00:11:47 God has chosen the poor
00:11:47 --> 00:11:49 in the eyes of the world
00:11:49 --> 00:11:50 to be rich in faith.
00:11:50 --> 00:11:51 He has saved them
00:11:51 --> 00:11:52 so they can enjoy
00:11:52 --> 00:11:55 a relationship with him forever.
00:11:56 --> 00:11:58 And he has chosen them
00:11:58 --> 00:11:59 out of the world
00:11:59 --> 00:12:01 to have that privilege.
00:12:02 --> 00:12:03 We can note
00:12:03 --> 00:12:04 a couple of things here.
00:12:05 --> 00:12:05 Number one,
00:12:06 --> 00:12:07 poor people
00:12:07 --> 00:12:09 becoming Christians
00:12:09 --> 00:12:11 is evidence
00:12:11 --> 00:12:13 of God's big heart
00:12:13 --> 00:12:14 for them.
00:12:15 --> 00:12:16 No one can come
00:12:16 --> 00:12:17 to saving faith
00:12:17 --> 00:12:17 on their own.
00:12:17 --> 00:12:18 And indeed,
00:12:18 --> 00:12:19 in a worldly sense,
00:12:19 --> 00:12:21 if anyone is so unable
00:12:21 --> 00:12:22 to save
00:12:22 --> 00:12:23 or help themselves,
00:12:24 --> 00:12:24 it's the poor.
00:12:24 --> 00:12:26 And so therefore,
00:12:26 --> 00:12:28 God choosing
00:12:28 --> 00:12:29 to save them
00:12:29 --> 00:12:30 shows his profound
00:12:30 --> 00:12:32 care and love
00:12:32 --> 00:12:33 for the poor.
00:12:35 --> 00:12:36 Number two,
00:12:36 --> 00:12:37 he points out
00:12:37 --> 00:12:38 the measure
00:12:38 --> 00:12:39 of one's true wealth.
00:12:40 --> 00:12:40 That it's not
00:12:40 --> 00:12:42 in material things.
00:12:42 --> 00:12:43 But as we saw
00:12:43 --> 00:12:44 back in chapter 1,
00:12:44 --> 00:12:46 when we are impacted
00:12:46 --> 00:12:48 by gospel wisdom,
00:12:48 --> 00:12:50 we see that true value
00:12:50 --> 00:12:51 and true wealth
00:12:51 --> 00:12:53 is found in faith.
00:12:53 --> 00:12:54 it's found
00:12:54 --> 00:12:55 in eternal,
00:12:56 --> 00:12:57 heavenly things,
00:12:57 --> 00:12:58 not material,
00:12:58 --> 00:13:00 temporary things.
00:13:01 --> 00:13:02 And we are told here,
00:13:02 --> 00:13:03 the poor are now
00:13:03 --> 00:13:05 considered to be rich
00:13:05 --> 00:13:07 in these heavenly things.
00:13:07 --> 00:13:07 That is,
00:13:07 --> 00:13:09 rich in faith.
00:13:10 --> 00:13:12 James is pointing out
00:13:12 --> 00:13:13 the ironic
00:13:13 --> 00:13:14 and tragic reality
00:13:14 --> 00:13:15 that believers
00:13:15 --> 00:13:16 of the glorious
00:13:16 --> 00:13:17 Lord Jesus Christ
00:13:17 --> 00:13:19 would show favour
00:13:19 --> 00:13:21 towards the rich
00:13:21 --> 00:13:23 and dishonour
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 the poor.
00:13:24 --> 00:13:25 It's ironic
00:13:25 --> 00:13:26 that we could have
00:13:26 --> 00:13:27 a faith
00:13:27 --> 00:13:28 in a Lord
00:13:28 --> 00:13:29 and Saviour
00:13:29 --> 00:13:31 who is immeasurably
00:13:31 --> 00:13:32 more valuable
00:13:32 --> 00:13:33 and glorious
00:13:33 --> 00:13:33 than us,
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 who indeed
00:13:34 --> 00:13:35 is the one
00:13:35 --> 00:13:36 who gives us value
00:13:36 --> 00:13:37 by shedding
00:13:37 --> 00:13:38 his blood
00:13:38 --> 00:13:39 for us.
00:13:40 --> 00:13:40 And yet,
00:13:40 --> 00:13:42 we show favouritism.
00:13:42 --> 00:13:45 How dare we
00:13:45 --> 00:13:46 make ourselves judge
00:13:46 --> 00:13:47 and decide
00:13:47 --> 00:13:48 who is valuable
00:13:48 --> 00:13:50 and who isn't
00:13:50 --> 00:13:52 when the judge
00:13:52 --> 00:13:52 himself
00:13:52 --> 00:13:53 was the one
00:13:53 --> 00:13:54 who died for us
00:13:54 --> 00:13:55 not showing
00:13:55 --> 00:13:56 fairitism
00:13:56 --> 00:13:57 that we would know
00:13:57 --> 00:13:58 our true value,
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 that we would be saved.
00:14:01 --> 00:14:02 How dare we
00:14:02 --> 00:14:03 decide that we are judges?
00:14:06 --> 00:14:07 And the tragic irony
00:14:07 --> 00:14:08 continues.
00:14:08 --> 00:14:08 It gets worse.
00:14:09 --> 00:14:10 Verses 6-7,
00:14:10 --> 00:14:11 focusing on how
00:14:11 --> 00:14:12 the rich respond.
00:14:12 --> 00:14:13 Is not the rich
00:14:13 --> 00:14:15 who are exploiting you
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 and the ones
00:14:16 --> 00:14:17 who are dragging you
00:14:17 --> 00:14:17 into court,
00:14:17 --> 00:14:19 are they not the ones
00:14:19 --> 00:14:20 who are blaspheming
00:14:20 --> 00:14:20 in the noble name
00:14:20 --> 00:14:21 of him
00:14:21 --> 00:14:23 to whom you belong?
00:14:24 --> 00:14:25 When we act
00:14:25 --> 00:14:26 in a worldly way,
00:14:27 --> 00:14:28 judging people
00:14:28 --> 00:14:30 by a worldly standard,
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 we should expect
00:14:32 --> 00:14:34 worldly consequences.
00:14:35 --> 00:14:36 The rich here
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 in James' time
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 were worldly.
00:14:38 --> 00:14:39 These aren't
00:14:39 --> 00:14:40 necessarily rich
00:14:40 --> 00:14:41 Christians.
00:14:41 --> 00:14:42 These are rich people
00:14:42 --> 00:14:44 who are not transformed
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 by the gospel
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 and the wisdom
00:14:46 --> 00:14:46 of the gospel.
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 They thought of themselves
00:14:48 --> 00:14:49 very highly
00:14:49 --> 00:14:51 because of their wealth.
00:14:51 --> 00:14:53 They felt entitled.
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 They did whatever
00:14:54 --> 00:14:55 they wanted,
00:14:55 --> 00:14:56 being motivated
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 by their wealth.
00:14:57 --> 00:14:58 And the thing is,
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 the believers here
00:15:00 --> 00:15:01 in the letter of James,
00:15:01 --> 00:15:03 presumably poor believers,
00:15:03 --> 00:15:05 perpetuated this idea
00:15:05 --> 00:15:06 of their importance,
00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 of their entitlement.
00:15:07 --> 00:15:10 by favouring the rich
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 and powerful,
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 they treated them
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 in the same way
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 the rest of the world
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 treats them.
00:15:17 --> 00:15:18 They sucked up to them.
00:15:19 --> 00:15:19 They gave them
00:15:19 --> 00:15:20 whatever they wanted.
00:15:20 --> 00:15:23 And therefore,
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 it invited upon themselves
00:15:25 --> 00:15:27 the same kind
00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 of treatment
00:15:28 --> 00:15:28 the rich
00:15:28 --> 00:15:30 gives to the rest
00:15:30 --> 00:15:30 of the world
00:15:30 --> 00:15:32 and to the poor.
00:15:32 --> 00:15:36 And so,
00:15:36 --> 00:15:37 pointing out
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 this irony,
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 James is pretty much
00:15:39 --> 00:15:39 saying,
00:15:39 --> 00:15:41 stop favouring
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 those who are
00:15:42 --> 00:15:42 making your life
00:15:42 --> 00:15:43 difficult.
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 Stop treating
00:15:45 --> 00:15:46 people on a
00:15:46 --> 00:15:47 worldly scale.
00:15:48 --> 00:15:48 It's doing you
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49 no good.
00:15:49 --> 00:15:50 Look,
00:15:50 --> 00:15:51 the poor are left
00:15:51 --> 00:15:51 uncared for
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 and unloved
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 and the rich
00:15:53 --> 00:15:54 are exploiting you.
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 They're blaspheming
00:15:55 --> 00:15:57 the very God
00:15:57 --> 00:15:57 that you worship.
00:15:57 --> 00:15:59 it's not working.
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 It can be tempting
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 for us as a church
00:16:04 --> 00:16:06 to not see this,
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 to miss the irony
00:16:07 --> 00:16:09 where we can favour
00:16:09 --> 00:16:10 the rich
00:16:10 --> 00:16:12 and influential people
00:16:12 --> 00:16:13 in very
00:16:13 --> 00:16:14 inconspicuous ways.
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 Rich people,
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 being the ones
00:16:17 --> 00:16:17 with money,
00:16:19 --> 00:16:19 are able to fund
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 all kinds
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 of different ministries,
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23 ensure the staff
00:16:23 --> 00:16:23 are paid
00:16:23 --> 00:16:24 and contribute
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 to building projects.
00:16:25 --> 00:16:27 And so it's tempting
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 to think,
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 at least I think,
00:16:29 --> 00:16:31 that we might want
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 to ensure
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 that these people
00:16:33 --> 00:16:34 who could have
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 a very significant
00:16:35 --> 00:16:37 influence on our church
00:16:37 --> 00:16:37 to ensure
00:16:37 --> 00:16:39 that they are happy
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 and they are content
00:16:40 --> 00:16:41 and they are getting
00:16:41 --> 00:16:42 what they want.
00:16:44 --> 00:16:45 But at what cost
00:16:45 --> 00:16:47 do we do this?
00:16:47 --> 00:16:49 Do we neglect those
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 who don't
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 have as much influence
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 or money?
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 Who are really able
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 to contribute
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 in any kind
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 of significant way
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 to church life?
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 To do that
00:17:01 --> 00:17:02 is favouritism.
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 And as James concluded,
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 it's evil.
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 It's evil.
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 It's hard
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 being up here
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 to talk about this stuff.
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 It's full on.
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 And I don't want
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 you guys
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 to leave here today
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 thinking that being rich
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 is evil
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 or being rich
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 is sinful.
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 James is not necessarily
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 having a go at rich people
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 at all.
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 But in showing
00:17:29 --> 00:17:29 the irony
00:17:29 --> 00:17:31 of favouritism,
00:17:31 --> 00:17:33 James challenges us
00:17:33 --> 00:17:35 that we as a church
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 must perpetuate
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 a worldview
00:17:37 --> 00:17:39 that is based
00:17:39 --> 00:17:39 on faith
00:17:39 --> 00:17:42 in our glorious
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 resurrected
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 Saviour,
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 Jesus Christ,
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 that helps both
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 the poor
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 and the rich
00:17:48 --> 00:17:49 to see that in Jesus
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 they are rich
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 in faith
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 and enjoy
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 every blessing
00:17:53 --> 00:17:53 that comes
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 from Him.
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 Receiving
00:17:57 --> 00:17:57 every blessing
00:17:57 --> 00:17:59 in Him
00:17:59 --> 00:17:59 which is worth
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 way more
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 than the world
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 could ever offer us.
00:18:03 --> 00:18:05 And when we do that,
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 the poor
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 are embraced,
00:18:07 --> 00:18:07 loved,
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 and cared for.
00:18:09 --> 00:18:09 They receive
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 dignity
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 and value
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 that is theirs
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 in Christ
00:18:13 --> 00:18:13 which the world
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 would otherwise
00:18:14 --> 00:18:14 try
00:18:14 --> 00:18:16 and rob them of.
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 and the rich
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 when they are impacted
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 by the wisdom
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 of the gospel,
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 when they are impacted
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 by the resurrection
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 of Jesus
00:18:23 --> 00:18:25 are able to
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 humbly serve
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 and be generous
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 with what they have.
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 Not as a measure
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 of how great
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 they are
00:18:32 --> 00:18:32 or how important
00:18:32 --> 00:18:34 they are to our church
00:18:34 --> 00:18:34 here,
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 but as a measure
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 of how gracious
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 God has been
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 to them
00:18:38 --> 00:18:40 to enable them
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 to live
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 in such
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 a generous way.
00:18:45 --> 00:18:45 James'
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 first response
00:18:46 --> 00:18:48 is to point out
00:18:48 --> 00:18:48 the irony
00:18:48 --> 00:18:50 that showing
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 fairytism
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 is not achieving
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 for them
00:18:53 --> 00:18:53 what they had
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 wanted
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 or had hoped.
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 And his second response
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 points again
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 to this scene
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 pointing out
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 and highlighting
00:19:01 --> 00:19:01 even further
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 the hypocrisy
00:19:02 --> 00:19:04 behind showing
00:19:04 --> 00:19:04 fairytism
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 and again
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 to show us
00:19:06 --> 00:19:06 that it ought
00:19:06 --> 00:19:08 not to belong
00:19:08 --> 00:19:10 this fairytism
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 it ought not to belong
00:19:11 --> 00:19:13 as part of our lives
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 as part of people's lives
00:19:14 --> 00:19:16 who are impacted
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 by the wisdom
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 of the gospel
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 who have been impacted
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 by the resurrection
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 of Jesus.
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 So verse 8
00:19:23 --> 00:19:41 James points the believers
00:19:41 --> 00:19:43 towards the royal law
00:19:43 --> 00:19:43 of scripture
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 which every single
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 Jewish
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 or even non-Jewish
00:19:46 --> 00:19:46 believer
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 would have known
00:19:47 --> 00:19:49 especially because
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 it received
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 its royal status
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 from Jesus himself
00:19:52 --> 00:19:54 who tied it with
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 as one of the most
00:19:55 --> 00:19:57 important commandments
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 that all the law
00:19:58 --> 00:19:58 and the prophets
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 hang off.
00:20:00 --> 00:20:00 This is a pretty
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 big commandment.
00:20:03 --> 00:20:03 However
00:20:03 --> 00:20:03 in showing
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 fairytism
00:20:04 --> 00:20:06 we break
00:20:06 --> 00:20:06 that commandment.
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 It contradicts
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 that very law
00:20:09 --> 00:20:11 that these people
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 and we
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 might so
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 very passionately
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 and zealously
00:20:15 --> 00:20:15 hold to.
00:20:16 --> 00:20:16 And so James
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 points out
00:20:17 --> 00:20:19 the blatant hypocrisy
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 with this
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 one law.
00:20:22 --> 00:20:23 You cannot say
00:20:23 --> 00:20:23 that you love
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 your neighbor
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 as yourself
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 and then show
00:20:26 --> 00:20:26 fairytism.
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 That is hypocritical.
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 To do so
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 is to break it.
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 And therefore
00:20:34 --> 00:20:34 in doing so
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 we become
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 a lawbreaker.
00:20:37 --> 00:20:37 And as James
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 shows
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 by breaking
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 this one
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 law
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 we become
00:20:42 --> 00:20:42 accountable
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 to all of it.
00:20:44 --> 00:20:44 Verse 10
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 whoever keeps
00:20:45 --> 00:20:45 the whole law
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 but fails
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 in one point
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 has become
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 accountable
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 for all of it.
00:20:51 --> 00:20:51 If we
00:20:51 --> 00:20:53 defy God
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 in one point
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 of the law
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 then we've
00:20:56 --> 00:20:56 broken
00:20:56 --> 00:20:58 the whole law.
00:20:59 --> 00:20:59 Saying that
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 it's just
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 one law
00:21:01 --> 00:21:01 how much
00:21:01 --> 00:21:03 harm can be
00:21:03 --> 00:21:03 done
00:21:03 --> 00:21:03 breaking
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 just one law
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 is to
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 totally
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 disregard
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 the God
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 that we serve
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 who is behind
00:21:10 --> 00:21:10 the law.
00:21:11 --> 00:21:11 You see the law
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 is not just a list
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 of rules
00:21:13 --> 00:21:16 or it's a way
00:21:16 --> 00:21:16 of life
00:21:16 --> 00:21:18 given by the grace
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 of God
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 when the people
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 of God
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 came out of Egypt
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 he gave them
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 the law
00:21:23 --> 00:21:23 that they might
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 dwell with him
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 and he with them
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 in the land
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 to live
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 in prosperity
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 and to live
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 faithfully
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 serving him.
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 And so to break
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 one part of it
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 is to compromise
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 that entire life
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 that God
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 has given them
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 to enjoy.
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 It's to reject
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 that life
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 that God wants
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 for them.
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 That is the purpose
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 behind
00:21:44 --> 00:21:44 the law
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 given.
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 It's not just
00:21:46 --> 00:21:46 a list
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 of rules.
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 And so
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 if this is the case
00:21:51 --> 00:21:51 always
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 with the law
00:21:52 --> 00:21:54 how much more
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 does this apply
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 to the royal law
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 of scripture?
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 If we show
00:21:59 --> 00:21:59 favoritism
00:21:59 --> 00:22:01 we are not only
00:22:01 --> 00:22:01 breaking
00:22:01 --> 00:22:03 just one command
00:22:03 --> 00:22:03 but all
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 of the law
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 and indeed
00:22:05 --> 00:22:05 if we are breaking
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 not just
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 any particular
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 law
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 but the very
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 royal law
00:22:10 --> 00:22:10 of scripture
00:22:10 --> 00:22:12 that the whole
00:22:12 --> 00:22:12 law
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 of prophets
00:22:13 --> 00:22:13 hang off
00:22:13 --> 00:22:16 in short
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 what James
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 is then saying
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 is that if we say
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 we love our
00:22:20 --> 00:22:20 neighbor as
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 ourselves
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 but in our
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 actions
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 don't show it
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 in our actions
00:22:25 --> 00:22:27 show favoritism
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 then we've missed
00:22:28 --> 00:22:30 the entire
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 point
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 of scripture.
00:22:32 --> 00:22:55 we've missed
00:22:55 --> 00:22:57 the very work
00:22:57 --> 00:22:57 that Jesus
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 did for us
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 on the cross
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 where he chose
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 not to show
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 favoritism
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 and died
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 for all people
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 that we all
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 might come
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 to know him.
00:23:09 --> 00:23:09 This calls
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 a serious
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 reflection
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 on our part
00:23:12 --> 00:23:14 as a church.
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 James says
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 showing
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 favoritism
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 is
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 evil.
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 It's a tough
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 message to hear.
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 When we show
00:23:28 --> 00:23:28 favoritism
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 towards one
00:23:29 --> 00:23:29 another
00:23:29 --> 00:23:31 we stink
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 of hypocrisy
00:23:32 --> 00:23:34 as we engage
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 in a worldly
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 and unbiblical
00:23:36 --> 00:23:38 and unlawful
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 act.
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 It's totally
00:23:41 --> 00:23:41 opposite
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 to being
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 impacted
00:23:43 --> 00:23:44 by the divine
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 and heavenly
00:23:45 --> 00:23:46 gospel
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 by the resurrection
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 of Jesus.
00:23:49 --> 00:23:49 It just
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 doesn't belong
00:23:50 --> 00:23:52 in those
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 people's lives.
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 James responds
00:23:56 --> 00:23:56 to the issue
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 of favoritism
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 by showing
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 its irony
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 and its
00:24:00 --> 00:24:00 hypocrisy.
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 He does
00:24:02 --> 00:24:02 this
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 again
00:24:03 --> 00:24:03 as I'll
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 keep repeating
00:24:04 --> 00:24:04 to show
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 us that
00:24:05 --> 00:24:05 it has
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 no place
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 in the lives
00:24:07 --> 00:24:07 of those
00:24:07 --> 00:24:07 who have
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 been impacted
00:24:08 --> 00:24:09 by Jesus'
00:24:10 --> 00:24:10 resurrection.
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 That is something
00:24:12 --> 00:24:12 we're going to
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 keep drumming
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 in this series.
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 It's the
00:24:15 --> 00:24:15 resurrection
00:24:15 --> 00:24:17 of Jesus
00:24:17 --> 00:24:17 that impacts
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 the way we
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 live in a
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 profound way
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 and that's
00:24:21 --> 00:24:21 the reason
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 why hypocrisy
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 ought to
00:24:23 --> 00:24:23 not be
00:24:23 --> 00:24:24 existent
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 in people's
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 lives.
00:24:28 --> 00:24:28 In verses
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 12 to 13
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 he informs us
00:24:30 --> 00:24:30 how we should
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 live
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 in light
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 of this
00:24:33 --> 00:24:33 issue.
00:24:33 --> 00:24:34 How we
00:24:34 --> 00:24:34 should
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 begin to
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 live
00:24:36 --> 00:24:36 in regards
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 to responding
00:24:37 --> 00:24:37 to our
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 hypocrisy.
00:24:39 --> 00:24:39 He says
00:24:39 --> 00:24:39 in verse
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 12
00:24:40 --> 00:24:55 Verse 12
00:24:55 --> 00:24:56 is a
00:24:56 --> 00:24:56 humbling
00:24:56 --> 00:24:56 reminder
00:24:56 --> 00:24:57 pointing us
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 forward to
00:24:58 --> 00:24:58 the end
00:24:58 --> 00:24:59 time coming
00:24:59 --> 00:24:59 when we
00:24:59 --> 00:25:00 will all
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 be judged
00:25:01 --> 00:25:02 our actions
00:25:02 --> 00:25:03 weighed
00:25:03 --> 00:25:03 and measured.
00:25:04 --> 00:25:05 The point
00:25:05 --> 00:25:05 is to be
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 careful
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 as we
00:25:07 --> 00:25:07 speak
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 and act
00:25:08 --> 00:25:08 that we
00:25:08 --> 00:25:09 should
00:25:09 --> 00:25:10 do so
00:25:10 --> 00:25:10 knowing
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 that we
00:25:11 --> 00:25:11 are
00:25:11 --> 00:25:11 under
00:25:11 --> 00:25:11 the
00:25:11 --> 00:25:11 law
00:25:11 --> 00:25:12 of
00:25:12 --> 00:25:12 liberty
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 lest
00:25:13 --> 00:25:13 we
00:25:13 --> 00:25:13 should
00:25:13 --> 00:25:14 speak
00:25:14 --> 00:25:14 and act
00:25:14 --> 00:25:14 like
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 judges
00:25:15 --> 00:25:16 with
00:25:16 --> 00:25:16 evil
00:25:16 --> 00:25:17 thoughts
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 showing
00:25:18 --> 00:25:18 favoritism.
00:25:19 --> 00:25:20 Now
00:25:20 --> 00:25:20 this isn't to say
00:25:20 --> 00:25:21 that our
00:25:21 --> 00:25:21 salvation is in the
00:25:21 --> 00:25:22 balance depending
00:25:22 --> 00:25:23 on our
00:25:23 --> 00:25:23 actions.
00:25:24 --> 00:25:25 As we
00:25:25 --> 00:25:25 looked at
00:25:25 --> 00:25:25 in the
00:25:25 --> 00:25:26 very first
00:25:26 --> 00:25:27 week
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 chapter 1
00:25:28 --> 00:25:29 new birth
00:25:29 --> 00:25:30 in Christ
00:25:30 --> 00:25:31 salvation
00:25:31 --> 00:25:32 that is found
00:25:32 --> 00:25:32 in Jesus
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 is the most
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 perfect
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 gift that has
00:25:35 --> 00:25:35 come from
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 above.
00:25:36 --> 00:25:37 It's been
00:25:37 --> 00:25:38 given to us
00:25:38 --> 00:25:38 freely by
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 God
00:25:39 --> 00:25:39 and so
00:25:39 --> 00:25:40 our
00:25:40 --> 00:25:40 salvation
00:25:40 --> 00:25:40 is not
00:25:40 --> 00:25:41 dependent
00:25:41 --> 00:25:41 upon
00:25:41 --> 00:25:42 our
00:25:42 --> 00:25:42 works
00:25:42 --> 00:25:42 and what
00:25:42 --> 00:25:43 we
00:25:43 --> 00:25:43 can
00:25:43 --> 00:25:43 do
00:25:43 --> 00:25:44 but
00:25:44 --> 00:25:44 it's
00:25:44 --> 00:25:44 dependent
00:25:44 --> 00:25:44 upon
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 God's
00:25:45 --> 00:25:45 gracious
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 gift
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 to us.
00:25:48 --> 00:25:48 And the
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 thing is
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 that's exactly
00:25:50 --> 00:25:50 what James
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 wants us to
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 have in mind
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 when we read
00:25:53 --> 00:25:54 this phrase
00:25:54 --> 00:25:54 the law
00:25:54 --> 00:25:55 of liberty.
00:25:56 --> 00:25:56 You see
00:25:56 --> 00:25:56 it's the
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 law of
00:25:57 --> 00:25:58 God
00:25:58 --> 00:25:58 as it is
00:25:58 --> 00:26:00 reinterpreted
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 by Christ.
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02 It's not
00:26:02 --> 00:26:02 the same
00:26:02 --> 00:26:03 law that we
00:26:03 --> 00:26:03 see in the
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 Old Testament
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 the one that
00:26:05 --> 00:26:05 Moses gave
00:26:05 --> 00:26:06 in the
00:26:06 --> 00:26:06 Mosaic
00:26:06 --> 00:26:07 law.
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 We are
00:26:08 --> 00:26:08 not under
00:26:08 --> 00:26:09 that law.
00:26:10 --> 00:26:11 We're under
00:26:11 --> 00:26:12 none of it.
00:26:13 --> 00:26:13 We are under
00:26:13 --> 00:26:14 the law of
00:26:14 --> 00:26:15 liberty
00:26:15 --> 00:26:16 which in
00:26:16 --> 00:26:17 practice might
00:26:17 --> 00:26:17 look very
00:26:17 --> 00:26:19 similar to
00:26:19 --> 00:26:20 the Mosaic
00:26:20 --> 00:26:20 law, to the
00:26:20 --> 00:26:21 Old Testament
00:26:21 --> 00:26:22 law, but in
00:26:22 --> 00:26:24 reality it's a
00:26:24 --> 00:26:24 completely
00:26:24 --> 00:26:26 different law,
00:26:26 --> 00:26:27 a new
00:26:27 --> 00:26:27 covenant
00:26:27 --> 00:26:29 but with one
00:26:29 --> 00:26:30 major difference.
00:26:31 --> 00:26:32 Whilst the
00:26:32 --> 00:26:33 Mosaic law was
00:26:33 --> 00:26:34 a standard by
00:26:34 --> 00:26:35 which we
00:26:35 --> 00:26:35 had to
00:26:35 --> 00:26:37 live by, we
00:26:37 --> 00:26:37 had to
00:26:37 --> 00:26:38 meet, otherwise
00:26:38 --> 00:26:39 we'd be
00:26:39 --> 00:26:40 condemned, the
00:26:40 --> 00:26:40 law of
00:26:40 --> 00:26:41 liberty has
00:26:41 --> 00:26:42 already had
00:26:42 --> 00:26:42 its standard
00:26:42 --> 00:26:44 met in
00:26:44 --> 00:26:44 Christ.
00:26:45 --> 00:26:46 And it's in
00:26:46 --> 00:26:47 him we now
00:26:47 --> 00:26:48 enjoy the
00:26:48 --> 00:26:49 ability by
00:26:49 --> 00:26:50 God's spirit
00:26:50 --> 00:26:51 to serve and
00:26:51 --> 00:26:51 to love those
00:26:51 --> 00:26:52 around us no
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 matter who
00:26:53 --> 00:26:53 they are.
00:26:55 --> 00:26:55 As one
00:26:55 --> 00:26:56 particular
00:26:56 --> 00:26:57 commentator put
00:26:57 --> 00:26:57 it,
00:26:57 --> 00:26:59 no longer is
00:26:59 --> 00:27:00 God's law a
00:27:00 --> 00:27:01 threatening and
00:27:01 --> 00:27:02 confining burden
00:27:02 --> 00:27:03 for the will
00:27:03 --> 00:27:04 of God now
00:27:04 --> 00:27:06 confronts us as
00:27:06 --> 00:27:06 a law of
00:27:06 --> 00:27:07 liberty, an
00:27:07 --> 00:27:08 obligation we
00:27:08 --> 00:27:08 discharge from
00:27:08 --> 00:27:09 the joyful
00:27:09 --> 00:27:10 knowledge that
00:27:10 --> 00:27:11 God has both
00:27:11 --> 00:27:13 liberated us from
00:27:13 --> 00:27:13 the penalty of
00:27:13 --> 00:27:15 sin and given
00:27:15 --> 00:27:15 us in his
00:27:15 --> 00:27:16 spirit the power
00:27:16 --> 00:27:17 to obey his
00:27:17 --> 00:27:18 will.
00:27:20 --> 00:27:21 Again, as we
00:27:21 --> 00:27:21 keep coming back
00:27:21 --> 00:27:22 in this series,
00:27:22 --> 00:27:23 James' purpose is
00:27:23 --> 00:27:25 to implore us to
00:27:25 --> 00:27:26 live in response
00:27:26 --> 00:27:27 to the resurrection
00:27:27 --> 00:27:29 of Jesus, to
00:27:29 --> 00:27:30 live lives that
00:27:30 --> 00:27:31 are genuine with
00:27:31 --> 00:27:32 our speech and
00:27:32 --> 00:27:33 our actions.
00:27:33 --> 00:27:34 As he points
00:27:34 --> 00:27:35 out the hypocrisy
00:27:35 --> 00:27:36 he sees in this
00:27:36 --> 00:27:37 church, indeed in
00:27:37 --> 00:27:38 our own church, he
00:27:38 --> 00:27:39 is not doing it to
00:27:39 --> 00:27:41 condemn us, to
00:27:41 --> 00:27:42 drum fear into
00:27:42 --> 00:27:43 us.
00:27:43 --> 00:27:44 And that's not
00:27:44 --> 00:27:45 why I'm here
00:27:45 --> 00:27:46 preaching tonight,
00:27:46 --> 00:27:47 to drum fear
00:27:47 --> 00:27:48 into us.
00:27:49 --> 00:27:50 James writes
00:27:50 --> 00:27:51 his letter and
00:27:51 --> 00:27:51 we preach this
00:27:51 --> 00:27:52 message that we
00:27:52 --> 00:27:55 might truly live
00:27:55 --> 00:27:56 lives that reflect
00:27:56 --> 00:27:57 the glory of
00:27:57 --> 00:27:58 Christ whom we
00:27:58 --> 00:27:59 hold faith to,
00:27:59 --> 00:28:00 that we wouldn't
00:28:00 --> 00:28:00 cheapen our
00:28:00 --> 00:28:02 faith by
00:28:02 --> 00:28:03 showing
00:28:03 --> 00:28:04 favoritism towards
00:28:04 --> 00:28:05 those who are
00:28:05 --> 00:28:06 rich and
00:28:06 --> 00:28:07 neglecting those
00:28:07 --> 00:28:08 who are poor.
00:28:09 --> 00:28:09 That we wouldn't
00:28:09 --> 00:28:10 cheapen our
00:28:10 --> 00:28:11 salvation and the
00:28:11 --> 00:28:12 life that we
00:28:12 --> 00:28:13 have, but that we
00:28:13 --> 00:28:13 would live it to
00:28:13 --> 00:28:14 the fullest,
00:28:14 --> 00:28:16 enjoying what God
00:28:16 --> 00:28:17 has given us by
00:28:17 --> 00:28:19 honoring him and
00:28:19 --> 00:28:20 serving those who
00:28:20 --> 00:28:21 come into our
00:28:21 --> 00:28:21 meeting together.
00:28:21 --> 00:28:22 favoritism.
00:28:22 --> 00:28:24 And this means
00:28:24 --> 00:28:26 rooting out
00:28:26 --> 00:28:26 favoritism.
00:28:27 --> 00:28:28 This means
00:28:28 --> 00:28:30 realizing that
00:28:30 --> 00:28:30 some of us here
00:28:30 --> 00:28:32 need to learn to
00:28:32 --> 00:28:33 love those around
00:28:33 --> 00:28:34 us who are pretty
00:28:34 --> 00:28:36 hard to love, who
00:28:36 --> 00:28:37 aren't really cool,
00:28:38 --> 00:28:39 who are a bit
00:28:39 --> 00:28:41 awkward, who may
00:28:41 --> 00:28:42 be of no advantage
00:28:42 --> 00:28:44 to you, but the
00:28:44 --> 00:28:45 reality is we need
00:28:45 --> 00:28:47 to learn to love
00:28:47 --> 00:28:48 these people.
00:28:48 --> 00:28:48 people.
00:28:49 --> 00:28:50 And this can be
00:28:50 --> 00:28:51 really hard to do.
00:28:53 --> 00:28:54 Which is why what
00:28:54 --> 00:28:56 is central to this
00:28:56 --> 00:28:58 is an understanding
00:28:58 --> 00:29:00 of what is at the
00:29:00 --> 00:29:01 heart of this law
00:29:01 --> 00:29:03 of liberty, what is
00:29:03 --> 00:29:04 at the heart of our
00:29:04 --> 00:29:05 new life in Christ
00:29:05 --> 00:29:06 as we are impacted
00:29:06 --> 00:29:08 by the resurrection
00:29:08 --> 00:29:09 of Jesus.
00:29:09 --> 00:29:11 At the heart of it
00:29:11 --> 00:29:12 is mercy.
00:29:12 --> 00:29:23 mercy triumphs over
00:29:23 --> 00:29:24 judgment.
00:29:25 --> 00:29:27 At the center of
00:29:27 --> 00:29:28 our life as
00:29:28 --> 00:29:29 believers is mercy.
00:29:29 --> 00:29:31 Life under the law
00:29:31 --> 00:29:32 of liberty is one
00:29:32 --> 00:29:34 of mercy.
00:29:35 --> 00:29:36 James here is
00:29:36 --> 00:29:36 reflecting on what
00:29:36 --> 00:29:38 Jesus says in the
00:29:38 --> 00:29:38 Sermon on the Mount
00:29:38 --> 00:29:39 where he says,
00:29:40 --> 00:29:40 blessed are the
00:29:40 --> 00:29:41 merciful for they
00:29:41 --> 00:29:42 will be shown
00:29:42 --> 00:29:43 mercy.
00:29:43 --> 00:29:44 And here he's
00:29:44 --> 00:29:45 turning it around
00:29:45 --> 00:29:46 making it into a
00:29:46 --> 00:29:47 warning by saying
00:29:47 --> 00:29:48 that those who
00:29:48 --> 00:29:49 don't show mercy
00:29:49 --> 00:29:50 to one another
00:29:50 --> 00:29:51 will be shown
00:29:51 --> 00:29:52 no mercy
00:29:52 --> 00:29:53 from God.
00:29:54 --> 00:29:55 This is what
00:29:55 --> 00:29:56 makes the issue
00:29:56 --> 00:29:57 of favoritism
00:29:57 --> 00:29:59 such an issue.
00:29:59 --> 00:30:00 The fact that
00:30:00 --> 00:30:01 it's merciless.
00:30:01 --> 00:30:02 It's totally
00:30:02 --> 00:30:04 contradictive
00:30:04 --> 00:30:05 to the life
00:30:05 --> 00:30:06 lived under the
00:30:06 --> 00:30:06 law.
00:30:07 --> 00:30:07 A life which
00:30:07 --> 00:30:09 has mercy
00:30:09 --> 00:30:09 at the very
00:30:09 --> 00:30:10 center of it.
00:30:10 --> 00:30:11 Favoritism
00:30:11 --> 00:30:12 gets rid of
00:30:12 --> 00:30:12 that idea.
00:30:14 --> 00:30:15 When we show
00:30:15 --> 00:30:16 favoritism towards
00:30:16 --> 00:30:17 one another,
00:30:17 --> 00:30:18 we are stripping
00:30:18 --> 00:30:19 away the mercy
00:30:19 --> 00:30:20 that rightly
00:30:20 --> 00:30:22 belongs to each
00:30:22 --> 00:30:22 of us in
00:30:22 --> 00:30:23 Christ.
00:30:23 --> 00:30:24 We cast judgment
00:30:24 --> 00:30:25 over the person
00:30:25 --> 00:30:27 instead of embracing
00:30:27 --> 00:30:28 them as our
00:30:28 --> 00:30:29 brother and
00:30:29 --> 00:30:29 sister.
00:30:30 --> 00:30:30 And so here
00:30:30 --> 00:30:31 James warns us
00:30:31 --> 00:30:33 to be merciful
00:30:33 --> 00:30:34 in all our
00:30:34 --> 00:30:35 actions and
00:30:35 --> 00:30:37 speech lest we
00:30:37 --> 00:30:38 end up like a
00:30:38 --> 00:30:39 judge with evil
00:30:39 --> 00:30:40 thoughts.
00:30:41 --> 00:30:42 For mercy
00:30:42 --> 00:30:43 always triumphs,
00:30:43 --> 00:30:44 always boasts
00:30:44 --> 00:30:46 over judgment.
00:30:47 --> 00:30:48 It's a bit of a
00:30:48 --> 00:30:49 strange phrase.
00:30:49 --> 00:30:50 It's hard to know
00:30:50 --> 00:30:50 what it exactly
00:30:50 --> 00:30:51 can mean.
00:30:52 --> 00:30:53 I think it's
00:30:53 --> 00:30:53 trying to say
00:30:53 --> 00:30:54 that those who
00:30:54 --> 00:30:55 show mercy in
00:30:55 --> 00:30:56 this life
00:30:56 --> 00:30:57 show that they
00:30:57 --> 00:30:58 are true
00:30:58 --> 00:31:00 recipients of
00:31:00 --> 00:31:01 God's grace.
00:31:01 --> 00:31:03 Mercy, as we
00:31:03 --> 00:31:04 begin to show
00:31:04 --> 00:31:04 it in our
00:31:04 --> 00:31:05 speech and
00:31:05 --> 00:31:05 our actions,
00:31:05 --> 00:31:07 is the evidence
00:31:07 --> 00:31:08 that we are
00:31:08 --> 00:31:09 God's people,
00:31:09 --> 00:31:10 that we are
00:31:10 --> 00:31:11 different to the
00:31:11 --> 00:31:11 rest of the
00:31:11 --> 00:31:11 world.
00:31:12 --> 00:31:13 And it's the
00:31:13 --> 00:31:14 antidote to the
00:31:14 --> 00:31:16 hypocrisy of
00:31:16 --> 00:31:17 favoritism that
00:31:17 --> 00:31:18 we might otherwise
00:31:18 --> 00:31:19 show instead.
00:31:20 --> 00:31:21 When we show
00:31:21 --> 00:31:22 mercy to each
00:31:22 --> 00:31:23 other, judgment
00:31:23 --> 00:31:24 loses its
00:31:24 --> 00:31:25 power.
00:31:26 --> 00:31:27 Our church ought
00:31:27 --> 00:31:28 not to be known
00:31:28 --> 00:31:28 as a church of
00:31:28 --> 00:31:29 favoritism,
00:31:29 --> 00:31:30 whether rich and
00:31:30 --> 00:31:31 influential,
00:31:31 --> 00:31:32 whether socially
00:31:32 --> 00:31:33 competent and
00:31:33 --> 00:31:34 beautiful people are
00:31:34 --> 00:31:35 welcomed over and
00:31:35 --> 00:31:36 above those who
00:31:36 --> 00:31:37 are a bit awkward,
00:31:37 --> 00:31:38 not very socially
00:31:38 --> 00:31:39 competent, who
00:31:39 --> 00:31:40 are poor and
00:31:40 --> 00:31:41 otherwise can't
00:31:41 --> 00:31:42 contribute anything
00:31:42 --> 00:31:43 to our church.
00:31:43 --> 00:31:44 No, we want to be
00:31:44 --> 00:31:45 a church who
00:31:45 --> 00:31:47 shows mercy and
00:31:47 --> 00:31:49 mercy to all
00:31:49 --> 00:31:51 people, to rich
00:31:51 --> 00:31:51 and to poor.
00:31:53 --> 00:31:53 No matter who
00:31:53 --> 00:31:54 walks into this
00:31:54 --> 00:31:55 building, we want
00:31:55 --> 00:31:56 to show them
00:31:56 --> 00:31:57 mercy and show
00:31:57 --> 00:31:58 the mercy that
00:31:58 --> 00:31:59 God has shown
00:31:59 --> 00:32:00 us in His
00:32:00 --> 00:32:00 Son.
00:32:00 --> 00:32:01 We want to put
00:32:01 --> 00:32:02 on display a
00:32:02 --> 00:32:03 faith that has
00:32:03 --> 00:32:03 been deeply
00:32:03 --> 00:32:05 impacted by the
00:32:05 --> 00:32:06 resurrection of
00:32:06 --> 00:32:07 Jesus where we
00:32:07 --> 00:32:08 display the true
00:32:08 --> 00:32:09 wisdom of the
00:32:09 --> 00:32:11 gospel, which
00:32:11 --> 00:32:12 shows both the
00:32:12 --> 00:32:13 rich and the
00:32:13 --> 00:32:15 poor that being
00:32:15 --> 00:32:17 rich in faith is
00:32:17 --> 00:32:18 of far greater
00:32:18 --> 00:32:19 value.
00:32:20 --> 00:32:21 We want to be so
00:32:21 --> 00:32:22 unlike the world
00:32:22 --> 00:32:23 who shows
00:32:23 --> 00:32:24 patriotism, who
00:32:24 --> 00:32:26 rejects people and
00:32:26 --> 00:32:27 accepts them off
00:32:27 --> 00:32:28 their image and
00:32:28 --> 00:32:29 what they can
00:32:29 --> 00:32:29 contribute.
00:32:30 --> 00:32:31 We want to
00:32:31 --> 00:32:32 accept all
00:32:32 --> 00:32:34 people, knowing
00:32:34 --> 00:32:35 that we
00:32:35 --> 00:32:36 ourselves have
00:32:36 --> 00:32:38 fallen short of
00:32:38 --> 00:32:39 God's standard,
00:32:39 --> 00:32:40 that none of us
00:32:40 --> 00:32:41 can contribute in
00:32:41 --> 00:32:42 any meaningful way,
00:32:43 --> 00:32:43 no matter how
00:32:43 --> 00:32:44 rich we might
00:32:44 --> 00:32:46 think we are, or
00:32:46 --> 00:32:47 how important we
00:32:47 --> 00:32:47 might think we
00:32:47 --> 00:32:49 are, that we
00:32:49 --> 00:32:50 all need to
00:32:50 --> 00:32:51 experience the
00:32:51 --> 00:32:53 wonderful mercy of
00:32:53 --> 00:32:53 God.
00:32:54 --> 00:32:54 That is the
00:32:54 --> 00:32:56 church we want
00:32:56 --> 00:32:56 to be.
00:32:57 --> 00:32:57 That is a
00:32:57 --> 00:32:58 church that
00:32:58 --> 00:33:00 shows that it
00:33:00 --> 00:33:01 has been impacted
00:33:01 --> 00:33:02 by the
00:33:02 --> 00:33:03 resurrection of
00:33:03 --> 00:33:04 Jesus.
00:33:04 --> 00:33:05 The question
00:33:05 --> 00:33:06 is, are we
00:33:06 --> 00:33:07 that church?
00:33:08 --> 00:33:09 And what
00:33:09 --> 00:33:09 needs to be
00:33:09 --> 00:33:11 done to
00:33:11 --> 00:33:12 become that
00:33:12 --> 00:33:12 church?