James 2

Verse 1, “My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality.”  Once we are saved, we are a new creation in Christ. There is no separation between earthly classes and races, because Jesus took down that wall and unites us in peace through His death on the cross. Colossians 3:10-11, “...and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.”  There is just one body of Christ and we shouldn't let wordly standing divide us.  Ephesians 2:14-15, “For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.”

Verses 5, 8-9, “Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself,' you do well; but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.”  We cannot judge with evil hearts, and certainly not by outward appearance showing partiality. 1 Samuel 16:7, “For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” Showing partiality is common in churches today, and according to the word, is just plain sin! To not want new people to come to the church and be ministered to, sticking to social groups and not wanting to let others in, is evil and you have to wonder if these people are even saved.

If God is willing to show us mercy, who are we to withhold mercy from others? Verse 13, “For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.” It reminds me of the unforgiving servant in Matthew 18 who was forgiven a huge debt but was unwilling to show mercy to someone who owed him a small amount. When his master who had forgiven him heard of his refusal to extend forgiveness to another, he ordered him to be delivered to the torturers until he paid every penny back. Matthew 18:35, “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.” Also Matthew 7:2-5 tells us, “For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”  One thing that should be pointed out here is that the answer is NOT that we refrain from judging altogether. Sin must be judged in the church, but done so motivated by love and without hypicrisy. We are told to deliver the one who refuses to repent to Satan for the destruction of their flesh, because it is their only chance to be saved, and is loving them. I Corinthians 5:11, “But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner— not even to eat with such a person.”

Verse 12, “So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.” You cannot claim to love God, but have no love in your heart for His sheep. It just makes you a liar. Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved Him. After Peter told Him he did, Jesus asked him to take care of His sheep. Some say that Peter denied Jesus three times, and therefore was given the opportunity to affirm his love the same number of times. Whether or not that is the case, it was important enough for Jesus to repeat it. I John 2:3-11, “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, 'I know Him,' and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning. Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining. He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.”

Genuine faith will have action to back it up; not that the action will save you, but it is evidence of your faith. Anyone can say that they have faith, but even demons believe in God, and it will not do them one bit of good. If there are no works to back up your faith, then your faith is also dead and useless. Verses 14-17, “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,' but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does  it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” Your faith should work together with your works, and then you will be an effective witness for Jesus. Loving your brethren, and even your enemies, is evidence that your faith is real. But when you constantly demonstrate that you love yourself and seek your own, you have rotten fruit as your evidence of faith. This world has enough posers, and loves to point out the hypocrisy in the church to justify their unbelief.

It is time to be the light God wants us to be in this very dark place!  Ephesians 5:8, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.” Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”