Doing Faith

(James 2:1-13) My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him? But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of Him to whom you belong. If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!

PREPARING WELL

I want to live every day of my life preparing WELL for judgment.

1. Stop Pre-Judging

A. prejudge: to judge beforehand without having adequate evidence.

B. prejudice: a strong feeling about some subject, formed unfairly or before one knows the facts.

C. synonym for prejudice: favoritism.

(2:1) Don’t show favoritism.

D. synonym for prejudice: discrimination

(2:4) Have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

E. “Stop doing that!”

2. Start Pre-Loving

(2:8) If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right.

(Mark 12:28) One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked Him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

(Mark 12:30) “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

A. Work on what Jesus says is a top priority.

(Luke 10:29) But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

Luke 10:30ff – Parable of the Good Samaritan.

B. I am to actively love people – even before I know them.

3. Start Pre-Boarding

James 2:12 & 13 – being prepared for Judgment and the Heavenly Kingdom.

A. Pre-boarding is about to begin – am I prepared?

B. Pre-boarding is about to begin – am I WELL prepared?

C. Pre-boarding is about to begin – am I WILLINGLY well prepared?