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James 2:1-13
"What a Fellowship!" (?)

Illus. Sgt. Joe Enders - from "Wind talkers" He won the Medal of Honor for bravery, yet when he included Azzaeh in the information, he was ignored because he was an Indian, Navaho.

1. The mandate - No partiality

A. Challenge #1 Intimacy - Believers are brothers
We are His children
The example is Onesimus.

B. Challenge #2 - Inconsistency
People saying and doing different things.
These people professed Christianity, but practiced partiality.

Quote: Wiersbe - "Dress, color of skin, fashion and other superficial things carry more weight than the fruit of the Spirit that may be manifest in our lives."

2. The message
A. Our problem
Appearance is important
Note that one subject is in rings, while the other is in rags.
"Fine" = clothing for dignitaries, emphasizing wealth and social distinction
"Shabby" = filthy
Note Solomon's words -"To show partiality is not good - yet a man will do wrong for a piece of bread." (Prov 28:21)
Illus. A deplorable incident occurred in the life of Mahatma Gandhi.
This man, who later gained world attention, says in his autobiography that in his student days he was truly interested in the Bible. Deeply touched by reading the gospels, he seriously considered becoming a convert. Christianity seemed to offer the real solution to the caste system that was dividing the people of India. One Sunday, he decided to see the minister and ask for instruction in the way of salvation and enlightenment on other doctrines. But when he entered the sanctuary, the ushers refused to give him a seat and suggested that he go and worship with his own people. He left and never came back. He said, "If Christians have caste differences also, I might as well remain a Hindu."

B. Our Pattern - Christ
He showed respect for people
He did not pay attention to who they were. (Matt 22:16)
Quote: D.L. Moody - "Every Bible should be bound in shoe leather."

C. Our position - Christ like
To the Christian - we accept them because Christ lives in them.
To the lost - we receive him because Christ died for them.

Illus. Anne Ortland - ". "Here came Mary, he said, "with her alabaster vase of nard to the dinner where Jesus was. She broke the bottle and poured it on Him." An Alabaster vase - milky white, veined, smooth, precious. And pure nard inside! Gone forever. According to John 12:3, the whole house became filled with the fragrance. Some story!
Christians file into church on a Sunday morning. One by one by one they march in like separate alabaster vases. Contained. Self-sufficient. Encased. Individually complete. Contents undisclosed. No perfume emitting t all. Their vases aren't bad looking. In fact some of them are the Beautiful People and they become Vase-Conscious: conscious of their own base and of one another's. They're aware of clothes, personalities, of position in this world - of exteriors. So, before and after church (maybe during) they're apt to talk Vase Talk. Your ring is darling; what stone is that? Did you hear if Harry got that job? What is Lisa's boy doing for the summer? Is that all your own hair? I may take tennis lessons if George wants to.

Mary broke her vase. Broke it! How shocking. How controversial. Was everybody doing it? Was it a vase-breaking party? No, she just did it all by herself. What happened then? The obvious: all the contents were forever released. She could never hug her precious nard to herself again."

3. The Motivation (4-13)
A. God's Grace - Acrostic
We cannot become unjust judges
Jesus ignored national differences
Acts 10:34
There is no difference for condemnation or salvation, for Jew or Gentile.
Jesus ignored social differences
1 Sam 2:7,8a


B. God's Word (8-11)
Love your neighbor - opportunistically rather than geographically
We are to share God's love.
God's love edifies - builds up 1 Cor 8:1


Picture a pack of porcupines on a frigid winter night. They need each
other, yet they needle each other.


C. God's judgment (12-13)

1. Our affirmations
The words we speak come from the heart! Matt 12:34-37
2. Our actions
Col 3:23 -Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving."
3. Our attitudes
Are you showing mercy?


What to do:

1. Acknowledge it as sin.
2. Pinpoint areas where you must change.
3. Ask God to help you overcome.
4. Take an action step
Select one person you have difficulty accepting
Do something that reflects true Christian love.