Be Mature Rich Man Poor Man Chapter 5

Be Mature Rich Man, Poor Man Chapter 5 James 2: 1 -13

• Theme of James – Practice the truth – Immature people talk about faith while mature people live the faith – Hearing or talking about God’s Word is never a substitute for doing God’s Word – Statement of faith and covenant – The way we behave toward people indicates what we believe about God • Four Basics Doctrines – The Deity of Christ (2: 1 -4) • Jesus did not respect persons (favoritism) – Jesus looks at the heart, not outward appearance – Poor widow vs. Pharisees – Matthew, tax collector – Look at the potential

• Paul lost support from Christians due to his past, but Barnabas barged in to show the potential – We intend to judge people by the past, not their future • Human relationship/ divine fellowship • Jesus, the friend of publicans and sinners • Compassion/ not compromise • Jesus was despised and rejected (Isa 53: 1 -3) • Jesus, the glory of God – His presence (John 1: 14) – In believers (I Cor. 6: 19 -20) – In church collectively (Eph. 2: 21 -22) • How do we practice the deity of Christ? – Look at everyone through the eyes of Christ » Christian – Christ lives in them » Sinners – Christ died for them

– The Grace of God • God ignores national differences (Acts 10: 34) – Jews/Gentiles • God ignores social difference – Rich/poor, master/slaves • Human point of view – I Cor. 26 -27 – God chooses the poor over rich – The Word of God (2: 8 -11) • • • Our lives and ministries are the best defense D. L. Moody – Every Bible should be bound in shoe leather. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself – Lev. 19: 18 Matter of opportunity, not geography To whom can I be a neighbor? Royal law – love thy neighbor

– Given by the King; in law by Father – Son reaffirmed to His disciples (John 13: 34) – Holy Spirit filled our hearts with love (Rom 5: 5) • It rules all other laws; love is fulfilling of the laws (Rom 13: 19) • Obeying it makes you a king – Out of love, not fear – Hatred makes us slaves while love sets us free from selfishness • Respect of persons, or favoritism – Disobedience of all of God’s laws – Christian love always builds up (I Cor 8: 1) – The Judgment of God • Statement of faith ends with the return of Christ and final judgment

• Our words will be judged (Matt 12: 34 -37) • Our deeds will be judged (Col 3: 22 -25) – God remembers our sins no more (Heb 10 -17), but our sins affect our character and works » David • Our attitudes will be judged (2: 13) – Mercy and justice – Judged by the law of liberty – Law purposes for liberty » Outward discipline/inward discipline » License – do whatever I choose » Liberty – freedom to be all I can be in Jesus Christ » License – confinement while liberty – fulfillment – Word of God is called the law of liberty » Rules/God’s Word • Main Point: Our beliefs should control our behaviors