The Impartial Church James 2:1–4 1 My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. 2 For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, 3 and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” 4 have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

The Impartial Church James 2:5–7 5 Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?

The Impartial Church James 2:8–13 8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. 9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. 11 For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. 13 For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

The Impartial Church John 13:34–35 34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

The Impartial Church 1. Defining partiality (v. 1) 1 My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.

The Impartial Church 1. Defining partiality (v. 1)

The Impartial Church 1. Defining partiality (v. 1) Leviticus 19:15: You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor.

The Impartial Church 1. Defining partiality (v. 1) Leviticus 19:15: You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor. Deuteronomy 1:17: You shall not be partial in judgment. You shall hear the small and the great alike. You shall not be intimidated by anyone, for the judgment is God’s.

The Impartial Church 1. Defining partiality (v. 1) Leviticus 19:15: You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor. Deuteronomy 1:17: You shall not be partial in judgment. You shall hear the small and the great alike. You shall not be intimidated by anyone, for the judgment is God’s. Deuteronomy 10:17: The Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe.

The Impartial Church 2. Exposing partiality (vv. 2–4) 2 For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, 3 and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” 4 have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

The Impartial Church 2. Exposing partiality (vv. 2–4)

The Impartial Church 2. Exposing partiality (vv. 2–4) Partiality weighs people’s worth by worldly values.

The Impartial Church 2. Exposing partiality (vv. 2–4) Partiality weighs people’s worth by worldly values. Partiality judges people by surface appearances.

The Impartial Church 2. Exposing partiality (vv. 2–4) Partiality weighs people’s worth by worldly values. Partiality judges people by surface appearances. Partiality strips people of God-given dignity.

The Impartial Church 2. Exposing partiality (vv. 2–4) Partiality weighs people’s worth by worldly values. Partiality judges people by surface appearances. Partiality strips people of God-given dignity. Partiality values people for selfish reasons.

The Impartial Church 2. Exposing partiality (vv. 2–4) Partiality weighs people’s worth by worldly values. Partiality judges people by surface appearances. Partiality strips people of God-given dignity. Partiality values people for selfish reasons. Partiality divides the Christian family.

The Impartial Church 2. Exposing partiality (vv. 2–4) Partiality weighs people’s worth by worldly values. Partiality judges people by surface appearances. Partiality strips people of God-given dignity. Partiality values people for selfish reasons. Partiality divides the Christian family. Partiality surrenders to evil reasoning.

The Impartial Church 3. Correcting partiality (vv. 5–7) 5 Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?

The Impartial Church 3. Correcting partiality (vv. 5–7) 5 Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called? CREATION: The dignity of man (v. 6)

The Impartial Church 3. Correcting partiality (vv. 5–7) 5 Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called? CREATION: The dignity of man (v. 6) FALL: The deceitfulness of sin (vv. 6–7)

The Impartial Church 3. Correcting partiality (vv. 5–7) 5 Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called? CREATION: The dignity of man (v. 6) FALL: The deceitfulness of sin (vv. 6–7) REDEMPTION: The gospel of grace (v. 5)

The Impartial Church 3. Correcting partiality (vv. 5–7) 5 Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called? CREATION: The dignity of man (v. 6) FALL: The deceitfulness of sin (vv. 6–7) REDEMPTION: The gospel of grace (v. 5) NEW CREATION: The glory of the kingdom (v. 5)

The Impartial Church 4. Cultivating impartiality

The Impartial Church 4. Cultivating impartiality Read the gospels often.

The Impartial Church 4. Cultivating impartiality Read the gospels often. Confess your worldly values.

The Impartial Church 4. Cultivating impartiality Read the gospels often. Confess your worldly values. Do not pursue “blindness.”

The Impartial Church 4. Cultivating impartiality Read the gospels often. Confess your worldly values. Do not pursue “blindness.” Contemplate God’s love in Christ.

The Impartial Church 4. Cultivating impartiality Read the gospels often. Confess your worldly values. Do not pursue “blindness.” Contemplate God’s love in Christ. Develop diverse friendships.

The Impartial Church 4. Cultivating impartiality Read the gospels often. Confess your worldly values. Do not pursue “blindness.” Contemplate God’s love in Christ. Develop diverse friendships. Practice impartial pursuit.