The Church With No Divisions: James 2:1-7

 James 2:1-3 – “My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism. For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes…have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil motives?

 Showing favoritism toward any one or group is contrary to our faith in Jesus.

 Philippians 2: Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

 Luke 15: Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him. Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

 Man going from Jerusalem to Jericho – suppose him to be a Jew.  Beaten by brigands  Priest and Levite pass him by.  Hated Samaritan helps him.  Who is a neighbor?

 There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.”  Therefore the Samaritan woman said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask me for a drink since I am a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)

 Deuteronomy 1:17 -- You shall not show partiality in judgment; you shall hear the small and the great alike. You shall not fear [a]man, for the judgment is God’s. The case that is too hard for you, you shall bring to me, and I will hear it.’

 The first century Judeo/Christian world  Judaism deeply divided – Pharisee, Sadducee, Essene, Zealot  Jews divided from Gentiles

 Division/Prejudice based upon:  Skin color  National origin  socio-economic station  Education level  Peer pressure  Stereotyping  Ignorance

 Slaves and slave owners  Rich and poor  Male and female  Jew and Gentile  Jew and Samaritan  Circumcised and uncircumcised

 Rich = LAMPROS – extravagantly wealthy  Poor = PTOCHOS – to cringe. A cringing beggar.  One dressed in finery, the other in filthy disgusting clothing.

 Opening his mouth, Peter said: “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him.” God doesn’t show partiality. Should we?