Review from Last Week: The Man with a Worthless Religion He does religious practices (prays, worships, Lord’s Supper, etc) 2) But he does not bridle his tongue. Self-Perception – “he thinks himself to be religious” Self-Deception – “he deceives his own heart”

Review from Last Week: Pure & Undefiled Religion (A Religion of Worth) Pure – purity of heart, cleansed (genuine, real, true) Undefiled – uncorrupted by selfishness In the sight of our God and Father

Review from Last Week: Three Hallmarks of Pure Religion 1) To bridle one’s tongue (1:26) 2) To visit orphans & widows in their distress 3) To keep oneself unstained by the world

“What is our mission statement As we move along in our study of The Book of James this morning, I want to begin by asking you: “What is our mission statement for Crossroads Church? What is our mission?”

Our mission is to advance God’s Kingdom by making fully devoted followers of Christ!

“My brethren, do not hold your faith in our James 2:1-13 “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 James 2:1-13 and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, ‘You sit here in a good place,’ and you say, to the poor man, ‘You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,’ have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives?

Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God James 2:1-13 Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into court?

Do they not blaspheme your fair name by James 2:1-13 Do they not blaspheme your fair name by which you have been called? If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law, according to the Scripture, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself,’ you are doing well.

But if you show partiality, you are committing James 2:1-13 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.

For He who said, ‘Do not commit adultery,’ James 2:1-13 For He who said, ‘Do not commit adultery,’ also said, ‘Do not commit murder.’ Now if you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so act, as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty.

For judgment will be merciless to one who James 2:1-13 For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.”

This is the key passage for James 2:1 “My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism.” (NKJV – partiality) This is the key passage for James 2:1-13!

An Example of Partiality and Favoritism: When I was an intern in seminary, I was asked to make calls to the new superintendent of the school district who was about to move his family into town.

Is Not Always What It Seems! Rich and Poor Is Not Always What It Seems!

Matthew 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,     for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

The key for understanding these verses is to understand that James is encouraging us not to display any partiality or favoritism in our attitudes toward others.

for us here at Crossroads, How does this play out for us here at Crossroads, especially in light of our mission statement?

Our mission is to advance God’s Kingdom by making fully devoted followers of Christ!

James 2:12-13 So speak and so act, as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.”