1. 1© 2009 IBM Corporation The Epistle of James Practical Christian Living Christ Baptist Church Fall 2014

2. 2 The Epistle of James – Chapter 1 in Review

3. 3 James 2:1 - 4 1. What is it about certain people that makes it difficult to associate with them? 2. What are some of the issues that divide people today? The Epistle of James 2:1 - 13

4. 4 James 2:1 - 4 3. How does James 2 compare to 1 John 4:20? 4. What does it mean to look at people through the eyes of Christ? 1 John 4:20 - If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. You are not swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are. Matt 22:16 Thought Question: How would the world describe Jesus?

5. 5 The Epistle of James 2:1 - 13 James 2:5 - 7 5. On what basis do we tend to judge people? – How does Jesus see people? 6. How is God’s grace manifested to us in the way He relates to people? – How can we imitate this? Can you be rich and still go to heaven? (vs 5) Acts 10:34 - So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, Eph 6:9 - Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master [a] and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.a

6. 6 The Epistle of James 2:1 - 13 James 2:8 - 11 What is the Royal Law (Sovereign Law)? – How does James use the law to explain the problem of partiality? 7. How is it possible that two commandments can sum up all the law and prophets? 8. What are the motives and means to loving others as God wants us to? Lev 19:18 - You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself. Deut 6:4-5 - You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. Matthew 22:36-40 – Which is the greatest commandments? Phil 2:2-3 – count other more significant than yourselves John 13:34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.

7. 7 The Epistle of James 2:1 - 13 James 2:12 - 13 9. What aspects of our behavior toward other people will God judge? – By what criteria will God judge? 10. How does showing mercy to others affect God’s judgment of us? What is the Law of Liberty? (refer back to 1:25) Judgment of God John 5:24 Rom 8:1 Rom 14:10 -13 2 Cor 5:9-10 Matt 12:33-37 Matt 5:21,22 Mercy of God Matt 18:21-35

8. 8 And the L ORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy, for I the L ORD your God am holy. Lev 19:1-3 The Epistle of James 2:1 - 13 Challenges: How can we begin showing compassion to the poor? What are some of the ways of “labeling” we need to refrain from? In what ways do you struggle with showing preferential treatment to some & prejudice against others?

9. 9 The Epistle of James 2:1 - 13 Additional questions What is at the root of favoritism, the cause of showing partiality?