We've gathered this afternoon to continue our service, unto the
gracious God of heaven and him who loved us.
And I, for us, we're going to talk about something maybe a
little bit different about respect to persons.
And you say well why are you preaching about that?
Well it happens and the Bible recognize it was going to happen
and he has given us instructions concerning this.
So we're going to study that for a few moments.
Let's read James. The second chapter one through
four My brethren have not the Faith of Our Lord.
Jesus Christ. The lord of Glory with respect
of persons for if they're coming to your assembly, a man with a
gold ring in good apparel and they're coming.
Also a poor man and vile raiment and he have respect unto him
that where the gate clothing and saith unto him.
Set thou here in a good place and say to the poor Stands out
there or sit here under my footstool.
Are you not then partial in your cells and are become judges of
evil thoughts? Not aware of this being
happening in our Brotherhood. So very much but it happened
back there in New Testament times and it can still happen
today Among Us. So what are we?
We going to do about it, you know, God's religion must
manifest itself in outward activities just as God,
manifested himself to Man by various activities.
Now there's a lot that we don't know about God, but hasn't he
revealed a lot about himself? To Marvel man.
And he has showed us the way to heaven.
And so we love him. We respect him and we serve him
because he has manifested himself to Man by various
activities. And he suspect expects us to
manifest ourselves to him by various Here it is as well.
So God, chose these outward activities that he wanted band
to do. We didn't choose them.
We didn't think them up in our own minds, he chose these things
for man to do and when we do those things, God has chosen to
do then we're glorifying his name.
So there are some positive things and some negative things.
God wanted man to Understand and do.
And I think these things are so great in a world where nearly
everybody is saying, we're not saved by works.
And yet, God chose that very planned to manifest ourselves to
him these verses tells us so and some of these things they are.
Yes, things things, positive, things he want us to do but
there's a lot of no things. That he doesn't want us to do
and so we glorify him but doing the yeses and not doing the
nose. So He started out this series of
verses, by saying my brethren. Now, this is a statement of
equality. This is a statement about our
being one and equal to each other.
In the church. We are brothers and sisters
equal to each other. One is not above the other.
So God, Wants us to remember that.
Now, he said, he started out in this verse, my brethren, have
not the faith. Now, religion was introduced to
us in the preceding chapter, what pure religion and undefiled
religion is so, we understand for from some things that were
said this morning that, that word religion, Means to tie us
back to God. That's a reason.
Religion, is, is given to us in article.
Came up out in our local paper up at Yuba City, that was wrong
like so much other stuff in it is wrong.
They haven't gotten where they can do the weather real good.
They haven't gotten where they can list the sports activities
that I I like like it should be but now the end they did, they
said that religion is what people are shying away from.
That's a terrible thing to say. Because God's religion, you
remember, we said this morning, it's made up of that compound
word, Ray, which means again Livio, which means to tie, so
religion is what ties us back to God.
Why do you think God gave us the New Testament?
Why do you think he gave us the word of God?
Because he wants man tied back with him because say sin
separates Us from God, it unties us.
And so now the in God wanted to give man, something that would
bring us back to him and and really honor his name.
And sometimes religion is called the faith.
See that term up there. The faith is another name for
that same religion. The gospel is another name.
It is called the faith because it produces faith and that's so
essential for us to remember. I know that I remember a lady
that was continually coming back to church and making a
confession fault, backsliding, come back to church backslide.
And and so I didn't understand what was wrong.
Why is she doing that? What do you see?
It's time. Some catastrophe would happen in
her family are among her friends.
For example, I remember one time she was out of Duty and one of
her friends was killed in an auto asset.
So here she came and made a confession.
Well that was all right for her to make a confession.
She It to make one. But here's the thing.
Her faith that caused her to come back to church was because
some catastrophe happened. And where does faith come fi?
The from faith comes from hearing the word of God.
If you, if your faith did not come from hearing God's word, it
will do nothing for salvation for you it, that faith has to
come from God's work. Well, so, he calls the gospel,
the faith because it produces the right kind of Faith.
The saving faith for us. Us.
So if you want saving Faith, then you've got to get it from
God's word. And that's the way it is, you
know, Jesus lived a poor life while he was here on Earth.
But now he is Lord Of Glory, in a highly exalted position, he is
the one we must respect now. And not by those who have wealth
here, in life. We might, we must respect the
Lord Of Glory because when he came to this earth, The people
said this can't be the Messiah, this can't be the Christ because
he's not coming here. Riding a great white, charger
and leading up, vast Army to drive the Romans out of our
nation. He's not doing all that.
He was born in the manger. He wasn't born in a palace.
And they just didn't understand Jesus in that lowly humble
position. Just did not understand it.
And so, he's the one that we must respect now, and not those
who seem exalted, but wealth here on this earth.
Now, In the 2nd through the 4th verse is of James to.
He said for if they're coming to your assembly, a man with a gold
ring and goodly apparel and they're also and they're coming.
Also a poor man in Vile Rima and he have respect to him that
we're at the gay clothing and saying to him set the here in a
good place and say to the poor stands out of there.
Sit here under my footstool, are you not then partial in
yourselves and are become judges of evil thoughts?
See how that works out in that particular place the difference
between a rich man and the poor man can't get us in trouble if
we don't watch out if we don't have the proper attitude toward
all that. So you are Are impressed with a
rich man's clothing and so you honor him highly.
That's what they were doing back there in New Testament times.
That's what people still do today.
And this is something that I think is getting a parent in
some areas. So God is watching us and is
very interested in how much respect you show to each other.
Very interested in that. And so I hope that we all have
the right attitude toward this. Now you can do this by the
seating arrangement as we found out in Africa.
We went over there and live, 45 years old together and I was
very surprised to see that when they came Into the assembly,
they would March in and the women would sit on this side
over here and then it said, on that side over there.
Well, this is something that the United Kingdom of Great, Britain
had talked to them but you know, in fact they told me one, the
church leaders told me he said you can't stand that you can't
set by a woman who worship God. That was their attitude toward
all that. So they separate the men from
the women, but that's not the worst thing that they were doing
as far as I was concerned because they had a ring of
chairs up here behind the pulpit there.
And the bigger you were in their sight, the more important you
were To them. You got to set up here and I've
seen that scripture literally, fulfil, that some man will take
one of these seats up here. And, and then a more important
man would come into them. And they tell that, man, you get
up and you go sit back there. See now, That wasn't that was a
hard habit to break in Africa very difficult because they like
that honor. So you and they like to bestow
Honor on somebody that they really like we can't do that.
We can't do that and God would rather see us.
Take poor and lowly man in the eyes of the world and said Him
right up in on front seat or if he so desired, but they, it took
them a long time. And some of them have not yet
caught that. And because we're all equal,
we're all Brothers and Sisters in Christ and it was nice to
have a chair to sit in. I'll have to admit that because
what they had for beaches Was just some mud that was built up
and they let it Harden and that was the beaches of that.
State of no backs to lean up against or anything like that.
Didn't make any difference. We were there to worship God and
to honor him and, and worship god with our Brothers and
Sisters in Christ. So that was a very difficult.
Old habit that the British Top them to break today.
So it is said that the most coveted seating place in the
synagogue was at the end of the building facing Jerusalem and by
the arc where the sacred Scrolls were kept.
That was the most coveted seating place and well.
People, some people in the world who have a worldly attitude and
a nun spiritual attitude. That's the seat that they would
want. That's the seat that they would
have. We can't do that.
We can't exalt people. Now, I'll admit that when I
choose a seat in the assembly, I like for it to be there
available for me when I get to church, but if somebody else is
sitting in it that's fine and dandy to, that's All right,
because we're brothers and sisters in Christ.
See that's, he doesn't want us to have that respect of persons
like that. Now to the poor, they would say,
stand are set where I place my feet.
Don't get this good chair. You don't get this best seat.
See, how would you like to worship, God, like that today?
You know, we can't do that. And so now it would be shameful
It would be shameful to dress in an ostentatious garment, and
prayed a parade up and down the aisle.
So, the risk could see you and perhaps, envy, you I do lady.
Sheesh. Is not not very well off.
Physically are mentally either one, but if she's got a new
dress, she likes to set up on the front seat and she likes to
Go get a drink of water parade up and down, I'll all I'm
preaching and so people could see her.
See what kind of attitude is that?
You think the Lord is pleased with something like that?
He's not pleased and so that is what can happen.
So he said, are you not partial The idea is in James is time,
they were vacillating between what the Lord taught and what
they were naturally inclined to do.
See, I know that in our Brotherhood, instead of building
a new building, we have purchased some that the
denominations were abandoning And you know, I heard one of
them say that we're selling this building because we're almost a
shame to invite our friends to this place.
See What an attitude? What a way to look at things.
Listen, we're brothers and sisters in Christ and we walk to
live. Like we are in two years so they
had the wrong motives as indicated by the turn.
Evil thoughts, see, are you not partial?
And aren't you having evil thoughts?
When you make distinctions like this?
Now. Let's go home.
You know, thoughts have a way of expressing themselves in outward
actions. That's just the way they are.
So we must guard our thoughts because the scriptures in the
Old Testament teaches us as he thinketh in his heart.
So is he? So you can tell what people are
thinking in their heart of the way they act in this in James.
The second chapter verse 5, he wrote Harkin my beloved Brethren
hath. Not God.
Chosen the poor of this world rich in faith and Heirs of the
Kingdom, which he has promised to them.
That love him. Well, see, that's the type that
God himself chose that's the way it was.
Jesus Christ came to the work that into this world where he
was born and work that he learned to do and in all of that
when I was getting this lesson up, when animals watching TV,
and there was an ad on there. Somebody won the Super Bowl last
year. They had a ring in there showing
it off. No, Super Bowl ringing, they had
wanted. But Joe Montana was sitting over
there had five of them on his finger.
So that made him a whole lot bigger than this one over here
who had just gotten. There's well, that's the way
some people are out here in this world, but not in the Lord's
church, not in the Lord's church at all.
So this word hearken that used is imperative.
In the Greek so far, as cases concerned imperative is not
optional. See You can't lll do this or
I'll not do this. It's imperative Harkin.
So, what must we do? It is essential for them.
And they were to listen carefully.
That's the way it is with us today.
You see when he said Harkin in him and it's in the imperative,
then that means it is essential for us to do that in this day
and time. Equality is one of the essential
parts of Christianity and they buy their thoughts and practices
were in danger of violating this.
Important principle. So God has chosen the poor who
are rich in faith. Material riches matters not with
God while he owns everything start off with you.
And and they're not something that should be that important to
us when we are faced with choices like this, let's not let
matters like that. Be the governing thing that we
have. I want to tell you that poor man
can inherit the kingdom of God, as well as the rich.
Can do that. So, the important thing is, How
the poor and the rich handle their riches and the attitude
that they have. Now, you might not have very
much but, that can keep you out of Heaven, if you got the wrong
attitude toward it, See, and the rich.
If they got the wrong attitude toward their riches that can
keep them out of Heaven. To, it doesn't make any
difference to them James the second chapter verses 6 and 7.
He says but ye have despised the poor do not rich men oppress you
and draw you before the Judgment seats.
Do not they blaspheme that worthy Name by the which year
called Well, that was happening back there.
And I think people Kind of look at the church of Christ sort of
like that in many many times. And in many respects, because
like I heard a lady, say she asked one of our Brethren had a
funeral, we were attending She said are you still going to that
little Old Church Christ? And this brother said, well yes
we sure are what a Pity she had, that's what you said.
What up? He well down.
You see, she had respect to persons, she had the wrong
attitude. And this little Church of Christ
she needed it. She needed to be a member of it
and she needed to change her attitude.
That was the thing about all of that.
By their actions, they had despised the poor that God had
chosen. And despised means they had
Dishonored and insulted them. They were in opposition to God
by showing partiality. Why would we want to be like
that? Endangering our spiritual life?
Spiritual inheritance for things like that.
The rich had a press. These very people and brought
them before the synagogue. The Judgment seat yet, they seem
partial to them by showing them partiality.
You remember that that important seat in the synagogue, it was up
there before the, the Scrolls that had the word of God written
on that. And it was facing Jerusalem and
all that. All they like that seat.
And they would make a man get up out of it.
If one, more honorable came and he had to go sit someplace else
and they had a pressed, the Christians in various ways.
After the church, got it start. But still, they wanted to show
the rich if they came in. Oh, you have this best seat now.
This was something that was really damaging to their
spirituality and don't they blaspheme that means to speak
evil against or to revile. The rich had done this against
the name of Christ and yet they were wanting to really get them.
The very best best seat in the house if they would even come
but when the Jews saw the multitudes they were filled with
envy and speak against those things which were spoken by Paul
contradicting and blaspheming yet the church members were
showing partiality to them. Why Christian was the name A
follower of Christ is what is what that means.
And James 8 said, if you fulfill the Royal law, according to the
scripture Thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thyself.
You do well, a hard lesson for them to learn the Royal law.
Is Lord Jesus. Our King gave, even though it is
also found in the Old Testament itself.
Now it In the present tense, indicating this Royal law must
be kept at all times wasn't optional, it wasn't something
you could do part of the time and then do something else.
The rest of the time in the 9th and 10th versus he says, but if
you have respect to persons, you commit sin and are convinced of
the law as transgressors for whosoever shall keep the whole
law. And yet offend in one point, he
is guilty of all All a transgressor is one.
Who misses the mark, he steps beyond the lot of the line that
God has drawn. They therefore sinned when they
Step Beyond The Royal law, they were guilty of doing this to
other laws of Christ as well. So learn to abide with all
within all of the laws of Christ.
I'll bring the listen to a close now.
You know Jesus pleads with us and his loving way, he died was
buried. And then he rose again as this
picture, depicts, and he arose with healing in his wings.
He arose with salvation For mankind. it had been offered it
had been received but justice but God and now then Jesus said
come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will
give you rest. Listen.
Don't Let Jesus Leave Your Heart by showing respect of persons of
any human being here on this Earth.
It'll send you to hell. See, it'll do that.
If you're not a member of the Church of Christ and you'd like
to obey the gospel. Why don't you do that?
As we sing this song, You Believe, don't you?
Now, repent of your sins, confess your faith in Jesus
Christ as the Son of God and be baptized.
And if you're an erring child of God, Don't stay away from the
shepherd and Bishop of your soul.
Come back home. We thank you for listening to
our podcast, put on by the Church of Christ at 22:15 plans.
Road in Bakersfield, if you would like any additional
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