HOW TO RECEIVE GOD’S MERCY BY TREATING PEOPLE BETTER

James 2:1-13 | Mike Prah

“My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom” James 2:1-4, 8-10, 12 (NIV&NLT)

KEY VERSE: “For there will be no mercy to those who have shown no mercy. But if you have been merciful, then God’s mercy toward you will win out over His judgment against you” James 2:13 (LB)

A. THE PRINCIPLE: DON’T SHOW FAVORITISM

“My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism” James 2:1 (NIV)

“My friends, as believers in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, you must never treat people in different ways according to their outward appearance.” James 2:1 (GN)

Common Areas of Discrimination

Appearance | Ancestry (Race/Nationality) | Age | Achievement | Affluence

“Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?” James 2:2-4 (NIV)

B. THE PROBLEM WITH SHOWING FAVORITISM

1. FAVORITISM IS

Peter: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.” Acts 10:34-25 (NIV)

“The person who does wrong will be paid back for the wrong he has done. God does not play favorites.” Colossians 3:25 (GW)

“The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” I Samuel 16:7 (NIV)

2. FAVORITISM IS

“If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. James 2:8 (NIV)

“For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Galatians 5:14 (NIV)

“Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.” I John 4:20 (NIV)

“For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when He judges you.” James 2:10,12-13 (NIV)

C. THE PRESCRIPTION: HOW TO TREAT PEOPLE BETTER

1. EVERYBODY

“Accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory.” Romans 15:7 (NLT)

“After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from EVERY nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” Revelation 7:9-10 (NIV)

2. EVERYBODY

“Don’t be selfish … Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.” Philippians 2:3-5 (NLT)

3. EVERYBODY

"Encourage one another and build each other up." 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV)

“For there will be no mercy to those who have shown no mercy. But if you have been merciful, then God’s mercy toward you will win out over His judgment against you” James 2:13 (LB)

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