The Impartiality of
Christianity – James 2:1–7
Introduction
James 2:1–7 teaches
that the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ leaves no place for
partiality. The church must judge with righteous judgment, honoring
character over appearance, and receiving every soul without
favoritism in the presence of the Lord of glory.
Pure Religion Rejects
Partiality
James has just
defined pure and undefiled religion as visiting the fatherless and
widows in their affliction and keeping oneself unspotted from the
world (James 1:27). He immediately applies this standard to the way
Christians treat people in the assembly. Two visitors arrive—one
adorned with gold rings and fine apparel, the other poor and in
filthy clothing. Preferential seating for the wealthy and degrading
directions for the poor reveal hearts that value externals. James
declares that this behavior displays corrupt judgment and violates
the spirit of Christ.
The Faith of Christ Cannot
Be Carried with Favoritism
“Do not hold the
faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality”
(James 2:1). Believers “hold up” the faith before a watching world.
When the church honors wealth, rank, and image while sidelining the
poor, the message of the gospel becomes clouded. God’s people are
called to display the character of the Savior, whose heart received
children, lepers, publicans, and rulers who humbled themselves. The
assembly is a place where the poor hear good news and where every
soul is welcomed with dignity.
God’s Standard: Judge by
Character, Not Appearance
Scripture
consistently forbids partiality. Under the Law, Israel was
commanded, “You shall not show partiality in judgment; you shall
hear the small as well as the great” (Deuteronomy 1:17). Peter
learned the universal reach of the gospel: “God shows no partiality,
but in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is
accepted by Him” (Acts 10:34–35). The Lord measures people by
reverence and righteousness. Appearance, wealth, and social standing
offer no standing before His throne.
Why Favoring the Rich
Corrupts Judgment
James exposes
the folly of deference to wealth. Historically, the powerful often
oppressed believers and dragged them into courts, and many
blasphemed the noble name by which Christians were called (James
2:6–7). The poor are frequently rich in faith and heirs of the
kingdom (James 2:5). Elevating those who trust in earthly power
while shaming those likely to receive the word produces spiritual
blindness in the church and stumbling among seekers who watch our
conduct.
Righteous Judgment in the
Assembly
Jesus commanded,
“Judge righteous judgment” (John 7:24). Righteous judgment waits to
learn a person’s character. It resists snap conclusions shaped by
clothing, jewelry, vocabulary, accent, or the vehicle in the parking
lot. Congregations that practice righteous judgment create a culture
where visitors sense the humility of Christ, where burdens are
shared without asking what return may come, and where the gospel
reaches the humble first.
Receiving the Poor Honors
the Lord of Glory
When a
congregation dignifies the unseen, the overlooked, and the needy, it
honors the Lord who became poor for our sakes. The assembly becomes
a living testimony that Christ is present among His people. The rich
are welcome when they bow to Christ, and the poor are welcome as
beloved image-bearers. The church practices pure religion when every
seat is a seat of honor because every soul bears God’s image.
The
Impartiality of Christianity – James 2:1–7 Sermon Outline:
-
Introduction: James 2:1–7
-
I. Pure
Religion Applied to People (James 1:27; 2:1–4)
-
From
caring for the vulnerable to welcoming without favoritism.
-
Two
visitors illustrate the test: honor granted to wealth, shame
placed on poverty.
-
Partiality creates corrupt judgments and exposes worldly
values.
-
II.
God’s Revealed Standard Against Partiality (Deuteronomy 1:17;
Acts 10:34–35)
-
The Law:
hear the small as well as the great.
-
The
Gospel: acceptance rests on fearing God and working
righteousness.
-
Character, not appearance, is the biblical measure.
-
III.
The Folly of Favoring the Powerful (James 2:5–7; 1 Corinthians
1:26–29)
-
God has
chosen many poor to be rich in faith and heirs of the
kingdom.
-
The
powerful often oppose the people of God and blaspheme the
name of Christ.
-
Boasting
in worldly status empties the cross of its meaning.
-
IV.
Righteous Judgment in the Assembly (John 7:24; Matthew 7:12)
-
Suspend
snap judgments; learn a person’s character.
-
The
Golden Rule governs hospitality and seating.
-
A
culture of dignity draws seekers to the gospel.
-
V.
Honoring Christ by Honoring the Lowly (James 2:1; Luke 4:18)
-
The Lord
of glory is present where the poor hear good news.
-
Every
seat becomes honorable when the church sees God’s image in
every soul.
-
Impartial welcome is a visible confession of the gospel.
-
Conclusion
Call to Action
Search your
heart and your habits. Ask whom you notice first, whom you approach,
whom you seat, and whom you overlook. Commit to greet without
distinction, to listen before labeling, and to serve without
expecting return. Receive every person as one for whom Christ died,
and let your congregation become a house where the humble are lifted
up and the Lord of glory is seen.
Key Takeaways
-
God forbids
partiality; He hears the small as well as the great (Deuteronomy
1:17).
-
The gospel
receives every nation and person who fears God and works
righteousness (Acts 10:34–35).
-
James
condemns favoritism in the assembly and calls it corrupt
judgment (James 2:1–4).
-
God has
chosen many poor to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom
(James 2:5).
-
Judge
righteous judgment, measuring by character rather than
appearance (John 7:24).
-
The church
honors Christ when it honors the lowly and welcomes all without
distinction (Luke 4:18; James 2:1).
Scripture Reference List
-
James
1:27; 2:1–7 – Pure religion and
the prohibition of partiality in the assembly.
-
Deuteronomy 1:17 – No partiality
in judgment; hear small and great.
-
Acts
10:34–35 – God shows no
partiality; acceptance rests on reverence and righteousness.
-
1
Corinthians 1:26–29 – Few mighty
or noble respond; God chooses the lowly to humble worldly pride.
-
John
7:24 – Judge righteous judgment.
-
Matthew
7:12 – The Golden Rule guides our
treatment of others.
-
Luke
4:18 – Good news proclaimed to
the poor as a mark of Messiah’s mission.
Prepared by Bobby Stafford of the church of Christ at
Granby, MO
https://www.granbychurchofchrist.org/Categories/Faith.htm
The church of Christ at Granby,
MO
Located at
516 East Pine St.
P.O. Box 664
Granby, Mo. 64844
(417) 472-7109
For more lessons and Sermons,
please visit
https://granbychurchofchrist.org/
https://granbychurchofchrist.com/
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