James 2:1-13 “Partiality, Prejudice, and the Gospel”
(Preached at Cross of Christ Fellowship in Naperville, Illinois on 7/6/25)
Intro: Centennial Beach Discrimination (age, weight, income, race, background, education); Public outcry (media)
-GOOD human longing for justice and equality in society (Christians and Non-Christians both want this!)
-Evil of racism, sexism, agism, and prejudice against some and unfair favoritism toward others
-Human methods and campaigns against prejudice/partiality are often misguided or have limited results
-We need a better approach, and we have this in the gospel.
*Only the gospel can satisfy our longing for a world without prejudice and discrimination, because only through it can we experience the kind of change needed which leads to love and fair treatment of others.
I. Christians are Called to Forsake Partiality (1)
-Addressing Christians “as you hold faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the lord of glory”
-Christian= ‘holds faith in Jesus.’
-NOT a mere MORALITY, or FAMILY HERITAGE
-Personal, Individual act of placing your trust in Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
NCC 30: “What is faith in Jesus Christ?” Faith is Jesus Christ acknowledging the truth of everything that God has revealed in his
Word, trusting in him, and also receiving and resting on him alone for salvation as he is offered to us in the gospel.”
–NOTE: Jesus is the “Lord of Glory” (Phil 2:9-11)
-Commentators note connection to passage: we should be far more impressed/concerned with pleasing
our glorious lord Jesus Christ than any human opinion.
-Instruction to Hear: “show no partiality”
WEBSTERS: Partiality is “Inclination to favor one party or one side of a question more than the other; an
undue bias of mind towards one party or side, which is apt to warp the judgment.”
*APPLICATION: Hear God’s INSTRUCTION: “Show no partiality!”
-If we are to be mature Christians, we forsake all forms of prejudice and partiality and discrimination
-Does not come naturally, it is something we grow in by God’s grace and the Holy Spirit’s empowering
-Christians have not always done this in the past—we must humbly acknowledge this (South)
-We need to hear this again, and by God’s grace repent of any and all partiality.
- An Example of Partiality: Rich and Poor (2-4)
Lots of ways we can show partiality: beauty, strength, ethnicity, wealth, social, age.
-All are unjust.
-James gives one common example: poor and rich.
-A rich man and poor enter a church.
–Treatment of the rich: ‘Sit in that nice place…”
–Treatment of the poor: ‘You stand over there, or sit at my feet’
–SIN: “have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?”
-MAKING DISTINCTIONS=sin of partiality
-Does not mean, you never make distinctions of actions
-Christians are called to be discerning and wise (Matt 7:6)
-Does mean: you don’t show partiality or favoritism toward one group, or discrimination against another.
-“judges with evil thoughts”= image a federal judge who was partial.
APP: Where does partiality/prejudice show up in your life?
-As a church, will we live this out as we are faced with different kinds of people who enter the church?
-A wealthy young family or humble successful entrepreneur vs smelly homeless man w/mental health issues
III. The Gospel Leads Us Away from Partiality (5-13)
Why should we forsake partiality? James gives us 3 reasons
Reason 1: A Christian should turn from partiality because God does not discriminate against the poor (5-6a)
Bible’s View: Godly poor and Ungodly Poor; Godly Rich and Ungodly Rich
-God’s kingdom is made up of both rich and the poor
-James here emphasis God’s care for poor, because we overlook it!
-God choses the poor to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom (5)
-Best kind of riches (RICH IN FAITH) and Best inheritance (God’s kingdom)
–NOTE: Doctrine of election. God choses his people (made up of rich and poor) to eternal life.
-James’ POINT: If God does not discriminate against the poor, how can you?
QUESTION: Will we embrace God’s perspective on those we tempted to discriminate against?
Reason 2: It is foolish to show favoritism to the rich (6b-7)
Sin makes us stupid.
-James helps us to see that is the case in showing partiality to the rich
-Rich were actually making life more difficult for the Christians (6b)
-Rich were blaspheming the name of Jesus (7)
-James’ reasoning helps us to turn from prejudice toward rich or those in power
*Prejudice and partiality seems like a good idea in moment, but its stupid.
Reason 3: God’s Law of Love leads us away from favoritism (8-13)
1. God’s law of love: if we love our neighbor as ourselves, we won’t be partial (8-9)
-You cannot love your neighbor as yourself AND show prejudice and partiality.
-James helps us see what partiality really is: committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
2. If we break this law, we are guilty of breaking all of God’s law (10-11)
-James deals with our excuse, ‘Well I might show favoritism to rich, but at least I don’t break other laws’
-If you break one of God’s laws, you are a law breaker!
-If you show partiality and favoritism, you are breaking God’s law.
3. As Christians we Follow God’s law of liberty and show mercy to others (12-13)
-The better way forward: So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty.
-“Law of liberty” God’s law as fulfilled and interpreted in Christ: call to love neighbor as self.
-“Speak and Act”: Loving and forsaking partiality requires both
-“As those who are to judged under the law of liberty”: Our concern=God’s law and pleasing Him
-Warning: “For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy.”
-Matt 5:7 “Blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy”
-Our showing mercy to other is evidence we ourselves have experienced mercy.
-PROVERBIAL CONCLUSION: “Mercy Triumphs over Judgment”
–GOSPEL: We see this in the gospel
-We have sinned against God, but Christ died for our sins.
-If we trust in Christ as our savior, we are forgiven
-MERCY triumphs over judgment
UNBELIEVER: Believe in Christ today!
-Salvation FREELY offered to all who believe in Jesus!
GOSPEL IS THE ONLY Sufficient ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM OF PREJUDICE AND PARTIALITY!
-HEART CHANGE: How can I be prejudiced, when I have received so much mercy and grace?
-When I see how kind and merciful God has been to me, I want to show it others, regardless of who they are
-NEW LAW: God’s law of love and liberty.
-If I really love my neighbor, I will reject all forms of prejudice and partiality
-A CHANGE for TODAY: We put this into practice now in the power of the Holy Spirit
-Changes our relationships in the church and outside the church
-A CHANGE that LASTS: We see the imperfect beginnings of this now, but the fullness in heaven (New Earth)
–Revelation 7:9-10 ‘Every tribe and tongue’
*Only the gospel can satisfy our longing for a world without prejudice and discrimination, because only through it can we experience the kind of change needed which leads to love and fair treatment of others.*
