James 2:1-13- James on Christ, His Church, and the Word.

Let’s read James 2:1-13 this morning, “My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?

If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”

It probably would not surprise you that among the thirty-two fundamental doctrines listed in the Baptist Confession the largest of them pertain to the Scriptures (1), Christ the Mediator (8), and His Church (26). I mention this because the text that we just read James has a great deal to say about all of these things.

James Stresses The Glory Of Christ

For example, James points us to our faith to Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory in verse 1 when we read, “My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.” The Baptist Confession takes 10 paragraphs to describe the glory of Jesus Christ. It tells us that the glory of Christ is seen in the fact that His Father chose and ordained Him to be the mediator between God and humanity. The Father chose Jesus to be the prophet, priest, and king, and to be the head and savior of the church, the heir of all things, the judge of the world. These offices cannot be transferred to anyone else, either in whole or in part. Therefore, Jesus has a unique and particular glory from anyone else. (8.1&9)

The confession goes on to speak of the glory of Jesus Christ because He is the Son of God, the second person of the Holy Trinity, and is truly and eternally God. He is the brightness of the Father’s glory, the same in substance and equal with Him. (8.2) John speaks of these things when he declares, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God...In Him was life and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness...And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:1-18)

When the Son of God took upon Himself a human nature He became two whole, perfect, and distinct natures that were inseparably joined together in one person, without converting one into the other or mixing them together to produce a different or blended nature. Jesus Christ is therefore truly God and truly man, yet one Christ, the only mediator between God and humanity. (8.3)

Two of my favorite sections in this confession are paragraphs 8 & 10. In paragraph 8 we are told how Christ fulfills His duties as our Prophet, Priest, and King. Through these offices Christ obtained eternal redemption for His people and He applies it and imparts it to them. Jesus Christ intercedes for His people, unites them to Himself by His Spirit, reveals to His people the mystery of salvation, He persuades us to believe and obey, He governs our hearts by His Word and Spirit, and overcomes all our enemies by His wisdom and power. What glory is seen in all these things regarding Jesus Christ!

Application: Many of our churches are characterized by lot’s of business, programs and projects, but it is the LORD who is to be most at work in His church working out all these graces in His people. May all that we do for Him be because of His grace which is so powerfully at work in us.

Christ is doing lot’s of glorious things through these offices but not everyone sees Christ as glorious or His works as marvelous. No, the nations rage and the people’s plot against Him. They seek to burst their bonds off and cast away their responsibility to honor God and submit to His rule.

Everyone ought to serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. They ought to kiss the Son and take refuge in Him to escape the just wrath which is going to come upon these faithless rebels. (Psalm 2) Those who do take refuge in the LORD, who honor the King who has been enthroned by His Father, have been made to see and appreciate Jesus Christ and His glory.

In paragraph 10 of the Confession we discover that there are those who see their great need and that the answer and the solution is in Jesus Christ. The Confession reminds us that we are ignorant so we need Jesus to be the Prophet. We are alienated from God and imperfect in our best service to Him so we need Jesus’ as our High Priest. We are hostile and utterly unable to return to God, and so that we can be rescued and made secure from our spiritual enemies therefore we need Jesus to be our Great King. In this office as Prophet, Priest and King, Jesus convinces, subdues, draws, sustains, delivers, and preserves us for His heavenly Kingdom. Praise the LORD!

James Speaks Of The Church

Those who come to Jesus place their ‘faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory’. All of those who have come to Christ in faith become part of the church. In our text James is addressing believers who come together as a congregation but when they arrive they begin to sin against each other. James says in v.2-7, “For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly (the synagogue, the church gathering, the assembly of believers), and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?”

James sees a sin that needs to be addressed. If this sin is not dealt with it will lead to disastrous consequences in this life and in the life to come. The Confession addresses these things because sins happen in every church. It states in 26.4, “The purest churches under heaven are subject to mixture and error. Some have degenerated so much that they have ceased to be churches of Christ and have become synagogues of Satan.” Sin needs to be addressed when it is seen in the church because Christ wants a holy bride and not a church which is degrading into a faithless congregation where the Holy Spirit has departed and then Satan can come and be welcomed and made to feel at home.

Every local church is made up of members who are saints, called-out ones, by calling and they visibly display and demonstrate their obedience to Christ. The confession continues, “Nevertheless, Christ always has had and will have in this world to the very end a kingdom of those who believe in Him and profess His name.”

The saints willingly agree to live together according to Christ’s instructions, giving themselves to the Lord and to one another by the will of God, with the stated purpose of following the ordinance of the gospel. (26.6) Believers are obligated to join themselves to a local church as they have the opportunity. All who are admitted to the privileges of a church and are also subject to the disciple and government of it, according to the rule of Christ. (26.12)

As we see in our text today, members within the church are sinned against. Often at some point in the history of a local congregation the members can be devoting themselves to the scriptures and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread together and prayers, but then something changes. At one point the congregation gathered regularly to hear the Word, they shared their lives and possessions generously, they ate together with glad and generous hearts, they praised God together, and ministered effectively side-by-side but then it changed. In the churches that James is writing the threat against these things was the sin of partiality and focusing on distinctions.

When something like this happens this sin is never to be excused. No, it is to be addressed and reconciliation with God and others is to be pursued. When offenses come our reaction is to separate ourselves or to cause divisions within the church but this should not be the case. Reconciliation is to be sought as we look to Christ and any further actions required by the church leaders or the district leaders to whom the church is affiliated. (26.13)

Our text describes a terrible sin that was being committed. And yet, the poor who were being sinned against seemed to be being given special grace, a greater measure of faith, and a more profound love for God so that they can endure well under these offenses. If we could ask the poor and offended believers if these things were being given to them they might question it at times but grace is ours to receive to be encouraged and strengthened. These trials, when endured will not destroy their faith but it will perfect, mature, and complete their faith. (James 1:2-4)

If these graces were given to these poor believers under these conditions are they not also available to your and I as well?

James Speaks About The Word Of God

James was a Jewish man who understood the Law and Grace more than we do. His writings can confuse us but I do not think the problem is on his end but on our end. We also know that James is writing the inspired Word of God by the Holy Spirit and so as we read these things we ought to pray for wisdom to understand these things. (James 1:5)

As a Jewish believer in Christ James knows the history of the giving of the Law and he realizes that when the LORD gave the 10 Commandment in Exodus 20 the LORD began with these words, “And God spoke all these words, saying, ‘I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.’” (2)

The LORD reminds His people, those people that He had just delivered from slavery and brought out of bondage, that they are now free. They are now His people and they are no longer slaves to Pharaoh and to the harsh taskmasters in Egypt. The LORD has graciously, mercifully, and powerfully set them free. This was not something that they could do for themselves. The LORD did this by His strong and mighty hand. And only after the LORD did this for them did He then teach His people what they needed to know about how to live as God’s free people. They are not to serve Pharaoh from where they have come, nor are they to serve the gods in the land to which they are to go, but they are to serve the LORD. The principle is simple: The LORD sets His people free from their bondage and then He equips them and teaches them how to live as free people in a manner that the LORD will bless. (Joshua 1:8)

The LORD gives His people the 10 Commandments, these 10 Rules, and they can be divided into two sections which are often called the first and second tables of the Law.

• The first table of the Law pertains to how a free person is to respond to God. (3-11)

  • You shall have no other God’s before me. (3)

  • You shall not make for yourself a carved image... and bow down and serve them (4-5)

  • You shall not take the name of the LORD in vain (7)

  • Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy (8-11)

• The second table of the Law of God pertains to how a free person is to treat their neighbor. (12-17)

  • Honor your father and mother (12)

  • You shall not murder (13)

  • You shall not commit adultery (14)

  • You shall not steal (15)

  • You shall not bear false witness (16)

  • You shall not covet (17)

Jesus summarizes the Law in Matthew 22:34-40, “When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.” Here Jesus is referring to the first table of the Law which has to do with how we love God rightly. Then Jesus says, “And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

Twice in James 1 & 2 we have read about people who ‘love the LORD’. In these contexts I believe James is speaking about people who love the LORD in the broad sense of growing in holiness according to the first and second tables of the Law.

• James 1:12 we read, “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”

• In James 2:5 we read, “Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?”

It is important to point out a few things about these verses so that we understand how this works under the Covenant of Grace. First, James 1:12 speaks of a person who remains steadfast in their faith in Christ through trials and testings. Their faith in Christ is grounded in a promise that God has made regarding eternal life and the Kingdom of God. This promise is given as a gift which is presented through the proclamation of the gospel and it is received with faith. (1:12, 21).

Second, in James 2:5 we see that a persons love for God is the result of God’s choosing (His election). God often chooses the impoverished in this world. He chooses the poor and the needy. It is bad to be poor but it is quite a desperate situation to be poor and in need. This reminds us that salvation is by grace and mercy. Those who are called through the proclamation of the Gospel and respond in repentance and faith receive eternal life and they love the LORD.

Third, A believers hope in the promise, faith in Jesus and their love for the LORD are not grounded in something that can be found in us. These things are not the result of our works lest anyone should boast. These things are grounded in Jesus Christ as James summarizes in James 2:1 when he says, “...hold the faith (steadfastly, don’t let your faith shift) in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.” (Ephesians 2:8-10)

Fourth, James teaches us that a believers hope, faith and love will not stay self-contained in that person but that it will be expressed in how they love the LORD and how they show love to others.

Fifth, Because of all that God has done for us through the Gospel (giving us a new heart, a new nature, the Holy Spirit, giving the gift of faith and repentance, giving us His wisdom, etc) the Christian has a new relationship to the Law of God. They are not saved through their obedience to the Law; rather, they are able to obey the Law because of all that God has done in them through the power of the Spirit and the life of Christ. The believer meditates on the Word, the Perfect Law, the Law of Liberty, the Royal Law, and the Scriptures and goes and obeys it according to the grace that God. The Law cannot impart life but Christ can so the Law brings us to Him. Then when we are baptized into Christ our old sinful nature is crucified with Christ and we are raised with Christ by God’s immeasurable resurrection power. (James 1:22-25, Galatians 2:20; 3:21-29, Ephesians 1:19; 2:10)

James has taught us about those who love God (who fulfill the first table of the law) and he is also teaching us about how by faith in Christ (2:1) we are to also love our brothers, our neighbors, even our enemies (1:27) (the second table of God’s law).

In James 2:8-13 James addresses the sin of partiality by using the second table of the Law. He does this because the Law of God will not only address the external sins that are seen but it is also able to expose the thoughts and intentions of the heart. James speaks of these things in James 2:4 when he writes, “...have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?”

James saying, “If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.”

Here James refers to the second table of the Law and He calls it the ‘royal law according to Scripture’. The reference to the ‘royal law’ speaks of the fact that this law reflects the King and His will for His subjects. This ‘royal law’ reveals how the subjects in His Kingdom are to live. James also refers to the Scriptures which is another way of reminding us of the authority of these things. For a Christian the Bible is the final authority in all matters of belief and practice. Whatever the bible affirms we believe and accept as true. Whatever the Bible condemns we are to condemn as well.

James says, “If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture...you are doing well.” James sums up what it means to fulfill the Scriptures in this way by quoting Jesus, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself”. If these believers are living with each other according to 1 Corinthians 13 they are doing well, but James knows that they are not doing well at this.

These believers do not see their sin or recognize the seriousness of it. To them this behavior is excusable and tolerable. This sin appears to them to be a small sin and insignificant sin when it is compared to the sin of adultery or murder. James therefore continues, “But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.”

I find it comforting as a Gentile who has never lived under the Law that these Jewish believers needed good instruction on these things. If they needed James to speak to them this way I bet we need it even more! Paul confronted Peter in a similar way in Galatians 2 when he says, “I opposed Peter to his face, because he stood condemned.” (2:11) What did Paul use to make such a strong accusation against Peter? Paul says, “When I saw that they were not in step with the truth of the Gospel, I said to Peter…”. (2:14) The truth of the Law and the truth in the Gospel both condemn this sort of sin against the LORD and His people.

James continues addressing this sin by saying, “For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.”

These words are so important. The Law demands perfection and as we all know we have not loved God or our neighbor perfectly. The Law of God is meant to silence the whole world and hold us all accountable before God. If we break one of God’s laws we are found guilty of breaking them all and we are condemned as a transgressor of the whole law.

Consider also that if we disobey the intent of the Law, which is to expose the sins of the mind and the heart, we are also found guilty. So if I hate a person; I’ve murdered them. If I coveted something; I’ve stolen it. If I lusted after something; I’ve committed adultery. If I have shown partiality and favortism towards others; I have judged them and sinned against them with evil in my heart!

What am I to do about this?

Paul says, “For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.’” (3:10) Then Paul says, “Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’ But the law is not of faith, rather, ‘The one who does them shall live by them.’ Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us-for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree’- so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.” (11-14)

“If in our endeavor to be justified in Christ (James 2:1), we too are found to be sinners, is Christ the author of sin? Certainly not! (James 1:13-15)...For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. (James 1:16-18) I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.” (Galatians 17, 19-21)

When we sin, and we all do (James 3:2) we are to consider Jesus Christ and what He has done for us. We are to come to Jesus and repent and believe the Gospel and receive forgiveness and receive God’s grace so that I can, “ Speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty.” I was guilty and condemned but Christ bore my sins and my penalty. Therefore, I come to Christ to receive His mercy and then I show mercy to all those around me. James says, “ For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”

Having received grace I become gracious. Having been shown mercy I show compassion to others. Having been loved I love. Mercy triumphs over judgment!