WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.320 So for the past three weeks, we have been going through the letter of James. 00:00:04.240 --> 00:00:09.480 We've just gone through the introduction, the chapter one of the whole of James. 00:00:09.880 --> 00:00:13.640 One thing we were looking into was the letter of James, the half-brother of Jesus. 00:00:14.400 --> 00:00:21.580 And he's a pastor of this church, and he's writing this letter to Christians that had to flee their home because of severe persecution. 00:00:22.460 --> 00:00:28.539 And because of the severe persecution, they were going through trials and sufferings, financial problems, and all sorts of things. 00:00:28.539 --> 00:00:35.079 And to these people, James is writing as a pastor, and he's encouraging them in the gospel. 00:00:35.259 --> 00:00:38.879 He's reminding them of this amazing gospel that they had put their faith on. 00:00:39.780 --> 00:00:47.719 But at the same time, he's challenging the Christians in how they were responding to these trials and struggles. 00:00:48.679 --> 00:00:51.099 And last week, we were looking into this question. 00:00:51.200 --> 00:00:57.399 We were thinking about, hey, does it matter how I respond to suffering and trials? 00:00:57.399 --> 00:00:59.640 And the answer was, yes, it does. 00:01:00.320 --> 00:01:08.920 Because in the way we respond to trials, it actually grows us either into maturity and the likeness of Christ, 00:01:09.239 --> 00:01:16.159 or either it grows us into gross sins in us and brings up death in us. 00:01:17.420 --> 00:01:21.879 So, and at the same time, James also called us last week to turn to Jesus and his word, 00:01:21.879 --> 00:01:26.959 the word that frees us to obey him, that gives us freedom to be who he created us to be. 00:01:27.640 --> 00:01:30.979 And so with all of that, this time, we come into chapter 2. 00:01:31.719 --> 00:01:39.379 And after all that introduction, now James, what James is going to do after this is that he's going to actually address specific issues 00:01:39.379 --> 00:01:43.879 that the Christians then were not responding well when they were suffering. 00:01:44.359 --> 00:01:48.399 And all of these things we actually find in chapter 1, verses 26 and 27. 00:01:48.400 --> 00:01:50.920 I think you'll find that in your bulletin or your Bibles. 00:01:51.000 --> 00:01:53.359 If you look at chapter 1, 26 and 27, he says, 00:01:53.780 --> 00:01:59.660 Hey, if anyone thinks he's religious and does not bridle his tongue, but deceives his heart, 00:02:00.000 --> 00:02:01.900 this person's religion is worthless. 00:02:02.640 --> 00:02:06.180 Religion that is pure and undefiled before the God, the Father, is this, 00:02:06.520 --> 00:02:11.240 to visit orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained from the world. 00:02:11.240 --> 00:02:18.500 And James actually tells us what he will be talking about from chapter 2 onwards and write this two verse. 00:02:18.879 --> 00:02:23.840 So if you look at verse 26, he talks about tongue and speech, which he talks about later on in chapter 3. 00:02:24.740 --> 00:02:31.520 Verse 27 talks about our attitudes towards the poor and for us to keep ourselves from being worldly, 00:02:31.920 --> 00:02:34.520 which he actually talks about in chapter 2 and chapter 4. 00:02:34.520 --> 00:02:41.980 So today, as we dive into chapter 2, James deals with our attitude towards the poor, 00:02:42.080 --> 00:02:47.980 particularly in the way we show favoritism, or in other words, partiality, as you will find in the Scripture today. 00:02:48.760 --> 00:02:53.840 So with that said, let me call Iris, who will come and read God's Word to us. 00:02:54.120 --> 00:02:54.680 So over to Iris. 00:02:54.680 --> 00:03:00.040 Good morning, Watermark. 00:03:00.420 --> 00:03:03.840 The Scripture reading comes from James chapter 2 this morning. 00:03:04.300 --> 00:03:07.780 Please follow along on your Bible, on the screen, or on your bulletin. 00:03:08.719 --> 00:03:10.599 Starting in verse 1, we read, 00:03:11.600 --> 00:03:19.420 My brothers and sisters, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. 00:03:19.419 --> 00:03:25.000 For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, 00:03:25.280 --> 00:03:28.359 and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, 00:03:28.899 --> 00:03:33.159 and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, 00:03:33.659 --> 00:03:35.239 you sit here in a good place, 00:03:35.739 --> 00:03:40.139 or you say to the poor man, you stand over there, or sit down at my feet, 00:03:41.019 --> 00:03:46.179 have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 00:03:46.180 --> 00:03:50.780 Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters, 00:03:51.480 --> 00:03:57.520 has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, 00:03:58.060 --> 00:04:00.659 which he has promised to those who love him? 00:04:01.480 --> 00:04:03.800 But you have dishonored the poor man. 00:04:04.760 --> 00:04:07.640 Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, 00:04:08.280 --> 00:04:10.360 the ones who drag you into court? 00:04:11.040 --> 00:04:15.540 Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called? 00:04:17.079 --> 00:04:21.240 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, 00:04:22.060 --> 00:04:25.360 you shall love your neighbor as yourself, you are doing well. 00:04:25.860 --> 00:04:28.060 But if you show partiality, 00:04:28.500 --> 00:04:33.259 you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 00:04:33.819 --> 00:04:37.540 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point 00:04:37.540 --> 00:04:40.240 has become guilty of all of it. 00:04:40.240 --> 00:04:42.100 For he who said, 00:04:42.579 --> 00:04:43.740 do not commit adultery, 00:04:44.060 --> 00:04:44.759 also said, 00:04:45.000 --> 00:04:45.720 do not murder. 00:04:46.379 --> 00:04:48.500 If you do not commit adultery, 00:04:48.680 --> 00:04:49.519 but do murder, 00:04:49.860 --> 00:04:52.259 you have become a transgressor of the law. 00:04:52.759 --> 00:04:53.319 So speak, 00:04:53.720 --> 00:04:58.160 and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. 00:04:59.060 --> 00:05:02.639 For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. 00:05:03.439 --> 00:05:05.340 Mercy triumphs over judgment. 00:05:05.339 --> 00:05:07.459 And this is the word of God. 00:05:09.299 --> 00:05:10.060 Thanks, Irish. 00:05:10.539 --> 00:05:10.739 Hey, 00:05:10.759 --> 00:05:11.599 can I pray for us? 00:05:12.939 --> 00:05:13.679 Father God, 00:05:13.739 --> 00:05:15.759 we come before you this morning. 00:05:17.099 --> 00:05:19.679 Just in awe of your mercy and your grace, 00:05:19.719 --> 00:05:20.479 as we were singing, 00:05:20.639 --> 00:05:20.799 Lord, 00:05:21.379 --> 00:05:23.399 how great is your mercy over us, 00:05:23.459 --> 00:05:23.620 God? 00:05:24.639 --> 00:05:28.819 How great is the chasm and how amazing that you have poured out your love and 00:05:28.819 --> 00:05:29.559 grace in our lives. 00:05:30.039 --> 00:05:30.479 So father, 00:05:30.480 --> 00:05:31.819 as we dive into your word, 00:05:31.939 --> 00:05:32.100 father, 00:05:32.160 --> 00:05:34.439 help us to see our own hearts this time. 00:05:35.220 --> 00:05:35.920 And at the same time, 00:05:35.920 --> 00:05:38.900 help us to see the amazing mercy that you have shown us. 00:05:39.860 --> 00:05:40.480 And father, 00:05:40.540 --> 00:05:44.100 we pray that your spirit would be among us to reveal your word to us. 00:05:44.340 --> 00:05:46.900 And may your name be glorified in Jesus name, 00:05:46.960 --> 00:05:47.259 we pray. 00:05:48.040 --> 00:05:48.439 Amen. 00:05:49.780 --> 00:05:53.600 So I'm sure as the scripture was being read, 00:05:53.600 --> 00:05:56.960 one of the first thing you noticed is this vivid example. 00:05:56.959 --> 00:06:00.599 James gives us of what was happening in the church then. 00:06:01.379 --> 00:06:03.779 So let me just modernize that for us. 00:06:03.919 --> 00:06:08.439 Imagine it's watermark Sunday morning and a man comes up to church wearing the 00:06:08.439 --> 00:06:11.120 latest fashion or super branded clothes, 00:06:11.219 --> 00:06:13.859 maybe like Gucci and Armani or something. 00:06:14.219 --> 00:06:16.319 He walks in and he drives up in Ferrari. 00:06:16.459 --> 00:06:18.139 You can hear his car right from the hall. 00:06:19.299 --> 00:06:20.759 And then you have people all gathering, 00:06:20.959 --> 00:06:21.240 like you, 00:06:21.339 --> 00:06:22.259 people are welcoming him. 00:06:22.339 --> 00:06:23.319 You're connecting with him. 00:06:23.539 --> 00:06:24.240 And you say like, 00:06:24.279 --> 00:06:24.939 we've got to follow up. 00:06:24.959 --> 00:06:26.060 We've got to have coffee afterwards. 00:06:26.060 --> 00:06:27.939 You give him the full on watermark package. 00:06:29.259 --> 00:06:30.120 And later on, 00:06:30.300 --> 00:06:31.379 at the same time, 00:06:31.399 --> 00:06:32.439 another man walks in. 00:06:32.839 --> 00:06:35.720 He's wearing torn clothes that has not been washed. 00:06:35.819 --> 00:06:36.860 He smells a little funny. 00:06:38.579 --> 00:06:40.980 And he doesn't look really smart or anything. 00:06:41.240 --> 00:06:43.980 And he just walks in and he's lost. 00:06:44.139 --> 00:06:45.480 He's trying to find his seat. 00:06:45.480 --> 00:06:47.740 And soon he just gets lost, 00:06:47.860 --> 00:06:48.779 faded away in the crowd. 00:06:49.899 --> 00:06:51.120 Now you might be thinking, 00:06:51.300 --> 00:06:52.819 no way that is watermark. 00:06:53.579 --> 00:06:53.840 Alan, 00:06:53.839 --> 00:06:53.899 Alan, 00:06:53.899 --> 00:06:56.039 you just did not describe watermark right now. 00:06:56.299 --> 00:06:57.060 We watermark, 00:06:57.179 --> 00:06:58.779 we are the best in welcoming people. 00:06:58.919 --> 00:07:00.019 We are best in community. 00:07:00.599 --> 00:07:00.839 Alan, 00:07:01.179 --> 00:07:02.500 I think we can just skip this chapter. 00:07:02.619 --> 00:07:03.859 Let's move on to the next part. 00:07:04.299 --> 00:07:05.299 Forget James chapter 2, 00:07:05.339 --> 00:07:05.879 1 to 13. 00:07:06.879 --> 00:07:09.159 And that's what we think, 00:07:09.199 --> 00:07:09.359 right? 00:07:10.239 --> 00:07:11.000 But actually, 00:07:11.219 --> 00:07:11.879 if you look, 00:07:12.079 --> 00:07:12.919 if you stop and think, 00:07:12.920 --> 00:07:14.300 if I can stop us and think, 00:07:15.000 --> 00:07:17.620 the issue about favoritism or partiality, 00:07:18.840 --> 00:07:21.720 and stop and think that there's something that's going, 00:07:21.860 --> 00:07:24.860 something going on really beneath this thing. 00:07:25.780 --> 00:07:26.780 And if you think about it, 00:07:26.800 --> 00:07:29.540 if this was a problem for the first churches at that time, 00:07:29.840 --> 00:07:32.379 it's definitely going to be a problem for us in this time. 00:07:33.420 --> 00:07:36.420 And our church Christianity history actually testifies to that, 00:07:36.740 --> 00:07:37.259 doesn't it? 00:07:37.259 --> 00:07:37.980 You know, 00:07:38.039 --> 00:07:41.300 where churches had places for the rich people to sit and the poor people to 00:07:41.300 --> 00:07:41.519 sit, 00:07:41.959 --> 00:07:45.139 where the churches had events where the only the rich people could attend. 00:07:46.620 --> 00:07:48.639 And especially in a city like Hong Kong, 00:07:48.779 --> 00:07:52.259 where your financial status or your job title is, 00:07:53.139 --> 00:07:57.079 is a big factor of whether you get a good interaction or a good service or not. 00:07:57.079 --> 00:07:58.699 I mean, 00:07:58.819 --> 00:07:59.539 in my own life, 00:07:59.579 --> 00:08:05.019 I've been treated with contempt in shops and events in schools and colleges, 00:08:05.019 --> 00:08:08.199 just because of my nationality and my financial status. 00:08:09.399 --> 00:08:09.959 I mean, 00:08:10.000 --> 00:08:10.860 even within church, 00:08:10.959 --> 00:08:13.839 I have seen people that were of lower income and, 00:08:13.899 --> 00:08:16.539 and people that does not have a grand job title, 00:08:16.639 --> 00:08:18.719 just cast out to the side and their problems, 00:08:18.819 --> 00:08:19.519 their life challenges, 00:08:19.659 --> 00:08:20.599 really not thought about. 00:08:20.919 --> 00:08:26.699 And then while the focus was more on normal people that were from the same walks of life, 00:08:26.699 --> 00:08:28.019 that were easy to talk with, 00:08:28.680 --> 00:08:32.960 and you see this kind of partiality and favoritism all over the place. 00:08:34.240 --> 00:08:35.519 And if you think about it, 00:08:35.620 --> 00:08:37.080 favoritism is terrible. 00:08:38.200 --> 00:08:40.799 It makes you feel like you have no value. 00:08:41.519 --> 00:08:43.799 It makes you feel like you're not even a human being. 00:08:44.580 --> 00:08:45.539 And it's terrible. 00:08:45.899 --> 00:08:47.200 We all know that it's terrible. 00:08:48.419 --> 00:08:49.620 But the fact is, 00:08:49.860 --> 00:08:52.500 and yet it seems to flourish in our city. 00:08:52.879 --> 00:08:54.460 It seems to flourish at our jobs, 00:08:54.460 --> 00:08:55.860 in our relationships, 00:08:56.100 --> 00:08:56.740 in our friendships, 00:08:57.440 --> 00:08:59.500 in schools and colleges and universities, 00:09:00.200 --> 00:09:03.560 and at times in churches and in our hearts. 00:09:05.160 --> 00:09:09.780 And what James is doing here this morning is that he's taking the sin of favoritism 00:09:09.780 --> 00:09:13.080 and is ripping off the mask of this favoritism, 00:09:13.200 --> 00:09:18.780 and he's actually showing us that there is something that lies beneath the sin of favoritism. 00:09:18.779 --> 00:09:25.120 And what he's giving us is he's going to tell us three things that are behind the offense of favoritism. 00:09:25.600 --> 00:09:27.319 So let us dive into God's word today. 00:09:27.399 --> 00:09:28.439 The first thing is this. 00:09:28.899 --> 00:09:30.159 Look at verse 1 to 7. 00:09:30.259 --> 00:09:31.600 When we show favoritism, 00:09:31.919 --> 00:09:35.139 the first thing is we don't understand the glory of God. 00:09:37.139 --> 00:09:37.759 On your bulletin, 00:09:37.799 --> 00:09:38.240 on your Bibles, 00:09:38.299 --> 00:09:39.579 let's look at verse 1 to 7. 00:09:40.240 --> 00:09:42.319 So what he does is he begins by telling us, 00:09:42.379 --> 00:09:42.439 hey, 00:09:42.500 --> 00:09:43.639 do not show partiality, 00:09:43.720 --> 00:09:45.419 do not show favoritism in verse 1. 00:09:45.419 --> 00:09:48.779 And then he gives us an example of how the church was doing it. 00:09:49.219 --> 00:09:50.059 And look at verse 4. 00:09:50.120 --> 00:09:50.579 What does he say? 00:09:50.639 --> 00:09:51.000 He says, 00:09:51.120 --> 00:09:51.240 hey, 00:09:51.360 --> 00:09:52.759 when you do all of these things, 00:09:53.179 --> 00:09:58.679 have you not then made distinction among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 00:09:59.639 --> 00:10:02.699 Now what James is saying here is that when you show, 00:10:02.819 --> 00:10:04.259 when anyone shows favoritism, 00:10:04.779 --> 00:10:08.839 what they are basically saying is that if you're worthy for the world, 00:10:08.919 --> 00:10:10.399 then you're worthy for the church. 00:10:11.539 --> 00:10:13.659 Or if you're worth less to the world, 00:10:13.659 --> 00:10:16.699 then you're not worth much to the church too. 00:10:18.219 --> 00:10:22.899 And it basically judges a person's soul as better than another person's soul, 00:10:23.019 --> 00:10:27.339 all based on external stuff and worldly criteria. 00:10:28.839 --> 00:10:30.539 And James does not hold back. 00:10:30.600 --> 00:10:31.240 He's not like, 00:10:31.379 --> 00:10:31.519 oh, 00:10:31.620 --> 00:10:32.699 just don't do favoritism. 00:10:32.799 --> 00:10:32.899 No, 00:10:32.939 --> 00:10:32.980 no, 00:10:33.000 --> 00:10:34.360 he does not hold back his word. 00:10:34.819 --> 00:10:35.019 I mean, 00:10:35.019 --> 00:10:35.779 look at the next verse. 00:10:35.879 --> 00:10:36.319 James says, 00:10:36.539 --> 00:10:37.939 it's judging with evil. 00:10:38.059 --> 00:10:38.259 I mean, 00:10:38.259 --> 00:10:40.500 he says he's judging with evil thoughts. 00:10:41.339 --> 00:10:43.419 And he uses quite a strong words. 00:10:43.419 --> 00:10:46.000 Which is a very strong and uncompromising word. 00:10:46.059 --> 00:10:46.319 He says, 00:10:46.459 --> 00:10:47.879 this is evil. 00:10:48.819 --> 00:10:49.679 This is not like, 00:10:49.860 --> 00:10:52.319 like a pat on your hand when you do something wrong. 00:10:52.379 --> 00:10:52.939 This is not like, 00:10:53.299 --> 00:10:54.559 favoritism is not discouraged. 00:10:54.819 --> 00:10:55.959 Favoritism is not just, 00:10:56.500 --> 00:10:56.620 oh, 00:10:56.639 --> 00:10:57.479 it's a bad thing to do. 00:10:58.059 --> 00:11:00.000 Favoritism is evil. 00:11:00.000 --> 00:11:03.840 And that should cause us to think, 00:11:04.960 --> 00:11:05.080 hey, 00:11:05.139 --> 00:11:09.720 are there times when we look at someone that you really don't like to speak to? 00:11:10.659 --> 00:11:12.320 Maybe it's because the way they speak, 00:11:12.639 --> 00:11:13.460 maybe the way they look, 00:11:13.600 --> 00:11:14.580 maybe they speak too loud, 00:11:14.679 --> 00:11:15.100 too long, 00:11:15.240 --> 00:11:15.960 too fast, 00:11:16.039 --> 00:11:16.440 too slow. 00:11:17.240 --> 00:11:18.080 Maybe the way they look, 00:11:18.179 --> 00:11:18.559 they smell. 00:11:20.159 --> 00:11:21.580 And do we just walk away? 00:11:22.580 --> 00:11:24.340 Or let someone else handle this person? 00:11:24.340 --> 00:11:27.560 And honestly, 00:11:27.780 --> 00:11:29.379 I know I have done that. 00:11:30.259 --> 00:11:31.200 I've done it in my, 00:11:31.340 --> 00:11:32.480 when I was working in a school, 00:11:32.560 --> 00:11:33.860 I've done it with my colleagues, 00:11:34.460 --> 00:11:36.259 colleagues that I did not really want to speak with. 00:11:36.320 --> 00:11:37.340 I've done it with students. 00:11:38.080 --> 00:11:39.259 I've done it in church. 00:11:40.000 --> 00:11:40.580 When people, 00:11:40.780 --> 00:11:43.000 I know that I can't really have a normal conversation with, 00:11:43.040 --> 00:11:45.280 I've just walked away and let someone help handle them. 00:11:45.279 --> 00:11:49.319 And what James is saying is that, 00:11:49.579 --> 00:11:50.579 that's evil. 00:11:51.139 --> 00:11:53.120 And usually it's an unconscious decision, 00:11:53.199 --> 00:11:53.360 right, 00:11:53.379 --> 00:11:53.879 to do this, 00:11:53.959 --> 00:11:57.399 of where my heart is sinful and evil. 00:11:59.179 --> 00:12:02.079 Favoritism leads us to make distinction among people 00:12:02.079 --> 00:12:03.720 and judge them with evil thoughts. 00:12:04.139 --> 00:12:06.039 But James does not just stop at that. 00:12:06.879 --> 00:12:08.079 And in verse 5, 00:12:08.559 --> 00:12:11.199 what James does is he almost grabs our face, 00:12:11.579 --> 00:12:12.600 but with his two hands, 00:12:12.740 --> 00:12:14.139 he looks deep in our eyes, 00:12:14.139 --> 00:12:15.199 and he says, 00:12:15.379 --> 00:12:16.379 almost he's asking us, 00:12:16.459 --> 00:12:16.559 hey, 00:12:16.699 --> 00:12:19.120 are you forgetting something? 00:12:20.339 --> 00:12:21.220 And look at verse 5. 00:12:21.259 --> 00:12:21.720 What does he say? 00:12:21.779 --> 00:12:22.079 He says, 00:12:22.279 --> 00:12:22.539 listen, 00:12:22.740 --> 00:12:24.339 my beloved brothers and sisters, 00:12:25.240 --> 00:12:26.000 has God, 00:12:26.079 --> 00:12:28.240 God chosen those who are poor in the world 00:12:28.240 --> 00:12:30.860 to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, 00:12:31.319 --> 00:12:33.779 which he has promised to those who love him? 00:12:35.159 --> 00:12:36.500 Now what James is saying is that, 00:12:36.559 --> 00:12:37.139 in other words, 00:12:37.559 --> 00:12:37.679 hey, 00:12:37.779 --> 00:12:40.579 have you forgotten how God works? 00:12:43.399 --> 00:12:44.399 If you think about it, 00:12:44.419 --> 00:12:44.959 in this letter, 00:12:44.960 --> 00:12:48.060 most of the readers of this letter were poor. 00:12:49.259 --> 00:12:51.220 Majority of the Christians back then were poor. 00:12:51.440 --> 00:12:55.259 The church back then were not exactly filled with rich and influential people. 00:12:55.259 --> 00:12:59.259 Now this does not mean that God does not save the rich people, 00:12:59.860 --> 00:13:04.019 but there is a particular way that God is calling the poor people. 00:13:04.019 --> 00:13:07.919 And that same pattern is true in today's world too, right? 00:13:08.419 --> 00:13:12.779 The combined church all around the world is actually overwhelmingly poor. 00:13:12.779 --> 00:13:19.000 Many places where the gospel is advancing the fastest is actually poor. 00:13:19.000 --> 00:13:21.000 I mean, 00:13:21.220 --> 00:13:23.179 even in my country, 00:13:23.179 --> 00:13:23.759 Nepal, 00:13:23.759 --> 00:13:25.919 we collect monies, 00:13:25.919 --> 00:13:27.379 maybe once in a month, 00:13:27.480 --> 00:13:28.960 to send money to these pastors, 00:13:29.059 --> 00:13:30.879 pastors who have to minister in, 00:13:31.580 --> 00:13:33.320 like on from one mountain to one mountain. 00:13:33.419 --> 00:13:35.539 They would travel for days to reach another mountain, 00:13:35.600 --> 00:13:36.879 just to minister to people. 00:13:36.879 --> 00:13:41.659 And they don't have salary because the people they minister are poor. 00:13:41.659 --> 00:13:45.339 And what they get in return is milk and cows and goats. 00:13:46.100 --> 00:13:48.199 And there's a funny story that this one pastor, 00:13:48.959 --> 00:13:50.600 he was ministering this to a whole village, 00:13:50.939 --> 00:13:52.459 and everyone gave him boiled egg. 00:13:53.019 --> 00:13:54.779 And you can imagine by the end of the day, 00:13:55.259 --> 00:13:57.699 his washroom experience was not great. 00:13:57.700 --> 00:13:59.800 So, 00:14:01.000 --> 00:14:02.020 overwhelmingly poor, 00:14:02.220 --> 00:14:02.800 the church is, 00:14:02.879 --> 00:14:03.800 even in today's world. 00:14:05.860 --> 00:14:08.280 There are a lot of poor people coming to Christ. 00:14:08.920 --> 00:14:11.480 And it seems that the reason for that is, 00:14:11.560 --> 00:14:17.640 it's because the physical poverty seems to reflect very closely to our, 00:14:17.820 --> 00:14:19.500 everyone's spiritual poverty. 00:14:19.940 --> 00:14:21.340 That's in all of us. 00:14:22.700 --> 00:14:25.400 Whether we are better off financially or not, 00:14:25.399 --> 00:14:27.779 we all are spiritually poor. 00:14:28.379 --> 00:14:28.980 In fact, 00:14:29.079 --> 00:14:31.340 Ephesians tells us that we are spiritually dead. 00:14:34.240 --> 00:14:34.980 Now again, 00:14:35.139 --> 00:14:37.419 this is not to say that God does not save the rich, 00:14:37.759 --> 00:14:39.779 but what we are seeing here in this verse is, 00:14:39.819 --> 00:14:44.799 is that James readers were actually rejecting the very people that God was 00:14:44.799 --> 00:14:46.199 choosing to bless. 00:14:47.480 --> 00:14:48.579 And if you think about that, 00:14:49.279 --> 00:14:51.779 when we choose to ignore that person, 00:14:52.419 --> 00:14:52.980 that just, 00:14:53.139 --> 00:14:55.159 that we just don't feel like talking to, 00:14:55.159 --> 00:14:56.939 because of anything, 00:14:57.139 --> 00:14:57.459 race, 00:14:57.860 --> 00:14:58.699 financial, 00:14:59.059 --> 00:14:59.639 smells funny, 00:14:59.719 --> 00:15:00.159 looks funny, 00:15:00.259 --> 00:15:00.799 talks funny, 00:15:01.719 --> 00:15:05.459 it actually apparently seems that that person is the exact one that God wants to 00:15:05.459 --> 00:15:06.039 reach out to. 00:15:08.240 --> 00:15:08.919 I mean, 00:15:09.079 --> 00:15:12.980 it's so easy for the poor and the poor people and people from the lower income 00:15:12.980 --> 00:15:14.199 backgrounds to be ignored, 00:15:14.299 --> 00:15:14.480 right? 00:15:14.759 --> 00:15:15.059 I mean, 00:15:15.100 --> 00:15:17.559 they're already fighting a battle against the whole world, 00:15:17.559 --> 00:15:19.979 but God has chosen this, 00:15:19.979 --> 00:15:23.879 who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and ears of the kingdom. 00:15:24.799 --> 00:15:26.919 And this is what James is saying is that, 00:15:27.059 --> 00:15:27.119 hey, 00:15:27.179 --> 00:15:29.879 you are rejecting the people that I'm calling. 00:15:30.379 --> 00:15:31.299 By the same time, 00:15:31.399 --> 00:15:33.159 James is also reminding us of something. 00:15:34.119 --> 00:15:35.259 And that is this, 00:15:35.859 --> 00:15:37.619 he think about ourselves. 00:15:39.619 --> 00:15:40.099 Remember, 00:15:40.100 --> 00:15:41.779 not only about how God works, 00:15:42.180 --> 00:15:42.560 but our, 00:15:42.659 --> 00:15:43.440 ourselves too, 00:15:43.500 --> 00:15:45.180 because if we are in Christ, 00:15:46.379 --> 00:15:49.759 and I'm 100% sure it's not because we were impressive and rich. 00:15:53.600 --> 00:15:55.100 Because if we are in Christ, 00:15:55.920 --> 00:16:00.300 it's actually because we have come to realize that we are spiritually broke, 00:16:00.299 --> 00:16:06.659 and that we are in dire and desperate need of Christ Jesus to save us. 00:16:08.959 --> 00:16:11.740 Because maybe we are wealthy on earth, 00:16:12.259 --> 00:16:14.199 and that's completely a God's grace, 00:16:14.579 --> 00:16:16.019 but whether we are wealthy or not, 00:16:16.659 --> 00:16:21.000 we all are still in dire need of Christ Jesus to save us. 00:16:21.439 --> 00:16:25.679 And James is reminding us here of how God works, 00:16:25.679 --> 00:16:28.859 but at the same time reminding us of who we are in front of God. 00:16:30.299 --> 00:16:31.000 And James says, 00:16:31.059 --> 00:16:33.099 you're rejecting the very people that God is saving, 00:16:33.199 --> 00:16:35.819 but welcoming the people that abuse you. 00:16:35.879 --> 00:16:36.959 So he just does not stop there. 00:16:37.019 --> 00:16:38.079 Look at verse 6 and 7. 00:16:38.639 --> 00:16:39.159 He says, 00:16:39.819 --> 00:16:40.000 yeah, 00:16:40.059 --> 00:16:41.179 you are rejecting the people, 00:16:41.379 --> 00:16:42.139 but at the same time, 00:16:42.519 --> 00:16:43.019 ironically, 00:16:43.219 --> 00:16:45.679 you're also accepting the people that abuse you. 00:16:45.740 --> 00:16:46.939 He says in verse 6 and 7, 00:16:47.599 --> 00:16:49.199 but you have dishonored the poor man, 00:16:49.359 --> 00:16:50.359 rejected the poor man, 00:16:50.819 --> 00:16:53.299 but are not the rich the ones who oppress you, 00:16:53.959 --> 00:16:55.539 and the one who dragged you into court? 00:16:55.740 --> 00:16:58.579 Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name 00:16:58.579 --> 00:17:00.179 by which you were called? 00:17:01.120 --> 00:17:01.639 Now, 00:17:01.719 --> 00:17:04.299 the natural question that arises from this verse is that 00:17:04.299 --> 00:17:08.639 why are the readers of James honoring the ones that were oppressing them 00:17:08.639 --> 00:17:12.259 and dishonoring the name and blaspheming the name of Jesus? 00:17:12.259 --> 00:17:15.039 And if you think about it, 00:17:15.140 --> 00:17:16.299 it's actually quite simple, 00:17:16.420 --> 00:17:16.559 right? 00:17:16.599 --> 00:17:18.059 The readers were mostly poor, 00:17:19.019 --> 00:17:19.900 Christian refugees, 00:17:20.319 --> 00:17:21.259 persecuted socially, 00:17:21.400 --> 00:17:22.680 socially outcast. 00:17:23.019 --> 00:17:25.559 And it's quite natural for anyone in that position 00:17:25.559 --> 00:17:27.980 to look for people that would benefit them, 00:17:28.140 --> 00:17:30.259 to look for people that would support them 00:17:30.259 --> 00:17:31.559 in those situations. 00:17:31.559 --> 00:17:34.000 And what was happening in this situation was that 00:17:34.000 --> 00:17:36.679 they were putting their hope and security 00:17:36.679 --> 00:17:38.740 on this rich people, 00:17:39.579 --> 00:17:40.279 but ironically, 00:17:40.559 --> 00:17:42.799 this rich people were the ones that were oppressing 00:17:42.799 --> 00:17:45.179 and took the Lord's name in vain. 00:17:45.839 --> 00:17:47.460 And the fault was this, 00:17:47.980 --> 00:17:48.839 and the fault was this, 00:17:48.899 --> 00:17:51.000 that they were putting their hope in the people 00:17:51.000 --> 00:17:52.960 rather than putting their hope 00:17:52.960 --> 00:17:55.019 in the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:17:55.019 --> 00:17:57.500 And that's not all. 00:17:57.660 --> 00:17:58.839 What is happening here is that 00:17:58.839 --> 00:18:00.019 they were dealing with people 00:18:00.019 --> 00:18:02.879 according to what these people might benefit them. 00:18:03.819 --> 00:18:04.759 Let me say that again. 00:18:04.900 --> 00:18:06.200 They were dealing with people, 00:18:06.339 --> 00:18:07.180 choosing people, 00:18:07.700 --> 00:18:10.259 according to what people would benefit them. 00:18:11.519 --> 00:18:13.359 And isn't that quite common in Hong Kong? 00:18:15.200 --> 00:18:16.379 You scratch my back, 00:18:16.440 --> 00:18:17.160 I scratch your back. 00:18:18.180 --> 00:18:19.500 You help me find a job, 00:18:19.619 --> 00:18:21.019 and I'll owe you one. 00:18:21.019 --> 00:18:24.180 I mean, 00:18:25.480 --> 00:18:27.139 and what that leads us is, 00:18:28.420 --> 00:18:30.319 that leads us to have relationships 00:18:30.319 --> 00:18:32.879 that are completely based on 00:18:32.879 --> 00:18:35.700 what the other party can benefit us, 00:18:36.019 --> 00:18:38.519 rather than a sacrificial love 00:18:38.519 --> 00:18:39.879 that God has called us to do. 00:18:41.579 --> 00:18:44.180 Church, do we treat our bosses differently 00:18:44.180 --> 00:18:46.579 than we treat our colleagues and our juniors? 00:18:46.579 --> 00:18:53.399 Do we treat people that are below us differently 00:18:53.399 --> 00:18:55.679 than the way we treat people that are above us? 00:18:57.779 --> 00:18:58.740 But at the same time, 00:18:58.839 --> 00:19:01.039 remembering that this letter was written to a church, 00:19:01.279 --> 00:19:02.379 so as a church, 00:19:02.919 --> 00:19:06.639 are we aware of the people that come inside this door 00:19:06.639 --> 00:19:09.379 that are left behind, left aside, 00:19:09.960 --> 00:19:12.399 not really knowing where they belong, 00:19:12.859 --> 00:19:15.339 and we just choose to go into our own small circles? 00:19:16.579 --> 00:19:18.579 As a church, are we aware of that? 00:19:21.000 --> 00:19:23.359 Because there are times when people come in 00:19:23.359 --> 00:19:24.819 and they just fade away in the crowd 00:19:24.819 --> 00:19:26.799 and they disappear after that. 00:19:30.119 --> 00:19:32.639 Now, we've been talking about all these reasons 00:19:32.639 --> 00:19:35.399 of why favoritism is evil and not good. 00:19:36.480 --> 00:19:39.720 But James actually gives us the ultimate reason 00:19:39.720 --> 00:19:42.019 of why favoritism is evil, 00:19:42.559 --> 00:19:45.119 and it's actually found right in the beginning of this chapter. 00:19:45.119 --> 00:19:47.119 So if you go back to chapter, 00:19:47.299 --> 00:19:48.479 sorry, verse 1, 00:19:49.539 --> 00:19:50.779 what James says is, 00:19:50.899 --> 00:19:51.979 my brothers and sisters, 00:19:52.939 --> 00:19:54.500 show no partiality 00:19:54.500 --> 00:19:57.759 as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, 00:19:58.259 --> 00:19:59.719 the Lord of glory. 00:19:59.720 --> 00:20:06.779 Now, why does James describe Jesus as the Lord of glory? 00:20:08.240 --> 00:20:11.279 And this is the only time you'll find the word glory in this letter, 00:20:12.140 --> 00:20:14.819 or this is the only time you'll find James describing Jesus 00:20:14.819 --> 00:20:16.700 as the Lord of glory in this letter. 00:20:17.500 --> 00:20:21.259 Now, James, who is a master of the way he uses his word, 00:20:21.680 --> 00:20:24.480 is not just putting this word there because he felt like it. 00:20:24.480 --> 00:20:28.620 He's actually very particular in the way he speaks and writes. 00:20:29.440 --> 00:20:34.240 So, the reason James describes Jesus as the Lord of glory 00:20:34.240 --> 00:20:38.920 is actually because whatever we have talked about from verse 2 to 7 00:20:38.920 --> 00:20:43.579 is actually, all of those things actually stands in complete contradiction 00:20:43.579 --> 00:20:45.819 to the glory of Jesus. 00:20:46.480 --> 00:20:51.360 It stands in complete opposite of to the glory of Jesus. 00:20:51.359 --> 00:20:55.079 Now, the question begs, so what is this glory? 00:20:56.219 --> 00:20:59.559 What is this glory that stands in complete contradiction 00:20:59.559 --> 00:21:02.339 of whatever we have talked about so far? 00:21:05.579 --> 00:21:10.240 Before Jesus was arrested and went to the cross, 00:21:10.959 --> 00:21:14.779 in John chapter 17, he prays to the Father. 00:21:14.899 --> 00:21:17.479 He says, Father, the hour has come. 00:21:17.480 --> 00:21:22.720 Glorify your son so that the son might glorify you. 00:21:25.019 --> 00:21:28.079 And one of the places that we see the glory of Jesus 00:21:28.079 --> 00:21:32.420 is in who he is, what he became, 00:21:32.960 --> 00:21:37.480 and in what he has accomplished on the cross and on this earth. 00:21:39.420 --> 00:21:40.579 You see, think about it. 00:21:40.640 --> 00:21:42.940 We made distinctions among the rich and the poor. 00:21:42.940 --> 00:21:47.299 We made distinction according to what people can benefit us. 00:21:49.299 --> 00:21:51.700 But we see the glory of Jesus 00:21:51.700 --> 00:21:54.120 when though we were all poor, 00:21:55.680 --> 00:21:59.620 he did not just cast us out. 00:22:00.799 --> 00:22:02.240 We see the glory of Jesus 00:22:02.240 --> 00:22:04.279 though when we were all spiritually broke 00:22:04.279 --> 00:22:08.180 and poor and evil, 00:22:08.720 --> 00:22:10.120 he did not cast us out 00:22:10.119 --> 00:22:12.419 or treated us the way we treated other people. 00:22:13.839 --> 00:22:16.659 In fact, 2 Corinthians 8-9 tells us that 00:22:16.659 --> 00:22:17.779 though he was rich, 00:22:18.579 --> 00:22:20.159 for our sake became poor 00:22:20.159 --> 00:22:22.000 so that by his poverty, 00:22:22.339 --> 00:22:23.419 we can become rich. 00:22:26.019 --> 00:22:28.099 We used people that benefited us 00:22:28.099 --> 00:22:29.399 thinking what we can gain, 00:22:29.819 --> 00:22:31.459 but we see the glory of Jesus 00:22:31.459 --> 00:22:32.879 when he welcomed us in. 00:22:33.019 --> 00:22:33.939 Though we were poor, 00:22:34.779 --> 00:22:36.619 though we had nothing to offer to Christ, 00:22:36.619 --> 00:22:38.859 he called us in to be heirs 00:22:38.859 --> 00:22:40.419 and children of the kingdom. 00:22:41.239 --> 00:22:42.459 James shows us here 00:22:42.459 --> 00:22:43.939 that when we show favoritism, 00:22:44.359 --> 00:22:45.879 what we fail to see 00:22:45.879 --> 00:22:47.279 is that we fail to see 00:22:47.279 --> 00:22:49.139 the glory of Christ Jesus 00:22:49.139 --> 00:22:50.739 who actually treats us 00:22:50.739 --> 00:22:53.279 with such incredible grace 00:22:53.279 --> 00:22:55.399 and mercy and love. 00:22:57.959 --> 00:22:59.199 Church, do we see that? 00:23:00.199 --> 00:23:02.459 Do we realize the amazing grace and mercy 00:23:02.459 --> 00:23:04.459 that God has poured out for us? 00:23:04.460 --> 00:23:06.500 And does that impact 00:23:06.500 --> 00:23:08.120 the way we treat other people? 00:23:09.220 --> 00:23:10.400 Now, we might be thinking, 00:23:10.579 --> 00:23:12.140 okay, Alan, great points. 00:23:12.799 --> 00:23:14.039 Yep, favoritism is evil 00:23:14.039 --> 00:23:16.059 and I need to get my life together. 00:23:16.600 --> 00:23:17.460 Maybe you're thinking like, 00:23:17.539 --> 00:23:19.380 okay, I do it once in a while 00:23:19.380 --> 00:23:21.079 and I should get myself together. 00:23:21.200 --> 00:23:21.980 And being honest, 00:23:23.120 --> 00:23:24.140 I don't think favoritism 00:23:24.140 --> 00:23:25.059 is something we all take 00:23:25.059 --> 00:23:26.039 very seriously, right? 00:23:26.180 --> 00:23:28.279 Like compared to the sin of adultery 00:23:28.279 --> 00:23:29.500 or murder. 00:23:29.700 --> 00:23:31.400 We don't take it as equally as that. 00:23:31.400 --> 00:23:34.060 But now what James points us to 00:23:34.060 --> 00:23:36.440 is that favoritism is actually 00:23:36.440 --> 00:23:38.600 a very serious sin. 00:23:39.360 --> 00:23:40.180 And what he tells us 00:23:40.180 --> 00:23:41.140 in the next section 00:23:41.140 --> 00:23:42.519 is that he tells us that, 00:23:42.519 --> 00:23:44.240 hey, favoritism is serious 00:23:44.240 --> 00:23:46.880 and actually it breaks the law of God. 00:23:47.019 --> 00:23:48.680 Which takes us to the second point 00:23:48.680 --> 00:23:50.280 is that when we show favoritism, 00:23:50.960 --> 00:23:52.920 we break the law of God. 00:23:53.320 --> 00:23:54.920 Now, let's look at verses 8 to 11. 00:23:55.500 --> 00:23:57.220 And James, what basically says here 00:23:57.220 --> 00:23:58.440 is that if you really fulfill 00:23:58.440 --> 00:23:59.259 the royal law, 00:23:59.259 --> 00:24:01.220 you shall love your neighbor as yourself, 00:24:01.799 --> 00:24:02.920 then you are doing well. 00:24:03.720 --> 00:24:04.339 And he's saying that, 00:24:04.420 --> 00:24:05.660 hey, if you're not showing favoritism 00:24:05.660 --> 00:24:07.940 and you're fulfilling that, 00:24:08.140 --> 00:24:09.579 you're loving your neighbors as yourself, 00:24:09.740 --> 00:24:10.680 then great job, guys. 00:24:10.779 --> 00:24:11.420 You're doing well. 00:24:12.879 --> 00:24:14.559 And he calls this law 00:24:14.559 --> 00:24:16.079 the royal law. 00:24:16.660 --> 00:24:17.819 And what that means is, 00:24:17.920 --> 00:24:19.680 it's a law that belongs to the king. 00:24:20.500 --> 00:24:23.920 And that's quite not surprising 00:24:23.920 --> 00:24:26.160 because it is the law 00:24:26.160 --> 00:24:27.500 that Jesus quoted, right? 00:24:27.500 --> 00:24:28.440 When Jesus was asked, 00:24:28.519 --> 00:24:29.799 hey, which is the greatest commandment? 00:24:29.920 --> 00:24:30.460 Jesus quotes, 00:24:30.579 --> 00:24:31.160 love your God 00:24:31.160 --> 00:24:33.180 and love your neighbor as yourself. 00:24:33.339 --> 00:24:35.240 It is the law that Jesus, 00:24:35.420 --> 00:24:36.579 the king of all kings, 00:24:36.940 --> 00:24:37.539 talks about. 00:24:39.299 --> 00:24:39.700 Now, 00:24:40.380 --> 00:24:42.519 and if that is the royal law, 00:24:42.599 --> 00:24:43.480 if that is the law, 00:24:43.579 --> 00:24:44.359 the greatest law, 00:24:44.759 --> 00:24:46.259 what James is telling us is that, 00:24:46.319 --> 00:24:47.940 hey, if you are showing favoritism, 00:24:48.319 --> 00:24:50.039 then you're breaking the law, 00:24:50.220 --> 00:24:50.640 the law. 00:24:50.839 --> 00:24:51.759 I don't know which one it is. 00:24:52.099 --> 00:24:52.440 The law? 00:24:53.319 --> 00:24:54.180 The law, thank you. 00:24:54.180 --> 00:24:55.799 You're breaking the law. 00:24:55.799 --> 00:24:59.279 So that means, 00:24:59.379 --> 00:25:00.680 this is not like breaking the law 00:25:00.680 --> 00:25:02.399 when you're crossing the red light 00:25:02.399 --> 00:25:02.899 on the street. 00:25:03.379 --> 00:25:05.079 This is not a small thing 00:25:05.079 --> 00:25:06.740 that we should be like, 00:25:06.899 --> 00:25:08.220 oh, don't worry. 00:25:08.480 --> 00:25:09.399 Just don't do it again. 00:25:10.000 --> 00:25:11.159 James is actually taking it 00:25:11.159 --> 00:25:12.119 quite seriously here. 00:25:13.200 --> 00:25:14.139 And so much so, 00:25:14.579 --> 00:25:16.460 that if you look at verse 10 and 11, 00:25:16.559 --> 00:25:17.059 he says like, 00:25:17.319 --> 00:25:18.659 hey, if you keep all of the law, 00:25:19.000 --> 00:25:20.639 but even fail in one of it, 00:25:21.139 --> 00:25:23.279 then you are guilty of all of it. 00:25:23.279 --> 00:25:26.460 Can you hear what James is saying? 00:25:26.759 --> 00:25:28.220 Even if you break one of it, 00:25:28.899 --> 00:25:30.379 then you're guilty of all of it. 00:25:30.779 --> 00:25:32.279 And Sam Albury has this example, 00:25:33.200 --> 00:25:35.960 that image that might help us understand that. 00:25:36.039 --> 00:25:38.079 Imagine that you were called 00:25:38.079 --> 00:25:39.859 for jury duty in Hong Kong, 00:25:40.059 --> 00:25:41.139 and it's a murder trial. 00:25:42.099 --> 00:25:43.240 And you go into the court, 00:25:43.339 --> 00:25:44.559 and then the session is happening, 00:25:44.920 --> 00:25:46.399 and you're kind of disappointed 00:25:46.399 --> 00:25:48.099 because they don't have all the dramas 00:25:48.099 --> 00:25:49.720 and twists like you thought they would, 00:25:49.940 --> 00:25:51.220 like in a Netflix show. 00:25:51.220 --> 00:25:53.880 And as the trial is going on, 00:25:53.940 --> 00:25:55.640 and you see the evidence is massive 00:25:55.640 --> 00:25:56.680 against this defendant. 00:25:56.980 --> 00:25:58.759 It's definitely true that this guy 00:25:58.759 --> 00:26:00.579 is guilty of murdering the person. 00:26:01.500 --> 00:26:02.519 And you see this, 00:26:02.579 --> 00:26:03.539 the evidence is going on, 00:26:03.600 --> 00:26:04.700 and finally it is time 00:26:04.700 --> 00:26:06.700 for the inevitable verdict to be announced. 00:26:07.779 --> 00:26:09.200 But the defendant stands up, 00:26:09.240 --> 00:26:09.799 and he says like, 00:26:10.000 --> 00:26:11.120 I want to make a last statement 00:26:11.120 --> 00:26:13.539 before the verdict is out. 00:26:14.460 --> 00:26:16.120 So the defendant comes up 00:26:16.120 --> 00:26:17.680 in front of the judge and the jury, 00:26:17.680 --> 00:26:18.279 and he says, 00:26:18.279 --> 00:26:20.099 you know, 00:26:20.160 --> 00:26:20.980 just last month, 00:26:21.460 --> 00:26:23.940 there was this old lady on the street, 00:26:24.139 --> 00:26:25.399 and I helped her cross the road, 00:26:25.619 --> 00:26:27.160 even though everyone was ignoring her. 00:26:28.180 --> 00:26:29.279 And just after that, 00:26:29.339 --> 00:26:30.579 I went to the MTR stop, 00:26:30.779 --> 00:26:32.220 and I actually gave my seat up 00:26:32.220 --> 00:26:33.180 to this pregnant lady, 00:26:33.779 --> 00:26:35.480 even though everyone was ignoring her 00:26:35.480 --> 00:26:36.799 and trying to look away on their phone 00:26:36.799 --> 00:26:37.559 and ignoring her. 00:26:38.319 --> 00:26:39.059 But what's more, 00:26:39.160 --> 00:26:40.519 I'm such a faithful husband. 00:26:41.279 --> 00:26:42.500 I've never watched porn. 00:26:42.660 --> 00:26:44.940 I've never looked at any woman lustfully. 00:26:44.940 --> 00:26:45.059 Actually, 00:26:45.380 --> 00:26:47.480 I've always been committed to my woman. 00:26:48.700 --> 00:26:49.779 And the jury's going, 00:26:49.920 --> 00:26:51.160 oh, that's so true. 00:26:51.500 --> 00:26:52.580 Yeah, he murdered a man, 00:26:52.660 --> 00:26:54.039 but this guy's such a good guy. 00:26:54.559 --> 00:26:55.559 Yeah, it's fine. 00:26:55.740 --> 00:26:56.880 He's such a faithful husband. 00:26:58.660 --> 00:27:00.240 Now, you don't have to be a super lawyer 00:27:00.240 --> 00:27:01.799 to see the flaw in that, right? 00:27:03.400 --> 00:27:04.940 Because there is no excuse 00:27:04.940 --> 00:27:07.080 to murdering a man. 00:27:07.600 --> 00:27:09.240 It doesn't matter whether you're a good man 00:27:09.240 --> 00:27:10.000 or a good husband, 00:27:10.660 --> 00:27:12.539 but the fact that you murdered a man 00:27:12.539 --> 00:27:13.940 cannot be excused. 00:27:13.940 --> 00:27:16.200 And what James is telling us here 00:27:16.200 --> 00:27:21.380 is that once the law is broken, 00:27:22.299 --> 00:27:23.960 the law is broken. 00:27:27.860 --> 00:27:29.680 Church, do we take favoritism 00:27:29.680 --> 00:27:32.940 as seriously as James is making it to be, 00:27:33.019 --> 00:27:33.420 right here? 00:27:34.880 --> 00:27:36.320 It is not a simple matter 00:27:36.320 --> 00:27:38.059 of not talking to certain people. 00:27:38.220 --> 00:27:39.080 It's not a simple matter 00:27:39.080 --> 00:27:40.240 of ignoring people 00:27:40.240 --> 00:27:42.279 and just walking away. 00:27:42.279 --> 00:27:45.660 It's actually a matter of law 00:27:45.660 --> 00:27:47.480 and the breaking of the law. 00:27:49.639 --> 00:27:50.799 And that's serious. 00:27:53.399 --> 00:27:56.460 But James does not just leave us at that. 00:27:58.059 --> 00:28:00.139 Now, look into verse 12. 00:28:00.819 --> 00:28:03.220 Look at how James describes this law. 00:28:03.839 --> 00:28:05.899 He calls it the law of liberty. 00:28:05.900 --> 00:28:07.500 In other words, 00:28:07.620 --> 00:28:08.060 he says, 00:28:08.160 --> 00:28:09.580 this is the law that brings freedom. 00:28:11.220 --> 00:28:12.140 If you think about it, 00:28:12.140 --> 00:28:13.100 if we were to obey 00:28:13.100 --> 00:28:14.740 every law of the past, 00:28:15.420 --> 00:28:17.780 it would be an impossible task 00:28:17.780 --> 00:28:19.360 and a massive burden. 00:28:20.560 --> 00:28:21.180 And why? 00:28:21.320 --> 00:28:23.000 It's because we are slaves to sin. 00:28:23.120 --> 00:28:24.180 We naturally sin. 00:28:24.240 --> 00:28:25.800 We naturally rebel against God. 00:28:26.220 --> 00:28:27.200 And not only that, 00:28:27.240 --> 00:28:28.759 we are dead in our transgressions. 00:28:28.759 --> 00:28:31.160 But this law of liberty, 00:28:32.180 --> 00:28:33.779 the one that brings freedom, 00:28:34.319 --> 00:28:34.920 in other words, 00:28:35.079 --> 00:28:36.400 it is the good news of Jesus. 00:28:36.539 --> 00:28:38.000 It's the gospel as we were looking at it. 00:28:38.279 --> 00:28:38.900 The gospel, 00:28:39.059 --> 00:28:39.839 the law of liberty 00:28:39.839 --> 00:28:41.319 that brings freedom, 00:28:41.720 --> 00:28:42.859 it actually frees us 00:28:42.859 --> 00:28:44.259 from the slavery of sin. 00:28:45.140 --> 00:28:46.539 It makes us alive 00:28:46.539 --> 00:28:48.539 to live in the way 00:28:48.539 --> 00:28:50.740 that God has created us to be. 00:28:51.740 --> 00:28:53.500 Completely fulfilling us, 00:28:54.220 --> 00:28:55.220 fulfilling our hearts 00:28:55.220 --> 00:28:56.220 because He's the one 00:28:56.220 --> 00:28:57.339 who created our hearts. 00:28:58.120 --> 00:28:58.980 In other words, 00:28:59.220 --> 00:29:01.079 Jesus frees us to obey the law, 00:29:01.200 --> 00:29:02.480 not so that He can put us 00:29:02.480 --> 00:29:03.319 under bondage. 00:29:03.440 --> 00:29:04.420 In the same way, 00:29:04.759 --> 00:29:05.579 a football match 00:29:05.579 --> 00:29:07.180 has tons of law, 00:29:07.240 --> 00:29:08.440 not because to put the players 00:29:08.440 --> 00:29:09.160 under bondage. 00:29:09.519 --> 00:29:10.319 It's there because, 00:29:10.420 --> 00:29:11.839 so that the players can enjoy, 00:29:12.140 --> 00:29:13.019 they can play freely. 00:29:13.200 --> 00:29:13.940 In the same way, 00:29:14.500 --> 00:29:15.740 Jesus frees us 00:29:15.740 --> 00:29:16.860 to obey the law 00:29:16.860 --> 00:29:18.420 so that we can be fully 00:29:18.420 --> 00:29:20.180 who He created us to be. 00:29:22.100 --> 00:29:23.440 And so James says, 00:29:23.539 --> 00:29:24.100 in the next verse, 00:29:24.180 --> 00:29:24.500 he says, 00:29:24.600 --> 00:29:25.339 in that same verse, 00:29:25.400 --> 00:29:25.539 sorry, 00:29:25.640 --> 00:29:26.039 he says, 00:29:26.039 --> 00:29:27.659 so speak and so act 00:29:27.659 --> 00:29:29.859 as those who are to be just 00:29:29.859 --> 00:29:30.940 under the law of liberty. 00:29:31.200 --> 00:29:32.039 What he's saying is, 00:29:32.200 --> 00:29:33.420 speak and act as people 00:29:33.420 --> 00:29:34.899 that have been freed 00:29:34.899 --> 00:29:36.059 by the gospel. 00:29:37.700 --> 00:29:39.460 Now what James is doing here 00:29:39.460 --> 00:29:40.039 is that, 00:29:40.200 --> 00:29:41.579 he's reminding the readers 00:29:41.579 --> 00:29:43.099 and all of us this morning 00:29:43.099 --> 00:29:44.599 of the gospel 00:29:44.599 --> 00:29:45.899 that has freed us 00:29:45.899 --> 00:29:47.159 to love our neighbors 00:29:47.159 --> 00:29:48.039 as ourself, 00:29:48.420 --> 00:29:49.299 which is the opposite 00:29:49.299 --> 00:29:50.220 of favoritism. 00:29:51.339 --> 00:29:52.480 He's actually reminding 00:29:52.480 --> 00:29:53.139 of the gospel 00:29:53.139 --> 00:29:55.139 when we deal with people. 00:29:55.140 --> 00:29:57.120 So what he's saying is, 00:29:57.240 --> 00:29:57.340 hey, 00:29:57.840 --> 00:29:59.440 favoritism is not only bad, 00:29:59.980 --> 00:30:00.840 to be nice, 00:30:00.940 --> 00:30:01.860 to treat everyone 00:30:01.860 --> 00:30:03.500 in an equal manner 00:30:03.500 --> 00:30:04.340 is not only good, 00:30:05.160 --> 00:30:05.720 he's actually, 00:30:05.800 --> 00:30:06.940 he's reminding us 00:30:06.940 --> 00:30:08.120 of the gospel. 00:30:08.759 --> 00:30:09.759 He's actually in light 00:30:09.759 --> 00:30:10.920 of what God has done 00:30:10.920 --> 00:30:11.480 for us. 00:30:12.780 --> 00:30:13.440 And think about it, 00:30:13.480 --> 00:30:14.100 in our interaction 00:30:14.100 --> 00:30:14.660 with people, 00:30:15.340 --> 00:30:16.540 whether you are at church, 00:30:16.680 --> 00:30:17.480 whether at jobs, 00:30:17.700 --> 00:30:18.520 whether with your boss 00:30:18.520 --> 00:30:19.020 or colleagues 00:30:19.020 --> 00:30:19.560 or juniors 00:30:19.560 --> 00:30:20.480 or in universities 00:30:20.480 --> 00:30:22.059 with other people, 00:30:22.579 --> 00:30:24.220 do we actually remember 00:30:24.220 --> 00:30:24.779 the gospel 00:30:24.779 --> 00:30:26.000 when we go out 00:30:26.000 --> 00:30:26.539 and reach out 00:30:26.539 --> 00:30:27.380 and speak to them? 00:30:29.960 --> 00:30:31.019 Now gospel can be, 00:30:31.500 --> 00:30:32.920 a word can be quite vague 00:30:32.920 --> 00:30:33.779 and quite general, 00:30:34.200 --> 00:30:34.500 right? 00:30:34.960 --> 00:30:35.860 So the question is, 00:30:35.920 --> 00:30:35.980 hey, 00:30:36.059 --> 00:30:37.000 what about the gospel 00:30:37.000 --> 00:30:38.099 are you calling us 00:30:38.099 --> 00:30:38.579 to remember? 00:30:40.019 --> 00:30:40.779 But the answer is 00:30:40.779 --> 00:30:41.500 all of the gospel, 00:30:41.740 --> 00:30:43.099 but James actually 00:30:43.099 --> 00:30:44.680 picks up something 00:30:44.680 --> 00:30:45.519 from the gospel 00:30:45.519 --> 00:30:47.000 to remind us. 00:30:48.920 --> 00:30:49.839 And James reminds us 00:30:49.839 --> 00:30:51.319 something in the gospel 00:30:51.319 --> 00:30:53.339 that stands, 00:30:53.420 --> 00:30:55.359 that stands in tall opposition 00:30:55.359 --> 00:30:56.680 to favoritism 00:30:56.680 --> 00:30:59.660 and it is the mercy of God 00:30:59.660 --> 00:31:00.559 in the gospel. 00:31:01.639 --> 00:31:02.480 Which leads us 00:31:02.480 --> 00:31:03.299 to our last point. 00:31:03.920 --> 00:31:05.299 When we show favoritism, 00:31:05.900 --> 00:31:08.099 we forget the mercy of God. 00:31:09.259 --> 00:31:10.740 When we show favoritism, 00:31:11.220 --> 00:31:12.759 we forget the mercy of God. 00:31:12.839 --> 00:31:13.900 Let's look at verse 13. 00:31:13.900 --> 00:31:16.759 For judgment is without mercy 00:31:16.759 --> 00:31:18.980 to one who has shown no mercy. 00:31:19.720 --> 00:31:20.680 And mercy triumphs 00:31:20.680 --> 00:31:21.220 over judgment. 00:31:22.800 --> 00:31:23.759 And the opposite way 00:31:23.759 --> 00:31:24.460 to say is, 00:31:25.420 --> 00:31:26.160 blessed is the one 00:31:26.160 --> 00:31:26.800 who is merciful, 00:31:27.620 --> 00:31:28.980 for they shall be shown mercy. 00:31:32.040 --> 00:31:33.360 It's interesting that 00:31:33.360 --> 00:31:34.460 right after talking 00:31:34.460 --> 00:31:35.180 about the gospel, 00:31:35.460 --> 00:31:36.440 the law of liberty 00:31:36.440 --> 00:31:37.900 that frees us, 00:31:38.040 --> 00:31:39.259 James reminds us 00:31:39.259 --> 00:31:41.000 of the mercy of God. 00:31:41.120 --> 00:31:42.120 After James talks 00:31:42.120 --> 00:31:43.040 about the gospel, 00:31:43.039 --> 00:31:44.099 he says, 00:31:44.220 --> 00:31:44.899 hey, think about 00:31:44.899 --> 00:31:45.899 the mercy of God. 00:31:47.000 --> 00:31:48.799 Think about the gospel 00:31:48.799 --> 00:31:50.839 and the mercy of God. 00:31:52.000 --> 00:31:52.859 Think about it. 00:31:52.980 --> 00:31:53.980 I want us to think about this. 00:31:54.099 --> 00:31:55.139 Where do you and I 00:31:55.139 --> 00:31:56.819 stand in the gospel? 00:31:57.720 --> 00:31:58.839 Where do you find ourselves 00:31:58.839 --> 00:31:59.480 in the gospel? 00:31:59.480 --> 00:32:03.799 We stood in rebellion 00:32:03.799 --> 00:32:04.640 against God, 00:32:05.799 --> 00:32:06.819 slaves to sin, 00:32:07.720 --> 00:32:09.120 rejecting him as God, 00:32:09.299 --> 00:32:10.539 and though he was our creator, 00:32:11.099 --> 00:32:12.500 we chose to worship 00:32:12.500 --> 00:32:13.620 ourselves 00:32:13.620 --> 00:32:15.640 and other created things 00:32:15.640 --> 00:32:17.240 and idols. 00:32:17.759 --> 00:32:19.360 And it would be truly 00:32:19.360 --> 00:32:20.220 deserving 00:32:20.220 --> 00:32:22.360 if we were judged 00:32:22.360 --> 00:32:23.140 and condemned. 00:32:23.140 --> 00:32:26.740 and though we had 00:32:26.740 --> 00:32:27.800 nothing to offer, 00:32:29.240 --> 00:32:30.280 though our good 00:32:30.280 --> 00:32:31.560 and our best works 00:32:31.560 --> 00:32:33.740 were completely 00:32:33.740 --> 00:32:35.040 marred, 00:32:35.200 --> 00:32:36.120 completely dirty 00:32:36.120 --> 00:32:37.460 and stenched 00:32:37.460 --> 00:32:39.040 and marred with sin, 00:32:39.039 --> 00:32:41.579 God chose 00:32:41.579 --> 00:32:43.079 to reach out 00:32:43.079 --> 00:32:44.019 to us. 00:32:45.700 --> 00:32:46.740 Think about the man 00:32:46.740 --> 00:32:47.480 that was suffering 00:32:47.480 --> 00:32:48.740 with leprosy 00:32:48.740 --> 00:32:49.639 and skin disease 00:32:49.639 --> 00:32:51.859 and all the people 00:32:51.859 --> 00:32:52.700 outcasted him 00:32:52.700 --> 00:32:53.440 because of fear 00:32:53.440 --> 00:32:54.159 and disgust, 00:32:54.559 --> 00:32:55.779 but Jesus chose 00:32:55.779 --> 00:32:56.819 to go out of his way 00:32:56.819 --> 00:32:58.359 and touch this man, 00:32:59.159 --> 00:33:00.299 hold on to this man, 00:33:00.680 --> 00:33:02.079 a man that might have 00:33:02.079 --> 00:33:02.720 been deprived 00:33:02.720 --> 00:33:03.859 of any physical touch 00:33:03.859 --> 00:33:04.599 his whole life. 00:33:04.599 --> 00:33:05.799 And in the same way, 00:33:05.859 --> 00:33:07.000 we stood before God, 00:33:07.619 --> 00:33:09.259 disgusting with our sins, 00:33:09.480 --> 00:33:10.019 stench, 00:33:10.179 --> 00:33:10.719 smelly, 00:33:11.439 --> 00:33:11.799 poor, 00:33:12.519 --> 00:33:13.579 with nothing to offer 00:33:13.579 --> 00:33:14.319 before God. 00:33:15.339 --> 00:33:16.959 And God reached out. 00:33:17.659 --> 00:33:18.659 He sent his one 00:33:18.659 --> 00:33:19.359 and only son 00:33:19.359 --> 00:33:20.699 to come, 00:33:21.699 --> 00:33:22.559 to touch us, 00:33:22.939 --> 00:33:23.919 to be with us, 00:33:24.240 --> 00:33:25.339 to speak with us, 00:33:25.539 --> 00:33:27.039 to go down on his feet, 00:33:27.159 --> 00:33:28.119 to wash our feet, 00:33:29.079 --> 00:33:30.279 and to ultimately 00:33:30.279 --> 00:33:31.579 to die for our sins, 00:33:31.719 --> 00:33:32.639 for our rebellion, 00:33:32.640 --> 00:33:34.740 and to pay the price 00:33:34.740 --> 00:33:35.700 that none of us 00:33:35.700 --> 00:33:36.380 could pay. 00:33:39.720 --> 00:33:41.060 We stood before God 00:33:41.060 --> 00:33:42.100 with nothing to offer. 00:33:43.420 --> 00:33:44.500 And in return, 00:33:45.220 --> 00:33:45.960 what do we get? 00:33:47.360 --> 00:33:49.280 We get the mercy of God. 00:33:51.220 --> 00:33:52.480 And everyone who comes 00:33:52.480 --> 00:33:53.420 to him in faith 00:33:53.420 --> 00:33:55.440 receives the mercy 00:33:55.440 --> 00:33:56.960 and this amazing mercy 00:33:56.960 --> 00:33:57.400 of God. 00:33:58.320 --> 00:33:59.880 Isn't that an amazing grace? 00:34:00.320 --> 00:34:01.759 What an amazing mercy 00:34:01.759 --> 00:34:03.900 we all have received 00:34:03.900 --> 00:34:04.720 in Christ Jesus. 00:34:05.940 --> 00:34:07.279 And with that insight, 00:34:07.819 --> 00:34:09.239 how can we not show mercy 00:34:09.239 --> 00:34:10.539 when we have received 00:34:10.539 --> 00:34:11.840 such a mercy like this? 00:34:12.719 --> 00:34:13.860 One of the many ways 00:34:13.860 --> 00:34:15.179 a Christian grows and lives 00:34:15.179 --> 00:34:16.340 is in the way 00:34:16.340 --> 00:34:17.119 they show mercy 00:34:17.119 --> 00:34:19.420 because of this amazing mercy 00:34:19.420 --> 00:34:20.480 we have received. 00:34:21.380 --> 00:34:22.219 It's not because 00:34:22.219 --> 00:34:23.780 talking to people 00:34:23.780 --> 00:34:24.840 and the poor and needy 00:34:24.840 --> 00:34:25.820 is a good thing to do. 00:34:26.880 --> 00:34:27.860 That's not the reason 00:34:27.860 --> 00:34:28.500 why we do it. 00:34:28.699 --> 00:34:29.780 The reason why we do it 00:34:29.780 --> 00:34:30.920 is because of God's 00:34:30.920 --> 00:34:32.000 amazing mercy 00:34:32.000 --> 00:34:33.360 that though we were poor 00:34:33.360 --> 00:34:35.200 he has shown it to us. 00:34:37.700 --> 00:34:38.680 Christians naturally 00:34:38.680 --> 00:34:39.780 move towards the needy 00:34:39.780 --> 00:34:40.300 and the poor 00:34:40.300 --> 00:34:41.820 because that's how 00:34:41.820 --> 00:34:42.980 God treated us. 00:34:44.240 --> 00:34:45.700 Whether they are 00:34:45.700 --> 00:34:46.460 physically poor 00:34:46.460 --> 00:34:47.460 or spiritually poor 00:34:47.460 --> 00:34:48.280 we naturally 00:34:48.280 --> 00:34:49.820 move towards them. 00:34:50.160 --> 00:34:50.640 I mean look at 00:34:50.640 --> 00:34:52.160 think back to verse 27 00:34:52.160 --> 00:34:53.120 in chapter 1 00:34:53.120 --> 00:34:54.620 that religion 00:34:54.620 --> 00:34:55.800 that is pure and defiled 00:34:55.800 --> 00:34:56.700 before God is this 00:34:56.699 --> 00:34:57.659 to visit orphans 00:34:57.659 --> 00:34:58.339 and widows 00:34:58.339 --> 00:35:00.079 people that are isolated 00:35:00.079 --> 00:35:01.419 people that are needy 00:35:01.419 --> 00:35:02.359 people that are broken 00:35:02.359 --> 00:35:05.339 because favoritism 00:35:05.339 --> 00:35:06.419 treats people 00:35:06.419 --> 00:35:07.859 by their works 00:35:07.859 --> 00:35:08.539 and judges 00:35:08.539 --> 00:35:09.879 but that is not 00:35:09.879 --> 00:35:10.480 how we want 00:35:10.480 --> 00:35:12.000 God to treat us 00:35:12.000 --> 00:35:13.179 and that isn't 00:35:13.179 --> 00:35:14.480 how God treats us. 00:35:15.679 --> 00:35:16.579 Favoritism happens 00:35:16.579 --> 00:35:17.500 when we forget 00:35:17.500 --> 00:35:19.339 and have stopped 00:35:19.339 --> 00:35:20.559 being captivated 00:35:20.559 --> 00:35:22.000 by the mercy of God. 00:35:23.679 --> 00:35:24.599 So church 00:35:24.599 --> 00:35:25.419 let us remember 00:35:25.420 --> 00:35:26.480 this amazing grace. 00:35:26.639 --> 00:35:27.200 Let us remember 00:35:27.200 --> 00:35:28.340 this amazing mercy 00:35:28.340 --> 00:35:29.740 that Christ has shown us 00:35:29.740 --> 00:35:31.579 that he became poor 00:35:31.579 --> 00:35:32.900 so that we might be rich 00:35:32.900 --> 00:35:33.700 through his poverty. 00:35:34.300 --> 00:35:35.639 He did not use people 00:35:35.639 --> 00:35:36.280 as we do 00:35:36.280 --> 00:35:37.820 but he gave himself 00:35:37.820 --> 00:35:38.559 for us 00:35:38.559 --> 00:35:39.559 so that we are free 00:35:39.559 --> 00:35:40.240 to love him 00:35:40.240 --> 00:35:41.340 and love the people 00:35:41.340 --> 00:35:41.960 around us. 00:35:42.320 --> 00:35:43.059 Let us remember 00:35:43.059 --> 00:35:43.720 the gospel 00:35:43.720 --> 00:35:44.639 that showed us 00:35:44.639 --> 00:35:45.880 such amazing mercy 00:35:45.880 --> 00:35:46.480 and grace 00:35:46.480 --> 00:35:48.200 so that we would go out 00:35:48.200 --> 00:35:49.860 and show no partiality 00:35:49.860 --> 00:35:51.980 as we hold our faith 00:35:51.980 --> 00:35:53.340 in our Lord Jesus Christ 00:35:53.340 --> 00:35:55.600 the Lord of all glory. 00:35:56.300 --> 00:35:57.100 Let us remember 00:35:57.100 --> 00:35:58.019 who Jesus is 00:35:58.019 --> 00:35:59.420 and the way he treated us 00:35:59.420 --> 00:36:00.740 so that as we go out 00:36:00.740 --> 00:36:01.519 and treat people 00:36:01.519 --> 00:36:02.840 we treat people 00:36:02.840 --> 00:36:03.820 in light of the way 00:36:03.820 --> 00:36:04.920 God has treated us 00:36:04.920 --> 00:36:07.059 which is such amazing grace 00:36:07.059 --> 00:36:08.260 and such amazing mercy. 00:36:08.260 --> 00:36:14.300 God bless you Elias 00:36:14.300 --> 00:36:14.840 and thank you 00:36:14.840 --> 00:36:16.140 good minded 00:36:16.800 --> 00:36:17.740 we did not work 00:36:17.740 --> 00:36:18.280 so happy 00:36:18.280 --> 00:36:18.920 and thank you 00:36:18.920 --> 00:36:19.660 for having a break 00:36:19.660 --> 00:36:21.100 and through 00:36:21.100 --> 00:36:21.340 and thank you 00:36:21.340 --> 00:36:22.300 for having a break 00:36:22.300 --> 00:36:23.980 and also for giving a know 00:36:23.980 --> 00:36:24.140 that every lihat 00:36:24.820 --> 00:36:26.560 is great 00:36:26.560 --> 00:36:27.300 on the way 00:36:27.300 --> 00:36:27.700 through 00:36:27.700 --> 00:36:27.860 and so 00:36:27.860 --> 00:36:27.880 you 00:36:27.880 --> 00:36:28.780 also 00:36:28.780 --> 00:36:29.280 , 00:36:29.360 --> 00:36:30.200 we'reHere 00:36:30.200 --> 00:36:30.900 that!