WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.859 Yeah, so this is the week that you can definitely judge me more than any other week, 00:00:03.940 --> 00:00:07.620 so you can decide how happy or sad you'll be when I'm leaving next week, 00:00:07.879 --> 00:00:09.019 based on how this week goes. 00:00:10.019 --> 00:00:12.179 If you would like to open up your Bibles, 00:00:12.240 --> 00:00:15.080 and I encourage you always, whenever we're looking at the Bible together, 00:00:15.160 --> 00:00:17.920 to open up your Bibles, whether that be the Church Bibles or otherwise, 00:00:18.320 --> 00:00:19.780 to James chapter 2. 00:00:21.199 --> 00:00:25.460 It is on page 1213 of the Church Bibles. 00:00:25.460 --> 00:00:30.940 So that's James chapter 2, page 1213 of the Church Bibles here. 00:00:47.400 --> 00:00:48.540 So it reads, 00:00:48.900 --> 00:00:50.219 My brothers and sisters, 00:00:51.040 --> 00:00:53.820 believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ 00:00:53.820 --> 00:00:55.980 must not show favoritism. 00:00:56.960 --> 00:01:00.659 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine robes, 00:01:01.500 --> 00:01:02.159 and fine clothes, 00:01:02.240 --> 00:01:04.960 and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 00:01:05.659 --> 00:01:09.000 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes, 00:01:09.159 --> 00:01:09.599 and say, 00:01:09.780 --> 00:01:11.079 Here's a good seat for you, 00:01:11.680 --> 00:01:12.719 but say to the poor man, 00:01:13.200 --> 00:01:14.019 You stand there, 00:01:14.400 --> 00:01:16.260 or sit on the floor by my feet. 00:01:16.819 --> 00:01:19.140 Have you not discriminated among yourselves, 00:01:19.400 --> 00:01:21.099 and become judges with evil thoughts? 00:01:21.099 --> 00:01:24.059 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters, 00:01:24.319 --> 00:01:27.379 has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world 00:01:27.379 --> 00:01:28.839 to be rich in faith, 00:01:29.239 --> 00:01:31.919 and to inherit the kingdom he promised to those who love him? 00:01:32.659 --> 00:01:34.099 But you have dishonored the poor. 00:01:35.000 --> 00:01:37.000 It's not the rich who are exploiting you. 00:01:37.500 --> 00:01:39.500 Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 00:01:39.819 --> 00:01:43.639 Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong? 00:01:43.640 --> 00:01:48.099 If you really keep the royal law found in scripture, 00:01:48.640 --> 00:01:49.900 love your neighbor as yourself, 00:01:50.460 --> 00:01:51.340 you are doing right. 00:01:52.159 --> 00:01:53.799 But if you show favoritism, 00:01:54.359 --> 00:01:54.939 you sin, 00:01:55.420 --> 00:01:57.780 and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 00:01:58.640 --> 00:02:00.159 For whoever keeps the whole law, 00:02:00.359 --> 00:02:02.439 and yet stumbles at just one point, 00:02:02.980 --> 00:02:05.079 is guilty of breaking all of it. 00:02:05.900 --> 00:02:06.799 For he who said, 00:02:06.980 --> 00:02:08.180 You shall not commit adultery, 00:02:08.699 --> 00:02:09.539 also said, 00:02:09.740 --> 00:02:11.039 You shall not murder. 00:02:11.039 --> 00:02:13.780 If you do not commit adultery, 00:02:14.019 --> 00:02:15.199 but do commit murder, 00:02:15.739 --> 00:02:17.560 you have become a lawbreaker. 00:02:18.859 --> 00:02:23.780 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 00:02:24.359 --> 00:02:29.560 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. 00:02:30.680 --> 00:02:32.979 Mercy triumphs over judgment. 00:02:34.299 --> 00:02:35.819 As we come to God's word this morning, 00:02:36.000 --> 00:02:36.719 let's pray together. 00:02:39.120 --> 00:02:40.979 Heavenly Father, we thank you for your word. 00:02:41.039 --> 00:02:45.719 We thank you for the fact that it speaks into so many different aspects of our lives. 00:02:46.439 --> 00:02:49.639 We pray now that you will help us all to hear your word, 00:02:49.840 --> 00:02:51.680 to receive it in our hearts, 00:02:51.899 --> 00:02:53.939 and to let it change and transform us. 00:02:54.579 --> 00:02:55.979 We pray all this in Jesus' name. 00:02:56.620 --> 00:02:56.919 Amen. 00:02:58.819 --> 00:03:00.579 So, favoritism. 00:03:01.259 --> 00:03:04.659 I wonder what pictures the word favoritism conjures up for you. 00:03:05.359 --> 00:03:07.299 It's not the most popular thing in the world, is it? 00:03:07.300 --> 00:03:12.480 So, at home, it might be a son or daughter being treated better than another son or daughter. 00:03:12.680 --> 00:03:14.100 And that might be something really trivial, 00:03:14.100 --> 00:03:16.180 like it might be an extra scoop of ice cream, 00:03:16.480 --> 00:03:19.740 or maybe the bigger half of a cookie that's been split in half. 00:03:19.740 --> 00:03:23.040 Or maybe it may be something more serious than that. 00:03:23.340 --> 00:03:24.600 It may be attention. 00:03:24.980 --> 00:03:25.780 It may be love. 00:03:25.900 --> 00:03:26.640 It may be care. 00:03:27.540 --> 00:03:31.760 At school, it might be the bad behavior of a teacher's favorite being overlooked. 00:03:32.120 --> 00:03:35.640 Or in work, a favorite member of staff being given more time, 00:03:35.879 --> 00:03:38.219 more resources, more sympathy than others. 00:03:39.060 --> 00:03:41.740 Or in government, or so many other areas of lives. 00:03:42.420 --> 00:03:45.140 Jobs for the boys, lucrative contracts for friends. 00:03:45.139 --> 00:03:51.019 So, I think it's fair to say that favoritism or partiality is not the most popular thing in the world. 00:03:51.079 --> 00:03:53.059 But it's also, obviously, not a recent invention. 00:03:53.159 --> 00:03:55.879 We see it here in a letter from nearly 2,000 years ago. 00:03:56.759 --> 00:03:58.879 So, how does God respond to favoritism in his word? 00:03:59.539 --> 00:04:01.359 Well, verse 1, no surprises. 00:04:02.060 --> 00:04:06.359 My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, 00:04:06.759 --> 00:04:08.819 must not show favoritism. 00:04:09.799 --> 00:04:12.399 It's also what we want him to write, isn't it? 00:04:13.299 --> 00:04:14.299 It's plain and simple. 00:04:14.300 --> 00:04:18.400 If you are a follower of Christ, you must not show favoritism. 00:04:19.480 --> 00:04:21.120 And it is really tempting for me to say, 00:04:21.280 --> 00:04:24.400 Grant, Alex, if you want to come back up now, I'm ready to wrap up. 00:04:25.120 --> 00:04:27.460 Because if you're a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:04:27.639 --> 00:04:31.560 then don't show favoritism is the core message of this passage. 00:04:31.980 --> 00:04:35.800 It doesn't get any more complex than that in some way. 00:04:36.540 --> 00:04:38.000 Do not show favoritism. 00:04:39.019 --> 00:04:40.980 However, if we leave it at that, 00:04:41.139 --> 00:04:44.080 then we miss out on answers to so many other questions, 00:04:44.079 --> 00:04:45.699 which are also answered in this passage. 00:04:46.399 --> 00:04:48.680 For example, why would James write this? 00:04:49.579 --> 00:04:52.740 How could favoritism become a problem in the church in the first place? 00:04:53.680 --> 00:04:56.279 Why is favoritism wrong or how is it bad? 00:04:57.279 --> 00:04:59.500 How big an issue is all of this, really? 00:04:59.500 --> 00:05:04.839 What does our showing favoritism show about our hearts? 00:05:04.839 --> 00:05:10.099 And if we're not to show favoritism, then what should we show instead? 00:05:11.560 --> 00:05:13.419 But before we think a bit about those questions, 00:05:13.500 --> 00:05:16.359 there's one other question that's not specifically answered in this passage, 00:05:16.519 --> 00:05:18.759 which is, what is the context here? 00:05:18.759 --> 00:05:21.480 So if we go back to the first verse in the letter, 00:05:21.560 --> 00:05:25.019 you'll find that James is writing this with specific groups of people in mind. 00:05:25.099 --> 00:05:27.819 He's writing to people specifically from Jewish backgrounds 00:05:27.819 --> 00:05:29.719 who have become Christians, who are following Jesus. 00:05:30.459 --> 00:05:32.639 I'm not going to summarize the whole book here, 00:05:32.959 --> 00:05:34.639 but one key theme throughout the book 00:05:34.639 --> 00:05:38.620 is that we shouldn't be double-minded as we follow Christ. 00:05:39.399 --> 00:05:40.219 And bringing out that theme, 00:05:40.300 --> 00:05:42.800 James frequently puts two things alongside each other, 00:05:42.800 --> 00:05:44.980 and he says these two don't match up. 00:05:45.060 --> 00:05:46.319 They don't belong together. 00:05:47.000 --> 00:05:49.840 So, for example, in James 1, verses 5 to 8, 00:05:49.980 --> 00:05:52.819 you can read about a person who asks God for wisdom, 00:05:53.100 --> 00:05:56.300 but who doesn't believe that he'll actually ultimately provide it. 00:05:56.920 --> 00:05:59.780 If you go just to James 1, verse 26, 00:05:59.860 --> 00:06:00.960 just before this passage, 00:06:01.080 --> 00:06:03.900 we see a person who considers himself or herself religious, 00:06:04.580 --> 00:06:06.600 but doesn't keep a tight rein on their tongue. 00:06:07.480 --> 00:06:09.540 James 2, verses 15 to 18, 00:06:09.660 --> 00:06:10.939 just after this passage, 00:06:10.939 --> 00:06:13.399 you have a person who claims to have faith in Christ, 00:06:13.839 --> 00:06:16.079 but who does nothing to help other people. 00:06:16.920 --> 00:06:17.939 And in James chapter 3, 00:06:18.019 --> 00:06:20.699 we have a barrage of them in verses 9 to 12. 00:06:20.959 --> 00:06:23.860 We have praising God and cursing human beings. 00:06:24.139 --> 00:06:26.860 We have fresh water and salt water flowing together. 00:06:27.079 --> 00:06:28.519 We have fig trees bearing olives. 00:06:28.600 --> 00:06:30.360 We have grapefines bearing figs. 00:06:31.319 --> 00:06:33.519 One of the key comparisons James makes 00:06:33.519 --> 00:06:36.500 is in James chapter 1, verses 22 to 24. 00:06:37.459 --> 00:06:38.040 And it says, 00:06:38.040 --> 00:06:40.040 Do not merely listen to the word, 00:06:40.040 --> 00:06:41.720 and so deceive yourselves. 00:06:42.760 --> 00:06:44.100 Do what it says. 00:06:44.840 --> 00:06:46.560 Anyone who listens to the word, 00:06:46.680 --> 00:06:48.120 but does not do what it says, 00:06:48.379 --> 00:06:50.800 is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror, 00:06:51.439 --> 00:06:53.040 and after looking at himself, 00:06:53.580 --> 00:06:57.660 goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 00:06:57.660 --> 00:07:00.620 Why would someone look in a mirror? 00:07:01.520 --> 00:07:02.920 Well, if you're as vain as me, 00:07:03.320 --> 00:07:05.939 it's because you're looking to see if there's anything wrong. 00:07:06.460 --> 00:07:08.020 Is my hair out of place? 00:07:08.939 --> 00:07:09.300 100%. 00:07:09.300 --> 00:07:10.160 It always is. 00:07:11.080 --> 00:07:13.640 Am I caked in dirt or sweat, though? 00:07:13.760 --> 00:07:15.000 Do I look okay? 00:07:15.060 --> 00:07:15.980 Am I passable? 00:07:17.100 --> 00:07:19.580 But the looking isn't really the most important part there, is it? 00:07:19.579 --> 00:07:21.479 Because it would be really strange, 00:07:21.579 --> 00:07:22.579 sheer madness, 00:07:22.800 --> 00:07:23.719 if I looked in the mirror, 00:07:23.839 --> 00:07:26.500 saw that I was absolutely caked and covered in dirt, 00:07:27.139 --> 00:07:28.639 and then sort of shrugged my shoulders, 00:07:28.779 --> 00:07:29.199 walked away, 00:07:29.259 --> 00:07:30.500 and didn't do anything about it. 00:07:31.079 --> 00:07:32.240 I've identified the problem, 00:07:32.620 --> 00:07:34.680 but I haven't actually fixed it in any way. 00:07:35.439 --> 00:07:37.459 And it's kind of the same as we're looking at God's word. 00:07:37.519 --> 00:07:38.799 What we're doing here this morning 00:07:38.799 --> 00:07:41.060 is looking at and listening to the word. 00:07:41.899 --> 00:07:44.420 But we need to look at ourselves in the mirror 00:07:44.420 --> 00:07:45.980 at the same time, so to speak. 00:07:46.339 --> 00:07:48.480 And then, once we've looked at ourselves in the mirror 00:07:48.480 --> 00:07:51.519 and identified where the gaps are between us and God's word, 00:07:52.000 --> 00:07:55.240 we need to actually do something to fill those gaps, 00:07:55.319 --> 00:07:57.000 to clean off the dirt, as it were. 00:07:58.040 --> 00:08:00.019 So if we're looking at our passage this morning, 00:08:00.180 --> 00:08:01.980 James chapter 2, verses 1 to 13, 00:08:02.340 --> 00:08:03.620 verse 1 is the core. 00:08:03.840 --> 00:08:05.040 Don't show favoritism. 00:08:05.699 --> 00:08:06.819 And we're going to look at the passage 00:08:06.819 --> 00:08:08.980 to see some of the answers to the other questions 00:08:08.980 --> 00:08:09.840 we looked at earlier. 00:08:09.839 --> 00:08:11.619 But let's keep in mind, as we do, 00:08:11.759 --> 00:08:15.139 the imperative, the command of this passage 00:08:15.139 --> 00:08:18.119 is that we do not show favoritism. 00:08:18.779 --> 00:08:20.039 And so if we walk out of here 00:08:20.039 --> 00:08:21.819 having a great academic knowledge 00:08:21.819 --> 00:08:23.879 of what favoritism is, 00:08:23.959 --> 00:08:25.019 how to define it, 00:08:25.079 --> 00:08:25.759 what it looks like, 00:08:25.779 --> 00:08:27.079 what the steps should be 00:08:27.079 --> 00:08:28.699 in order to get rid of it in our lives 00:08:28.699 --> 00:08:29.539 or anything like that, 00:08:30.279 --> 00:08:32.559 and we don't actually put any of that into practice, 00:08:33.319 --> 00:08:36.299 then we've completely missed the point of the passage. 00:08:37.019 --> 00:08:38.220 To take James' words, 00:08:38.220 --> 00:08:40.279 we'd be just deceiving ourselves. 00:08:41.200 --> 00:08:43.639 So with all that context in mind, 00:08:44.080 --> 00:08:45.100 let's look at verse 1. 00:08:46.100 --> 00:08:47.180 My brothers and sisters, 00:08:47.720 --> 00:08:50.420 believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ 00:08:50.420 --> 00:08:52.879 must not show favoritism. 00:08:53.560 --> 00:08:55.200 And James goes on, verses 2 to 4, 00:08:55.240 --> 00:08:57.180 to give a specific example, doesn't he? 00:08:57.720 --> 00:08:59.560 He mentions a man who comes into, 00:08:59.680 --> 00:09:01.820 well, two men who come into a meeting of the church. 00:09:02.000 --> 00:09:03.100 One is very rich, 00:09:03.100 --> 00:09:05.159 one is fine clothes, a gold ring, 00:09:05.560 --> 00:09:07.720 another is poor, he's dressed in dirty rags. 00:09:08.680 --> 00:09:12.460 And he says that these men are treated differently 00:09:12.460 --> 00:09:13.980 in this hypothetical example. 00:09:14.200 --> 00:09:16.320 One is told, oh, here's a fine seat for you. 00:09:16.700 --> 00:09:19.180 But the other one is told, oh, go over there. 00:09:19.580 --> 00:09:20.800 I'm still at the floor by my feet. 00:09:21.800 --> 00:09:23.019 And he says in verse 4 00:09:23.019 --> 00:09:27.139 that this is a sign of evil thoughts and judgment. 00:09:27.139 --> 00:09:30.860 So you can possibly imagine that kind of scene. 00:09:30.960 --> 00:09:31.699 It's very visual. 00:09:32.319 --> 00:09:33.519 But let's take a step back for a second 00:09:33.519 --> 00:09:36.360 and ask us, well, why would that arise? 00:09:36.980 --> 00:09:38.779 Why could that arise in a church setting? 00:09:39.059 --> 00:09:39.879 Also, incidentally, 00:09:39.939 --> 00:09:41.919 is this just for the people who welcome people 00:09:41.919 --> 00:09:43.019 as they come in the door and say, 00:09:43.120 --> 00:09:44.120 yeah, the seats are down here? 00:09:44.620 --> 00:09:45.919 Or is this for everyone? 00:09:46.620 --> 00:09:47.600 Spoiler alert, it's for everyone. 00:09:49.220 --> 00:09:51.139 Maybe, maybe the reason 00:09:51.139 --> 00:09:52.779 why they treated these people differently 00:09:52.779 --> 00:09:56.039 is because they hoped to gain something 00:09:56.039 --> 00:09:57.279 from the rich man. 00:09:58.000 --> 00:09:58.759 They might easily think, 00:09:58.879 --> 00:10:01.079 well, here's a man who could help us. 00:10:01.740 --> 00:10:04.559 Here's a man who could be useful to us. 00:10:05.620 --> 00:10:07.919 See, favoritism gets very unpopular 00:10:07.919 --> 00:10:11.279 unless we stand to gain from it ourselves. 00:10:13.000 --> 00:10:16.379 I have a friend who keeps an out-of-context quote book. 00:10:16.759 --> 00:10:17.639 And for people who don't know 00:10:17.639 --> 00:10:19.100 what that concept is or what it means, 00:10:19.100 --> 00:10:20.559 it means he takes down things 00:10:20.559 --> 00:10:22.100 that his friends say jokingly or sarcastically. 00:10:22.779 --> 00:10:26.459 Or ironically, completely out of context. 00:10:27.139 --> 00:10:29.339 And then he'll bring them up in six months' time. 00:10:29.659 --> 00:10:31.039 And without the context around them, 00:10:31.120 --> 00:10:33.459 the quotes sound outrageous. 00:10:34.279 --> 00:10:36.199 There's one example I have on him. 00:10:36.519 --> 00:10:38.319 I was chatting with him about someone in his church. 00:10:38.559 --> 00:10:39.259 And he responded, 00:10:39.720 --> 00:10:42.240 well, you know, there's only so much I can do. 00:10:42.839 --> 00:10:44.600 I'm already being nice to her, 00:10:44.659 --> 00:10:45.500 so she helps out. 00:10:46.679 --> 00:10:47.899 Now, I do need to stress 00:10:47.899 --> 00:10:50.159 that he was joking when he said that. 00:10:51.019 --> 00:10:51.699 But at the same time, 00:10:51.700 --> 00:10:53.920 is that very different from how we act ourselves? 00:10:54.759 --> 00:10:56.259 Not necessarily just in church, 00:10:56.400 --> 00:10:57.540 though, altogether, 00:10:57.759 --> 00:10:58.580 if there are people here 00:10:58.580 --> 00:11:00.280 who are involved in choosing church rotas 00:11:00.280 --> 00:11:01.160 and all that sort of stuff, 00:11:01.640 --> 00:11:03.460 are we liable to that ourselves? 00:11:04.440 --> 00:11:07.480 But are there people who we generally talk with, 00:11:07.720 --> 00:11:08.680 do favors for, 00:11:08.720 --> 00:11:09.840 that we don't do for others? 00:11:10.379 --> 00:11:12.860 At least partially because we might be able 00:11:12.860 --> 00:11:14.620 to gain something from them. 00:11:14.620 --> 00:11:16.879 We might want something from them someday. 00:11:16.879 --> 00:11:18.799 Perhaps relatedly, 00:11:18.840 --> 00:11:19.939 are there people in our lives 00:11:19.939 --> 00:11:21.419 who we only talk with 00:11:21.419 --> 00:11:24.139 when we want something from them, 00:11:24.259 --> 00:11:26.200 when we think they might be useful to us? 00:11:27.340 --> 00:11:29.240 So maybe the people in verses 2 to 4 00:11:29.240 --> 00:11:30.659 show favoritism to the rich man 00:11:30.659 --> 00:11:32.279 because they think he might be useful to them. 00:11:32.740 --> 00:11:33.679 But either way, 00:11:33.740 --> 00:11:34.399 in our own lives, 00:11:34.439 --> 00:11:35.820 we need to be wary of that 00:11:35.820 --> 00:11:36.580 because, 00:11:36.779 --> 00:11:37.519 verse 1 again, 00:11:37.779 --> 00:11:40.200 believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ 00:11:40.200 --> 00:11:42.720 must not show favoritism. 00:11:42.720 --> 00:11:45.139 And in this case, 00:11:45.220 --> 00:11:46.920 James actually has some specific reasons 00:11:46.920 --> 00:11:48.019 in verses 6 and 7 00:11:48.019 --> 00:11:49.620 for why they shouldn't be showing favoritism 00:11:49.620 --> 00:11:51.600 to the rich of his day in particular. 00:11:52.080 --> 00:11:53.000 So in verses 6 and 7, 00:11:53.040 --> 00:11:54.420 he talks about their exploitation, 00:11:54.960 --> 00:11:55.800 their abuse, 00:11:56.040 --> 00:11:57.320 their abuse of the legal system, 00:11:57.440 --> 00:11:58.379 their blasphemy. 00:11:58.920 --> 00:11:59.840 He shows essentially, 00:12:00.000 --> 00:12:00.899 these are people who, 00:12:01.040 --> 00:12:02.660 if you're choosing to play favorites, 00:12:02.960 --> 00:12:04.240 these are the worst people 00:12:04.240 --> 00:12:05.560 to play favorites for. 00:12:06.440 --> 00:12:07.259 But interestingly, 00:12:07.360 --> 00:12:08.940 he doesn't lead with that argument. 00:12:09.759 --> 00:12:10.639 Look at verse 5. 00:12:11.580 --> 00:12:12.700 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters, 00:12:12.720 --> 00:12:15.320 has not God chosen those 00:12:15.320 --> 00:12:17.000 who are poor in the eyes of the world 00:12:17.000 --> 00:12:18.420 to be rich in faith 00:12:18.420 --> 00:12:20.160 and to inherit the kingdom 00:12:20.160 --> 00:12:22.139 he promised to those who love him? 00:12:23.279 --> 00:12:24.180 So before pointing out 00:12:24.180 --> 00:12:26.160 the earthly problems with favoritism, 00:12:26.259 --> 00:12:27.040 before pointing out 00:12:27.040 --> 00:12:28.320 the particular situation, 00:12:28.800 --> 00:12:29.980 he points us heavenward. 00:12:30.600 --> 00:12:31.300 In effect, he asks, 00:12:31.460 --> 00:12:33.540 well, what does God think about this? 00:12:34.440 --> 00:12:35.180 And what's the answer? 00:12:35.800 --> 00:12:37.360 Well, God has chosen those 00:12:37.360 --> 00:12:40.300 who are poor in the eyes of the world 00:12:40.299 --> 00:12:42.079 to be rich in faith 00:12:42.079 --> 00:12:43.679 and to inherit the kingdom. 00:12:45.019 --> 00:12:45.839 In a sense, 00:12:46.039 --> 00:12:46.759 James is saying here, 00:12:46.839 --> 00:12:48.939 okay, I see the rich and poor man 00:12:48.939 --> 00:12:49.579 and how you treat them. 00:12:49.659 --> 00:12:51.259 There is a wealth that matters, 00:12:51.859 --> 00:12:53.899 but it's not physical wealth 00:12:53.899 --> 00:12:55.679 because it's better to be rich 00:12:55.679 --> 00:12:57.359 in faith than in gold. 00:12:58.639 --> 00:12:59.479 And the apostle Peter 00:12:59.479 --> 00:13:00.279 actually makes this point 00:13:00.279 --> 00:13:00.919 quite explicitly 00:13:00.919 --> 00:13:02.120 in 1 Peter chapter 1. 00:13:02.179 --> 00:13:03.419 He says that his readers' faith 00:13:03.419 --> 00:13:05.439 is of more worth than gold, 00:13:05.440 --> 00:13:06.480 which even though 00:13:06.480 --> 00:13:08.000 it is refined by fire, 00:13:08.480 --> 00:13:10.340 still ultimately perishes. 00:13:11.500 --> 00:13:11.900 Meanwhile, 00:13:12.080 --> 00:13:13.520 the inheritance of God's children, 00:13:13.600 --> 00:13:13.980 he says, 00:13:14.080 --> 00:13:15.280 will never perish, 00:13:15.620 --> 00:13:16.680 spoil, or fade. 00:13:17.780 --> 00:13:19.060 So the primary reason 00:13:19.060 --> 00:13:20.340 not to show favoritism 00:13:20.340 --> 00:13:21.340 is not earthly 00:13:21.340 --> 00:13:22.300 or self-interested. 00:13:23.000 --> 00:13:24.540 It points towards God's choice, 00:13:24.660 --> 00:13:25.560 towards his children, 00:13:25.780 --> 00:13:27.040 those whom he loves 00:13:27.040 --> 00:13:28.640 and those who love him. 00:13:30.040 --> 00:13:31.460 But as we hear the word love, 00:13:31.540 --> 00:13:32.960 we might need to be a bit careful 00:13:32.960 --> 00:13:33.880 around that as well. 00:13:33.879 --> 00:13:36.159 So when we think of favoritism, 00:13:36.240 --> 00:13:37.320 we might be tempted to think, 00:13:37.460 --> 00:13:37.899 oh, you know, 00:13:38.039 --> 00:13:39.799 I don't show favoritism 00:13:39.799 --> 00:13:40.639 to this person. 00:13:40.799 --> 00:13:41.759 When I'm doing favors 00:13:41.759 --> 00:13:42.320 for that person 00:13:42.320 --> 00:13:43.059 or helping them out 00:13:43.059 --> 00:13:43.879 or becoming friends with them, 00:13:44.080 --> 00:13:44.960 that's not favoritism. 00:13:45.179 --> 00:13:46.919 That's just me showing them 00:13:46.919 --> 00:13:47.700 God's love. 00:13:49.200 --> 00:13:51.419 And James preempts us in that. 00:13:52.100 --> 00:13:52.919 Look at verse 8. 00:13:53.860 --> 00:13:56.259 If you really keep the royal law 00:13:56.259 --> 00:13:57.259 found in scripture, 00:13:57.700 --> 00:13:59.179 love your neighbor as yourself, 00:13:59.899 --> 00:14:01.200 you are doing right. 00:14:01.200 --> 00:14:02.500 Well, so far so good. 00:14:02.500 --> 00:14:05.220 But, verses 9 and 10, 00:14:06.360 --> 00:14:08.019 if you show favoritism, 00:14:08.500 --> 00:14:09.220 you sin 00:14:09.220 --> 00:14:11.100 and are convicted by the law 00:14:11.100 --> 00:14:12.259 as lawbreakers. 00:14:12.879 --> 00:14:14.639 For whoever keeps the whole law 00:14:14.639 --> 00:14:15.559 and yet stumbles 00:14:15.559 --> 00:14:17.139 at just one point 00:14:17.139 --> 00:14:19.100 is guilty of breaking 00:14:19.100 --> 00:14:20.139 all of it. 00:14:21.240 --> 00:14:23.419 So it's like James is saying here 00:14:23.419 --> 00:14:24.840 that favoritism 00:14:24.840 --> 00:14:26.519 and showing God's love 00:14:26.519 --> 00:14:27.159 towards someone 00:14:27.159 --> 00:14:29.019 can look very similar. 00:14:29.700 --> 00:14:30.120 In a sense, 00:14:30.220 --> 00:14:31.320 James isn't saying here, 00:14:31.320 --> 00:14:32.660 oh, the way you said 00:14:32.660 --> 00:14:33.220 to that man 00:14:33.220 --> 00:14:34.480 here's a fine seat for you, 00:14:34.540 --> 00:14:35.620 that's absolutely wrong. 00:14:36.320 --> 00:14:37.020 Now what he's pointed to 00:14:37.020 --> 00:14:37.700 is the contrast 00:14:37.700 --> 00:14:38.540 between the two. 00:14:38.860 --> 00:14:39.520 He's saying the way 00:14:39.520 --> 00:14:40.800 that you treated the man 00:14:40.800 --> 00:14:41.600 saying, oh, you know, 00:14:41.760 --> 00:14:42.879 sit here, this is great, 00:14:43.000 --> 00:14:44.120 like, I want to treat you 00:14:44.120 --> 00:14:44.700 really well. 00:14:45.240 --> 00:14:45.920 That's fine. 00:14:46.800 --> 00:14:47.820 But it's the contrast 00:14:47.820 --> 00:14:48.720 then with what they treat, 00:14:48.840 --> 00:14:49.900 how they treat the poor man 00:14:49.900 --> 00:14:50.540 in terms of the, 00:14:50.800 --> 00:14:51.879 no, you stand over there, 00:14:51.920 --> 00:14:52.600 you sit at the floor 00:14:52.600 --> 00:14:53.180 by my feet. 00:14:53.960 --> 00:14:54.860 That's the distinction 00:14:54.860 --> 00:14:56.940 between what love is 00:14:56.940 --> 00:14:58.820 and what favoritism 00:14:58.820 --> 00:14:59.580 looks like. 00:14:59.760 --> 00:15:01.120 And we need to examine 00:15:01.120 --> 00:15:02.780 our motives properly. 00:15:03.800 --> 00:15:04.840 So if there are some people 00:15:04.840 --> 00:15:06.560 to whom we find it much easier 00:15:06.560 --> 00:15:07.840 to show God's love 00:15:07.840 --> 00:15:08.320 than others, 00:15:08.900 --> 00:15:09.600 we need to understand 00:15:09.600 --> 00:15:10.780 why is that? 00:15:11.480 --> 00:15:12.920 In the context of God's love 00:15:12.920 --> 00:15:13.640 for the poor, 00:15:13.780 --> 00:15:14.240 the weak, 00:15:14.340 --> 00:15:15.060 the outcast, 00:15:15.100 --> 00:15:16.160 in the context of the church 00:15:16.160 --> 00:15:16.740 specifically, 00:15:16.820 --> 00:15:17.900 if he invites people 00:15:17.900 --> 00:15:18.720 into his family, 00:15:19.400 --> 00:15:20.780 how can we insult 00:15:20.780 --> 00:15:22.360 or dishonor them? 00:15:22.360 --> 00:15:23.960 As verse 6 puts it, 00:15:24.000 --> 00:15:25.220 you have dishonored 00:15:25.220 --> 00:15:26.139 the poor. 00:15:27.399 --> 00:15:28.740 If we do treat people 00:15:28.740 --> 00:15:29.680 differently in that way, 00:15:29.700 --> 00:15:30.500 then it might show 00:15:30.500 --> 00:15:31.600 something important 00:15:31.600 --> 00:15:32.800 about our hearts. 00:15:34.120 --> 00:15:36.240 So verse 1 starts out 00:15:36.240 --> 00:15:37.480 by talking about believers 00:15:37.480 --> 00:15:38.379 in our glorious 00:15:38.379 --> 00:15:39.279 Lord Jesus Christ. 00:15:39.399 --> 00:15:40.740 Now, hopefully, 00:15:40.919 --> 00:15:42.580 no big surprises here. 00:15:43.180 --> 00:15:44.800 James expects his readers 00:15:44.800 --> 00:15:46.000 to love Jesus. 00:15:46.360 --> 00:15:47.779 He expects us to love him. 00:15:47.899 --> 00:15:48.940 He expects us to really 00:15:48.940 --> 00:15:49.940 love his glory 00:15:49.940 --> 00:15:50.740 and who he is 00:15:50.740 --> 00:15:51.220 as a person 00:15:51.220 --> 00:15:52.000 and what he has done. 00:15:52.360 --> 00:15:53.659 We're supposed to love 00:15:53.659 --> 00:15:54.300 his glory. 00:15:55.320 --> 00:15:56.139 But there are different 00:15:56.139 --> 00:15:57.240 kinds of love 00:15:57.240 --> 00:15:58.560 and different kinds 00:15:58.560 --> 00:15:59.300 of glory, 00:15:59.539 --> 00:16:00.000 aren't there? 00:16:01.019 --> 00:16:01.720 There's sort of 00:16:01.720 --> 00:16:03.360 loving a good burger 00:16:03.360 --> 00:16:04.440 or a good meal 00:16:04.440 --> 00:16:05.100 of any sort. 00:16:05.800 --> 00:16:07.340 There's loving your parents, 00:16:07.500 --> 00:16:08.300 loving your children, 00:16:09.120 --> 00:16:10.180 loving a significant other. 00:16:10.259 --> 00:16:11.620 They're all very different. 00:16:12.779 --> 00:16:14.180 And then there's a difference 00:16:14.180 --> 00:16:15.779 between glory of God 00:16:15.779 --> 00:16:18.019 and the glory of man. 00:16:19.519 --> 00:16:20.420 And this is something 00:16:20.420 --> 00:16:21.180 that I think Alex 00:16:21.180 --> 00:16:22.320 was mentioning earlier. 00:16:22.360 --> 00:16:22.659 himself. 00:16:22.720 --> 00:16:22.960 He says, 00:16:23.039 --> 00:16:23.740 it's so easy 00:16:23.740 --> 00:16:24.379 for our eyes 00:16:24.379 --> 00:16:25.300 to get distracted, 00:16:25.820 --> 00:16:26.980 but we want to fix 00:16:26.980 --> 00:16:27.820 our eyes on Jesus. 00:16:28.399 --> 00:16:29.659 It's oh so easy 00:16:29.659 --> 00:16:30.100 as well 00:16:30.100 --> 00:16:30.860 for our hearts 00:16:30.860 --> 00:16:31.740 to get turned 00:16:31.740 --> 00:16:32.360 and twisted 00:16:32.360 --> 00:16:33.620 so that we focus 00:16:33.620 --> 00:16:34.800 on the glory of man. 00:16:35.440 --> 00:16:36.180 And that could be, 00:16:36.279 --> 00:16:36.600 in this case, 00:16:36.659 --> 00:16:37.860 like the glory of wealth 00:16:37.860 --> 00:16:38.779 as it is in this passage. 00:16:39.440 --> 00:16:40.620 Man's gold ring, 00:16:40.779 --> 00:16:41.720 fine clothes. 00:16:42.139 --> 00:16:42.940 Maybe for us today 00:16:42.940 --> 00:16:43.340 it would be 00:16:43.340 --> 00:16:44.019 a car, 00:16:44.220 --> 00:16:44.879 a house, 00:16:45.320 --> 00:16:45.980 a salary. 00:16:47.060 --> 00:16:47.440 It could be 00:16:47.440 --> 00:16:48.820 the glory of celebrity 00:16:48.820 --> 00:16:50.100 being thought of 00:16:50.100 --> 00:16:51.120 as really important. 00:16:51.120 --> 00:16:51.940 It could be 00:16:51.940 --> 00:16:53.419 the glory of charisma, 00:16:53.700 --> 00:16:54.560 so being instantly 00:16:54.560 --> 00:16:55.379 liked by everyone, 00:16:55.460 --> 00:16:56.639 the glory of intelligence. 00:16:57.000 --> 00:16:57.659 Oh, that person 00:16:57.659 --> 00:16:59.039 seems to know everything. 00:17:00.200 --> 00:17:01.340 And as we start 00:17:01.340 --> 00:17:02.700 looking towards 00:17:02.700 --> 00:17:03.159 those people, 00:17:03.220 --> 00:17:03.740 as we start 00:17:03.740 --> 00:17:04.759 turning our hearts 00:17:04.759 --> 00:17:06.160 towards that type 00:17:06.160 --> 00:17:06.680 of glory, 00:17:07.140 --> 00:17:08.039 we find ourselves 00:17:08.039 --> 00:17:08.980 turning away 00:17:08.980 --> 00:17:10.099 from the glory 00:17:10.099 --> 00:17:11.420 of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:17:11.420 --> 00:17:13.200 Look at the end 00:17:13.200 --> 00:17:14.100 of chapter 1 with me, 00:17:14.259 --> 00:17:15.539 right before the start 00:17:15.539 --> 00:17:16.279 of this passage. 00:17:16.600 --> 00:17:17.660 So James chapter 1, 00:17:17.720 --> 00:17:18.640 verse 27. 00:17:20.640 --> 00:17:21.080 Religion 00:17:21.080 --> 00:17:22.940 that God our Father 00:17:22.940 --> 00:17:24.160 accepts as pure 00:17:24.160 --> 00:17:25.160 and faultless 00:17:25.160 --> 00:17:25.980 is this, 00:17:26.779 --> 00:17:27.560 to look after 00:17:27.560 --> 00:17:28.460 orphans and widows 00:17:28.460 --> 00:17:29.060 in their distress 00:17:29.060 --> 00:17:30.660 and to keep oneself 00:17:30.660 --> 00:17:31.759 from being polluted 00:17:31.759 --> 00:17:33.000 by the world. 00:17:34.039 --> 00:17:35.060 What God considers 00:17:35.060 --> 00:17:36.140 as pure and faultless, 00:17:36.600 --> 00:17:37.759 looking after orphans 00:17:37.759 --> 00:17:38.180 and widows 00:17:38.180 --> 00:17:38.900 in their distress. 00:17:39.240 --> 00:17:40.060 Orphans and widows, 00:17:40.059 --> 00:17:41.299 shorthand 00:17:41.299 --> 00:17:42.720 for the very types 00:17:42.720 --> 00:17:43.259 of people 00:17:43.259 --> 00:17:45.319 who can give us 00:17:45.319 --> 00:17:46.159 nothing. 00:17:47.480 --> 00:17:48.740 Who have nothing 00:17:48.740 --> 00:17:49.359 to give us. 00:17:49.399 --> 00:17:50.639 Who have no glory 00:17:50.639 --> 00:17:51.259 to show, 00:17:51.379 --> 00:17:51.839 as it were. 00:17:52.859 --> 00:17:53.720 And in our passage, 00:17:53.819 --> 00:17:54.659 that's the poor man. 00:17:55.720 --> 00:17:56.720 What about in our lives? 00:17:58.279 --> 00:17:59.200 I need to ask myself, 00:17:59.379 --> 00:18:00.859 when was the last time 00:18:00.859 --> 00:18:02.139 someone received 00:18:02.139 --> 00:18:02.919 my love, 00:18:03.399 --> 00:18:04.039 my care, 00:18:04.759 --> 00:18:06.039 who seemed utterly 00:18:06.039 --> 00:18:07.299 unrewarding 00:18:07.299 --> 00:18:08.859 in every way? 00:18:10.059 --> 00:18:11.319 And as I ask myself that, 00:18:11.700 --> 00:18:12.720 I'll pass on the question 00:18:12.720 --> 00:18:13.419 to you as well. 00:18:13.519 --> 00:18:14.339 When was the last time 00:18:14.339 --> 00:18:15.279 someone received 00:18:15.279 --> 00:18:16.119 your love 00:18:16.119 --> 00:18:17.679 who seemed utterly 00:18:17.679 --> 00:18:18.879 unrewarding 00:18:18.879 --> 00:18:20.099 in every way? 00:18:20.099 --> 00:18:24.519 This chat about 00:18:24.519 --> 00:18:25.139 favoritism 00:18:25.139 --> 00:18:27.059 is no small thing. 00:18:27.240 --> 00:18:27.899 You can kind of tell 00:18:27.899 --> 00:18:28.459 that from how we're 00:18:28.459 --> 00:18:29.099 covering the passage 00:18:29.099 --> 00:18:29.619 in general. 00:18:29.959 --> 00:18:30.839 But also look at 00:18:30.839 --> 00:18:32.079 verses 11 and 12. 00:18:32.859 --> 00:18:33.579 He who said 00:18:33.579 --> 00:18:34.139 you shall not 00:18:34.139 --> 00:18:34.919 commit adultery 00:18:34.919 --> 00:18:35.500 also said 00:18:35.500 --> 00:18:36.000 you shall not 00:18:36.000 --> 00:18:36.439 murder. 00:18:36.439 --> 00:18:37.199 If you do 00:18:37.199 --> 00:18:38.399 not commit adultery 00:18:38.399 --> 00:18:39.399 but do commit murder, 00:18:39.719 --> 00:18:40.419 you have become 00:18:40.419 --> 00:18:41.879 a lawbreaker. 00:18:42.539 --> 00:18:42.740 Sorry, 00:18:42.819 --> 00:18:43.179 I meant to say 00:18:43.179 --> 00:18:43.639 verse 11. 00:18:43.740 --> 00:18:44.079 Verse 12 00:18:44.079 --> 00:18:44.579 we'll come on to 00:18:44.579 --> 00:18:45.179 a little bit later. 00:18:45.579 --> 00:18:46.139 But adultery 00:18:46.139 --> 00:18:46.799 and murder, 00:18:46.919 --> 00:18:47.059 okay, 00:18:47.059 --> 00:18:47.299 well, 00:18:47.980 --> 00:18:48.480 those are things 00:18:48.480 --> 00:18:49.480 we see as pretty 00:18:49.480 --> 00:18:50.960 serious crimes, 00:18:51.079 --> 00:18:51.299 right? 00:18:52.119 --> 00:18:52.980 Possibly two of the 00:18:52.980 --> 00:18:53.740 most serious 00:18:53.740 --> 00:18:54.919 offenses possible. 00:18:55.480 --> 00:18:56.319 If you even go back 00:18:56.319 --> 00:18:57.899 to the Ten Commandments 00:18:57.899 --> 00:18:58.619 in the Old Testament, 00:18:59.339 --> 00:19:00.319 you have commandment 00:19:00.319 --> 00:19:01.099 number six 00:19:01.099 --> 00:19:01.720 and commandment 00:19:01.720 --> 00:19:02.559 number seven there, 00:19:02.619 --> 00:19:03.179 do not kill, 00:19:03.259 --> 00:19:04.179 do not commit adultery. 00:19:04.859 --> 00:19:05.919 They're on that list. 00:19:06.059 --> 00:19:07.059 So why does James 00:19:07.059 --> 00:19:07.980 bring those up here? 00:19:08.839 --> 00:19:09.079 Well, 00:19:09.139 --> 00:19:09.700 in part it might be 00:19:09.700 --> 00:19:10.359 to emphasize the 00:19:10.359 --> 00:19:11.200 seriousness of 00:19:11.200 --> 00:19:11.759 favoritism, 00:19:11.839 --> 00:19:12.039 right? 00:19:12.039 --> 00:19:13.059 When two things 00:19:13.059 --> 00:19:13.480 he brings up 00:19:13.480 --> 00:19:14.159 for comparison 00:19:14.159 --> 00:19:14.700 with it 00:19:14.700 --> 00:19:15.359 are two of the 00:19:15.359 --> 00:19:15.879 most serious 00:19:15.879 --> 00:19:16.700 offenses possible, 00:19:16.779 --> 00:19:17.240 then we can get 00:19:17.240 --> 00:19:17.680 the idea that 00:19:17.680 --> 00:19:18.659 favoritism is actually 00:19:18.659 --> 00:19:19.859 a serious matter too. 00:19:20.399 --> 00:19:21.019 Believers in our 00:19:21.019 --> 00:19:22.359 glorious Lord Jesus Christ 00:19:22.359 --> 00:19:23.399 must not murder, 00:19:23.599 --> 00:19:24.379 grand we know that, 00:19:24.599 --> 00:19:26.159 must not commit adultery, 00:19:26.299 --> 00:19:26.960 we know that, 00:19:27.259 --> 00:19:28.200 and verse one, 00:19:28.299 --> 00:19:29.159 must not show 00:19:29.159 --> 00:19:29.920 favoritism. 00:19:30.480 --> 00:19:31.440 It's that serious 00:19:31.440 --> 00:19:32.539 a crime against God. 00:19:33.539 --> 00:19:34.379 But it's also a crime 00:19:34.379 --> 00:19:35.460 against the unfavored. 00:19:36.460 --> 00:19:37.480 So if we take 00:19:37.480 --> 00:19:38.379 two people here, 00:19:38.399 --> 00:19:39.159 and I'll try not 00:19:39.159 --> 00:19:39.859 to start them 00:19:39.859 --> 00:19:40.680 with the same letter 00:19:40.680 --> 00:19:41.279 so they won't get 00:19:41.279 --> 00:19:41.859 mixed up, 00:19:42.039 --> 00:19:44.000 let's take Adam 00:19:44.000 --> 00:19:45.619 and let's take Joe. 00:19:46.379 --> 00:19:47.700 Apologies if your name 00:19:47.700 --> 00:19:48.519 is Adam or Joe, 00:19:48.659 --> 00:19:49.259 by the way. 00:19:49.960 --> 00:19:51.700 So suppose Adam 00:19:51.700 --> 00:19:53.259 murdered Joe, 00:19:54.139 --> 00:19:55.940 but he didn't decide 00:19:55.940 --> 00:19:56.859 to try to get 00:19:56.859 --> 00:19:57.700 with Joe's wife. 00:19:58.519 --> 00:19:59.180 Would we say 00:19:59.180 --> 00:20:00.240 that Adam is guiltless? 00:20:01.079 --> 00:20:01.960 Obviously not. 00:20:02.420 --> 00:20:03.720 If Adam decided instead, 00:20:03.839 --> 00:20:03.960 you know, 00:20:04.000 --> 00:20:05.119 I'm not going to murder Joe, 00:20:05.359 --> 00:20:06.119 but I'm going to commit 00:20:06.119 --> 00:20:07.339 adultery with Joe's wife, 00:20:07.899 --> 00:20:08.819 we wouldn't call him 00:20:08.819 --> 00:20:09.420 guiltless again 00:20:09.420 --> 00:20:09.980 just because he's 00:20:09.980 --> 00:20:10.720 avoided murder 00:20:10.720 --> 00:20:11.240 this time, 00:20:11.240 --> 00:20:11.619 would we? 00:20:12.039 --> 00:20:13.299 In the same way, 00:20:13.339 --> 00:20:14.379 if we avoid both 00:20:14.379 --> 00:20:14.799 of those, 00:20:14.859 --> 00:20:15.680 but we still show 00:20:15.680 --> 00:20:16.460 favoritism, 00:20:16.960 --> 00:20:18.259 then the end of verse 11 00:20:18.259 --> 00:20:19.279 applies to us too. 00:20:19.420 --> 00:20:20.519 You have become 00:20:20.519 --> 00:20:21.819 a lawbreaker. 00:20:22.839 --> 00:20:23.960 And as verse 10 says, 00:20:24.159 --> 00:20:25.180 whoever keeps 00:20:25.180 --> 00:20:26.519 the whole law 00:20:26.519 --> 00:20:27.720 and yet stumbles 00:20:27.720 --> 00:20:29.180 at just one point 00:20:29.180 --> 00:20:30.460 is guilty 00:20:30.460 --> 00:20:31.159 of breaking 00:20:31.159 --> 00:20:32.159 all of it. 00:20:33.460 --> 00:20:33.819 Now, 00:20:33.980 --> 00:20:34.680 this is a verse, 00:20:34.779 --> 00:20:35.440 we're just coming out 00:20:35.440 --> 00:20:36.819 of our summer camp season. 00:20:36.940 --> 00:20:37.639 This is one of the verses 00:20:37.639 --> 00:20:38.480 that I tend to use 00:20:38.480 --> 00:20:39.180 when talking about 00:20:39.180 --> 00:20:40.180 the gospel with children, 00:20:40.180 --> 00:20:41.180 sort of eight to twelve 00:20:41.180 --> 00:20:41.539 year olds 00:20:41.539 --> 00:20:42.080 or thereabouts, 00:20:42.580 --> 00:20:43.740 as part of explaining 00:20:43.740 --> 00:20:45.060 what the gospel is. 00:20:45.440 --> 00:20:46.120 Because in order to get 00:20:46.120 --> 00:20:47.140 the good news of the gospel, 00:20:47.259 --> 00:20:48.200 you need to understand 00:20:48.200 --> 00:20:49.480 where we start off. 00:20:49.820 --> 00:20:50.580 We start off 00:20:50.580 --> 00:20:51.539 in a bad relationship 00:20:51.539 --> 00:20:51.920 with God 00:20:51.920 --> 00:20:52.799 because of the sin 00:20:52.799 --> 00:20:53.720 in our lives. 00:20:54.060 --> 00:20:55.100 So I will say to them, 00:20:55.160 --> 00:20:55.740 for example, 00:20:56.120 --> 00:20:56.940 Romans chapter 6, 00:20:56.980 --> 00:20:57.620 verse 23, 00:20:57.759 --> 00:20:58.799 the wages of sin 00:20:58.799 --> 00:20:59.560 is death. 00:21:00.039 --> 00:21:00.720 James chapter 2, 00:21:00.779 --> 00:21:01.140 verse 10, 00:21:01.180 --> 00:21:02.539 as we have in this passage here, 00:21:02.960 --> 00:21:04.600 if you keep the whole law 00:21:04.600 --> 00:21:05.320 and yet stumble 00:21:05.320 --> 00:21:06.600 at just one point, 00:21:07.039 --> 00:21:07.640 you are guilty 00:21:07.640 --> 00:21:08.960 of breaking all of it. 00:21:09.400 --> 00:21:10.420 Or Romans chapter 3, 00:21:10.480 --> 00:21:10.960 verse 23, 00:21:11.100 --> 00:21:11.960 all have sinned 00:21:11.960 --> 00:21:12.740 and fall short 00:21:12.740 --> 00:21:14.040 of the glory of God. 00:21:15.120 --> 00:21:15.820 But one question 00:21:15.820 --> 00:21:17.120 I got at a camp recently 00:21:17.120 --> 00:21:17.420 was, 00:21:18.120 --> 00:21:20.400 what is the glory of God? 00:21:20.980 --> 00:21:22.040 What's glory, 00:21:22.140 --> 00:21:23.380 what's the glory like? 00:21:23.480 --> 00:21:24.340 What does it look like? 00:21:25.420 --> 00:21:27.040 As verse 1 tells us, 00:21:27.600 --> 00:21:28.360 we see it 00:21:28.360 --> 00:21:29.900 in our glorious 00:21:29.900 --> 00:21:31.400 Lord Jesus Christ. 00:21:32.660 --> 00:21:33.259 If we think about 00:21:33.259 --> 00:21:34.400 what Jesus did, 00:21:34.920 --> 00:21:35.720 what did he do? 00:21:35.720 --> 00:21:38.200 Did he show favoritism? 00:21:39.100 --> 00:21:40.120 Did he effectively say, 00:21:40.360 --> 00:21:40.799 oh, you know, 00:21:40.960 --> 00:21:42.600 these people are useful to me, 00:21:42.680 --> 00:21:43.799 I'll pick these people out, 00:21:44.000 --> 00:21:45.000 those people are not, 00:21:45.079 --> 00:21:46.200 we'll send those people away. 00:21:47.279 --> 00:21:48.100 Well, if he had, 00:21:48.160 --> 00:21:48.819 we'd all be doomed, 00:21:48.940 --> 00:21:49.279 wouldn't we? 00:21:49.940 --> 00:21:51.140 There would be no gospel, 00:21:51.279 --> 00:21:52.620 there would be no good news 00:21:52.620 --> 00:21:53.960 because all have sinned 00:21:53.960 --> 00:21:54.720 and fall short 00:21:54.720 --> 00:21:55.400 of his glory. 00:21:56.600 --> 00:21:58.140 Jesus could not benefit 00:21:58.140 --> 00:21:59.860 from showing us mercy. 00:22:00.860 --> 00:22:01.240 In fact, 00:22:01.299 --> 00:22:02.339 that mercy came 00:22:02.339 --> 00:22:03.500 at a great cost 00:22:03.500 --> 00:22:04.799 to him on the cross. 00:22:04.799 --> 00:22:06.200 So if he were solely 00:22:06.200 --> 00:22:06.819 interested in this 00:22:06.819 --> 00:22:08.680 dispassionate kind of justice, 00:22:09.240 --> 00:22:11.180 then he could have judged us 00:22:11.180 --> 00:22:12.339 without mercy. 00:22:13.220 --> 00:22:14.200 He could have judged us 00:22:14.200 --> 00:22:14.740 under the law 00:22:14.740 --> 00:22:15.899 that brings death. 00:22:16.039 --> 00:22:16.799 The law which says, 00:22:16.899 --> 00:22:17.039 you know, 00:22:17.259 --> 00:22:18.460 here's your life's work, 00:22:19.019 --> 00:22:19.940 here's your sin, 00:22:20.579 --> 00:22:21.220 and the salary 00:22:21.220 --> 00:22:22.740 that you deserve for this. 00:22:23.200 --> 00:22:24.220 The salary you receive 00:22:24.220 --> 00:22:25.039 at the end of the month, 00:22:25.119 --> 00:22:25.500 in this case, 00:22:25.539 --> 00:22:26.339 at the end of your life, 00:22:26.700 --> 00:22:27.539 is death. 00:22:28.539 --> 00:22:29.940 He could have discarded us, 00:22:29.980 --> 00:22:30.940 he could have thrown us away. 00:22:30.940 --> 00:22:32.240 Or, 00:22:32.400 --> 00:22:32.960 he could have said, 00:22:33.059 --> 00:22:33.600 you know what, 00:22:34.100 --> 00:22:35.279 clean yourselves up. 00:22:36.059 --> 00:22:37.900 Make yourselves rich in faith. 00:22:38.220 --> 00:22:39.880 Make yourself useful to me. 00:22:40.360 --> 00:22:41.940 Then I'll do something for you. 00:22:42.779 --> 00:22:44.660 Then I might show favor to you. 00:22:45.900 --> 00:22:46.320 Instead, 00:22:46.480 --> 00:22:47.680 the very hands 00:22:47.680 --> 00:22:49.140 that could discard us 00:22:49.140 --> 00:22:51.340 are pierced with nails, 00:22:52.140 --> 00:22:53.539 driven into the crossbeam 00:22:53.539 --> 00:22:54.860 for his crucifixion. 00:22:54.859 --> 00:22:57.539 And what impact does that have 00:22:57.539 --> 00:22:58.799 on how our passage ends? 00:23:00.179 --> 00:23:00.359 Well, 00:23:00.399 --> 00:23:01.339 from verse 12 onwards, 00:23:01.519 --> 00:23:03.699 we're to speak and act 00:23:03.699 --> 00:23:05.219 as those who are going to be judged 00:23:05.219 --> 00:23:06.019 by the law 00:23:06.019 --> 00:23:08.240 that gives freedom. 00:23:09.359 --> 00:23:10.379 Not justice, 00:23:11.119 --> 00:23:11.799 not punishment, 00:23:12.579 --> 00:23:13.439 but freedom. 00:23:15.199 --> 00:23:15.939 But reading on, 00:23:16.219 --> 00:23:17.979 judgment without mercy 00:23:17.979 --> 00:23:19.559 will be shown to anyone 00:23:19.559 --> 00:23:21.359 who has not been merciful. 00:23:22.659 --> 00:23:22.859 Well, 00:23:22.979 --> 00:23:23.859 what is mercy? 00:23:23.859 --> 00:23:24.859 Not showing compassion 00:23:25.500 --> 00:23:26.279 or forgiveness 00:23:26.279 --> 00:23:26.939 to someone 00:23:26.939 --> 00:23:28.599 whom it's within your power 00:23:28.599 --> 00:23:29.399 to harm. 00:23:29.659 --> 00:23:30.699 To harm through favoritism 00:23:30.699 --> 00:23:32.399 or in any other number of ways. 00:23:32.859 --> 00:23:33.319 And that idea 00:23:33.319 --> 00:23:34.259 of judgment without mercy 00:23:34.259 --> 00:23:35.919 will be shown to anyone 00:23:35.919 --> 00:23:36.859 who has not been merciful. 00:23:37.439 --> 00:23:39.740 That can annoy us sometimes. 00:23:39.879 --> 00:23:40.579 That can make us go, 00:23:40.639 --> 00:23:40.779 oh, 00:23:40.859 --> 00:23:43.000 that seems off somehow. 00:23:43.879 --> 00:23:45.000 But if we even think about 00:23:45.000 --> 00:23:46.059 the Lord's Prayer 00:23:46.059 --> 00:23:47.219 and what's said in that, 00:23:48.039 --> 00:23:49.199 forgive us our sins 00:23:49.199 --> 00:23:51.119 as we forgive those 00:23:51.119 --> 00:23:52.219 who sin against us. 00:23:52.220 --> 00:23:54.100 So if we're praying that prayer 00:23:54.100 --> 00:23:56.220 and we are not forgiving others, 00:23:56.279 --> 00:23:57.420 if we are not showing mercy 00:23:57.420 --> 00:23:57.880 to others, 00:23:58.019 --> 00:23:59.480 we are asking God 00:23:59.480 --> 00:24:01.059 not to show mercy to us. 00:24:01.140 --> 00:24:02.100 That's the literal way 00:24:02.100 --> 00:24:03.180 what we're saying. 00:24:03.740 --> 00:24:04.140 Similarly, 00:24:04.259 --> 00:24:04.920 there's a parable 00:24:04.920 --> 00:24:05.559 Jesus gives 00:24:05.559 --> 00:24:06.680 of a man 00:24:06.680 --> 00:24:08.220 who owes a massive debt 00:24:08.220 --> 00:24:09.019 to a ruler 00:24:09.019 --> 00:24:10.839 and he begs the ruler 00:24:10.839 --> 00:24:11.279 for that debt 00:24:11.279 --> 00:24:11.779 to be cancelled 00:24:11.779 --> 00:24:12.700 and it is cancelled. 00:24:13.680 --> 00:24:14.819 And then that same man 00:24:14.819 --> 00:24:15.660 goes out into the street 00:24:15.660 --> 00:24:16.140 and says, 00:24:16.279 --> 00:24:16.480 oh, 00:24:16.559 --> 00:24:17.279 you owe me 00:24:17.279 --> 00:24:18.519 a small amount of money. 00:24:18.579 --> 00:24:19.200 I'm going to put you 00:24:19.200 --> 00:24:20.160 in prison over that. 00:24:21.160 --> 00:24:21.799 And what happens? 00:24:21.940 --> 00:24:22.079 Well, 00:24:22.299 --> 00:24:22.660 ultimately, 00:24:22.799 --> 00:24:23.480 word of that reaches 00:24:23.480 --> 00:24:23.980 the ruler 00:24:23.980 --> 00:24:24.759 and he says, 00:24:24.859 --> 00:24:25.019 no, 00:24:25.099 --> 00:24:26.299 you cannot do that. 00:24:26.460 --> 00:24:28.259 You are not going to benefit. 00:24:28.400 --> 00:24:29.099 You will be judged 00:24:29.099 --> 00:24:29.819 without mercy. 00:24:29.980 --> 00:24:30.839 You have not shown 00:24:30.839 --> 00:24:31.980 the same mercy 00:24:31.980 --> 00:24:33.139 that has been shown to you. 00:24:34.700 --> 00:24:35.119 And yet, 00:24:35.160 --> 00:24:35.960 at the end here, 00:24:36.059 --> 00:24:37.160 we have that mercy 00:24:37.160 --> 00:24:39.059 triumphs over judgment. 00:24:40.319 --> 00:24:41.039 And we can see that 00:24:41.039 --> 00:24:42.200 most clearly on the cross 00:24:42.200 --> 00:24:42.759 where we, 00:24:43.039 --> 00:24:44.059 the undeserving, 00:24:44.440 --> 00:24:45.559 can find compassion, 00:24:46.240 --> 00:24:46.680 forgiveness, 00:24:46.680 --> 00:24:48.200 and freedom 00:24:48.200 --> 00:24:48.880 from the sin 00:24:48.880 --> 00:24:49.840 that enslaved us. 00:24:51.460 --> 00:24:51.680 Now, 00:24:51.740 --> 00:24:52.580 when we go to meet 00:24:52.580 --> 00:24:54.000 our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, 00:24:54.120 --> 00:24:55.100 either when we die 00:24:55.100 --> 00:24:55.799 or when this world 00:24:55.799 --> 00:24:56.620 comes to an end, 00:24:56.980 --> 00:24:58.200 we will not be 00:24:58.200 --> 00:24:59.180 shouting at him, 00:24:59.340 --> 00:25:00.420 clamoring towards him 00:25:00.420 --> 00:25:00.680 and saying, 00:25:00.799 --> 00:25:01.740 give us justice, 00:25:01.980 --> 00:25:02.860 give us justice, 00:25:03.120 --> 00:25:03.900 give us judgment. 00:25:05.340 --> 00:25:06.400 We'll be crying out to him 00:25:06.400 --> 00:25:06.920 for love 00:25:06.920 --> 00:25:07.680 and for mercy. 00:25:09.100 --> 00:25:09.920 His mercy 00:25:09.920 --> 00:25:11.660 triumphs over judgment 00:25:11.660 --> 00:25:12.759 and we are to show 00:25:12.759 --> 00:25:13.820 that same love 00:25:13.820 --> 00:25:14.960 and mercy to others. 00:25:16.680 --> 00:25:17.420 As I close, 00:25:17.480 --> 00:25:18.340 I want to read to you 00:25:18.340 --> 00:25:19.279 two verses of the song 00:25:19.279 --> 00:25:19.960 that we're going to sing 00:25:19.960 --> 00:25:20.980 in a couple of minutes together, 00:25:21.080 --> 00:25:22.340 which I think sums up 00:25:22.340 --> 00:25:23.220 quite a lot of this, 00:25:23.299 --> 00:25:24.100 quite poetically. 00:25:26.460 --> 00:25:27.480 Starting by talking 00:25:27.480 --> 00:25:28.740 about our own situation, 00:25:28.960 --> 00:25:29.519 individually, 00:25:29.799 --> 00:25:30.620 before the cross. 00:25:31.080 --> 00:25:31.799 It says, 00:25:32.039 --> 00:25:33.600 Beneath the cross of Jesus, 00:25:34.120 --> 00:25:36.299 I find a place to stand 00:25:36.299 --> 00:25:38.560 and wonder at such mercy 00:25:38.560 --> 00:25:40.440 that calls me as I am. 00:25:41.340 --> 00:25:43.660 For hands that should discard me 00:25:43.660 --> 00:25:45.700 hold wounds which tell me, 00:25:45.700 --> 00:25:48.840 come beneath the cross of Jesus, 00:25:49.160 --> 00:25:51.039 my unworthy soul is one. 00:25:52.580 --> 00:25:53.440 And then following on 00:25:53.440 --> 00:25:54.460 from that in response, 00:25:55.039 --> 00:25:55.620 we have, 00:25:55.799 --> 00:25:57.240 well, beneath the cross of Jesus, 00:25:58.019 --> 00:25:59.740 his family is my own. 00:26:00.400 --> 00:26:02.080 Once strangers chasing 00:26:02.080 --> 00:26:03.299 selfish dreams, 00:26:03.440 --> 00:26:05.319 now one through grace alone. 00:26:06.480 --> 00:26:08.600 How could I now dishonor 00:26:08.600 --> 00:26:10.440 the ones that you have loved? 00:26:11.539 --> 00:26:13.180 Beneath the cross of Jesus, 00:26:13.180 --> 00:26:15.880 see the children called by God. 00:26:17.019 --> 00:26:18.060 Let's pray together 00:26:18.060 --> 00:26:18.799 and then we'll sing. 00:26:24.380 --> 00:26:25.220 Heavenly Father, 00:26:25.320 --> 00:26:26.660 we thank you for your word. 00:26:27.299 --> 00:26:28.519 We thank you for how it speaks 00:26:28.519 --> 00:26:29.519 into our lives. 00:26:30.519 --> 00:26:32.100 We thank you that Jesus, 00:26:32.820 --> 00:26:34.740 even though we could not give him 00:26:34.740 --> 00:26:35.860 anything of value, 00:26:36.740 --> 00:26:38.060 came to die for us. 00:26:38.059 --> 00:26:40.919 We thank you for that sacrifice. 00:26:42.419 --> 00:26:43.980 We thank you that through that 00:26:43.980 --> 00:26:45.519 we can receive mercy 00:26:45.519 --> 00:26:46.779 instead of judgment. 00:26:47.700 --> 00:26:48.879 I pray that you will help us 00:26:48.879 --> 00:26:50.119 through our lives today 00:26:50.119 --> 00:26:51.359 and throughout the coming weeks, 00:26:51.500 --> 00:26:52.299 months and years. 00:26:52.700 --> 00:26:54.179 We pray that you will help us 00:26:54.179 --> 00:26:55.419 to live in such a way 00:26:55.419 --> 00:26:57.559 that reflects the mercy 00:26:57.559 --> 00:26:58.339 we've been shown, 00:26:58.440 --> 00:26:59.839 to show compassion to others, 00:27:00.480 --> 00:27:01.819 not to show favoritism. 00:27:03.079 --> 00:27:04.700 In Jesus' precious name we pray. 00:27:04.700 --> 00:27:05.700 Amen. 00:27:06.899 --> 00:27:07.500 Amen. 00:27:08.059 --> 00:27:08.579 Thank you. 00:27:08.940 --> 00:27:09.440 As I said, 00:27:09.500 --> 00:27:10.639 we're going to sing together now 00:27:10.639 --> 00:27:12.139 a song that you've heard 00:27:12.139 --> 00:27:12.919 two verses of. 00:27:13.079 --> 00:27:13.899 There's another verse out.