James 1:26-2:13
If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this ones religion is useless. (27) Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
James 2:1
My brethen, do not hold the faith of our Lord of glory, with partiality. (2) For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, (3) and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there,” or, “Sit here at my footstool,” (4) have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? (5) Listen, my beloved brethen: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? (6) But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts? (7) Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are called? (8) If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well; (9) but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. (10) For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. (11) For He who said, “Do not commit aldultery, “also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. (12) So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. (13) For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
1. Controlled speech that displays a changed heart.
- The tongue is the test of true religion
2. Sacrificial care for those in need.
- They are helpless.
- We must be selfless.
3. Clear separation from the ways of the world
- We are captivated by the glory of Christ.
* We see His supremacy over the wealthy.
* We remember His sacrifice for the needy.
- We are overwhelmed by the grace of Christ.
*Christ reverses our status in this world.
*Christ transforms our standards in this world.
- We are devoted to the law of Christ.
*Favoritism disrespects man.
*Favoritism dishonors God Himself.
- We are aware of the judgment of Christ.
* Our words will be judged.
* Our deeds (or lack thereof) will be judged.