About

Call to worship: 1 Corinthians 1:26-31

Text: James 2:1-13

Summary:

James launches out in description of pure and undefiled religion before God our Father. As new creatures in Christ characterized by doing the Word of God, we're called to hold faith without a favoritism reflective of the world's value system. James offers three lynchpins: the faith that merges our thoughts with the mind of Christ (2:1-4), a grasp of election and effectual calling that emphasizes God's priorities in the creation of our heavenly assembly (2:5-7), and an accountability to the rule of our King and His Kingdom: love (2:8-13). Elevating and giving preference to one person over another on the basis of things that have no bearing on the worth of the person themselves is a sin that the Christian assembly will do well to put and keep away, particularly as we will be judged under the law of liberty and/or Christ and/or love and mercy. The merciless prove they haven't known mercy, nor will they be shown a mercy they've withheld; whereas the Christian, operating under a mercy that's spared us condemnation, will show a mercy that loves impartially.

Sermon Outline:

1. Gospel fidelity is a stronghold against sinful partiality. (2:1-4)
2. Doctrinal clarity is a stronghold against sinful partiality. (2:5-7)
3. Lawful accountability is a stronghold against sinful partiality. (2:8-13)

Prepare

Discussion Questions:

1. Read James 2:1-13.
2. Give some consideration to James' flow of thought in the letter so far. What are the connections? How does this latest passage (2:1-13) relate to what's just preceded?
3. Partiality is the problem being addressed. Why would that be a significant issue in the Christian church for James? What does this partiality involve? James calls us to show no partiality as we hold the faith. What's the stronghold against sinful partiality in 2:1-4? Meditate on the words of 2:4. How does the Gospel (2:1) combat these evil thoughts?
4. What particular doctrinal issue does James highlight in 2:5, 7? How would unconditional election and effectual calling act as a stronghold against sinful partiality? For help, read the passage designated for the call to worship. Who are those who will prove most profitable to the Christian in this world and the next?
5. What is the royal law? How many sins does it take to fail the entire system of divine moral law? Why is that the case (2:11)? What is it that holds the law together in this way? Why does James remind Christians of our former condemnation? Is there a judgment for the Christian? What is it to be judged 'under the law of liberty?' What's the relationship between mercy received, saving us from final judgment, and mercy shown, letting our judgment of each other now be rooted in love? What will mark a Christian and/or Christian assembly?