The Royal Law

6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?

7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?

8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:

9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

As I study further in the Epistle of James, I am so blessed.

He is so practical, and as I read this passage, I see several questions arising from it.

In verse 6 James says, do we despise or look down on the poor.

We can from our comfortable vantage point, look down with disdain to the poor instead of obeying scripture and helping them. In China, millions have been taken out of poverty by the government, you may say that this is their job, but in James 1, we are told that pure religion is to visit widows.. when was the last time you did that?

That is their job, but the church has a responsibility  to the poor and widows of its community Acts 6 and 1 Timothy 5

Verse 6 says, why do we put wealthy people on a pedestal, after all it is often they, that are the chief persecutors of the church. 

Verse 7 says they blaspheme and curse the good name of Christ, many Christians want to make friends with rich people, but this is a slippery slope.

The Royal law of God is God’s supreme law. Are you doing well, by loving your neighbour as yourself? Treating those around you, the same way you treat yourself.

Are you showing partiality? vs 9

Do you think better of rich people than of poor people see verses 1-5

The religious leaders of the day were meticulous in the keeping of the law, but if you fail in one small point, you are guilty of breaking it all. If we say, do not kill and then we steal, this means we are completely guilty?

Are we telling people it is wrong to steal and then we steal ourselves? see Romans 2

In verse 13 the question is asked.

Do we say something and do another?

Basically are we two faced?

Are we saying that swearing and lying are wrong and then are we doing them ?

These are all searching questions, we must all answer.

We need to look into the royal law and see if we are committing any of these sins and come to the foot of the cross in repentance.

God bless you

Keith

JAMES 2

1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;

3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:

4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?

5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

WHEN THE “SMELLIES” COME TO CHURCH

The epistle of James is probably one of the toughest to read in the New Testament, but it is also the most practical.

It provides insight on so many relevant things in our lives.

Here James gets very practical and touches on a subject that we don’t really like to admit happens in our churches…partiality.

Are we guilty of this sin?

Most of us commit this sin without realizing it.

… let me explain.

In our church in Nanjing, we used to have an old lady, who collects rubbish for a living, like many do in China.

She lives in a very old property and has to go to the public baths to wash.  We went to her home once, it would be bulldozed if this home was in the UK and called unfit to live in.. thankfully she moved to another city to be with her son in a good flat.

Every Sunday, she walks about 2 miles to church or is brought by her husband in a cart like vehicle.

We love this sister very much and she comes and sits right at the front, right under the nose of the preacher.

Would you go and shake her by the hand and welcome them in the name of the Lord? Or would you stick your nose in the air and talk to your little closed circle of friends?

Every time she came, I would get a great big hug off her, it meant so much.  We are told to greet each other with a holy kiss and to be kindly affectionate towards one another.

Why are we the complete opposite?

Many people come to faith, because they see the difference in our true Christian love and fellowship.

They will know we are Christians, by our doctrine, by our knowledge of the bible or by our fancy churches.?..NO!

They will know we are Christians:

BY OUR LOVE

We know this dear sister is so gracious, so loving.

She only has her Bible, no internet.

She just has Jesus.

The Lord is sick and tired of the attitude of the church towards those who are broken.

Our actions makes us a poor witness of the Lord’s love for all people.

God looks on the heart.

When Samuel was ordered by God to anoint a new king to replace Saul, Samuel looked on one of the older more handsome sons of Jesse, and said in his heart, “this is the Lord’s anointed.”

But God rebuked Samuel and said, “Do not look on this man because of his stature, for I have not chosen him.

Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

Verse 9, puts it into context, if you have respect of persons, whether in word or even in thought, you are in believer that is guilty of sin.

So I urge you, Let us love all our brethren and stop judging your fellow brethren. True Christian love sees past people’s appearance.. amen.

God bless you

Keith