James 2:1, James wrote that Christian should not be a racist. No distinctions like poor and rich apply in Christ. Bible nowhere allows for distinctions among believers based on position, power, race, color, wealth, or popularity. Favoritism is a sinful, it is not a work from God, this is why James writes this chapter to rebuke it!
2:2-4, In James’ time, the early churches were brothers in Christ, but then there was discrimination on the poor. The problem was so serious James had to openly rebuke those rich. Like today, those live in luxury home and drives big cars, and spend money like water, they were the doctors and lawyer, powerful men and women on earth, well respected, with degrees and highly wanted jobs, some even called themselves Christians, pastors and preachers, and so even called themselves “elders,” but they look down to the poor and favor the rich. This is not new, and do not envy the rich!
One day a slave met an elder of a church, called Dr H, the slave thought he is a medical doctor, so the slave, told the doctor he is unwell, but the doctor just keep quite and smiles a bit. After the slave finished his talk to the doctor, the doctor explained to the slave, that he is not a medical doctor, he is just a teacher, and he has a doctorate in business administration! He cannot help the slave in his sickness. That is why he just smiles away! This elder runs a church like a company, and he is the CEO in the church! Church is like a business! Christian business runs for the rich and the learned. Do not envy, this is normal, because the CEO of the church is a doctor!
2:5, the world look for the powerful, the wise, those first level society, but what the Lord is looking for? Those poor in spirit, the poor is blessed, the kingdom of God is for them.
2:6, James said there were some bullies in the church, they are the rich, and they had bullied the poor in the church! I try to expound and expose this, the bullies may say publicly to the poor and their friends, “You think we can bully Mr. Poor? You think he can let us bully him, you think he is weak, you think he is not strong, you think he can be bullied, you think we can bullied him? No, no one can bully him. We are friend, we take care of each other, we are inter-dependant!” they proclaimed this in front of the public, but they talked wickedly behind the poor man and laughed in their heart, these rich bullies continue to oppress those poor men! It happened actually in public eyes, do not fool by the rich and the powerful, pray for a good government so that they will not oppress the poor. By the way, do not forget brothers in India, they needed the gospel and many prayers.
2:8-9, Love other as yourself, do not just love money and fulfills you own desire! Do not forget to fulfill the desire of poor! Love is a command from the King of kings. (Read Lev 19:15 KJV)
What young men have learned in the Bible College? Studying the scripture, to show that they are a servant approved, for a position or for a good name? What is the purpose of that study, a piece of paper? A degree? No, forbid that, what we must learn in a school is this, “learning, so that we may know how to learn…...” Learning until we may know how to “learn,” meaning is “do not stop learning, even after we had graduated from the school.” Pray for wisdom! Knowledge puffs up! Beware!
2:10, James said, since they were all sinner, James said, let some to mourn, the rich, let cry! In the end, our money rusted, do not grumble to one another, how about Job, he was suffering, at last he was comforted, and do not swear at all, do not swear for VPP, let pray about it, sing when you are merry, but remember we are all sinner, so admit we are sinners. We are sad, let pray. Life is hard, harder for the poor. We had breach the whole law, when we breach one small insignificant law, this small favoritism about the KJV and the rich!
2:12-13, Christians are merciful! You said sure and off course! Christian! Be merciful onto the poor!
2:14, Paul said, the just is justified by faith, so faith is an inward act, James said that faith is produced outwardly in works, so work is outward act, faith and work are connected! A new man is changed inwardly and outwardly!
2:19, there is one God, we believe, but we must work, works produced in speech and behavior, and helps to the poor, in believing God there are works. What is our work for the poor today? You are looking down the poor, the Chinese said, “3 feet up your head, there is God.” You believe or not?
2:20, faith motivates us for good works. How we speak to our friends and family last week? How we had spoken to our brothers in Christ about the perfect Bible, did we say something, which offended those who read the CUV, NKJV, NIV, ESV? How we control our tongue, we need wisdom!
2:21, Abraham’s work, proven his faith is genuine. What we had done for our church? Any sacrifices for the church, or the church sacrifice for us! Works follow regeneration! Should the whole church sacrifice for us, for our personal view about VPP, should the poor mourned because a perfect Bible?
2:24, faith must stand with work! Faith alone is not faith, but genuine faith must produce work! Where is that truth? The just shall live by faith, not by sight? James asked a question, “Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?” Yes or no?
Sermon Topic
1.Christian shall not has Favoritism.
2.Discrimination on the poor is wrong.
3.The poor in spirit and the kingdom of God.
4.Learning to learn
5.Do not swear at all?
6.Justified by faith.
7.Works follow regeneration
8.The rich is a blessed man
9.Tongue, blessing and cursing, the power!
10.A perfect man
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