← ArchiveJamesMercy TriumphsDateFebruary 9, 2020SpeakerDr Josh BurnhamTextJamesPassages in this sermonJames 20:30TranscriptMachine transcribed. Click any line to jump there.0:00Music Okay, James 2. Let's go.0:30James chapter 2. We've been working through the book of James, this new sermon series called Faith That Works. So our desire this year and going forward is that we conquer St. Clair County and the world for Jesus Christ. One gospel conversation at a time. And you might think, well, that's a pretty big task to conquer the world for Christ. One, we worship and we serve God not for victory, but from victory.0:56So God's already won the victory. So the conquering is already completed. Secondly, we are bold enough to believe that faith in Jesus Christ actually works. Because if it doesn't work, then what we're doing right now is foolishness. And I'm a pragmatist. Listen, if you can prove to me that Jesus Christ did not die on the cross and he didn't rise again, then let me know. But I have given my life and I will give my life if that's what it calls for.1:25Because I believe Jesus Christ is the way, he is the truth, and he is the life. So we boldly say this is our heart for St. Clair County and throughout the world. But we also know that we live in a broken world. This is not heaven. And researchers have capitalized on the fact that they also see our brokenness.1:49So because we live in a broken world, you and I live with broken, natural desires. So just because it's natural doesn't mean it's right. It's like saying if you have opinion doesn't mean you have to share it. So researchers have found that every single person in here, you judge people on the basis of what they look like or what they drive or their status.2:10Now, I know what you're thinking. You're thinking, not me. Y'all do, but I don't do that. I can see it on your face. So a recent poll asked people this question. Do you, or are you more likely to honk at a car if it's a high-priced sedan or a beater, a hooptie?2:36And almost every single person said, oh, I would surely honk. At the Mercedes, the Tesla. But I wouldn't honk at the El Camino. Not the refurbished El Camino, like the one, the rusty El Camino.3:03The Pinto. In 1868, two men, and let me read this out because I don't want to get it wrong. Doob and Gross were the researchers in California. They said, we're going to see if this is correct. They took turns driving cars to the intersection. And when the light turned green, they just stopped. They didn't go. And they took turns. One would drive a high-priced sedan and the other person would drive a hooptie.3:33And this is what they found. Stanford Research. The low-status car, let's call it the Pinto, was honked at 84% of the time after 12 seconds. Now, let me just say this for Doob and Gross and for you guys. If you want to try this out, if you stay at a green light for 12 seconds or more, if the only thing I do is honk at you, that's a good day.4:02I'm just being honest, right? So if you, if the light turns green and you don't go, it's not a good day. 84% of the time, after 12 seconds, 12 seconds, when they drove the high-priced sedan, let's call it the Tesla. They didn't have them in 1968. I get that. Let's just assume it's modern day. Only 50% of the time was that car honked at.4:30So here's what researchers tell you. That you and I have broken desires and our behaviors are determined by our understanding and our perception of others. Now, you can say, well, no, it's not. Yes, it is. That's what science says about you and me. Now, whether you admit it or not, your decisions are based upon a person's appearance, their title, their economic status, the color of their skin, or what they drive.4:56And again, you're saying, well, no, they aren't. Yes, they are. Yes, they are. And James is going to really dig deep into our hearts this morning, and he's going to say, this is not the way it should be. Because there's another way, and it's the gospel. You see, Jesus Christ changes our broken desires.5:27There is hope. The fact is, we are a factual product of our broken world. And you base your decisions based upon your broken desires. And that is where the gospel comes in. James 2. Again, let me put a caveat on what I explained earlier. Do not go to moody crossroads and sit at a green light.5:57It's not good for your health. But if you do, whether you are honked at or not is determined by what your vehicle looks like. And James is writing to the church, and the same thing is going on several thousands of years ago in the church. And James says this, brothers and sisters. So we know he's writing to Christians. Do not show favoritism as you hold on to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.6:28For if someone comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and a poor person dressed in filthy clothes comes in also. If you look with favor on the one wearing the fine clothes and say, sit here in the good place. And yet you say to the poor person, stand over there.6:55Or sit here on the floor by my footstool. Have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, brothers and sisters. Did not God choose the poor in this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? And yet, you have dishonored the poor.7:26Don't the rich oppress you and drag you into court? Don't they blaspheme the good name that was invoked over you? Indeed, if you fulfill the royal law prescribed in scripture, love your neighbor as yourself, you are doing well. If, however, you show favoritism. Now, is this important in your life? Listen to what the word of God calls favoritism. If you show favoritism, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.7:56For everyone who keeps the entire law and yet stumbles at one point is guilty of breaking it all. For he who said, do not commit adultery, also said, do not murder. So if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you are a lawbreaker. Speak and act as those who are to be judged by the law of freedom.8:25For if judgment is without mercy to the one who has not shown mercy. But listen to this, mercy triumphs over judgment. What is the answer to the broken world that we live in? To the broken desires that we judge people with? The gospel. And the gospel says this, mercy triumphs over judgment.8:52Which is the title of the message this morning. Let's pray. Father, we confess to you right now that, Lord, we really can't understand anything spiritually apart from your spirit illuminating our hearts and our minds. So we ask that you would fill our hearts, fill our minds with the glories of Calvary as we've sung.9:20Lord, that your spirit would convict us and change us. The same spirit that inspired your word, that you would help us interpret and grow and live and be changed. Father, where we have sinned, forgive us this morning. Where we live by broken desires.9:48Lord, forgive us. That this community of faith would be different because Jesus has changed us. Thank you that we have a faith that is bold and real. A faith that is not dead. Oh, Lord, do a work in our hearts right now in this local gathering of saints. Lord, we pray in Jesus' name. Amen.10:19Amen. And amen. The word of God is always personal. And James today gets personal. He's looking at your life and saying, look, you got problems, dude. And dudettes, brothers and sisters. Like, there is something going on that should not happen in your life. And we're about to do work in you today. That's exactly what James is bringing. He simply says, verse 1 of chapter 2. That's why I love James. Stop doing it.10:49James doesn't say, let me tell you a really nice story. Let's kind of work into this. He just says, brothers and sisters, do not show favoritism. We could end the service there. Like, don't do it. Just stop. What are you thinking? That's my words, not James. But that's the spirit. He's saying, look, this should not be. And he's writing to the brothers and sisters in the church because James understands that there's a problem going on in the people of God.11:16James wouldn't write this unless there was partiality, unless there was favoritism. And before we point fingers at the New Testament church and say, I can't believe y'all do that. We're more educated and we're evolved as a society. No, we're not. And so James is calling us to get off our high horse this morning and to look in the mirror and say, man, we are struggling today with this.11:46Do not show favoritism. The word favoritism literally means to look someone according to their face. Just looking someone in the face and judging them based on their face. Look, do not do that right now. Just look at me. Look straight ahead. But it's looking someone in the face and figuring out who they are and saying, I'm going to give you a certain seat.12:14I'm going to speak to you a certain way based on what you look like. And if we're honest, we still struggle with that right now in 2020. And James is getting personal in our life. It describes the essence. Favoritism describes the essence of judging someone based on their external appearance. Based on what they're wearing or what they're driving. It's something that we all do and it's universally something that we experience.12:45Raise your hand if you've ever been judged by your appearance or by something you wear or drive. Anyone? The rest of you are asleep or just not telling the truth. You know, I'm going to judge you right now so you can put your hand up. How about that? Okay. I hear every day of my life, did you know you look 15? And when I'm really ornery, I'll just say, I've never heard that before.13:17Thank you for being the first person in my life to share that. And then the Holy Spirit convicts me and I just have to say, Lord, please forgive me. And whatever it might be. The reality is we judge people based on what they look like. And James is saying that that's not the community of faith. It shouldn't be that way. And James is looking at a worship gathering and he sees something that is natural but appalling.13:47Two strangers walk into a worship gathering. And something different happens to each one. So let's look at these men or women. The first person walks into the worship gathering. And James says this. They come in and they're wearing a gold ring and they're dressed in fine clothes. Now this image would have been very specific to this context.14:13They would have understood that this man or woman was of the equestrian rank in Rome or the Roman Empire. To be an equestrian, you had to have 450 times the territory or the salary of a normal person in the Legion army. So let me put that in modern money. It would be like someone living in St. Clair County with an estimated worth around $20 million.14:38Pretty good. And they walk in and they're wearing a gold ring. And the word for the robes here is a specific Roman equestrian toga. Like they walk in wearing Prada or Gucci. And they're not just wearing any toga. It is that toga. And so the greeters look at them and are like, wow. Dude, we're about to make bank.15:09Hey, we have just a seat for you. And depends on the church, they give them the prime real estate. It could have been the front pew. The Baptist church would have been the back pew. But the context is very clear, isn't it? You sit here because you're rich. Is there anything you need? Water, tea, coffee? But that wasn't the only person who walked in that day.15:39Someone else walks in in verse 2. And this person is poor. The word James uses here is a specific Greek word. It's not just, well, bless their heart, poor. It's a word that means completely destitute. And so destitute, they have no worth. And their clothes are filthy. And so this filthy person comes in.16:11And the people at the door say, you're new. But we can't put you by the equestrian. Hey, see that corner right there? The sound's really good. Like the sound of the speakers, they all focus there. Sit in that corner. Or if there's not room there, why don't you sit on the floor? And based upon what they look like,16:39they are given a seat of dishonor. And I believe James is writing and urging the church. He said, listen, I know that's the way they do it at the YMCA. And I know that's what they do at the country club. And I know what they do in the marketplace. But that's not what it should look like in the community of faith. James says,17:09James says, I believe he's writing with tears. He's saying, haven't you made distinctions? It shouldn't be that way. These are broken desires. Church, wake up. This is not what God wants. And on one hand, James is very clear to us. You can't help it. James doesn't say, well, just ignore the gold ring. Ignore the toga. Ignore the filthy clothes. That's unrealistic.17:39That's unrealistic. But what James is saying to us, he's saying, look deeper than that. Look at someone like God sees them. Look past the clothes. Look past the rings. Be like God when he looked upon David. When Samuel goes and he's looking for the next king and Samuel says, man, that brother, he's tall and he's strong. That's it. And God says, nope. Man, that one, he's also tall. And he's like, nope. That one,18:09That one, he's tall. Nope. That one, nope. And Samuel's like, is there anyone else? Jesse? Come on. Oh, there is a little guy. He's watching the sheep, but surely not. And this is what the Lord tells Samuel. Verse Samuel 16. The Lord said to Samuel, do not look at his appearance or his stature because I've rejected him. This is talking about Saul and paving the way for David.18:39Humans do not see as the Lord sees. For humans see what is visible, but God sees, the Lord sees the heart. You see, it would be foolish for me to look at you and to say, well, you know, just ignore everything about a person. You can't do that because you have broken natural desires. But what God wants us to do is look through the ring,19:07look past the clothes, look to the heart. Man looks at the outside. God looks at our heart. Look through appearance and see the heart. So the first thing we do when we talk about favoritism is look at others the way that God sees them. He continues. In verse 4, James says, haven't you made distinctions19:37among yourselves and become judges? But not good judges. You judge with what? Evil. Who is James writing to? He's writing to brothers and sisters in Christ. Hey, he's writing to us. And he says, you have judged with evil thoughts. Verse 6, in case it didn't sink in. He says, you have dishonored20:06the poor. Verse 9, in case you still say, well, is it really that bad? If you show favoritism, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as a transgressor. This is what James is saying to us. Partiality and favoritism, it contradicts the very nature of how God sees people. So when I judge you20:35based on what you look like, I am judging you contradictory to what God sees in you. And that's pretty harsh stuff. That God is saying, church, you are different because I am different. So if we continually judge others on outward appearance, if I continually remain in the sense of racism or sexism or ageism or elitism,21:04or elitism, if you judge someone because they are poor or if you judge someone because they are rich, if you continually do this and you don't see a problem with that, you know what James says about you and me? James says, there is no evidence of your faith and you are not in Christ. If we think this is okay. Partiality stands in contradiction to God's evaluation. of others.21:34of others. What a difficult word. You see, the sin of favoritism, living by sight alone ignores the imago Dei in each and every one of us. You say, well, pastor, what is that? We are all created several weeks ago. How did God create us? He created us male and female in His image. So when I judge you based on what you look like, I have now ignored the image of God in your life. The same image22:04that is in my life. You see, the imago Dei, this image of God is not based on your pigmentation. It's not based based on your education or your wealth or your status or the car that you drive. The image of God in you is based upon God, not you. I love that because if God's image was based upon me, man,22:34man, I would be a 12-year-old God for the rest of my life. I would be a broken image, a distorted image. And God says, Josh, my image is not based upon you. My image is based upon my son, Jesus Christ. And my image in other people who are born and yet born is based upon the God of the universe. James is saying, get that in your mind. God's image within you demonstrates23:04demonstrates that every person has eternal value and worth. James is saying to you today, you have worth. You have value. Don't you get it, church? Don't judge because God's image is in you. He loves you. His mark is upon you and within you. That's why we are to live differently. This is the imago Dei. See, James reminds us also that when we are partial to others23:33in verse 4, it's as if we are plaguing God and we have the right to judge. When you judge people based upon the way they look or their status, you might as well say, I have the right to judge you because I'm God. Now, we would say, well, of course we don't say that. I know this is a South. We're too nice to say it. But that's what we're assuming. And the word of God24:04says, okay, Josh, this is what you want. If you were to be a judge, let's play a game. Josh, if you were a judge and you're not, but if you were a judge, you judge with evil thoughts, not good thoughts. Favoritism is sin because it assumes that I am God and I have the right to judge what only God has created. What a difficult word.24:34And then, verse 9, James, when he says, the way we look at other people, he says, if you show favoritism, you commit sin. You are a lawbreaker. You are a transgressor. Let me put it in easy-to-understand language. If you listen to that joke, if you share that meme, if you perpetuate25:02that stereotype, you are living in sin because the world is looking at the people of God and they are saying, well, you tolerate what we tolerate. You joke the way we joke. You judge by how we judge. James says, that has no place to the people of God. I cannot hold on to the mystery of faith in one hand and hold on to my stereotypes in the other. Oh, God,25:33Oh, God, forgive us for the way we look at others and judge other people. Listen, church. even if your vision never changes physically, Jesus changes the way that we look at others. Even if you can only see that gold ring, Jesus changes the way you look at others because now in Christ we can say, you look like me. We wear different clothes, but you look26:03like me because I see your heart. I see the imago Dei within you. You cheer for those crimson people and you cheer for those the eagles, the tiger eagles, the ones with lots of mascots. And there's a couple times a year, man, we just don't get along. But you know, I'm going to look past the shirt. I'm going to look past the rivalry.26:32I'm going to look past the ring. I'm going to look past the car. I see what God sees in you. Can you imagine if we saw what God saw and that we looked at others differently? Wow. What a life changing truth. And after we look at others, James now says, now look at yourself. And look at yourself in the mirror. Look at verse five. He says, listen up. I love James.27:01It's almost like he's calling us back. Okay, I know you lost attention. We're about 20 minutes into the sermon. Come back. Come back. Listen up. Verse five, right? Dear brothers and sisters, didn't God choose the poor? So now James is saying, okay, let's look at yourself in the mirror. And very specifically, James is asking, why did God choose you? Who do you think you are? James is27:33James is asking, you know, James said, don't you know that God chooses the poor and the poor in spirit to inherit the earth? Favoritism, partiality says, I'm better than you. Jesus says, no, you're not. That's what the word's doing here. Favoritism says, well, I'm better than you because of what I drive or because of what you wear or because of our bank account. Jesus is saying, hold on now. Paul reiterates28:04Paul reiterates this to the church of Corinth in very vivid language. I love what Paul says. He says, brothers and sisters, have you heard that before? Verse 5 and verse 1, chapter 2. He says, brothers and sisters, consider your calling. And they're like, oh, yeah. Okay. What is our calling? Not many were wise. I can't help but laugh at the humor of God's word. The church at Corinth28:33at Corinth is saying, here we go. He's about to heap praise upon me. Paul is about to recognize who I am. Consider your calling, pastor. Look at who you are. And then he says, not many of you were wise from a human perspective. Man, that's tough. Oh, the other people? Not many of you were powerful. Not many of you were of noble birth. And this is what the gospel says. Instead, God has29:04God has chosen what is foolish in the world to shame the wise. And God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong. Bethel James is saying, God did not choose you because you are an A-list celebrity. Sometimes we think that God is over here and Satan is over here and they're choosing for their eternal kickball match. And so they're just taking turns choosing like we used to29:34do in the ball yard, right? So I'm going to get the one who can kick the hardest. And God chooses one and Satan chooses one. James is saying, if that were so, God is looking at people and saying, okay, who can't kick? Yeah, the person with two left feet, I want that person. And Satan is thinking, okay. Satan chooses a soccer player. And God says, I want the crippled30:03the crippled person. And Satan says, I want the athletes. I want the blind guy, says Jesus. Satan says, okay. So Satan stacks his team with people of the world would say, wow, look how strong they are. And God says, okay, now let me shame you. Not many were wise. Not many were powerful. Not many were strong. And then Jesus came into your life. That is30:34That is the gospel message. The gospel is the opposite of how we think and how we choose. The gospel says, Josh, look at your life. Who do you think you are? Get off your high horse. And when you realize that you were a nobody, Jesus says, I want him. That gives me hope. Because the world should look at the community of faith and say, God, really? You're going to change the world through these people? And God31:04And God says, you don't understand the power of the resurrection. And you don't understand the power of the Holy Spirit living through the people of God. The gospel is God looking at people who are undeserving and saying, I want you. And I want you. We say, God, I've never picked for anything. And God says, I'm not picking you based on what you've done. I'm picking you based on what Jesus did for you.31:34for you. That's the gospel. And because God has saved our souls, we look at ourselves differently. Because we look at ourselves differently, we look at others differently. What a powerful truth that we see in the word of God. James is saying it this way in verse 8. If you see yourself differently because of Christ, you love your neighbor differently. If you're not loving your neighbor, maybe you32:03maybe you think you're the A-list. And even if you were, maybe you're here and you're saying, well, I have the millions. I have the toga. I have the gold ring. I have the athletic ability. Even if that is you, there's not a single person on the planet that was saved based upon your power. It is all because of the redeeming blood of Jesus. And so the gospel is not look at me. The gospel is look what32:33look what Jesus did for me. And when we live our lives that way, when the person with the robe comes in, we say, hey, sit right here because God will change your life if you give him a chance. And when the person in filth comes in, we say, sit right here because the gospel will change your life if you hear it. That is the good news. Look at others through the lens of Christ. Look at yourself through the lens33:03the lens of Christ. And lastly, we see in James, he says, look at Jesus. Look at Jesus. Speak, verse 12, and act as those who are to be judged by the law of freedom. For judgment is without mercy to the one who has not shown mercy. Church, if that doesn't wake you up, nothing will. Here's what James is saying. Why must we33:35reject partiality? Because if you judge on the basis of your evil judgment, God will judge you by the same measure. Can you imagine God judging us, the unmerciful without mercy? And let me say this, God is righteous to judge us without mercy. It doesn't say he's going to judge you unfairly. No, judgment34:04No, judgment without mercy is God judging us fairly. So every habit, every hang-up, every sin in my life will receive the full measure of judgment that it deserves. I don't know about you, but I don't want that. Because I know my sin. I don't34:34I don't even want one sin judged in the fullness of God's wrath and judgment without mercy. And James says if we judge people without mercy, God will judge us in the same way. Wake up. James just throws that spiritual bomb out there and then goes to another thought. But mercy triumphs over judgment.35:04judgment. James is saying church wake up and look at Jesus Christ. James is saying this, that because of the gospel, there will be a day where our children will be judged not by the color of their skin or on the logo of their shirt, but by the content of their character. And that day will come when Jesus restores all things.35:34all things. That is the power of the gospel. So what is our only hope for all the isms in our world, for racism and sexism and age-ism and class-ism? What is the answer to everything that goes on? And if we're honest, for the things that we perpetuate. Because when you listen to that joke, you might as36:03well fan the flame. When you share that on Facebook, you might as well fan the flame. God doesn't look at that with indifference. God says, I've called you to do something and live radically different, to see the heart of man because the imago Dei is within everyone. Look at your life, I've changed you. And there will be a day where everything will be like it should. The world36:34The world is looking at the church and saying, y'all are different. What gives? I want what you guys have. His name is Jesus. I love what John Stott says about mercy. He says this, even before the judgment seats, mercy wins the day. it crows over37:03over judgment. This is our position before God. Judgment looks at our desserts. Mercy looks at your needs. God himself looks at the cross of his son. One day when we stand before the judgment seat of God, he will judge us not on37:31not on the basis of your skin or the degree on your wall or your family name or your status or the car you drive or the team that you cheer for. one day we will all stand before God and the only thing that matters is what you have done with Jesus Christ. Do you believe? Do you abide? Or do you38:01not? Because on that day we will hear two things. Depart from me because I don't know you or welcome home my son my daughter I chose you through Jesus. See some of you right now are I believe the Holy Spirit is working on you and you're thinking God could38:30God could never choose me because of this sin or this mistake or this status and God is just saying through his word to you right now I don't see you how others see you I see you the way my son sees you when he died on the cross that on your worst day Jesus stood up and said God I'll I'll39:00I'll die God you father you know the day where where Josh sinned and he said he hated you I'll die on that day and God forsake me father forsake me that you could choose him that's the power of the gospel and if you've never given your life to Jesus I want you to know you're here39:30here today because God wants you to hear that message that he loves you that he has called you according to his son Jesus Christ who paid for your sin who will give you righteousness in exchange for brokenness if you would by faith receive abundant life so so pastor what does that look like it begins in prayer prayer is talking with God and saying God I recognize what you recognize in me that I have a fallen sinner but God I believe Jesus died40:00died for my sin and I believe he rose again God I don't deserve it but I believe and I will follow him I will turn from myself today and I will follow Jesus God thank you for choosing me through your son if that's you right now I'm just going to invite you to spend time do a business with Christ right where you sits maybe you're here right now and40:30and you look back at your life and you realized that you have been the one who judged others and you need to spend time when we sing and say God forgive me God forgive me when I looked at people on the outside and not who they are God forgive me when I have been prone to sin and I ignored the Imago Dei God forgive me when I tried to stand in your place and41:00and I judged people and I had no right God forgive me when I listened to the joke or I perpetuated the stereotype God forgive me when I looked at someone today and said why are they here and maybe you need to come and say God it stops today God I confess my sin and help me do better maybe you hear and you been hurt41:29hurt by the church because you were the one where you walked and they said you stand in the corner you sit on the floor and let me just say if someone in this church or any other family of faith have hurt you based on what you look like I want you to know that we are sorry forgive us so maybe you need to spend the next moments and say God take the bitterness away it41:58it stops right now what would happen if the people of God stood up and said to the world mercy triumphs over judgment and it begins in our lives right now what a beautiful and powerful day that would be I pray that that is our response to42:28to the gospel let's pray together father← Previous in JamesBe A DoerNext in James →Grace is Opposed to Earning Not EffortMore sermons on James →
