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Weekly Sermon

James 2:5 reads, “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?”

James 2:5 indicate that those from the poor class in relation to this world who place their trust in Christ as Savior are chosen by God to be rich in relation to His kingdom.  Regardless of their poor status in the realm of this world, they possess an abundantly rich status in the realm of faith.  Indeed, every one of us who are the children of God through faith in Christ are spiritually rich in the realm of faith.  These spiritual riches may be considered from two perspectives.  First, we may consider our spiritual riches in the realm of faith in relation to our eternal salvation.  Second, we may consider our spiritual riches in the realm of faith in relation to our daily walk.  So then, in this first part of the message, let us consider the first of these truths.

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Weekly Sermon

James 2:5-7 reads, “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?  But ye have despised the poor.  Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?  Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?”

Having declared a prohibitive caution against the practice of showing partiality in James 2:1, and having delivered a forceful confrontation against the problem of showing partiality in verses 2-4, James presents a challenging consideration of the contradictions in showing partiality against the poor in favor of the rich in verses 5-7.  Grammatically, these three verses encompass five separate statements.  First, there is the imperative call to attentive consideration – “Hearken, my beloved brethren.”  Second, there is the rhetorical question concerning God’s dealings with the poor – “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?”  Third, there is the reproving declaration of their dealings with the poor in direct contrast to that of God – “But ye have despised the poor.”  Finally, there are the two rhetorical questions concerning the oppression of the rich against them as believers and the blasphemy of the rich against their Savior’s name – “Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?  Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?”

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Weekly Sermon

James 2:2-4 reads, “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; 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: are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?”

In James 2:1 we find a prohibitive caution against the practice of showing partiality in our dealings with others – “My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.”   In James 2:2-4 we find a forceful confrontation against the problem of showing partiality in our very church services.  Grammatically, these three verses encompass a single “if-then” sentence that concludes with a confrontational and convicting question.  The “if” portion of this sentence covers all of verses 2-3 and can be divided into two parts.  First, there is the hypothetical circumstance of verse 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.”   Second, there is the realistic case of verse 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.”  The “then” portion of this sentence covers verse 4 and can also be divided into two parts, for this portion of the sentence asks a two-fold question.  First, there is the question of reproving confrontation – “Are ye not then partial in yourselves?”  Second, there is the question of sinful cause – “And are become judges of evil thoughts?”

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Weekly Sermon

This sermon is a companion to a previous sermon:  With Respect of Persons - James 2:1 (Part 1)      

James 2:1 reads, “My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.” 

James 2:1 opens the sixth paragraph of this epistle with a direct and distinct prohibition against showing “respect of persons.”  As such, this prohibition establishes the contextual setting for the rest of the paragraph.  Grammatically, this verse presents a Biblical imperative for our daily Christian walk.  Furthermore, this Biblical imperative can be divided grammatically into four parts.  First, there is the direct address of loving concern for our daily Christian walk – “My brethren.”  Second, there is the main clause of spiritual caution for our daily Christian walk – “Have not the faith.”  Third, there is the prepositional phrase concerning the established center for our daily Christian walk – “Of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.”  Finally, there is the prepositional phrase concerning the forbidden characteristic in our daily Christian walk – “With respect of persons.”  In the part of the message, we considered the first two of these truths.  Now, in this second part of the message, we shall consider the latter two of these truths.

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Meditations in Ezekiel

1.  The Requirement for a Spiritual Watchman

Ezekiel 33:1-2 – “Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman . . . .”

2.  The Reality of the Spiritual Watchman

Ezekiel 33:2 – “Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman . . . .”

Ezekiel 33:7 – “So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.”

Hebrews 13:17 – “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.”