James Expounds on Faith Volume 22

 Avoid, Abstain, & Abhor the Sin of Partiality Part 5

James 2:9-10 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. KJV Note: NKJV=New King James Version

To some the idea and the actuality of showing favortism to one person over another is not a big deal, but to God it is a big deal because it is sin in His sight and all sin against Him is a big deal. Therefore, the Apostle James reminded those early Hebrew converts to Christ and likewise he reminds those of us today and those of every era and generation of the requirements of God as it pertains to His Holy Law and that is continuous, constant, and complete keeping of the law in every point, as it is written for us here by the Apostle James, "But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." (James 2:9-10) (KJV). God does not have a sliding scale or is He like human teachers who grade on a curve ⤵, but He is the Holy and Perfect God who requires perfection from the human race, therefore, if someone plans to meet God in eternity, he or she better have not ever commited any sin in their entire life in word, thought, or deed. If someone is reading this and says to themselves that this is impossible, then you would be absolutely correct. So then, what was and is the 'law of God' given to humanity for?, well the answer to this question is found in these words written by the Apostle Paul in his letter ✉ to the brethren and sisteren @Galatia, "What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one. Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor." (Galatians 3:19-25) (NKJV). You see someone in the Body of Christ who favors one individual over another is reproved, reprimanded, and rebuked by the law of God as a violator of it. What many in the Church ⛪ of God regard as a trifling fault, that is, something that is not worth considering, is in fact very serious and offensive in the eyes 👀 of Almighty God.

Here is what the Expositors'  Bible Commentary declares of James 2:9-10, "The law is the expression of one and the same principle-love; and of one and the same will-the will of God. Therefore he who deliberately offends against any one of its enactments, however diligently he may keep all the rest, is guilty of offending against the whole. His guiding principle is not love, but selfishness-not God's will, but his own. He keeps nine tenths of the law because he likes to do so, and he breaks one tenth because he likes to do so. The fact of his willful disobedience proves that his obedience is not the fruit of love or loyalty, but of self-seeking. If we ask what his character is, the answer must be, 'He is a lawbreaker.' These respecters of persons claimed to be observers of the law, because they treated their rich neighbors as they would have liked to be treated themselves. St. James shows them that, on the contrary, they are transgressors of the law, because they pick and choose as to what neighbors shall be treated thus kindly. They keep the law when it is convenient to keep it, and break it when it is inconvenient to keep it. Such keeping of the law is in its essence, not obedience, but disobedience. He who follows honesty only because honesty is the best policy is not an honest man, and he who obeys the law only because obedience suits him is not an obedient man. There is no serving God with reservations. However small the reservation may be, it vitiates (corrupt morally or by intemperance or sensuality) all the rest. In order to 'fulfill the law' (a rare expression, found only here and in Romans 2:27), we must keep it all round, independently of our own likes and dislikes. St. James is not here countenancing the severity of Draco, that small crimes deserve death, and that there is no worse punishment for great crimes; nor yet the paradox of the Stoics, that the theft of a penny is as bad as parricide (someone who kills his or her parent), because in either case the path of virtue is left, and one is drowned as surely in seven feet of water as in seventy fathoms. He is not contending that all sins are equal and that to break one of God's commands is as bad as to break them all. What he maintains is that no one can claim to be a fulfiller of the law in virtue of his extensive obedience so long as there is any portion of the law which he willfully disobeys. Why does he disobey in this? Because it pleases him to do so. Then he would disobey in the rest if it pleased him to do so. The motive of his conduct is not submission, but self-will. He is in character 'a transgressor of the law.' Both defects are common enough still, and are likely to remain so. Paying respect to persons, dignities, and positions is a frequent form of meanness, especially in the manner here condemned, of courting the rich and slighting the poor. It is a Christian duty to respect the rank or the office of those whom God has placed in a position superior to ourselves, and it is also a Christian duty to reverence those who by God's grace are leading lives of virtue and holiness; but it is un-Christian partiality to honor a man merely for his wealth, or to dishonor him merely for his poverty. And, secondly, we are all of us prone to plead, both before the world and our own consciences, the particulars in which we do not offend as a set-off against those in which we do. To detect ourselves thus balancing a transgression here, against many observances there, ought at once to startle us into the conviction that the whole principle of our lives must be faulty. Our aim is, not to love God, or to obey Him, but to get to heaven, or at least to escape hell, on the cheapest terms."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

James Expounds on Faith Volume 21

 Avoid, Abstain, & Abhor the Sin of Partiality Part 4

James 2:8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: KJV Note: NKJV=New King James Version

The Apostle James reminds them and us that our Father in Heaven (although He is Just as well as Holy and will always punish the obstinate sinner and the transgressions of His children) is love 😍 and wants His sons and daughters to love one another just as He 😍 loves us, therefore, we read these words from James, "If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:" (James 2:8) (KJV). Loving one another does not mean spying on one another or vandalism or sabotage against one's property or coveting your neighbors wife or maid servant nor 🐂 oxen nor donkey nor anything that is your neighbors (Exodus 20:17), but instead you shall treat your neighbor with the same respect that you desire to be appropriated to yourself, no matter whether he or she is rich or poor. The Apostle calls this law the 'royal' law meaning that it is the preeminent law of God reigning surpreme over all others. I believe that in regeneration, redemption, and resurrection from spiritual death to life that is imparted to every born again son and daughter of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ loves his brother or sister who are truly 'in Christ' as he is 'in Christ' more than he loves his flesh and blood family 👪. The Apostle John said this of us passing from death to life, "In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother's righteous. Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him." (1 John 3:10-15) (NKJV). There we have it once again that Scripture authenticates Scripture, because the Word of God is not of man made origin, but instead it is the eternal, epic, and everlasting Word of Almighty God ✍ written by Him through the hand, hearts, and heads of over 40 different men concluding in one uniform message.

Here is what Matthew Henry had to say of James 2:8, "Lest any should think James had been pleading for the poor so as to throw contempt on the rich, he now lets them know that he did not design to encourage improper conduct towards any; they must not hate nor be rude to the rich, any more than despise the poor; but as the scripture teaches us to love all our neighbours, be they rich or poor, as ourselves, so, in our having a steady regard to this rule, we shall do well. Observe hence, 1. The rule for Christians to walk by is settled in the Scriptures: If according to the Scriptures, etc. It is not great men, nor worldly wealth, nor corrupt practices among professors themselves, that must guide us, but the Scriptures of Truth. 2. The Scripture gives us this as a law, to love our neighbour as ourselves; it is what still remains in full force, and is rather carried higher and further by Christ than made less important to us. 3. This law is a royal law, it comes from the King of kings. Its own worth and dignity deserve it should be thus honoured; and the state in which all Christians now are, as it is a state of liberty, and not of bondage or oppression, makes this law, by which they are to regulate all their actions to one another, a royal law. 4. A pretence of observing this royal law, when it is interpreted with partiality, will not excuse men in any unjust proceedings. It is implied here that some were ready to flatter rich men, and be partial to them, because, if they were in the like circumstances, they should expect such regards to themselves; or they might plead that to show a distinguished respect to those whom God in His providence had distinguished by their rank and degree in the world was but doing right; therefore the Apostle allows that, so far as they were concerned to observe the duties of the second table, they did well in giving honour to whom honour was due; but this fair pretence would not cover their sin in that undue respect of persons which they stood chargeable with." Here also is what Adam Clarke had to say of James 2:8, "This epithet, of all the New Testament writers, is peculiar to James; but it is frequent among the Greek writers in the sense in which it appears St. James uses it. Βασιλικος, royal, is used to signify any thing that is of general concern, is suitable to all, and necessary for all, as brotherly love is. This commandment; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, is a royal law, not only because it is ordained of God, and proceeds from His kingly authority over men, but because it is so useful, suitable, and necessary to the present state of man; and as it was given us particularly by Christ Himself, John 13:34; John 15:12, who is our King, as well as Prophet and Priest, it should ever put us in mind of His authority over us, and our subjection to Him. As the regal state is the most excellent for secular dignity and civil utility that exists among men, hence we give the epithet royal to whatever is excellent, noble, grand, or useful."










If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

James Expounds on Faith Volume 20

Avoid, Abstain, & Abhor the Sin of Partiality Part 3

James 2:6-7 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? KJV

The warning rendered by the Apostle James in the previous verse was a general one to all of those scattered Jewish believers back then and all of us today and of every era and generation. However, the Apostle James has received a 'word of knowledge' from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that some of those believers back then (and today and in all ⌚ times) have literally been doing the very thing that he is now warning all believers to not do by what he declares here with these very next words, "But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?" (James 2:6) (KJV). The English word 'despised' used here by the Apostle James is translated by the Greek word atimazō and it means exactly what our English definition of despised means which is to render infamous, that is, (by implication) contemn or maltreat: - despise, dishonour, suffer shame, entreat shamefully. In other words, to treat a brother or sister 'in Christ' shamefully or with dishonor simply because he or she is poor in erathly things is seen by our Father in heaven as reprehensible, repugnant, and repulsive. This is why the Apostle James is writing these words wanting to remind them and us that it is the rich unbelieving world (back then and in all times) who treat those of us who are followers of our Lord Jesus Christ with hatred and contempt calling us bigots and unloving simply because of our trust in the Lord Jesus and our belief that He alone is God and He alone is the only way to heaven for any sinner (John 14:6) and that His Word is the Only truth for humanity, remember what the Lord Jesus said about those who trust in earthly riches from Volume 19 (Mark 10:23-27). It is in large part the unbelieving rich of the world who have in the past and are in the present and will continue in the future to do all they can to silence true believers by violence and by making laws that declare the Bible to be taken out of schools (already done) and in every other way they can to stop the truth of the Word of God being spoken, 📝 written, or taught anywhere, even in the ⛪ Church and private homes or businesses. The rich are the primary oppressors of Christians because they hate and mock the true God of the Bible and their goal is to silence those who declare His truth, therefore, according to the Apostle James it is stupid, sick, and sorry for any individual or group of believers to show favoritism to any who are rich over the poor (even if the rich man 👨 or woman 👩 has become a believer). The English word 'oppress' used by the Apostle James in verse 6 is translated by the Greek word katadunasteuō meaning to exercise dominion against, that is, oppress. The Apostle James wanted to remind those believers back then and warn we believers today that those who are rich and have influence over local, state, and federal government have made it their prority to silence true believers, so the Apostle James asked this question to them and now to us, "Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?" (James 2:7) (KJV). The English word 'blaspheme' is translated by the Greek word blasphēmeō meaning to vilify; specifically to speak impiously: - (speak) blasphememously, defame, rail on, revile, speak evil. The rich unbeliever because he or she has not faith in the True God (Jesus Christ) mock Him as being nothing to them or to the world and they have made His beautiful and holy and precious Name into a curse word that flows out of their mouths with the ease of a knife 🗡 slicing through butter and they think 🤔 nothing of it and see their defaming and railing and reviling Christ Name as a joke, for they see Him now as of no consequence to them on earth 🌎 or even after their death (how wrong they will find themselves to have been).

Here is what Matthew Henry had to say of James 2:6-7, "Respecting persons, in the sense of this place, on account of their riches or outward figure, is shown to be a very great sin, because of the mischiefs which are owing to worldly wealth and greatness, and the folly which there is in Christians' paying undue regards to those who had so little regard either to their God or them: Consider how commonly riches are the incentives of vice and mischief, of blasphemy and persecution: consider how many calamities you yourselves sustain, and how great reproaches are thrown upon your religion and your God by men of wealth, and power, and worldly greatness; and this will make your sin appear exceedingly sinful and foolish, in setting up that which tends to pull you down, and to destroy all that you are building up, and to dishonour that worthy name by which you are called. The name of Christ is a worthy name; it reflects honour, and gives worth to those who wear it." Here is what Adam Clarke had to say of James 2:6-7, "The administration of justice was at this time in a miserable state of corruption among the Jews; but a Christian was one who was to expect no justice any where but from his God. The words καταδυναστευουσιν, exceedingly oppress, and ἑλκουσιν εις κριτηρια, drag you to courts of justice, show how grievously oppressed and maltreated the Christians were by their countrymen the Jews, who made law a pretext to afflict their bodies, and spoil them of their property. They took every occasion to asperse the Christian name and the Christian faith, and have been, from the beginning to the present day, famous for their blasphemies against Christ and His religion. It is evident that these were Jews of whom St. James speaks; no Christians in these early times could have acted the part here mentioned." Here is what Dr. John Gill had to say of James 2:6-7, "Or dishonoured, and reproached them, by showing respect of persons, in preferring the rich to them, and in distinguishing them in such a manner as was to their contempt and injury; which is a reproaching not only of them, but their Maker; and is in effect saying, that God has done either a weak or a wrong thing, in choosing them to be rich in faith, and heirs of a kingdom, it being directly contrary to His conduct: Which may be understood either of rich men that were unbelievers; and these either the Heathen magistrates, who ruled over them in a tyrannical way, and with rigour, and often summoned them before them, and persecuted them with violence; or their own countrymen, the Jews, who stirred up the chief men of the Gentiles against them, and drew them to their judgment seats, as they drew Paul to the judgment seat of Gallio, Acts 13:50 or else of rich professors of religion, who assumed a despotic power over the poor brethren of the Church, and loved to have the pre-eminence over them, as Diotrephes did, and set up tribunals in the Churches, and tried and condemned them in an arbitrary way; or else upon civil accounts had them before heathen magistrates, and went to law with them in their courts, before unbelievers, which is a practice condemned in 1 Corinthians 6:1, and seeing now rich men used them so ill, the Apostle mentions this as an argument to dissuade them from respect of persons; seeing they had but little reason to show so much regard unto them, who had treated them in so evil a manner: this is not to be understood of all rich men; nor is the Apostle's design to destroy that natural and civil order there is among men, by reason of their different stations, offices, and circumstances; it being highly proper that honour should be given to whom honour is due, but not to the dishonour of another."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…





 

James Expounds on Faith Volume 19

 Avoid, Abstain, & Abhor the Sin of Partiality Part 2

James 2:5 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? KJV Note:NKJV=New King James Version

The Apostle James wanted those scattered Jewish believers (and those of us today and in every era and generation) of our Lord Jesus Christ to closely listen to his instruction concerning this matter of showing favoritism to the rich over the poor by reminding them and us of the true and genuine impartiality to all sinners our Lord Jesus Christ has shown and continues to show with His willingness to receive anyone who will come to Him in repentance and faith despite their earthly status or position in this temporal world 🗺, as it is written for us by the Apostle James with these words, "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) (KJV). Our Lord Jesus Christ does not make any distinctions between a rich sinner and a poor sinner (the people of this world 🗺 do), but instead, He (Jesus) makes all who come to Him 'rich in faith' meaning that as a true believer in our Lord Jesus Christ any poor man 👨 or woman 👩 is now 'rich in faith' because of their/our access to, association with, and affiliation to Christ Jesus our Lord, as it is written of Him by the Apostle Paul with these words, "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich." (2 Corinthians 8:9) (NKJV). Faith + Grace makes us rich more than having all the riches on the earth 🌎, for let us remember these words from our Lord Jesus Christ speaking of some of those who are rich in earthly things, "Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful." (Matthew 13:22) (NKJV) and also these very penetrating, piercing, and powerful words, "Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, 'How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!' And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, 'Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.' And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, 'Who then can be saved?' But Jesus looked at them and said, 'With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.' (Mark 10:23-27) (NKJV). Let us also not forget what our Lord Jesus Christ wrote through the Apostle Paul making this same point so very clear, "For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence." (1 Corinthians 1:26-29) (NKJV).

Here is what Matthew Henry had to say of James 2:5, "Believing Christians are rich in title, and in being heirs of a kingdom, though they may be very poor as to present possessions. What is laid out upon them is but little; what is laid up for them is unspeakably rich and great. Note again, Where any are rich in faith, there will be also divine love; faith working by love will be in all the heirs of glory. Note once more, under this head, Heaven is a kingdom, and a kingdom promised to those that love God." Here is what Adam Clarke had to say of James 2:5, "And the poor have the Gospel preached to them. These believed on the Lord Jesus, and found His salvation; while the rich despised, neglected, and persecuted Him. These had that faith in Christ which put them in possession of the choicest spiritual blessings, and gave them a right to the kingdom of heaven. While, therefore, they were despised of men, they were highly prized of God." Here also is what Albert Barnes had to say of James 2:5, "The Apostle now proceeds to show that the rich, as such, had no special claim on their favor, and that the poor in fact might be made more entitled to esteem than they were. For a view of the arguments by which he does this, compare the analysis of the chapter. Those who are poor so far as this world is concerned, or those who have not wealth. This is the first argument which the Apostle suggests why the poor should not be treated with neglect. It is, that God has had special reference to them in choosing those who should be His children. The meaning is not that He is not as willing to save the rich as the poor, for He has no partiality; but that there are circumstances in the condition of the poor which make it more likely that they will embrace the offers of the Gospel than the rich; and that in fact the great mass of believers is taken from those who are in comparatively humble life. The fact that God has chosen one to be an 'heir of the kingdom' is as good a reason now why he should not be treated with neglect, as it was in the times of the Apostles. Though poor in this world's goods, they are rich in a higher and more important sense. They have faith in God their Saviour; and in this world of trial and of sin, that is a more valuable possession than piles of hoarded silver or gold. A man who has that is sure that he will have all that is truly needful for him in this world and the next; a man who has it not, though he may have the wealth of Croesus (a very wealthy man 👨, the last king of Lydia who died in 546 BC), will be utterly without resources in respect to the great wants of his existence. 'Give what thou wilt, without thee we are poor; And with thee rich, take what thou wilt away.' Faith in God the Saviour will answer more purposes, and accomplish more valuable ends for man, than the wealth of the Indies could: and this the poor may have as well as the rich."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…