Am I guilty of being partial towards certain persons?
Yesterday
We all took a stab at LOOKING at James 2:1-13 on our own.
Today
Let’s look at this next simple test to prove our faith by reading these verses with purpose.
Open GODcha to the Book of James.
NOTE:
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Or, you can use your hardbound Bibles and follow along.
You can print off this post and put in a Notebook!
Why Did James Write This Letter?
As you work through your discovery this week, keep James’ purpose in the back of your mind.
Before We Begin, Let’s Pray
O LORD, You are the Shepherd, who laid down Your life for we your sheep. You did not make this hard. You know us, and and desire that we know You and grow in our relationship with You. We desire to know You and understand Your will and ways. Cleanse us from any sin that would hinder us from hearing You speak today. Quiet our hearts and help us fix our eyes on You and what You require of us! (Joh10:11); (Heb 12:2)
Let’s See How We Did Yesterday!
1st, Consider CONTEXT
As we begin a new Chapter, we need to consider Context.
Think back to Chapter 1, how did James end Chapter 1?
Remember James ended Ch. 1 commanding his readers to ‘be doers of the Word’, a key phrase to this book.
Now, we need to keep this in mind as we LOOK at Chapter 2, because we will begin to see what James means when he commands us to ‘be doers of the Word’?
Let’s LOOK at What God Says 
Let GODcha lead the way!
Where should we begin?
Always Begin By READING God’s Word
Let’s read James 2:1-8, by asking the 5W’s and H.
Let’s Give it a Shot!
1 WHO does James address?
My brethren
(WHO are my brethren?)
WHAT?
do not hold
WHAT?
your faith
in WHO?
in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ
HOW?
with an attitude of personal favoritism.
2 WHY not?
WHAT scenario does James present us with?
For if a man comes
comes WHERE?
into your assembly
comes HOW?
with a gold ring
and
comes HOW else?
dressed in fine clothes,
and
WHO else, also, comes in?
there also comes in a poor man
HOW?
in dirty clothes,
(What is being 
Contrasted?)
3 and
WHO?
you (the brethren, believers)
WHAT?
pay special attention
to WHO?
to the one who is wearing the fine clothes,
and
WHAT?
say,
say WHAT?
“You sit here in a good place,”
(‘you‘ WHO?)
(WHO are the brethren saying this to?)
(
Context goes back to the one in fine clothes)
and
WHO?
you (the brethren, believers)
WHAT?
say
say to WHO?
to the poor man,
say WHAT?
“You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,”
4 WHAT is true?
have you WHO?
have you (the brethren)
WHAT?
not made distinctions
WHERE?
among yourselves,
and
WHAT else?
become judges
with WHAT?
with evil motives?
5 WHAT does James say to do?
Listen,
WHO is to listen?
my beloved brethren:
WHAT are they to listen to?
WHAT did God do?
did not God choose
WHO?
the poor of this world
WHY did God choose the poor of this world?
To be WHAT?
to be rich
HOW?
WHAT in?
in faith
and
WHY else?
To be WHAT else?
heirs
of WHAT?
of the kingdom
which God WHAT?
which He promised
to WHO?
to those who love Him?
6 But
WHO?
you (brethren, believers)
WHAT?
have dishonored
WHO?
the poor man.
(THINK: HOW did the brethren dishonor the poor man?)
(Did you catch the Contrast between what God does vs. what ‘you’ do?)
Is it not WHO?
Is it not the rich
who WHAT?
who oppress
WHO?
you (the brethren)
and
WHAT else do the rich do?
personally drag you (the brethren)
WHERE?
into court?
7 WHAT else do the rich do?
Do they not blaspheme
WHAT?
the fair name
by which WHO?
by which you (the brethren)
WHAT?
have been called?
8 If, however, WHO?
If, however,
you (the brethren)
WHAT?
are fulfilling
WHAT?
the royal law
the royal law that is WHAT?
according to the Scripture,
that is WHAT?
“You shall love your neighbor as yourself,”
if you are fulfilling this royal law, loving your neighbor as yourself,
you are WHAT?
you are doing well.
9 But
if WHO?
if you (the brethren)
WHAT?
show partiality,
you are WHAT?
you are committing sin
and
you are WHAT?
are convicted
by WHAT?
by the law
as WHAT?
as transgressors.
(What is the Contrast?)
10 WHY?
For WHO?
whoever
WHAT?
keeps
WHAT?
the whole law
and yet
WHAT?
stumbles in one point,
WHO?
he (the one who stumbles in one point)
WHAT happens?
has become guilty
of WHAT?
of all
(Guilty of breaking the whole law)
(Do you see the Contrast?)
11 WHY are they guilty?
For WHO?
For He (God)
WHAT?
who said,
WHAT?
“Do not commit adultery,”
WHAT else?
also said,
WHAT?
“Do not commit murder.”
Now if WHO?
Now if you (the brethren)
WHAT?
do not commit adultery,
but
WHAT?
do commit murder,
you WHAT?
you have become a transgressor
of WHAT?
of the law.
12 So WHAT?
So speak
and
WHAT else?
so act
as WHO?
as those
WHO WHAT?
who are to be judged
by WHAT?
by the law of liberty.
13 WHY speak and act as those who are to be judged?
For WHAT?
For judgment
will be HOW?
will be merciless
to WHO?
to one who has shown
WHAT?
no mercy;
WHAT is true about mercy?
mercy
Does WHAT?
triumphs
over WHAT?
over judgment.
Fantastic!
Is it getting easier?
You just read 13 verses of God’s holy Word.
You are developing the most vital skill there is to see God’s Word correctly and handle it accurately!
Did you:
Reflect on ‘say‘?
Catch the Contrasts?
There are about 7!
That’s It For Today!
How did God stir your heart?
Meditate on what you just read.
Perhaps go back and read and re-read these verses again, letting them go down deep so you won’t forget His Word, (Psalm 119:15-16).
Journal Your Discovery in Your Notes
Did you have questions?
Put them in your Notes.
Ask God to answer them.
He will.
I would encourage you to keep up your List on God and Jesus.
You will be so glad you did.
Perhaps Note the Subject –Partiality and the 3 points James gives by making a new Note page for each of the illustrations of:
The Rich/Poor;
The Royal Law; and
Judgment.
As we dig deeper, you can always come back and add later.
3 short, sweet points, you will remember.
Video Tutorial> Notes Tutorial >
Let’s Pray
Perhaps. . .
OH FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN, we are in awe of You and this next test of our faith. I continue to be in wonder of all You desire to reveal to us about Yourself and our glorious Lord Jesus! May we reflect today upon Your Word to us about this attitude of personal favoritism, making distinctions and being judges. May each of us consider more and more what it means to be a doer of the Word. May we take you ever so seriously and understand that to show partiality is not being a doer of Your Word. Oh, may You renew our minds with Truth and transform us, (Rom 12:1-2). I ask these things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!
Next: we will LOOK deeper into these verses about partiality.
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