and pray your mercy to us in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and for your glory, say amen. Okay, James 2. Over the years, there's been a lot of talk about James 2. It's controversial, it's often misunderstood. It's very often inverted. We will. We have no spiritual discernment in and of ourselves. Genesis 3 says that we fell. And when we fell in our father Adam, we lost all spiritual discernment. And it's because we took responsibility for our salvation. We looked to some sort of law to sustain ourselves. According to 2 Corinthians 3, even to this day that veil lies over our understanding. Natural. But 2 Thessalonians 2 says it's more than that. It's a powerful delusion from God. God has a purpose. 1 Corinthians 1 verse 9 says, this is God speaking, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. So our discernment is naturally blind when it comes to spiritual realities. We believe that we can approach or serve God in our own strength and our own discernment. And we do it all the time and we do it in all that we do. It's our natural disposition in our Father Adam. And it's because of this natural impairment of our flesh that we are so misguided regarding our service to our God. We again naturally assume, just as Cain did in Genesis 4, that we can create our own offering to God. Those, in a sense, those fig leaves that somehow supposedly would cover our sin before our all-seeing God. and supposedly allow us, sin and all, to enter His holy presence. It also seems that the bigger and the better those fig leaves are, the fig leaves of man's righteousness, that in our natural discernment, the more we seem to elevate these people and embrace them. Not only do we come naturally presenting our sin as an offering before our God, we also, in that same action, blaspheme His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the only truly acceptable sacrifice to God. On top of all that, we also, with our words, our attitudes, and our actions, naturally promote a false gospel. While this chapter, James 2, is so often very misused to say the complete opposite of the gospel, it actually addresses a very common issue, a common question for all mankind. How do we please God? So it also presents us with the same comparison as all the rest of the scriptures, a comparison of law and grace. You see, James too, like all scripture, is warning us and teaching us, warning us of our own external, fallen external judgment system. And at the same time, teaching us how to rightly discern true and faithful service to God, for ourselves personally, and regarding others who come to us with a profession of faith. Remember one, John, I spoke about it, I mentioned it a few weeks back, try the Spirit, try the Spirit in regard to the gospel of the free grace of God in our Lord Jesus Christ. So James 2, may the Lord bless us in our studies. My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect to persons. In regard to the gospel, don't look at anyone else as greater or lesser than another. Now we just begin with a simple example, don't we? Verse two, for if there come unto your assembly a man with gold ring in goodly apparel, and there come also in also a poor man in vile arraignment. So it's a simple practical example, isn't it? About external appearances, about the way we judge them. But there are greater pictures here. This is a book in the Bible. This is a chapter that declares the gospel. And we can look at things, physical things, as illustrations of greater and deeper spiritual things. We're being taught something here. This is an assembly. It's an assembly of brethren. So it's a church. And these two men, they act as signs for us. Now, physically, there's a difference between them. But spiritually, we can apply these same principles. The gold ring and the goodly apparel, we look at it in Matthew 23, it's an external appearance of religion. And the vile man is the open sinner. It's the publican and the Pharisee all over again. Verse three, and you have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, the impressive clothing, the impressive presentation. You esteem them. You say to them, sit down here in a good place. And say to the poor, stand thou there or sit here under my footstool. You treat them as they're unfit or less welcome to enter God's presence than others. You demean them and you belittle them. And we do it naturally. Are you not then partial in yourselves? And I become judges of evil thoughts. Now it's simple reasoning and it's through simple explanations. Again, it's come from God and it's regarding something common to all of us. It's exposing our fallen discernment. This should be a serious warning to all of us. Verse five, hearken, my beloved brethren, hath not God chosen the poor of this world? And I want you to listen to this description. This is what they look like in God's eyes. That's God's view of the saints. 1 Corinthians 1 gives us the world's view of the saints. For you see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men are after the flesh. Not many mighty, not many noble are called, but God hath chosen. the foolish things of the world, to confound the wise. And God hath chosen the weak things of the world, to confound the things which are mighty, and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, the things which are not, to bring to naught the things that are. There's a purpose, that no flesh should glory in his presence. The saints are the pool in this world's eyes. Verse six, but you have despised the pool. And that's any time we show any partiality in regard to the gospel. Matthew 5, blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. We have a fallen discernment. And that word despised is a very strong word. It means to hate, or kill, or murder. 1 John 2 says, he that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, and it's the same word. is in darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. That's because God's working in him. But he that hateth his brother, this is right now, while he's hating his brother, he is in darkness, and he walketh in darkness, and he knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness, that particular blindness, hath blinded his eyes." That's a strong delusion. And it happens as easy as anything. It's a darkness that despise, spiritually, according to 2 Corinthians 3, can be taking a man to law. half of this verse. Do not rich men oppress you and draw you before the judgment seats. Those judgment seats were set up based on Mosaic law, a law of repression, of bondage and overwhelming impossible responsibility. Even today, as we testify of grace in the gospel, people try and bring us back under bondage, under a legalistic bondage. Now you know this, people, and you know how it feels. It happens common to believers. We've been doing it since Cain. But there's more to what they do, isn't there? Look at verse seven. Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by which you are called, when they accuse us and they judge us, regardless of our gospel testimony, that we've answered them in truth? They blaspheme through their emphasis on any sort of law of any sort. Their testimony, the evidence of their hearts, show how much they know of grace. But this is also a very serious warning about another very dangerous trap. Verse 8, if you fulfill the royal law, the Mosaic law, according to the scripture, thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. You do well. Again, we support good moral behavior in the community. It's profitable for all society. Verse nine, but if you have respect of persons, which is where James started in all this, and we need to remember the context. You commit sin and are convinced of the law as transgressors. To be convinced is to be convicted of the law, declared to be, found to be sinners, just like every other man. Why? Verse 10, for or because whosoever should keep the whole law and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. Can you imagine back there when you're cleaning out your house and sweeping out all the yeast, and you know how it's a powder dust. And you can imagine your next door neighbours doing the same thing, because they're getting ready to make the law. The law, and they shake out the dust out of their house, and the wind just happens to blow one particle into your house. You imagine, just one particle. You won't see it. Undone. That's how the law works. Undone. Verse 11, For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. It's simple, isn't it? It makes sense. And you've not only entered the law, you've also encouraged or influenced others. by your own personal testimony, just like that yeast. So how dangerous is this? Well, it's interesting because in Galatians 2.11, Peter did the same thing as what James is talking about here. He showed a preference to a different group of people. And Paul said he stood condemned. Why? because his testimony supported law and not grace. Because he was trusting not in the gospel of the free grace of Christ, he was trusting in men. How dangerous is this? John in 2 John says, don't even invite this into your house. And that can very much mean a church as well. Don't offer them or bid them Godspeed, because if you do, you become a partaker of their evil deeds. You become part of promoting a false gospel. So the law is complete. It's comprehensive and it's singular. All law stands united. Norm spoke last week about the attributes of God and the character of God, how they all stand united. Well, law is no different. It stands united. United against sin. It's not a way of combating sin, and it's not a way of bringing life or favour with God. It condemns sin. I just want to read a few scriptures about man's relationship to law. Galatians 5.3 says, I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that's anyone who enters the law in any way. And we saw how easy it is, didn't we? You just show a preference to someone. That he is a debtor to do the whole law. He's a debtor to God. But, Isaiah 64 says, we are all our whole race, every part of each of our being, we are all as an unclean thing. And all our righteousnesses, every single one of them, even the best, are as filthy rags. And we do all as a leaf, do all fake, all do fake, sorry, as a leaf, and our iniquities like the wind have taken us away. And it's been like that since the fall right up until today. Therefore, Romans 3.20, By the deeds of the law, there shall no flesh be justified in his sight. For by law is the knowledge of sin, and that's God's purpose of law, to convict of sin, not to bring life, not to bring hope. For Romans 3.23, all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Summary of humanity. But, Galatians 3.22, the scripture hath concluded all under sin, and God, as he always does, has a wonderful purpose, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given, grace given to them that believe. They're given acceptance in Christ. So with all that, what chance does anyone have? That's a good question. Verse 12, so speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. That's the gospel. See, James, like every other passage, is contrasting two different covenants, the covenant of law and the covenant of grace. He's saying, well, just be believers, just trust. Just rest your faith in Christ. Look to the law of liberty as your guide. Because by the powerful work of God the Holy Spirit in our conversions, we will see ourselves as the chief of sinners. We'll see all others as needy sinners, just like us. And we'll show them mercy. How will we show mercy? By declaring that same gospel which we've believed and experienced. See, James says there, speak ye and so do. See, it's an activity of words and works, isn't it? It's our overall presentation, our testimony, if you like, of our own personal hope. in the work of God and not in the work of man. This is how we exhibit our faith in our everyday lives. And God works salvation in our hearts and as a result, according to Isaiah 57, he creates the fruit of our lips. Hebrews 13, speaking of this fruit, says, by him, therefore, let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually. That is the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. And it's not only the way we give sacrifice to God, it's the way we pay all our vows, according to Jonah 2 and Psalm 22. just praising him for his saving grace in our Lord Jesus Christ. I mentioned Peter earlier, that he made the same error that James is talking about, and for a period he stood condemned. What was it that restored Peter? Was it Paul's good works, morality, works of morality? It was his gospel testimony that restored Peter. You see, that's how our gospel works. It's a testimony. It's our purpose, it's our mission in this world. We declare our amazing savior and we wait on him. And that's the greatest way we could ever show mercy or love to anyone. especially our brothers and sisters. So you can't show mercy to someone by giving them law. You just can't. You're just condemning them further and you're causing more guilt in yourself of their spiritual murder. Verse 13, for he shall have judgment without mercy that has shown no mercy. Anyone who encourages anyone in any way, by words, actions, attitudes, ideals, in the false hope of law keeping, they will be judged. They'll be judged by the very same law that they live under, the law that they promote, the law that they stand witness to. But look at this, mercy rejoiceth over against judgment. See, that's our gospel, isn't it? To rejoice against is to triumph over, to satisfy, to put an end to, which only Christ can do. Romans 10.4, he's the end of the law, for righteousness to them that believe. Matthew 5.7 says, Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. It's a promise from God. That's a gospel mercy, isn't it? In 2 Corinthians 1, we see how this mercy flows to others. It says, Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. If there's any comfort to be had, any comfort, comes from God, who comfort us in all our tribulations, it says, completely, all our problems, all our trials. And the purpose, the outworkings of that is that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort where we ourselves are comforted of God. It's gospel comfort. Our gospel is sufficient for all things necessary in the believer's life. Proverbs 3 verse 5, we used to teach the kids this all the time, roll off your tongue like nothing. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. The Holy Spirit here by the pen of James has very graciously warned us and reminded us of the dangers and failures of our own discernment. But he doesn't leave us there. In the second half of this chapter, he also teaches us just what to look for regarding professions of faith. And context is so important. So I'd like us to take a break here. It's a little bit earlier and I'll give us a little bit more after it, but I want us to take a break here because I want us to just consider what James has said to us so far about who we are and how able we are in all this. I think it's good for us to consider this valuable lesson before we move into the second one, so we'll just take a break.