Ep 47-Marks of a Mature Christian Pt 7

Hi there Vicki and I have been so privileged to be able to teach the epistle to James and to go through all the different chapters and here in chapter two. To learn about this principle Brosseau Palencia which is not a respecter of persons or not to be partial but to have the Royal law, the law of the king of kings and the Lord of Lords to rule our life that we love our neighbor as we want to be loved. This is so important that jesus christ actually functioned like this in every day and every experience of his life with the people he came in contact with. Let’s go in and check out what this is all about with Vicki and I as we discuss it. So we’re excited to come back again and delve right in dig right in to the chapter two. And with these two words, Brosseau Palencia which is partiality or or a respecter of persons and the royal law which is to love your neighbor as yourself and how these are in total opposition to one another and contradict one another. And we’re gonna get into just a brief introduction again, Vicky from the epistle of James key themes, spiritual maturity and then uh the outline that we have gotten from our brother Warren where’s B he is patient and testing chapter one, he practices the truth. He has power over his tongue. He has a peacemaker, not a troublemaker. And he’s prayerful in trouble. This is the book of James on how to become a mature believer, the marks of spiritual maturity. He practices the truth, faith and love Now this is really important these 1st 13 verses and the most important word in this chapter that we have opened up and analyzed as the word Brosseau Palencia from principal face and to receive and how you receive a person’s personage, a person’s face. And depending on his intelligence or his wealth or his strength or his position. And so we’re gonna look at it, you pick it up right here or you wanna make some statements before we continue. Let’s read a little bit. James 21 My brethren do not hold your faith in our glorious lord jesus christ with an attitude of personal favoritism. Pro so Palencia a respecter of persons. But if you show partiality, respect a person uh the same verb. We actually showed this in the new american standard version translation which is partiality and in the king James version translation which is the respect of persons And but they use these these English translations interchangeably. But yet it’s only one word in Greek. It is petros opel Olympia uh and how we receive people. And it says in James 29 notice what it says that if we have this in our life we are doing what we’re committing sin and are convicted by the law as a transgressor. It’s very important that this is breaking the law. I mean it’s a major thing And it goes on to explain that it’s like adultery. It’s like it’s like murder and process Palencia is along those lines. In fact, I have often quoted James 2 10. If you keep all of God’s commandments and just violate one of them. You or what a lawbreaker? A lawbreaker, You’re guilty of them All. It’s like the chain that goes across the Hudson River, you know, it’s one chain and each link, they tell you if you visit West Point, they have one of the links there £319. And that chain kept the British from coming up and down the Hudson. But if one of those links, any one of those links was broken, then the chain was broken. God views his law as one connected law. You know? The first four are related to God loving God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, the last six relating to two men. But then God edit sit down and calls it the royal law. That if we are going to live by that principle, we’re to love our neighbor as ourselves. Let’s go on Acts 10 34 opening his mouth, peter said, I most certainly understand now that God is no one, not one to show partiality. Okay, so now this is talking about Cornelius, you had Cornelius had that vision on the roof. God told him to kill and he’s like no, no, no, no, no, I never ate this kind of food and finally got convinced him and the whole principle was that he was trying to teach him that salvation is not just for the jews but it’s also for the gentiles. And so he goes now to Cornelius his house and begins to preach the gospel to them, they become believers. And then Peter makes this statement in Acts 10 30 for opening his mouth. Peter said, I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, Rosalind pittas Brosseau polling This, he is not one who has partiality. That’s that’s the probably to say it. And then in Romans 211 for there is no partiality for there is no partiality with who with God. So you want to be like God, you want to be like jesus christ. Then you cannot have this attitude of prejudice, prejudice of partiality. You know of being in this club and you exclude those people because we went to this school because we have this information. I mean this is this is the whole world. We we we kinda segregate and separate everyone based on our own preferences and God. And it’s definitely not the color of our skin. God made all people one nation one race were really one people, yeah, different languages, different villages, different customs, different customs, but one mankind, God so loved the world, mankind cosmos that he gave his only begotten son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. He is not a pro sopa limps CIA this attitude uh God is not a pro sopa limp piece, One who has this attitude. And then of course in first Corinthians 1213 for by one spirit. We were all baptized into one body whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free were made to drink of one spirit. This is talking about the body of Christ right? The church is made up of jews and gentiles, slaves and masters, uh men and female. Uh male and female, young and old, rich and poor, all kinds of uh different kinds of people, Galatians 3 28 for there is neither jew nor greek that’s concerning our religious beliefs. There is neither slave nor free man, that’s our social status. There is neither male nor female, that’s our gender. For we are all one in christ, jesus, you know. And then of course it also it actually uses the word processor. Palencia in Ephesians 69 masters do not do the same things to them and give up threatening knowing that both their master and your master is in heaven. And there is no partiality with him, respect of persons talking about bosses and workers that you know, just because you’re the owner that doesn’t give you any better value before your maker. We all have different positions. We all come from different places. We all have different skin. We all speak different languages, but we are all equally valuable to God and God loves each of us ma’am Colossians 3 25 for he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done and that without partiality, Olympia. Again, concerning our sin and concerning our wrongdoing. God’s not gonna say, oh, you know what your greek, I’m gonna let you slide your italian. Oh, you’re gonna get it. No, there’s none of that. And uh, you know, God is not wanting to show partiality. He gives a just and equal uh, relationship and verdict on everyone. And God is he rules with the rule of love. And then in James 21 through 13, faith and love in the old testament. Uh, in first Samuel 16 7, I love this verse. Uh, we have the Lord said to Samuel. Do not look at his appearance or at his height for his stature because I have rejected him. For God sees not as man sees for man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord, he’s looking at the heart. God doesn’t judge us because we’re strong or smart or rich. He’s looking at a heart. Are we humble? Are we are we surrendered? Are we broken? Are we thirsty for God? The beatitudes? Are we humble before him? I think our heart is a you know, it’s got thoughts and it has emotions and I think, you know, sometimes, you know, people have a heart attack, Their heart gets clogged and I think christians hearts get clogged with bitterness and anger and comparisons. And uh, we have failures in our life. We have temptations that, you know, we’re like, we get so discouraged, discouragement clogs our heart from receiving God’s word and his his love. And God gave us his Holy Spirit. Who it takes the living word of God. If you’re not looking in the mirror of God’s word and seeing what kind of person you are in the way you behave, not just your beliefs that are in your mind, but how does that flow out of your life and your behavior? And I’m so stuck on this point because I think in the local churches, I’ve been in church for over How many years, over 50 years now and I’m seeing that there’s a lack of true study of God’s word and you know, there’s movements all over new york city and all over the world, I’m sure of prayer and the power of prayer and being men and women of prayer. When we get on our knees and humble ourselves and pray and we read the scriptures. The water of the word washes us. The prayer of the Holy Spirit convicts us. I get convicted when I praying and God says Vicki, I’d like you to change this. I hear God’s spirit tell me when I spoke to you through the world, this is not the way I want you to be. And I think this is what we have to really let God’s spirit and the word and the Holy spirit change us. He’s looking at our heart, that’s what he says in Jeremiah 9 23. Thus says the Lord, Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom and let not the mighty boast of his mind. Let not the rich man boast of his riches. But let him who boasts boast in this that he understands and knows me that I am the Lord who exercises loving kindness and justice and righteousness on the earth. For I delight in these things, declares the Lord the Lord is looking for those inner spiritual virtues and qualities, not just the physical, not just the intelligent, not just the rich. It’s so important. Now in Galatians, chapter two, we have these incredible words, but we did not yield in subjection. Hepatology, epa, to ye epa Tasso to them for even an hour. So that the truth of the gospel is important. The truth of the gospel would remain with you. But from those who were of high reputation, what they were makes no difference to me. God shows no partiality. Well, those who were of reputation contributed nothing to me. I like us to go into the actual scripture and read it because I think this chapter is it highlights this attitude of personal favoritism. It also identifies in verse five and in verse 14, the truth of the gospel that this this process process, open lips CIA is a contrary attitude to the truth of the gospel. That if we treat these people one way and those people another way, because he’s a jewish person, he’s a gente, or because these are rich people and those are poor people. If we begin to have these kinds of attitudes, we are not giving the truth of the Gospel notice with this phenomenal chapter and I’ll just go ahead and read it or Vicky. Why don’t you read it? You do such a great job. Chapter Galatians, chapter two in verse one. Well, let’s just start in verse one and read the chapter with you. Then, after an interval of 14 years, I went up again to Jerusalem and Barnabas taking titus along also. And it was because of a revelation that I went up and I submitted to them the Gospel which I had to to preach among the gentiles. This is an important he submitted the Gospel which he had to preach among the gentiles, but I did so in private to those who were of reputation for fear that I might be running or had run in vain. But even titus who was with me though he was a greek, was compelled to be circumcised. But it was because of the false brethren who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty or freedom which we have in christ, jesus in order to bring us into bondage, but we did not yield in subjection to them for even an hour, so that the truth of the Gospel might remain with you. You see how he makes a real point of the fact that when this attitude is present and we’re doing this, it’s not only sin, but it actually is not the truth of the Gospel. So that not in chapter one, you remember in verse six, he said, I am amazed that you’re so quickly deserting him, Who called you by the grace of christ for a different gospel. See, the devil and the enemies to the Gospel constantly are trying to blur and muddy and confuse people. What the Gospel is the Gospel is the death, the burial and the resurrection of the Lord, jesus christ. And it is saying that we cannot forgive ourselves, we cannot be good enough, we cannot keep the law. But it’s saying that we must buy by repentance and Brokenness, cry out to God and faith and accept his grace and his mercy and his truth to forgive us and to save us and change us. That’s that. And then in chapter two, he uses the phrase the truth of the Gospel two times here, now go ahead. Where is this verse 6? And just keep reading. But from those who are of high reputation, which makes no difference to me, God shows no partiality. Again, we have that. Well, those who are reputation contributed nothing to me. But on the contrary, seeing that I had been entrusted with the Gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised. For he who effectually worked for Peter and his apostle ship to the circumcised effectually worked for me also in the gentiles, and recognizing the grace that had been given to me, James and Cephas and john, who were reputed to be pillars gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship that we might go to the gentiles and they to the circumcised, they only asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I also was eager to do now when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face because he stood condemned. This is peter now who stood condemned why for prior to the coming of certain men from James and James is the one writing the epistle now. Okay, uh the Epistle of James, This is the the epistle to the Galatians in chapter two and verse 12 that I’m reading okay, he said, he used to eat with the gentiles, but when they came he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision and the rest of the jews joined him in hypocrisy with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. But when I saw that they were not straightforward about what the truth of the Gospel, the very life that we live and how we behave with gentiles and jews one race or another, the way we treat rich people and poor people. It absolutely blurs. And rejects the very gospel that we’re speaking, that God loves everyone, that’s what it’s saying here, that when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all. If you being a jew live like a gentile and not like the jews, how is it that you compel the gentiles to live like jews? But we are jews by nature and not sinners from the gentiles. Nevertheless, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but through faith in christ, jesus, even we who have believed in christ jesus that we may be justified by faith in christ and not by the works of the Law, since by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. But if, while speak, seeking to be justified in christ, we ourselves have also been found sinners is christ, then the Minister of Sin may it never be for if I rebuild what I have once destroyed, I prove myself to be a transgressor. For through the law, I died to the law that I might live to God. I have been crucified with christ. Nevertheless, I live, It is not I who lives, it is christ who lives in me and the life which I now live in the flesh. I live by faith in the son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. And then he says in closing, I do not nullify the grace of God because if righteousness comes through the law, then christ died needlessly. What a powerful passage of scripture and showing the difference between the process, process Palencia the respecter of persons uh and uh the very love of God and treating other people the way you want to be treated, which which he refers to as the truth of the gospel. They’re totally contrary. So let’s let’s live for God’s pleasure and let’s do what God wants us to do and not sin. Let us not be partial. Let us not have this partial attitude and uh the respecter of persons but that we treat everyone in our life the way we want to be treated amen Here we are as we look at the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ our Lord and how his enemy’s treated him and thought of him. Listen to what it says describes. And the chief priests in Luke chapter 20 try to lay hands on him that very hour and they feared the people for they understood that he spoke this parable against them. So they watched him and sent spies and pretended to be righteous in order that they might catch him in some statement so that they could deliver him to the rule. Uh and the authority of the governor. They questioned him saying, teacher, we know that you speak lego and teach did ask oh correctly or thoughts or straight up you’re straight up there telling jesus. Uh, these scribes and chief priest and you are not partial lomban. Oh and process upon the same word. We’ve been looking at process open limps CIA or comes from lava. No to receive to any. But you teach the way or those of God in truth. So you see, his enemies knew that this is who he was. This was their testimony. Now let’s take a look at this wonderful story where jesus christ that exemplifies epitomizes this truth that he is operating with the Royal law luke 15 1 and two. Self righteousness is what he’s attacking all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to him to listen to him. Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble saying this man receives sinners and eats with them even. And then the lord jesus christ gave them these uh parables these stories uh, one of the lost sheep which represented ignorance. Number two, the lost coin which represented carelessness Number three, The Lost Son which represented rebellion and then the other Law Son, which was self righteousness. And he really applied that to them. So when you look at this story in the gospel of luke in chapter 15 and you begin to analyze the story, it’s just a beautiful story. There is something that is repeated continually, Notice what it says in uh Luke chapter 15. All the tax gatherers and the sinners were coming near to him. You see he was not a respecter of persons. So he was exemplifying, he was a model of what he tells us to do to not be a respecter of persons. And they were coming to him to listen to him. Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble saying, this man receives sinners and eats with them and he told them this parable. What what man among you? If he has 100 sheep and he lost one of them does not leave the 99 in the open pasture and go after the one in which he was was lost until he finds it. And when he found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home he calls together his friends and his neighbors saying to them, rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost, I tell you, and this is the important piece here. The application. I tell you that in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous persons who need no repentance. The sheep is a picture of a sinner that repents and the shepherd finds it. And that’s like us going out evangelizing and finding people that repent and accept christ as their savior number two, the lost coin or what woman, if she has 10 silver coins and loses one coin does not light a lamp and sweep the house and searches carefully until she finds it. When she found it, it says she calls together her friends and neighbors saying rejoice with me. For I have found the coin which I had lost in the same way. I tell you there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents again its application when this woman finds the coin that was lost. Is that God using us to go and find people that need to come to christ and be saved And that is all the angels in heaven are rejoicing over that kind of activity. Think about it. It’s so precious. Our Lord jesus christ. They’re repeating it. Then he gives the story of the prodigal son. He said a certain man had two sons, the youngest of them uh said to his father, father give me the share of the estate that falls to me. And he divided the wealth between them. And not many days later the younger son gathered everything uh together he got everything together and went on a journey into a distant country and there he squandered. Uh huh. Here’s the state with loose living. What a horrible, terrible uh irresponsible way to take your inheritance and mess it up. But now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country and he began to be in need and he went and attached himself to one of the citizens of that country and he sent him into the field to feed the swine and he was longing to fill his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating and not one was giving anything to him, no one was giving anything to him. But when he came to his senses and that’s what people have to do. That is so low down. Your shooting heroine, you’re taking drugs, you’re you’re a drunken, you’re going out and gambling your money away, partying all your life away. You have to come to your senses and realize it’s irresponsible living and life is gonna go by. I will get up the man said this young man, I will go to my father and I will say to him, father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight I’m no longer worthy to be called. Your son, Make me as one of your hired men. And the bible says the father felt compassion on him, ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight I’m no longer worthy to be called your son. But I father, the father said to his uh slaves, quick quickly bring out the feast of the best rope and put it on him and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet and bring the fatted calf, kill it and let us eat and be merry for this son of mine was lost. But now he’s found and he was dead. But he has come to life again. And uh now his older son was in the field. And when he came and he approached the house, he heard the music and the dancing and he summoned one of the servants, he began to inquire what’s going on. And he said to him, Your brother has come and your father has killed the fatted calf because he has received him back safe and sound. But he became angry and was not willing to go in and his father came and began and treating him. And he answered, and he said to his father, Look for so many years. I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command or you of yours. Yet you have never given me a kid that I might make merry with my friends. But when the son of yours has come, you have devoured uh he devoured all your wealth and killed you, killed the fatted care for him. And he said to him, my child, you have always been with me and all that is mine is your yours. But we had to make merry and rejoice for this brother of yours was dead and has come and is alive again. We had to be married. Listen, this is the principle of the king to forgive and to accept even those that have violated your laws. This is so very important. My brothers and sisters that we act like jesus, he told this story to the Pharisees. He told this story to the people that were grumbling and complaining uh describes because Jesus was sitting with sinners and eating with them. Let us not be judgment, let us not be legalistic, let us not condemn others for reaching out to those that are hurting and broken May. We also be like jesus and we rejoice when people repent and heaven rejoices with us. God bless you until next time. It’s all greek to me.