James 2.1-13 - Capitol Commission
Living like Royalty
29 January 2013
RON J. BIGALKE, PASTOR/MISSIONARY, CAPITOL COMMISSION, 912.659.4212
Bible Study Title
Ron J. Bigalke , PhD / PO Box 244, Rincon, GA 31326‐0244 / www.capitolcom.org / [email protected]
CAPITOL BIBLE STUDY 152 nd General Assembly ( weekly schedule)
• TUESDAYS @ 7:30 AM in 123 CAP • TUESDAYS @ 12 NOON in 123 CAP
Capitol Commission Bible Study is Tuesday, 29 January 2013 James 2:1-13 – “Living like Royalty” How do you think someone could deny the Christian faith? Suppose someone woke one morning, and decided to do that very thing. How would they do it? Would they renounce their local church membership? Would they write a book or pamphlet that criticizes the fundamental doctrines of the Holy Bible? Would they receive membership in the local atheist club? The first response to such questions is that it is impossible for a true believer to abandon the faith permanently. First John 2:19 states, “They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us, but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us.” Those who are truly born again by God will endure in faith, fellowship, and truth (1 Cor 11:19; 2 Tim 2:12). Perseverance is, indeed, a distinguishing characteristic of the life of a believer (Mark 13:13; Heb 3:14). A second response to such questions is that to demonstrate partiality towards some and bias towards others is to deny the Christian faith. The practice of favoritism is a repudiation of the gospel of grace through faith in Jesus Christ. James 3:1-7 teaches that the Christian faith is incompatible with partiality. Verses 8-13 teach that the “royal law” of Scripture is entirely incompatible with favoritism. Therefore, verses 1-13 of James 3 reveal that those who trust in God are to manifest the truth of the gospel, as opposed to demonstrating an attitude of favoritism or partiality.
LIVING WITHOUT PARTIALITY (Jas 2:1-7) Verse 1 is the caption for the subsequent 12 verses. The verse commends God as the “glorious Lord Jesus Christ” and warns that partiality is incompatible with faith in the Lord God and Savior,
Jesus Christ. The vocative, “my brethren,” indicates that the book of James was addressed specifically to those with faith in Jesus Christ, and to urge them to demonstrate the reality of their profession of faith. Who is the Lord Jesus Christ? First, the Lord Jesus is the object of the believer’s trust. Christians are those who have made a commitment to and trust in Him. Christians are believers in Jesus. Second, the one in whom Christians believe is the Lord of glory. The Greek text, in which the New Testament was originally written, reads, “our Lord Jesus Christ of glory.” The word “glory” is theologically significant, as it indicates the state of being conformed to the perfect image of God, which is the destiny of all Christians (e.g. Rom 5:2; 8:18; 2 Cor 4:17). The splendor and worth of Christ Jesus is much greater than any earthly treasure. Truly, the believer has great riches in Christ (Matt 6:19-20; Luke 18:22; Eph 1:18; 3:16; Heb 11:26). The word “glory” also denotes the form in which Jesus even now exists (Phil 3:21; Col 3:4; 2 Thess 2:14; 1 Tim 3:16; Tit 2:13; Heb 2:7, 9). The title “Lord of glory” is a term that represents the complete presentation of God’s majesty and presence (Ps 24:7-10; 29:3; Acts 7:2). Jesus is the glorious God. As the Lord’s half brother, James made quite a remarkable confession with regard to Jesus, just as he did in 1:1. The term also signifies the heavenly realm to which the Lord Jesus has been exalted and from which He will come in salvation and judgment (Jas 5:9). The reminder that Jesus is the Lord of glory is especially appropriate in an environment wherein Christians may grant too much “glory” to human beings. Demonstrating favoritism on the basis of wealth (or any other criterion of the world) is contrary to the nature of God (cf. Lev 19:15; Deut 10:17-18; Acts 10:34; Rom 2:11; Eph 6:9). Verses 2-3 indicate an identification of the poor and the wealthy individual based upon outward appearance (cf. 1 Sam 16:7). The practice of favoritism is inconsistent with the abolition of class distinctions among believers (Gal 3:28). Such practice is also incompatible with faith in the Lord Jesus, who died for all people without any distinction. First Samuel 16:7 – But the L ORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the L ORD looks at the heart.”
The discrimination mentioned in verse 4 could refer to either a distinction between poor and wealthy Christians, or to the internal spiritual division within the person (who is guilty of asserting such judgments) and who is vacillating between the things that the world considers important versus those matters that God values (cf. Jas 1:6). The word rendered “motives” could also be translated as
Capitol Commission Bible Studies Tuesday (29 January) @ 7:30am, 123 CAP Tuesday (29 January) @ 12 Noon, 123 CAP (lunch provided from OglethorpePower sponsorship)
Georgia Living like Royalty “reasonings,” and would indicate that the criterion for asserting such distinctions and the reasons for applying such criteria is not godly. Why is it wrong to discriminate in favor of the influential and wealthy? The reason is that it contradicts God’s own actions (cf. Deut 7:7; Judg 6:15; 1 Sam 9:17-21; 16:10-13; Matt 11:25; Luke 6:20; 9:48; 1 Cor 1:26-28). Of course, “not many” (rather than “not any”) indicates the wealthy are not excluded from God’s redemptive plans. However, it is difficult for the wealthy to enter the kingdom of God (Matt 19:24) because there is a tendency to be self-sufficient as opposed to being “poor in spirit” (Matt 5:3), that is, humble and needy before God. One of the many lessons here is not to let your occupation deceive you into regarding yourself more highly or even more lowly than you ought; it is especially important to regard ourselves as God does (Rom 12:3).
Verse 9 condemns the violation of the royal law. If one demonstrated partiality, they are said to be “committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors” (cf. Lev 19:15). One of the most challenging verses of Scripture is verse 10, which stated, “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.” God will not receive individuals into His heaven because they are better than others. The law of God is not like a set of bowling pins, which are knocked to the ground one at a time; rather, it is like a pane of glass in which a break in just one place means that the entire pane is broken.
First Corinthians 1:26-27 – For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many
Verse 11 demonstrates the unity of the law of God because its origin is in God. One cannot chose which commands of God are more important than others. The entirety of the Bible is from God, and thus bears His authority. Sins cannot be graded as if some were A+ and others only D- actions. Consequently, to violate any command of Scripture is to disobey God himself.
noble; but God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong.
Verses 6-7 ask questions with regard to the rich exploiting others and blaspheming the “fair name” of the Lord. There are certainly exceptions to these statements; nevertheless, it is more likely that the influential and wealthy (as a class) will tend to be more hostile to God and His people. One is forbidden from using their position to oppress another, and especially to manipulate the legal system in doing so. The conduct described in these verses of the book of James is not novel; rather, such actions are typical of the wicked in every age (Ps 73:1-2; 94:1-7; Prov 14:31). Never use your occupation in life to give preferential conduct to someone or the lack thereof.
How should one act in accordance with the royal law? Understand that in Christ there is “the law of liberty” (Jas 2:12). Those who trust in God are to live as those judged by that law, which means, as those whose sins have been forgiven by God’s grace and mercy, and who are now free to love and obey. There is freedom in Christ (cf. Rom 6—8); therefore, God expects His people to exercise that liberty; it is, therefore, illegitimate for any believer to claim that he/she is unable to live in accordance with the Lord’s will (and thus are liberated from the bad motives, prejudice, and self-deception that these verses have addressed).
NEVER USE YOUR OCCUPATION IN LIFE TO GIVE PREFERENTIAL CONDUCT TO SOMEONE OR THE LACK THEREOF.
Romans 12:6 instructs, “Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly. . . .” Similarly, believers are told to “do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interest of others” (Phil 2:3-4).
(Jas 2:8-13) The royal law is stated in verse 8: “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF” (cf. Lev 19:18). The adjective “royal” was likely used as a descriptor because the true King, the Lord Jesus, articulated the law (Matt 22:36-40). The law is royal because its origination is from God, and is characteristic of His kingdom and reign. In the parable of the Good Samaritan, the Lord defined one’s neighbor as anyone in need (Luke 10:25-37). What would it be to live
Thank you for allowing Capitol Commission the honor to provide Bible studies to you. If you have any questions, please talk with us, or contact us by email or phone (912.659.4212). We are praying for you personally throughout the day and week (1 Tim 2:1-4).
Capitol Commission state directors are pastors/missionaries who teach weekly verse-by-verse Bible studies for the entire Capitol community. State directors also meet personally with many government leaders to proclaim God’s grace in salvation, to encourage our leaders, pray with them, and provide biblical counsel. The mission of Capitol Commission is to reach Capitol communities for Christ—one person at a time, to disciple them, and to prepare them for a lifetime of ministry, wherever God chooses to place them. Capitol Commission is a charitable and religious nonprofit corporation under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Capitol Commission is supported by the generous gifts of businesses, churches, and individuals. Capitol Commission is not state-funded; rather, those with a heart for the Capitol community fund it. Please join us in this ministry!
N EXT CAPITOL COMMISSION BIBLE STUDIES: T UESDAY , 5 FEBRUARY @7:30 AM in 123 CAP and again @ 12 N OON in 123 CAP
Bible study luncheon sponsored by:
A primary reason for the triumph of Christianity is the superior moral practice of those who believe (cf. 1 Pet 2:15). Therefore, if you have faith in Christ live like royalty with a superior moral character, as the demonstration of your trust in God. If you do not believe, may God grant you to regard your sin and His holiness as is true to reality.
About Capitol Commission
LIVING BY THE ROYAL LAW
like royalty? The answer is given here in the book of James; it is demonstrating love to those in need, which is the manner in which God responds to those who have faith/trust in Him. Of course, the divine command is impossible without the divine provision of God (John 13:34-35).
