Part 4 | The Four Tests of True Religion
From James 2
1. True religion those whom God .
📖 James 1:26-27 ESV If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
I’m like Jesus when I expect in .
2. True religion people as God them.
📖 James 2:1 ESV My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.
Partiality is
based on
.
📖 James 2:2-3 ESV For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, 3 and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,”
📖 James 2:4 ESV have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
The Problems with Partiality:
A. Partiality treats as a .
B. Partiality assesses based on incomplete .
📖 1 Samuel 16:7 ESV The LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.”
📖 Ephesians 3:20 ESV Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,
C. Partiality assumes the reflects the .
📖 John 7:24 ESV Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”
D. Partiality makes a instead of a .
3. True religion VALUES those whom God VALUES.
📖 James 2:5 ESV Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?
📖 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 ESV For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.
4. True religion for God’s , not the .
📖 James 2:8 ESV If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.
📖 James 2:9 ESV But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
📖 James 2:10-11 ESV For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. 11 For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
📖 James 2:12 ESV So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. 13 For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
📖 Romans 8:1-2 ESV There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.
When I believe the , I am by God.
Notes Section:
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