A FAITH THAT SHOWS RESPECT TO EVERYONE
A Faith That Works When Life Doesn’t

August 23, 2020

SIN OF PARTIALITY = Showing FAVORITISM & bias toward some
people and showing PREJUDICE & bias against other people.
“God never shows partiality and he cannot be corrupted.”
Deuteronomy 10:17
“The Lord our God does not tolerate injustice, partiality or corruption.”
II Chronicles 19:7
“My brothers and sisters, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ,
never show partiality. Suppose someone comes to your church meeting
wearing expensive clothes and jewelry, and a poor person also comes in
wearing shabby, worn out clothes. If you show special attention to the
person wearing fine clothes and say, ‘Let me give you the best seat,’ but
say to the poor person, ‘You stand at the back or sit on the floor,’ then you
have shown discrimination and segregated God’s children by your evil
judgment. Listen to me brothers and sisters: God has chosen the poor of
this world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he’s promised
those who love him. Yet you disrespect low-income people! Why? Don’t
you realize that people richer than you take advantage of you? They have
the money to sue you in court! And they often misuse the noble name of
Jesus to whom you belong! Remember and always keep the royal law of
Scripture, which is ‘Love your neighbor as yourself!’ If you do that, you’ll
always do the right thing. But anytime you show partiality or prejudice
you sin and break God’s law.” James 2:1-9

WHY DOES GOD HATES PREJUDICE?
1. PREJUDICE QUESTIONS GOD’S CREATION.
“From one-man (Adam) God made every nation of men, that they should
inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the
exact places where they should live.” Acts 17:26
“Who says you are better than others? And what do you have that was not
given to you by God? And if it was given to you, why do you brag as if you
did not receive it as a gift?” 1 Corinthians 4:7
2. PREJUDICE IS A SIGN OF IGNORANCE.
“Whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the
darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has
blinded him.” 1 John 2:11
“True wisdom from above is pure, peaceful, gentle, friendly, full of
compassion and is free from prejudice and hypocrisy.” James 3:17

3. PREJUDICE DISOBEYS THE GREAT COMMANDMENT.
“The entire law is summed up in this one command: ‘Love your neighbor
as yourself!’ But if, instead of showing love, you attack and tear each
other apart, watch out! You will destroy yourselves!” Galatians 5:14-15
“You will be doing the right thing if you obey the law of the Kingdom,
which is ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’” James 2:8
4. PREJUDICE IS A SERIOUS SIN.
“If you treat people according to their outward appearance, you are guilty
of sin, and God’s Law condemns you as a lawbreaker.” James 2:9
RACISM IS A PROBLEM OF SIN, NOT SKIN!
“So why do you judge your brother? And why do you think that you are
better than he is? We will all stand before God one day, and he will judge
us all.” Romans 14:10
HOW DO WE ROOT OUT PREJUDICE FROM OUR LIVES?
THE FIRST STEP: LEARN TO SEE PEOPLE AS GOD DOES.
“The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the
outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7
Jesus: “Stop judging by mere appearances and make a right judgment.
“John 7:24
“Then Peter said to Cornelius’ household, ‘You know, Jewish law forbids
us from associating with people of another race. But God has shown me
that no race is inferior or unclean.’” Acts 10:28
“I now realize that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from
every nation who fear him and do what is right.” Acts 10:34-35
GOD’S PLAN TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER IS THE CHURCH.
“Some of us are Jews, and some of us are Gentiles. Some of us have been
slaves, and some are free. But we have all been BAPTIZED into ONE
BODY through one Spirit, and we have all received the same Spirit!
…Now all of you TOGETHER are Christ’s Body, and each of you is a
necessary part of it.”1 Corinthians 12:13, 27
“So now you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all
who have been united with Christ in BAPTISM have been made like him.
So, there is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male, or female. For
you are all Christians — one in Christ Jesus!” Galatians 3:26-28
“In this new life one's nationality or race or education or social position is
unimportant; such things mean nothing. Whether a person has Christ is
what matters, and he is equally available to all.” Colossians 3:11