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Part 3: Justice Together

DEEP ROOTS: JAMES

PART 3

 
Message Notes
 
Reading Plan
 
 
 
 
 

James 2:1-17

1. WHAT KIND OF COMMUNITY ARE CHRISTIANS SUPPOSED TO BE?

  • A community of justice.

“My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.” James 2:1 (NIV)

“Have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?” James 2:4 (NIV)

  • A community of mercy.

“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.” James 2:12-13 (NIV)

“Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?” James 2:15-16 (NIV)

2. WHY DOES GOD WANT US TO BE LIKE THIS?

“My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.” James 2:1 (ESV)

“Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, ‘Here’s a good seat for you,’ but say to the poor man, ‘You stand there’ or ‘Sit on the floor by my feet,’ have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?” James 2:2-4 (NIV)

3. HOW CAN WE BECOME A COMMUNITY OF JUSTICE AND MERCY?

  • Realize you have a Gospel-shaped identity.

 

“Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?  If you really fulfill the royal law in scripture, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself,’ you are doing well.” James 2:7-8 (ESV)

  • Live out your faith.

 

“In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” James 2:17 (NIV)

  • How you treat other people, how accepting you are of others is an indicator of whether you understand the Gospel.  

                                                                                                                                 

MY NEXT STEP TODAY IS: 

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This Week’s Reading Plan:

  • YouVersion® Bible App Reading Plan: “I Believe: The Gospel” (5 Days)

Deep RootsDr. John Gerlach