Respect of Persons

 Temple Baptist Church - 3-6-2021

James 2:1

 

Introduction:  This evening, I will simply introduce these verses as there is too much to cover in one message.

 

A.  We will look at one of the greatest enemies of the local church: Division.  Our Lord said, " And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand."  (Mark 3:25)

 

B.  James, writing to the dispersed Jews, knew the possibility and probability of respect of persons because of the history of the Jewish nation.   

 

C.  I find it of interest that the Jews had no problem with those who converted to Judaism.  They are called Jewish Proselytes. 

 

Judaism (noun) - the monotheistic religion of the Jewish people.

 

1.  We find many in the Old Testament.

 

Exodus 12:38  And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle.  (Many Egyptians came to know the God of Israel and traveled to the Promised Land with them.)

 

Exodus 12:48  And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.  (God included the "strangers" when giving the law.)

 

Matthew 1:5  And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; (Rahab, a Gentile, was the mother of Boaz and in the lineage of the Lord.)

 

Ruth 1:16  And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:  (Ruth, a Gentile, was the great grandmother of King David.)

 

2.  We find many in the New Testament.

 

Acts 2:5-6  And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.  (6)  Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.  (Jewish Proselytes – 16 languages mentioned here.  Titus was a Gentile; Luke was a Gentile; Timothy's father was a Greek.)

D.  If this was so, and it was, then what was the problem that James was having to deal with in James, chapter 2?  There was still RESPECT OF PERSONS WITHIN THE LOCAL CHURCHES!  James 2:2 "Come unto your assembly!"  Now, let us look at a few of the causes of respect of persons.

 

1.  Respect of Persons is tied with Phariseeism.  Disassembling from sinners. 

 

Luke 15:1-2  Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.  (2)  And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.

 

2.  Respect of Persons is tied with Judaism.  Disassembling from non-Jews.

 

Acts 10:10-15  And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,  (11)  And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:  (12)  Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.  (13)  And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.  (14)  But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.  (15)  And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.

 

3.  Respect of Persons is tied to Christianity.  Disassembling from those less esteemed.

 

a)  The Lord had to deal with Peter when He sent him to Cornelius, a gentile, and preached the gospel to him. 

 

1)  The Lord knew that Peter would not go to the Gentiles.

 

Acts 10:27-28  And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.  (28)  And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.

 

2)  Afterward, the Jews contended with Peter because he had gone to the Gentiles.

 

Acts 11:2-3  And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him,  (3)  Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them.

 

b)  Paul had to deal with Peter a little later concerning his dissembling from Gentiles when the Jews arrived (Peter still had not gotten it right!). 

 

Galatians 2:11-14  But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.  (12)  For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.  (13)  And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.  (14)  But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?

 

E.  Most churches implode (blow up from the inside).  It is not outside persecution that brings them down; it is inside division.  There is a great difference between biblical separation and respect of persons.

 

1.  Many times, it is infiltration.  This was a problem 2,000 years ago and it has only escalated over the years.  The Bible commands separation from false prophets and "grievous wolves" that enter the local assembly.  God called pastors are "wolf watchers" as they oversee the flock of God.

 

Acts 20:29  For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

 

2.  Most times, the problem is carnality.  Once again, this was a problem in some New Testament churches 2,000 years ago.  Too often, separation is unbiblical as some will have nothing to do with others because of carnality.

 

1 Corinthians 1:10-12  Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.  (11)  For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.  (12)  Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.

 

1 Corinthians 3:1-9  And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.  (2)  I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.  (3)  For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?  (4)  For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?  (5)  Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?  (6)  I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.  (7)  So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.  (8)  Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.  (9)  For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.