Respect of Persons James 2:1

James, the “servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ”, told the people who belonged to the “twelve tribes” which were “scattered abroad” that “true religion and undefiled” was “to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world”. In chapter two and verse two of his letter, James began to share with them concerning “respect of persons” where we read:

My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

The verse begins, “My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ,...” James began with the words, “My brethren” which refers to “fellow believers who were united to each other by the bond of affection in Christ”, “have not the faith” or “do not have the conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things and the provider and bestower of eternal salvation through Christ with a strong and welcome conviction or belief that Jesus is the Messiah through whom we obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom of God” “of our Lord” which refers to “James and the brethren's one to whom a person or thing belongs and about which he has power of deciding; master and the title given to God the Messiah” “Jesus” whose name means “Jehovah is Salvation” and is “the Son of God, the Savior of mankind, God incarnate” “Christ” which means “the Messiah and Son of God”. James' readers were not to have their “trust and conviction in Jesus Christ the Messiah” without considering his following thought.

The verse goes on to say, “...the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.” James continued, “the Lord” or “he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master and the title given to God the Messiah” “of glory” which means “honor, judgment, view, opinion, estimate and praise”, “with respect of persons” which means “partiality or favoritism toward the outward circumstances of man and not to their intrinsic merits”. James referred to “Jesus” as “the Messiah and Christ” who deserves “glory” without attitudes and actions that show preferential treatment of different persons.

When we think through these words of James, we should note the Holy Spirit's inspiration for his words. God does not want us to “worship and believe in” Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior while at the same time showing “favoritism and partiality” toward certain people. Jesus loves everyone regardless of their station or position socially, and we are to follow His example. We are not to give some people better treatment than others, and though we may be prone to do so, we are to observe James' exhortation and be like God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Next time James shares about a “rich man” and a “poor man” coming “unto your assembly”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.