James: A Handbook on Holiness

What Is Wrong with Partiality – Why You Need God's Law, Part 2

James 2:8-13

General outline:

1. The Way to Holiness: The Divine Perspective 1:2-27

   1. The Trial-Temptation Complex 1:2-18

1. 1. The Word of God 1:19-27

2. The Principles of Holiness: The Biblical Framework 2:1-26

   1. The Law is the Structure of Holiness 2:1-13

      1. The Focus upon Partiality 2:1-7

      2. The Nature of Partiality 2:8-13

         1. It Opposes Love 2:8

         2. It Opposes the Law 2:9-11

         3. It Opposes the Judgment 2:12-13

   2. Faith is the Dynamics of Holiness 2:14-26

James 2:8-13

It Opposes Love

8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing well.

It Opposes the Law

9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for 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.

It Opposes the Judgment

12 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.

Discussion Questions:

1. Which Biblical reality would you rather have—Love, the Law, or the Judgment? ____________

2. Can a sinner have Biblical Love without the Law? ___________________________________

3. V. 8 might make you think James teaches salvation by works. How does v. 10 (supported by Rom. 3:23) correct that error? ____________________________________________________

4. In what way does partiality break any of the 10 Commandments? _______________________

5. In what way do vv. 10-11 teach the 10 Commandments lead us to not show partiality? _______

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6. If you have received God's mercy, you are at "liberty" because the Law no longer condemns you. (See Luke 7:47; Matt. 6:12, 14-15) How then should you "speak" and "act" (v. 12)? ____

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7. Why? (v. 13) _________________________________________________________________