A Better Way

Follow Along with the Message

It is possible to do church wrong!  Spirit grieved and sad and quenched.

It is also possible to do church well!

"What I lack in tact, I make up for in clarity."

Pastor James is pretty direct.

"Personal favoritism"  (prosopon lambano--to take hold of the face).   To view people through external appearance.

     "God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7).

To illustrate, James gives a hypothetical situation.  Rich man/poor man.  Different treatment.

Not money only.  Male/female.  Young/old.  White/black.  Married/single.  Attractive/plain.  American/foreign.  Fit/fat.

     "All animals are equal.  Some animals are more equal than others" (George Orwell).

Evil motive.  What can they do for us?

Carnal Christians.

--The Better Way is to Focus on the GLORY OF CHRIST.

     "Do not hold your faith in our GLORIOUS Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism" (v. 1).

Glory--Hebrew, "weight or significance".   Greek, "shining light of beauty or significance."

Jesus is the Significant One.  Jesus is the Beautiful One.  "We beheld His glory."  No one else.

     "You will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and glory" (Luke 21:27).  

"Face to face with Christ, my Savior, Face to face--what will it be, when with rapture I behold Him, Jesus Christ who died for me?" (Carrie Ellis Breck).

--The Better Way is to Surrender to the WILL OF CHRIST.

God chose the poor, you have dishonored the poor man.  Vs. 4.

Sunday School--Robert Raikes, 1780

Not too hard!  "If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up?  And if you do not well, sin is crouching at the door. . .you must master it" (Genesis 4:7).

--The Better Way is to Seek the APPROVAL OF CHRIST.

     "If however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself,' you are doing well" (v. 8).

Royal--all that indicates Jesus as Lord

Scripture

Command of Christ

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"You done good."  kalos (good) poieo (do)

The Language of Judgement.  Well done!

Have we made mistakes?  Yes.  Is He calling us to better?  Yes.  The great mercy of Christ!