Mercy Not Judgment.

Jas 2:1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

Do not judge harshly based on outward appearance.

Jas 2:2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;

Jas 2:3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:

Jas 2:4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?

This is truth. So often we just look at a person and we make assumptions based upon their appearances. We tend to believe that people who are dressed nicely and are well groomed are somehow inherently better than those who are dressed in tattered and torn clothing and are unkempt, unwashed.  We stop far short of getting to know a person in our judging and this has made us so far from being Christlike it's not funny. The faith of our Lord Jesus Christ goes beyond judging people quickly.

Jas 2:5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

Jas 2:6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?

Jas 2:7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?

God has CHOSEN the poor of this world who are RICH in faith to be His heirs.

God has CHOSEN those who love HIM.

God is not caught up in the wealth a person possesses. God looks upon the hearts, and all too often the hearts of the rich are filled with haughtiness, filled with boasting, filled with self-importance, filled with disdain. The rich will often oppress the poor in many ways, believing their superiority entitles them to a better life, more respect. God sees the heart!

Jas 2:8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:

Jas 2:9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

The ROYAL LAW- the TEN COMMANDMENTS- to fulfil them- to keep them means we are to LOVE our NEIGHBORS as IF THEY WERE US! LOVE how we would want to be LOVED.

If we do not treat a person as if they were US, or HOW we'd want to be treated in a perfect world, then we are SINNING.

SINNING. It is a huge deal for us to treat other people harshly, judgmentally,

Jas 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

GUILTY of all the law if you do not keep ALL the law.

Jas 2:11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

Jas 2:12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

Jas 2:13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

There WILL be judgment there is NO getting around that, none.

We will be judged WITHOUT mercy if we've shown no mercy!

We will be judged WITH mercy if we've shown mercy!

We need to love our LORD and SAVIOR and if we love Him we will keep HIS commandments, all of them, every single one. We will keep them through the power of our Lord, through the Holy Spirit. We will LOVE GOD, we will LOVE EACH OTHER!

All by His grace now and forever!!!!!!!