Rich In Faith

Our Bible passage, introduction to Sunday 21st December service and hymns are below.

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Our principal verses are:

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

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?

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?

Rich In Faith

With his opening words James reminds us He is speaking to believers; men and women who have the faith of Jesus Christ. His audience are his ‘brethren’ and include all James’ brothers and sisters in Christ; children of the same Father, siblings to the Son; adoptees into the family of God by the Spirit of adoption. Being one family in ‘the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ’ is no small part of James’ argument in this section. Professing faith in Jesus Christ means we have nothing in ourselves with which to boast before God and men. We are what we are by grace.

An example from free grace

God has shown Himself to be no respecter of persons in choosing and saving His people according to His own good pleasure and freely, that is, entirely without reference to any merit in them. All God’s people know this to be true. It is inconsistent and absurd that a child of God having been graciously blessed by God should be in turn partial in their dealings with others. Again James is entirely consistent with Paul who wrote in Philippians 2:3, ‘Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves’.

Men under authority

The faith of Jesus Christ is both precious and common to all believers. Our Saviour is faith’s Author and Object. All who have Christ have Christ’s faith and are united together in Him. He is the Lord of glory and every believer, be they rich or poor in this world’s goods, have their true riches in the commonwealth of Christ. We are redeemed by the same precious blood. Each is an ambassador for Christ’s cause. We serve at His pleasure under His rule. We are cared for by the same wise counsel and supplied from the same treasure store of mercy. We are members of His body and fitted for His purpose.

Pride and prejudice

James gives an example of a rich man adorned with a gold ring and expensive garments and a poor man in filthy clothes joining a gathering, or assembly, of believers. Perhaps James is drawing upon personal experience of things he has seen. In his example the rich man is given respect for his wealth and seated in a place of honour. The poor man is neglected and despised. The apostle finds it intolerable that the outwardly rich should be treated more favourably than the evidently poor and that by followers of the One who had nowhere to lay His head.

A gospel rule

That, says James, is being partial and a respecter of persons. It is crediting the rich with greater dignity because of his wealth and despising the poor for his poverty. It is unbecoming the church of Christ. But notice how James deals with this sin. He does not lay down a law to be obeyed. He enquires rather, ‘Are ye not then partial in yourselves?’ Or we might say, ‘Does not your own conscience tell you this is wrong?’ The apostle delicately contrasts this attitude to the grace of God and the example of Christ in the experience of a believer. He points out how the gospel teaches us that such partiality is the product of evil thinking and incompatible with the faith of Christ.

Search your heart

James calls on his fellow believers to listen to his words and weigh their importance. How has it been for you under the gospel? What is your personal experience of God’s grace? ‘Hath not God chosen the poor of this world?’ Has not God shown mercy to the poor in spirit? Has He not honoured them in eternal election and redeemed them with precious blood?  Has He not made them rich in faith and bestowed on them promises of everlasting glory? If God chooses and blesses the poor why would we despise them?

All glory to God

James’ argument does not imply all the poor will be saved for reason of being poor, or that none who are rich can be saved. Yet the evidence is irrefutable. ‘Not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.’ The ‘base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen’. It is it inconsistent with the pattern of grace in the gospel to despise the poor of this world whom God delights to bless and has often made rich in faith and heirs of His kingdom.

A truly ‘worthy name’

The apostle notes the irony of being partial towards the rich. Often it is the rich and powerful who most oppose the Lord’s people, inflicting harm upon them. They oppress the church of Christ, haul individual believers before judges and exploit the poor. ‘They blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called.’ James’ lesson is clear, as God has blessed us we ought to bless others. Having freely received, freely give.

Amen

Hymn 257

“Blessed are the poor in spirit.”  Matt. 5. 3;  James 2. 5

A. Steele                                   L.M.

1
Ye humble souls, complain no more;
Let faith survey your future store.
How happy, how divinely blest,
The sacred words of truth attest.

2
In vain the sons of wealth and pride
Despise your lot, your hope deride;
In vain they boast their little stores;
Trifles are theirs, a kingdom yours.

3
A kingdom of immense delight,
Where health, and peace, and joy unite;
Where undeclining pleasures rise,
And every wish has full supplies.

4
A kingdom which can ne’er decay,
While time sweeps earthly thrones away;
The state which power and truth sustain,
Unmoved for ever must remain.

5
There shall your eyes with rapture view
The glorious Friend that died for you,
That died to ransom, died to raise
To crowns of joy and songs of praise.

6
Jesus! to thee I breathe my prayer;
Reveal, confirm my interest there;
Whate’er my humble lot below,
This, this my soul desires to know.

Hymn 918

Spiritual Poverty. Matt. 5. 3; Luke. 6. 20; James 2. 5

J. Kent               8.7.4.

1
Blessèd are the poor in spirit,
Who their native vileness see,
They are all taught sin’s demerit,
Gladly own salvation free,
And from Sinai
To the wounds of Jesus flee.

2
Stripped of all their fancied meetness
To approach the dread I AM,
They are led to see all fitness
Centring in the worthy Lamb;
And adoring,
Sing his Godhead, blood, and name.

3
Self-renouncing, grace admiring,
Made unto salvation wise,
Matchless love their bosoms firing,
O how sweet their songs arise:
“None but Jesus!”
From his blood their hopes arise.

4
At his throne their sins confessing,
Now in shame they veil their face,
Weeping, loving, praising, blessing,
On his head the crown they place;
Shouting glory
To the God of sovereign grace.

Those who have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ the Lord of glory are rich beyond the wealth of this world and heirs of God. How we act, how we live and treat others is to be conditioned and regulated by our experience of God's love and Christ's salvation.