The Sin of Partiality (alternatively, "The Sin of Favortism")

So what does “partiality” mean?  To be “partial”, according to Webster’s, means a person is “inclined to favor one party more than the other”:

This is such a serious issue because, when one really digs down to consider all that is implicated in the study of this issue, the way we are about this is a direct reflection of the nature of our hearts.  Let that sink in a second.  Favortism is really quite vile in the eyes of God. 

James 2:1-13 My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favortism.  Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in.  If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?  Listen, my dear brothers and sisters:  Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?  But you have dishonored the poor.  It is not the rich who are exploiting you?  Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court?  Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?  If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right.  But if you show favortism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.

There is a serious sin problem with favortism and it is this:  in God’s eyes, there is immeasurable value in the soul of every human born (and the souls of the unborn, I might add..) since the beginning of creation.  The scriptures tell us that.  We are God’s crowning creation achievement!

There is no scripture in the Bible - so far as I can tell - that supports the notion that God places a higher value on the souls of some men than He does others.  To the contrary, the Bible says in Acts 10:34 that “God is no respecter of persons”. 

Here are three reasons that favoritism is wrong and does immeasurable harm to the Church of God:

1.   It shows the greed and arrogance of our own heart.  After all, why do we show favoritism?  Don’t we place one person in an exalted position in our outlook because we may (even subconsciously) be considering what they could do for us – or how we could benefit by being in their favor?

2.  It flies in the face of God’s Gospel, which places an immeasurable value on every human soul.  John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  Whosoever means anyone. There is no room for favoritism in God’s Gospel.

3.  It shatters our testimony and grieves the Holy Spirit.  How could we ever be used as a tool in leading anyone to Christ if we would walk past a person the world would see as insignificant to “minister” to another?  God would never bless a person’s ministry if their heart was geared this way.

 How many people have abandoned the faith because they were victim to the evils of favoritism? They might have tattoos, body piercings, they didn’t have nice clothes, perhaps their shoes weren’t shined bright enough, their vocabulary wasn’t polished and they didn’t have a formal education.  They went home lost and confused because the Gospel they heard from the pulpit didn’t align with the gospel they experienced. 

  

Please forgive ME if I have ever treated you in a way that caused you to think I valued you or loved you less than I did someone else.  You are so valuable to the God of this universe.  If you’re already trusting in Jesus for salvation, I pray hard that you might self-assess in this area.  If you’ve ever been guilty of favoritism, ask for forgiveness and ask God to help you, by the work of the Holy Spirit, to approach every person with the love of God.  If you’ve never asked Jesus to come into your life and save you, I plead with you to do that today.  Click here to learn how you can give your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ.  Isn't it time?  http://www.theencouragingword.org/discover-jesus

Rudy

What is repentance?

My friend, repentance is imperative for salvation. 

In short, it means to change your mind.  Billy Graham has described it this way:  you’re driving down the road of life going your own direction - and you do a flat out U-turn.  You’re willing to turn around, go the opposite direction - God’s direction. 

Repentance means you agree with God that His way is the way you’re willing to go with God’s help.  Any many people may say, "well I’ve got this sin problem.  I’m addicted to alcohol.  There’s no way I could just quit drinking like that.  My language is awful.  How can God change me?"

That last question may be key.  God does the changing.  One of the most powerful and well-known hymns in the world is called “Just As I Am”.  And that’s exactly how God wants you to come to him:  Just as you are.  God does the changing.  If you will trust that He is able, you just say to him, “Lord, I can’t change on my own, I need you to do this for me.”  He is able - and He is willing. 

II Corinthians 7:9-10 is perhaps one of the most important scripture passages in the whole Bible dealing with the subject of repentance.  The Apostle Paul speaks in a letter to the Church at Corinth: 

“yet now I (Paul) am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us.  Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.”

So then, what is the difference between a Godly sorrow that leads to repentance and a worldly sorrow that leads to death?  Please take a quick read of this story I found on CNN.com recently:

http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/28/travel/russian-photographer-apology/index.html?hpt=hp_c3

_________________________________________________________________________

“Photographer sorry for climbing pyramid”

Russian photographer apologizes for pyramid photos

(CNN) -- Was it the ultimate adventure or an audacious act of disrespect that should be punished by law?

An Internet sensation was touched off this week by Russian photographer Vadim Makhorov and a group of his friends -- the group ignored regulations prohibiting the public from climbing on the Pyramids at Giza, Egypt, and came away with spectacular photos.

The images from Makhorov and another photographer, Vitaliy Raskalov, were taken on top of the Pyramids from positions that avoided detection by guards. The photos have incited reactions ranging from envy and awe to indignation and concern for the preservation of the ancient wonders.

In an email to CNN, Makhorov now explains his reasons for flaunting the regulations, and issues an apology to Egypt and the world.

Vadim Makhorov's email to CNN

"I've always been drawn to Egypt. For as long as I can remember my dream was to get to the top of the Great Pyramid of Giza.

"When my friends and I arrived in Cairo the first thing we decided to do was to go and see the pyramids. We got there in the evening, just in time to witness the laser show.

"No words can express the fascination I felt when seeing my childhood dream come alive. Probably this very feeling made us climb onto the top of the Pyramid and see the the panorama of the whole complex, the desert and Cairo itself.

"It was already pitch black and nobody paid us any attention. We started climbing as fast and as soundless as we could. You have to be quite strong and agile to climb onto a meter-high block covered with dust.

"The thought that we were going to witness something spectacular pushed us forward."
"It was exhausting, but the thought that we were going to witness something spectacular pushed us forward.

"It took us around 20 minutes to get to the top. We were taken breathless by the view.
"What we saw from up there was the seventh wonder of the world. We tried to capture the beauty of the scenery in the photos, so that the others could also see this magnificent panorama.

"We, of course, were not the first who dared to climb the pyramid.

"The pyramid's peak was filled with different inscriptions in many languages, some of them being hundreds years old.

"After enjoying the view for some time we started the descent. It turned out to be harder then climbing up. We were very lucky not to get [caught]. We would have been in serious trouble if we did.

"That's why I would like to apologize for this ascension. We didn't want to insult anyone. We were just following the dream."
_________________________________________________________________________

This is just an illustration.. As you read that article, did you sense that this fellow was sorry for what he did?  I sure didn't.  How do I know that?  He apologizes.  It’s obvious that he wishes he hadn’t been caught.  And the statements he makes are filled with justifications for his actions.  It appears the only thing he’s sorry about is that he got caught.  If we asked this man “if you had it to do all over again, would you still do it?”, I think his answer would be affirmative, especially since getting “caught” didn’t result in any legal repercussions or trouble. 

Peter denied the Lord on three different occasions.  But Peter is with the Lord even now in Heaven.  Judas sold the Lord for thirty pieces of silver.  The Bible says this concerning Judas in  

Matthew 27:3: 

“When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders.”

Both men betrayed Jesus in one way or another.  Both were sorry.  But the difference between the two men was a heart matter that only God could see.  Judas took his own life afterward.  And Peter’s repentance led him to continue in the ministry, boldly preaching the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Esau, too, from the Old Testament was sorry for selling his birthright for a morsel. 

(side note:  I never refer to people from the Bible as “characters”..  That word carries with it the idea that they are somehow fictional.  We would never refer to Thomas Jefferson or Napoleon Bonaparte as ‘characters’.  They’re real people.  They lived a long time ago, but their stories are real.)

But the Old Testament tells us that he (Esau) was unable (or unwilling, rather) to come to a place of repentance. 

Hebrews 12:17

“For ye know how that afterward, when he (Esau) would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears."

That's a scary thought to me.  He sought repentance with tears.  He wanted desperately to be sorry for what he had done.  You might ask that, too:  what if I just honestly don't feel sorry for what I've done or for the route I'm traveling?  PRAY!  Ask God to give you a spirit of repentance! 

Understand this, too.  Jesus Christ invites everyone to a relationship with him.  And He is not willing that any should perish as a result of an unrepentant spirit:

II Peter 3:9 -

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

Have you changed your mind?  Have you arrived at a place where you no longer are travelling your own road, but you’ve sort of metaphorically turned the car ‘round and you’re letting God do the driving down the path He designed for you? 

Let me tell you something, my friend.  Life is hard.  There’s no doubt about it.  We all carry sin problems and we have relational and financial and health problems.  Giving one’s heart to Jesus Christ does not ensure that life’s problems will go away.  But walking with Jesus ensures you this:  He will never leave you, nor forsake you.  Even as you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, He will be with you.  Even if every friend you have on this earth turns on you, He will be constant. 

Four Facts About Sin

1. We Have All Sinned  

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23   "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one” Romans 3:10  This is an interesting thing.  I've never done a survey and I don't plan on doing one anytime soon.  But fifty years ago, I almost believe by far and away the majority of people if asked, "are you a sinner?", would respond affirmatively.  Today, I don't think as many people are willing to make that concession.  Friend, if you aren't willing to admit that you've sinned against God, you have no place to start.  You have sinned.  And so have I.  And if we can come to grips with that fact, we're just the kind of candidate God is looking for to give his Gift of Salvation.
 
2. The Penalty For Sin Is Death (not just physical death, but Death of the Soul).

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”  Romans 6:23
 
3. Sin Costs..  in this life, and in the life to come. 

For the non-Christian, Sin ultimately costs the Soul.  God requires sinlessness (yes, perfection!).  You and I are sinners both by birth (because we were born with what theologians would call the “Adamic nature”) and by choice.  When Adam and Eve sinned, that sin nature fell upon all of their descendants.  We are born with a tendency toward evil.  We don’t have to “try” even, it comes naturally..

And then we’re sinners by choice.  We have all sinned deliberately.  We sin when we lie, when we carry hate in our hearts and in all sorts of other ways. 

The Bible tells us in I Peter 5:8 to “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”  Isn’t that a startling word picture?  As a lion prowls through a thicket looking for its prey, Satan prowls about the earth looking for a person (that’s you - - that’s me!) to devour.. that is to consume.. to kill.. He's looking for the death of the soul. 

As the late, great Dr. Adrian Rogers said (and I don’t know if he coined the expression), “Sin will always take you farther than you wanted to go, keep you longer than you wanted to stay and cost you more than you wanted to pay...”

Christian beware, there's a price for you, too.  Born-Again Believers are not exempt from sin.  There is a price to be paid by the Believer, too.  We pay for sin in this life in all kinds of ways.  But sin also has a pricetag in the life to come.
 
4. Sin Can Be Forgiven

Before our sins can be forgiven, we must acknowledge that we are, indeed, Sinners - that we have broken God’s laws.  If we'll do that, the scripture says God will forgive us:

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” I John 1:9

Pay close attention to the words of this song to sum up this short lesson:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8RfKNC0f4w&safe=active


In holy pages this truth can be found
A promise to stand on when darkness abounds
Oh, right never loses and wrong never wins
And grace will always be greater than sin


Grace will always be greater than sin
Calvary has proven it time and again
Whatever you’ve done
Wherever you’ve been
God’s grace will always be greater than sin
 
Broken and bruised from the choices you’ve made
Sin has a price and so often you’ve paid
Oh, but Jesus is waiting
New hope is in Him
And grace will always be greater than sin 

Grace will always be greater than sin
Calvary has proven it time and again
Whatever you’ve done
Wherever you’ve been
God’s grace will always be greater than sin   

Grace, grace God’s grace
Grace that is greater than all my sin
Whatever you’ve done
Wherever you’ve been
God’s grace will always be greater than sin



Rudy