The good news and the bad news

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September 11, 2011
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GRAB YOUR BIBLES James 2:5-9
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Today my message is going to be about.....Good news and bad news:
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➀Good news for the repentant: ➁But bad news for the rebellious!
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LETS READ THE TEXT James 2:5-9
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V.5A “Hearken, my beloved brethren,”
-A WARNING.....THE LORD WANTS US TO RECEIVE-
(Therefore he says....... “Hearken”
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“Hearken” Lit.(give ear to
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When the LORD says.... “listen up”:
We had better.....pay attention!
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V.5B “Hath not God chosen”
-AN IMPORTANT FACTOR....TO ALWAYS CONSIDER-
(The LORD’s will
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And our desires have been warped by sin:
Therefore we are no judge of what’s right!
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-OUR “ONLY” SOURCE....FOR DETERMINING THE LORD’S WILL-
i.e. His Word!
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V.5C “the poor of this world rich in faith,”
-OUR JUDGEMENT OF PEOPLE....THAT CAN’T BE TRUSTED-
(The poor
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Our judgement can’t be trusted because we judge people...by the wrong criteria:
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Judge people by their wealth or education!
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Note: Richness in faith...can’t always be seen!
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V.5D “and heirs of the kingdom”
-THE TRUTH ABOUT.....EVERY FELLOW CHRISTIAN-
(Regardless of how acceptable...they may look
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They are joint heirs with us:
To the kingdom of God!
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V.5E “which he hath promised to them that love him?”
-ONE THING.....ALL CHRISTIANS HAVE IN COMMON-
(Regardless of who they are...or how they look
We all....love the LORD!
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We need to allow...this to be:
Our only qualification for fellowship!
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V.6A “But ye have despised the poor.”
-A FLAW IN OUR HUMAN NATURE....WE NEED TVERCOME-
(Our bad feelings about the poor
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-THE BUILT IN PREJUDICE WE HAVE.....TOWARD A LOWER CLASS-
(We don’t think that they are good as us
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But no amount of money or education:
Makes one person...better than someone else!
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V.6B “Do not rich men oppress you,”
-THE REASON THIS ISN’T....SPIRITUAL “CLASS WARFARE”-
(Because the poor....can’t oppress anyone
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Therefore any oppressing that takes place:
Must be done by the rich!
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V.6C “and draw you before the judgment seats?”
-ANOTHER REASON....THIS ISN’T AN “ANTI-RICH” PASSAGE-
(Because the poor...have no influence in society
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If you or I are sued:
Most likely it will be by a wealthy person!
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V.7A “Do not they blaspheme that worthy name”
-SOMETHING COMMON.....TO EVERY UNSAVED PERSON-
(Blaspheme
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(But most people are blind.....to the flaws of the rich
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Because we figure....that people with money:
Have no reason...to blaspheme the Lord:
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Because He has...so wonderfully blessed them!
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V.7B “by the which ye are called?”
-ATTACKS UPON US....ARE REALLY ATTACKS UPON CHRIST-
(Because we belong to Him
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Remember what Jesus said to Paul....in Acts 9:5
"......I am Jesus whom thou persecutest:”
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V.8A “If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture,”
-THE 3 BIG “IF’s”.......THIS PASSAGE BRINGS US TO-
➀(“If” your saved
➁(& “if” you want to be obedient
➂(& “if” you want to be blessed by the Lord
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Than you will...”fulfil the royal law”!
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-TODAY’S REBELLIOUS ANSWER......TO THIS CHALLENGE-
The lie....that “the Lord blesses everybody”:
Regardless of what they do:
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But that is just...not Biblically sound!
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V.8B “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself,”
-THE GREAT CHALLENGE....SET BEFORE EVERY CHRISTIAN-
(Which isn’t that great of a challenge
For those of us...who are really saved:
Because we have...a changed heart!
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-THE WHOLE POINT....OF THIS PART OF THE BIBLE-
➀There are billions of religious people:
➁Who are unsaved...and going to hell:
➂And don’t even know it:
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So the Lord helps them out...with challenges like this!
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If they “can’t” fulfill them:
Than they have something....to think about!
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V.8C “ye do well:”
-THE WONDERFUL RESULTS......OF FOLLOWING GOD’S INSTRUCTIONS-
(The Lord says.... “we do well”
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There is absolutely nothing more important in life:
Than to be pleasing to the LORD:
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Therefore...put “your will” on the back burner:
And start doing the “LORD’s will”!
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V.9A “But if ye have respect to persons,”
-A SINFUL ATTITUDE.....THAT THE LORD TAKES SERIOUSLY-
(Therefore we aught to take it seriously
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-WHAT IF A PERSON.....REFUSES TO TAKE IT SERIOUSLY??-
There are only two things.....that will happen:
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➀If your saved...you will be chastened:
➁If your unsaved...you will keep doing it!
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V.9B “ye commit sin,”
-THE TWUTCOMES.....FOR PEOPLE WHO COMMIT SIN-
(Depending upon your relationship with the Lord
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➀Christians: Will be told to....STOP IT:
“Or else!”
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➁While the unsaved: (Who aren’t the Lord’s)
“Will go on their merry way”!
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V.9C “and are convinced of the law as transgressors.”
-THE LORD’S WONDERFUL WARNING....TO HIS CHILDREN-
(He will send “conviction”
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➀The “wise” Christian will feel badly...on the inside:
And will stop and ask the Lord.. “what’s wrong”?
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➁ While the “foolish” Christian...will turn on the TV:
And ignore it:
And God’s chastening...will begin!
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