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Do not discriminate against people
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[ James
2:1 ]
My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't
show favoritism.
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We are saved by
faith in Jesus. We are saved to have eternal life. This salvation is the most
valuable gift that can be compared to anything else.
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The person who received
salvation as a gift is a person who keeps and obeys God's commandments. When
Jesus was on the earth, a law teacher asked Jesus a question. ¡°What is the
most important of all the commandments?¡±
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Jesus answered the
law scholar. ¡°The most important commandment is this. Lord, our God is one.
He said to love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul,
with all your mind, and with all your might.¡± He said that the most important
commandment is to serve God, who is only one, with all your heart.
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Then Jesus said.
¡°The second important commandment is this. Love your neighbor as your body.
No other commandment is more important than these.¡± Believing in Jesus and
being saved, we must keep these two commandments that Jesus said.
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The book of James
specifically describes how people who believe in Jesus and are saved should
live.
Today we will look
at what you said about those who did not keep the commandment, 'Love your
neighbor.'
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The book of James
gives an example of the faults of those who do not love their neighbors.
There were two people who came to church. One person wore very good clothes
and came out with a gold ring in his hand. At that time, putting a gold ring
on his hand indicates that he is a wealthy person.
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On the other hand,
another man came to church in shabby clothes. This man's figure was poor.
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Everyone goes to
someone who wears very good clothes and has a gold ring in their hand. ¡°Come
here and sit in a good position.¡± Those who valued him made a seat and cared
for him to sit in a good position.
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However they showed
a completely different attitude to the poor who stood together. ¡°You there!
Go over there and stand there or sit anywhere on the floor here. ¡± They
ignored this man and did not welcome him.
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They respected the
rich and ignored the poor. They made a severe discrimination based only on
the appearance of a person. This is the behavior God hates most.
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God does not
discriminate against the poor. He gave salvation to the poor and promised the
kingdom of God. God made them spiritually rich, even if they lived poor lives
in the world.
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The actions of those
who discriminated against the poor are wrong actions that did not follow
Jesus' teaching, 'Love your neighbor as your body.' They committed the crime
of judging and discriminating people.
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The Bible says that
people who discriminate against people are criminals who have broken God's
laws.
[James 2:9] ¡°But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by
the law as lawbreakers.¡±
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The Bible warns that
God will not show mercy to those who discriminate by visibly without
respecting others.
[James 2:13] ¡°because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who
has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!¡±
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Jesus, God, did not
discriminate against me as an ugly and evil sinner and gave me salvation as a
gift. I must try to repay the love I received from Jesus by loving my
neighbor. We must not commit the crime of judging or discriminating against
him for his appearance. I hope you will become a people of faith who glorify
God by practicing the love you received from Jesus to those around you.
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(This
is the sample conclusion provided by CTM. Please feel free to change the
conclusion to best suit the listeners of your sermon.)
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