The character of Christians fully implied: they are such as have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ they embrace it they receive it they govern themselves by it they entertain the doctrine, and submit to the law and government, of Christ they have it as a trust they have it as a treasure. A caution against this sin laid down in general: My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons, v. He shows how much mischief there is in the sin of prosopolepsia- respect of persons, which seemed to be a very growing evil in the churches of Christ even in those early ages, and which, in these after-times, has sadly corrupted and divided Christian nations and societies. The apostle is here reproving a very corrupt practice. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? 7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? 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 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: 4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? 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? 6 But ye have despised the poor.
(A.D.61.)ġ My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. Regard Due to Poor Christians Partiality Condemned. He exposes the error and folly of those who boast of faith without works, telling us that this is but a dead faith, and such a faith as devils have, not the faith of Abraham, or of Rahab, ver 11, to the end. He shows that the whole law is to be fulfilled, and that mercy should be followed, as well as justice, ver 8-13. In this chapter the apostle condemns a sinful regarding of the rich, and despising the poor, which he imputes to partiality and injustice, and shows it to be an acting contrary to God, who has chosen the poor, and whose interest is often persecuted, and his name blasphemed, by the rich, ver 1-7.
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