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James 2:8-9
8 If [ei] [mentoi] ye fulfil [teleo] the royal [basilikos] law [nomos] according to [kata] the scripture [graphe], Thou shalt love [agapao] thy [sou] neighbour [plesion] as [hos] thyself [seautou], ye do [poieo] well [kalos]:
9 But [de] if [ei] ye have respect to persons [prosopolepteo], ye commit [ergazomai] sin [hamartia], and are convinced [elegcho] of [hupo] the law [nomos] as [hos] transgressors [parabates]. KJV-Interlinear
8 If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law, according to the Scripture, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself,' you are doing well. 9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. NASB
By dealing with partiality and disrespect to people, we commit the sins of prejudice, of bias, injustice, intolerance, of favoritism and so forth. And though you are not commanded to make anyone and everyone your best friend, you are commanded to demonstrate respect and fairness to all.
Matt. 22:39
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Lev. 19:15
15 Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour.
Lev. 19:18
18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord.
This is the second of the two greatest of laws. Can you remember the first? 'You shall love the Lord…'
Ok. Now you recall them.
God is to be first in everything, and then people are to be treated as you would yourself. Given these two rules that regulate your relationship with God and people, then everything else comes easy. The bulk of your trouble, if not all of your troubles, has to do with your relationship, or lack of it, with God and people.
Bible doctrine provides the solutions to all of the interpersonal skills you require in life.
Your life is not to be guided by celebrityship, not by wealth, not by talent, not by the many typical things that folks look to for role models.
But, you are to look to Bible doctrine, the content of truth, as your role model, for guiding your life.
This law is called a royal law. It came directly from God, and applies to all of humanity, not to believers only. It is a part of the common grace policy of God, and as such is necessary for the stability of society. To approach this law in pretense by demonstrating partiality in any way, in promoting social classes by any definition, so as to elevate ones self above others, is a sin.
