God's Grace (James 2:5-7)

God's Grace (2:5–7)

The focus here is on God's choice, which is an act of grace. If salvation were contingent upon merit, it would not be considered grace. Grace means that God chooses people who can't earn or deserve His salvation (Eph. 1:4–7; 2:8–10). We are saved by what Christ did on the cross, not by anything we are or have.

God isn't concerned about differences between countries (Acts 10:34). When Peter went to the Gentile home of Cornelius, preached to the Gentiles, and even ate with them, the Jewish believers were very surprised. The first church council talked about whether a Gentile had to become a Jew to become a Christian (Acts 15). The Holy Spirit said, "No!" in response. When it comes to condemnation (Rom. 2:6–16) or salvation (Rom. 10:1–13), God does not see a difference between Jews and Gentiles.

God also isn't concerned about social differences. Masters and slaves (Eph. 6:9), and rich and poor are all the same to Him. James taught us that God's grace makes the rich man poor because he can't rely on his money. It also makes the poor man rich because he gets the riches of grace in Christ. (Look at James 1:9–11 again.) In 1 Sam 2:7-8 we read, "The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: He bringeth low, and lifteth up. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: . . ."

From the perspective of humanity, God selects the impoverished over the affluent. "For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty" (1 Cor. 1:26–27). People who are poor in this world become rich in faith, and as children of God, they inherit the kingdom's riches.

You can be poor in this world and rich in the next, or rich in this world and poor in the next (1 Tim. 6:17–18). You could also be poor in this life and the next or rich in this life and the next. What you do with Christ and what He has given you is what truly matters. God promises the kingdom to "those that love Him" (James 2:5), not to those who love the world and its wealth.

James gave a strong warning in James 2:6–7 about acting like the unsaved rich people when you look down on the poor man. It was easy for rich people to take advantage of poor people, sway court decisions, and become richer. Sadly, the same sins are being committed today, and they are against the name of Christ. Our Lord was poor, and the rich leaders of His time did wrong to Him as well.

If we truly believe in God's grace, we have to treat people according to God's plan and not according to their social status or worth. Jesus died to bring Jews and Gentiles together (Eph. 2:11–22). But Jesus broke down the barriers between rich and poor, young and old, and educated and uneducated when He was born and lived. We should keep those walls down if we believe in God's grace.