James 2:1-6

 

Our currency in the US has the images of former presidents on it. You can probably name a few of them and maybe even all of them. Other nations do something similar, even the Romans back in the time of Jesus did this. The image helps show who the money ultimately belongs to. Our souls also have someone's image imprinted on them: God's. We are made in His image and so His image is on us. 

 

Four Kingdom principles for how we see people: 

  1. See Jesus correctly (v. 1). … Jesus (Who is also God) is imprinted on us all. It marks us as His creation. And it makes us all equal. When anyone stands next to Jesus, they look unimpressive. From Bezos and Gates and Pitt to the person sleeping under the bridge, we are all utterly unimpressive when compared to Jesus. And we are equal because of it. 
  2. Don’t judge people by outward appearances (vv. 2-4). … In the church James was writing to, apparently well off visitors were given favorable seating. People who were dressed in rags would be asked to give their seat to someone better dressed. But we know that what we wear isn't what gives us value. Our status of being made in God's image gives us our value. No matter what we wear, our value doesn't change because it is founded in the fact that we were created by God. 
  3. Remember your own rescue (v 5). … Nobody is saved by their own means, be it financial or works. The only way to be saved is to receive it as a gift from God. With that in mind, we should treat others respectfully regardless of their wealth or lack of it. Rich believers stand on the same level as poor ones at the foot of the cross. 
  4. Live with Kingdom values (vv. 6-8). … 
    1. Seek to see people as Jesus sees them. … They have the image of God on them, and for that alone, they deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. 
    2. Look for the overlooked and forgotten. … Some people are often overlooked or left out and a simple hello or smile could make their day. 
    3. Treat people with kindness. … This sounds simple and easy, but it is something people can easily forget to do. Just showing a bit of kindness can improve someone's day. 


We are all created in God's image, from the greatest athletes and top scientists to the average person and those who have special needs. We are all children of the King. 

 

Key Doctrine – The Imago Dei

The imago Dei teaches that every human is created in the image of God (Gen. 1:26–27). This means we reflect God’s nature in ways such as reasoning, relating, and moral understanding. It is not about appearance but about our spiritual and relational capacities. Because all people bear God’s image, every life has intrinsic value, and we are called to honor and love one another as reflections of our Creator.

 

For Further Study/Resources Used to Prepare This Message

  • James by David Platt (Christ-Centered Exposition)
  • The Letter of James by Douglas J. Moo (Pillar)
  • James by Craig Blomberg & Mariam Kamell (Zondervan)
  • James: Faith That Works by R. Kent Hughes (Crossway)
  • BibleProject — “James Overview” video