Pathway to Victory offers a practical application of God’s Word to everyday life through the clear, biblical teaching of Pastor Jeffress.
      
      
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          Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - When Mr. Goldfinger Comes To Church | September 10, 2025
            - ♪♪
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 - Male announcer: from the pulpit
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 - Of the first baptist church of dallas, texas,
 - 00:00:07.464 --> 00:00:10.033
 - This is "pathway to victory" with dr. robert jeffress.
 - 00:00:10.033 --> 00:00:14.804
 - Dr. robert jeffress: hi, i'm robert jeffress, and welcome
 - 00:00:14.804 --> 00:00:16.773
 - Again to "pathway to victory."
 - 00:00:16.773 --> 00:00:19.309
 - In restaurants, shops, and sadly, even churches, we often
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 - See preferential treatment given to those who seem wealthy
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 - Or important.
 - 00:00:27.450 --> 00:00:28.818
 - The well dressed get the best tables.
 - 00:00:28.818 --> 00:00:31.354
 - The poorly dressed get pushed to the side.
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 - But god's house should be different.
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 - Today we're going to learn that how we treat those
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 - Who are less fortunate is a test of genuine faith.
 - 00:00:39.229 --> 00:00:43.600
 - My message is titled "when mr. goldfinger comes to church" on
 - 00:00:43.600 --> 00:00:48.638
 - Today's edition of "pathway to victory."
 - 00:00:48.638 --> 00:00:52.408
 - ♪♪
 - 00:00:52.642 --> 00:00:59.048
 - Male announcer: where there's genuine faith, there will always
 - 00:00:59.048 --> 00:01:01.518
 - Be visible fruit.
 - 00:01:01.518 --> 00:01:03.286
 - In his brand new book "how to know if you're really saved,"
 - 00:01:03.286 --> 00:01:06.589
 - Dr. robert jeffress helps you take stock of the evidence of
 - 00:01:06.589 --> 00:01:09.792
 - Your faith, the spiritual fruit in your daily life.
 - 00:01:09.792 --> 00:01:13.596
 - This outstanding verse by verse walk through the book of james
 - 00:01:13.596 --> 00:01:17.200
 - Will help you cultivate the spiritual fruit that reflects
 - 00:01:17.200 --> 00:01:20.403
 - Genuine faith.
 - 00:01:20.403 --> 00:01:21.971
 - Request "how to know if you're really saved" when you give a
 - 00:01:21.971 --> 00:01:25.008
 - Generous gift to support the ministry of pathway to victory.
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 - ♪♪
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 - Jeffress: pastor kent hughes tells a story about a woman who
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 - Came from the other side of the tracks, as we used to say.
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 - She was economically disadvantaged, but she started
 - 00:01:44.794 --> 00:01:48.164
 - Attending a wealthy church.
 - 00:01:48.164 --> 00:01:50.567
 - She liked the singing, she liked the preaching, and decided she
 - 00:01:50.567 --> 00:01:54.337
 - Wanted to join, so she made an appointment with the pastor and
 - 00:01:54.337 --> 00:01:58.341
 - The pastor gave her the once over, decided this wasn't gonna
 - 00:01:58.341 --> 00:02:02.245
 - Be a match, so he tried to be diplomatic and said, "you know,
 - 00:02:02.245 --> 00:02:07.150
 - Church membership is very important.
 - 00:02:07.150 --> 00:02:09.419
 - Why don't you go home and think about it a little bit more?"
 - 00:02:09.419 --> 00:02:14.290
 - So she did and she came back the next week, determined to join
 - 00:02:14.290 --> 00:02:18.294
 - And said she wanted to join and the pastor said, "well, you
 - 00:02:18.294 --> 00:02:20.897
 - Know, in our church we prioritize the word of god and
 - 00:02:20.897 --> 00:02:25.235
 - We think the bible has a lot to say.
 - 00:02:25.235 --> 00:02:27.704
 - I want you to go home and every day of the week, read a chapter
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 - Of the bible and see if god has something to say to you."
 - 00:02:30.440 --> 00:02:34.110
 - She was getting annoyed, but she wanted to join, so she did that.
 - 00:02:34.110 --> 00:02:38.581
 - She came back assured that she wanted to join and the pastor
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 - Said, "you know, in our church we believe in the power
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 - Of prayer.
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 - We believe that god leads through prayer, so i want you to
 - 00:02:45.421 --> 00:02:47.991
 - Go back home and every day pray if god really wants you to join
 - 00:02:47.991 --> 00:02:53.496
 - To show you."
 - 00:02:53.496 --> 00:02:54.897
 - Where she left and never came back.
 - 00:02:54.897 --> 00:02:57.834
 - About six months later, the pastor found her on the sidewalk
 - 00:02:57.834 --> 00:03:01.070
 - And ran into her and said, "did you ever do what i said?
 - 00:03:01.070 --> 00:03:04.540
 - Did you ever pray about joining our church?"
 - 00:03:04.540 --> 00:03:06.643
 - She said, "oh yes, i prayed about joining it, and the lord
 - 00:03:06.643 --> 00:03:10.013
 - Spoke to me and said, 'don't worry about not getting into
 - 00:03:10.013 --> 00:03:13.216
 - That church.
 - 00:03:13.216 --> 00:03:14.550
 - I haven't been able to get into it for the last 20 years.'"
 - 00:03:14.550 --> 00:03:19.122
 - How do we deal with those less fortunate than we
 - 00:03:19.122 --> 00:03:23.092
 - Are economically?
 - 00:03:23.092 --> 00:03:25.995
 - Turn in your bibles to james chapter 2.
 - 00:03:25.995 --> 00:03:29.265
 - Beginning with verse 1, james begins with the exhortation.
 - 00:03:29.265 --> 00:03:32.669
 - Look at what the text says: "my brethren, do not hold your faith
 - 00:03:32.669 --> 00:03:37.073
 - In our glorious lord jesus christ with an attitude of
 - 00:03:37.073 --> 00:03:41.577
 - Personal favoritism."
 - 00:03:41.577 --> 00:03:44.480
 - That phrase, my brethren, is rich.
 - 00:03:44.480 --> 00:03:48.518
 - It comes from a single greek word adelphoi, adelphos.
 - 00:03:48.518 --> 00:03:53.556
 - The word adelphos is sometimes translated brotherly.
 - 00:03:53.556 --> 00:03:57.994
 - We call philadelphia, the city of brotherly adelphos, love,
 - 00:03:57.994 --> 00:04:04.567
 - Phileo, but the word adelphos actually means literally, "from
 - 00:04:04.567 --> 00:04:09.639
 - The same womb."
 - 00:04:09.639 --> 00:04:12.141
 - Brothers are brothers because they have a common mother.
 - 00:04:12.141 --> 00:04:16.779
 - It's the same way with christian brothers and sisters.
 - 00:04:16.779 --> 00:04:20.750
 - James says, remember what it is that unites us in the church of
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 - Jesus christ.
 - 00:04:24.921 --> 00:04:26.255
 - It's not our economic status.
 - 00:04:26.255 --> 00:04:27.890
 - It's not some superficial criterion.
 - 00:04:27.890 --> 00:04:31.461
 - It is our love for jesus christ and his love for us.
 - 00:04:31.461 --> 00:04:36.232
 - So he says, "my brethren, don't hold your faith in jesus with an
 - 00:04:36.232 --> 00:04:40.436
 - Attitude of personal faith favoritism," literally, "to
 - 00:04:40.436 --> 00:04:44.841
 - Receive by face," to judge by face value alone.
 - 00:04:44.841 --> 00:04:50.179
 - If you have a king james version that says, "don't be a respecter
 - 00:04:50.179 --> 00:04:54.917
 - Of persons."
 - 00:04:54.917 --> 00:04:56.652
 - That phrase was immediately recognizable to james's
 - 00:04:56.652 --> 00:05:00.423
 - Jewish audience.
 - 00:05:00.423 --> 00:05:01.824
 - For throughout the old testament, there was a
 - 00:05:01.824 --> 00:05:03.826
 - Prohibition against being a respecter of persons.
 - 00:05:03.826 --> 00:05:08.030
 - Because god is not a respecter of persons.
 - 00:05:08.030 --> 00:05:11.567
 - He doesn't judge people according to superficial values
 - 00:05:11.567 --> 00:05:16.305
 - That they have little control over.
 - 00:05:16.305 --> 00:05:18.775
 - Look at this situation in verse 2: "for if a man comes into
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 - Your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and
 - 00:05:23.713 --> 00:05:29.685
 - There also comes a poor man in dirty clothes..."
 - 00:05:29.685 --> 00:05:33.589
 - Now this hypothetical situation, james says if somebody comes
 - 00:05:33.589 --> 00:05:37.960
 - Into your church in greek, that's in the third class
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 - Condition meaning it's a theoretical situation that
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 - Probably isn't going to happen.
 - 00:05:45.334 --> 00:05:47.870
 - It was unlikely that unbelievers would ever come into a church.
 - 00:05:47.870 --> 00:05:53.042
 - That rarely happened, by the way, it really rarely
 - 00:05:53.042 --> 00:05:55.511
 - Happens today.
 - 00:05:55.511 --> 00:05:56.879
 - There's some, but they're not that many unbelievers that come
 - 00:05:56.879 --> 00:05:59.649
 - To church.
 - 00:05:59.649 --> 00:06:01.284
 - He said, but if by chance a man comes into your assembly with a
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 - Gold ring and dressed in fine clothes.
 - 00:06:07.123 --> 00:06:11.694
 - Now that word translated gold ring literally means he's
 - 00:06:11.694 --> 00:06:16.732
 - "gold fingered."
 - 00:06:16.732 --> 00:06:19.168
 - That's where my sermon title came not from the "james bond"
 - 00:06:19.168 --> 00:06:21.804
 - Movie, but from the gold fingered man, and he doesn't
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 - Just have one ring on, he has a ring for each one of the fingers
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 - On his left hand.
 - 00:06:30.313 --> 00:06:31.714
 - You see, the rings you have, the number and the quality was a
 - 00:06:31.714 --> 00:06:36.152
 - Measure of your wealth.
 - 00:06:36.152 --> 00:06:38.020
 - In fact, in james's day there were stores you could go to to
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 - Rent rings, rent a ring.
 - 00:06:42.291 --> 00:06:44.060
 - Notice the two responses.
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 - You say to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, verse
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 - 3, "you sit here in a good place.
 - 00:06:50.600 --> 00:06:55.204
 - I want you to have the best seats in the house."
 - 00:06:55.204 --> 00:06:58.641
 - Now in a baptist church, the best seats in the house are
 - 00:06:58.641 --> 00:07:01.744
 - Back there.
 - 00:07:01.744 --> 00:07:03.079
 - That's where most people fight to get in the back row or on the
 - 00:07:03.079 --> 00:07:06.849
 - Mezzanine, but it wasn't that way in biblical times.
 - 00:07:06.849 --> 00:07:09.986
 - The best seats were down front.
 - 00:07:09.986 --> 00:07:12.188
 - They were the chief seats.
 - 00:07:12.188 --> 00:07:14.190
 - They were a row of seats that faced the congregation and
 - 00:07:14.190 --> 00:07:18.895
 - Behind those seats would be the ark that would carry your copies
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 - Of the scroll or the scrolls themselves that would be read
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 - Of scripture.
 - 00:07:26.969 --> 00:07:28.337
 - So a person would be paraded down to the front.
 - 00:07:28.337 --> 00:07:31.741
 - And the usher would say, "you sit here."
 - 00:07:31.741 --> 00:07:35.044
 - It's the same kind of seat that jesus talked about in matthew
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 - 23:6, the chief seats.
 - 00:07:38.347 --> 00:07:41.417
 - But the second visitor, what does he say?
 - 00:07:41.417 --> 00:07:44.587
 - The usher says, "we don't have room for you, or at least go
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 - Stand over there.
 - 00:07:47.990 --> 00:07:49.959
 - If you really have to sit down, sit not on the footstool of
 - 00:07:49.959 --> 00:07:54.096
 - Somebody else, sit by the footstool."
 - 00:07:54.096 --> 00:07:57.900
 - To the congregation, this man in soiled clothing was an
 - 00:07:57.900 --> 00:08:02.338
 - Inconvenience to be quickly dealt with and gotten rid of.
 - 00:08:02.338 --> 00:08:06.742
 - What's not right is to honor somebody and mistreat another
 - 00:08:06.742 --> 00:08:11.847
 - Person at the same time.
 - 00:08:11.847 --> 00:08:14.050
 - You should never favor anybody in the church when it results in
 - 00:08:14.050 --> 00:08:18.621
 - Disfavoring somebody else.
 - 00:08:18.621 --> 00:08:21.123
 - Now the explanation, here's what's wrong with that.
 - 00:08:21.123 --> 00:08:24.493
 - James says, "have you not made distinctions among yourselves,
 - 00:08:24.493 --> 00:08:28.464
 - Or become judges with evil motives?"
 - 00:08:28.464 --> 00:08:31.968
 - This is a common theme in the letter of james, being a
 - 00:08:31.968 --> 00:08:35.738
 - Double-minded person.
 - 00:08:35.738 --> 00:08:38.140
 - A double-minded person is somebody who professes to
 - 00:08:38.140 --> 00:08:42.211
 - Believe one thing but acts in a way completely contrary to what
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 - He or she professes.
 - 00:08:46.716 --> 00:08:48.517
 - In james 1:7-8, james says, "for that man ought not to expect
 - 00:08:48.517 --> 00:08:53.756
 - That he will receive anything from the lord, being a
 - 00:08:53.756 --> 00:08:57.059
 - Double-minded man unstabled in all his ways."
 - 00:08:57.059 --> 00:09:02.231
 - To favor the rich subjugates the plan of god.
 - 00:09:02.231 --> 00:09:06.802
 - It subjugates, it contradicts, it undermines the plan of god
 - 00:09:06.802 --> 00:09:11.941
 - When we favor the rich.
 - 00:09:11.941 --> 00:09:13.676
 - What plan am i talking about?
 - 00:09:13.676 --> 00:09:15.745
 - Well, james goes on to say, you need to remember that when that
 - 00:09:15.745 --> 00:09:19.615
 - Poor man enters your church, he is not poor because of some
 - 00:09:19.615 --> 00:09:24.520
 - Deficiency on his part.
 - 00:09:24.520 --> 00:09:27.723
 - Most of the time the reason a person is poor and the reason a
 - 00:09:27.723 --> 00:09:34.497
 - Person is rich is because of the sovereignty of god.
 - 00:09:34.497 --> 00:09:39.101
 - God controls every aspect of our life.
 - 00:09:39.101 --> 00:09:42.805
 - He has a plan for us that was written before the foundation of
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 - The world, psalm 139 says.
 - 00:09:46.242 --> 00:09:49.211
 - And part of god's plan includes the size of our bank account.
 - 00:09:49.211 --> 00:09:55.718
 - Now some of you are just arguing already in your heart
 - 00:09:55.718 --> 00:09:59.455
 - About that.
 - 00:09:59.455 --> 00:10:00.790
 - Listen to what james says in james 2:5: listen, my beloved
 - 00:10:00.790 --> 00:10:04.527
 - Brethren: did god not choose the poor of this world to be rich in
 - 00:10:04.527 --> 00:10:10.366
 - Faith and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to those who
 - 00:10:10.366 --> 00:10:13.969
 - Love him?
 - 00:10:13.969 --> 00:10:15.337
 - God had a plan for the poor, and that way they would be rich in
 - 00:10:15.337 --> 00:10:19.775
 - The kingdom doesn't mean being poor, makes you a christian, but
 - 00:10:19.775 --> 00:10:22.912
 - It gives you a better shot at it.
 - 00:10:22.912 --> 00:10:26.282
 - It's a lot easier for poor people to become saved than rich
 - 00:10:26.282 --> 00:10:29.452
 - People, jesus said.
 - 00:10:29.452 --> 00:10:31.754
 - The rich are self-sufficient many times, not all the times,
 - 00:10:31.754 --> 00:10:35.558
 - But many times, but the poor have an awareness of their need.
 - 00:10:35.558 --> 00:10:40.029
 - If you don't believe that, listen to job 34, verse 19
 - 00:10:40.029 --> 00:10:44.100
 - Talking about god it says,
 - 00:10:44.100 --> 00:10:45.901
 - "he shows no partiality to the princes, nor
 - 00:10:45.901 --> 00:10:50.139
 - Regards the rich above the poor, for they are all the," what,
 - 00:10:50.139 --> 00:10:55.444
 - "the work of his hands."
 - 00:10:55.444 --> 00:10:57.847
 - Both the poor and the rich are the work of god's hands.
 - 00:10:57.847 --> 00:11:02.017
 - In 1 corinthians 1, verses 26
 - 00:11:02.017 --> 00:11:04.954
 - To 29, listen to what paul said.
 - 00:11:04.954 --> 00:11:07.323
 - He said, "for consider your calling, brethren, that there
 - 00:11:07.323 --> 00:11:10.326
 - Are not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not
 - 00:11:10.326 --> 00:11:14.930
 - Many noble."
 - 00:11:14.930 --> 00:11:16.265
 - He's saying do a look around your congregation, corinthians.
 - 00:11:16.265 --> 00:11:19.101
 - Have you noticed there are not that many wise people there, at
 - 00:11:19.101 --> 00:11:23.205
 - Least according to the flesh?
 - 00:11:23.205 --> 00:11:25.474
 - They don't have earthly credentials.
 - 00:11:25.474 --> 00:11:28.043
 - You know, it used to bother me to death--
 - 00:11:28.043 --> 00:11:30.980
 - When i read a statistic that the overwhelming number of
 - 00:11:30.980 --> 00:11:34.683
 - Scientists are atheists, did you know that?
 - 00:11:34.683 --> 00:11:38.487
 - The vast majority of scientists are atheists, and that used to
 - 00:11:38.487 --> 00:11:42.024
 - Bother me because i thought, you know, what is it about the study
 - 00:11:42.024 --> 00:11:45.494
 - Of science that made them atheist?
 - 00:11:45.494 --> 00:11:47.830
 - Have they discovered some secret about the nonexistence of god?
 - 00:11:47.830 --> 00:11:53.169
 - And then it came to me one day.
 - 00:11:53.169 --> 00:11:56.071
 - It's not that scientists become atheists, it's that atheists who
 - 00:11:56.071 --> 00:12:00.976
 - Have disavowed a belief in god tend to become scientists.
 - 00:12:00.976 --> 00:12:05.981
 - If they want to find an alternate system that explains
 - 00:12:05.981 --> 00:12:09.585
 - Why everything around this exists.
 - 00:12:09.585 --> 00:12:13.322
 - That's why you don't find a lot of people with certain degrees
 - 00:12:13.322 --> 00:12:18.394
 - In the church of jesus christ.
 - 00:12:18.394 --> 00:12:20.429
 - They're not that many noble.
 - 00:12:20.429 --> 00:12:22.431
 - They're not that many wealthy either, paul said.
 - 00:12:22.431 --> 00:12:27.002
 - I mean if i were to ask all of the millionaires and
 - 00:12:27.002 --> 00:12:31.106
 - Billionaires to stand up, there'd be some, but not many,
 - 00:12:31.106 --> 00:12:35.144
 - Because that's not god's plan.
 - 00:12:35.144 --> 00:12:37.513
 - No, god has chosen "the base things of the world," paul said,
 - 00:12:37.513 --> 00:12:42.318
 - "and the despised god has chosen, the things that are not,
 - 00:12:42.318 --> 00:12:46.722
 - That he may nullify the things that are."
 - 00:12:46.722 --> 00:12:49.892
 - To favor the rich contradicts the plan of god.
 - 00:12:49.892 --> 00:12:53.462
 - Secondly, to favor the rich violates logic.
 - 00:12:53.462 --> 00:12:57.233
 - Listen to verse 6 and 7, james said: "is it not the rich who
 - 00:12:57.233 --> 00:13:01.036
 - Oppress you and personally drag you into court?
 - 00:13:01.036 --> 00:13:04.607
 - Do they not blaspheme the fair name by which you have
 - 00:13:04.607 --> 00:13:07.576
 - Been called?"
 - 00:13:07.576 --> 00:13:08.944
 - James is saying, why do you want
 - 00:13:08.944 --> 00:13:10.279
 - To favor those people who oppress you?
 - 00:13:10.279 --> 00:13:13.115
 - Well we'll see in this third reason, to favor the rich
 - 00:13:13.115 --> 00:13:18.120
 - Demonstrates a lack of faith.
 - 00:13:18.120 --> 00:13:19.588
 - Verse 8: "if, however, you are fulfilling the royal law
 - 00:13:19.588 --> 00:13:24.093
 - According to scripture, 'you shall love your neighbor
 - 00:13:24.093 --> 00:13:26.762
 - As yourself.'
 - 00:13:26.762 --> 00:13:28.097
 - You are doing well."
 - 00:13:28.097 --> 00:13:29.465
 - All of the scriptures about how we treat others could be summed
 - 00:13:29.465 --> 00:13:33.435
 - Up with that phrase: love other people the same way you
 - 00:13:33.435 --> 00:13:37.139
 - Love yourself.
 - 00:13:37.139 --> 00:13:38.507
 - Why do we have trouble with that?
 - 00:13:38.507 --> 00:13:40.276
 - Why do we naturally gravitate toward favoring the powerful and
 - 00:13:40.276 --> 00:13:44.813
 - The wealthy?
 - 00:13:44.813 --> 00:13:46.181
 - We think they're gonna protect us.
 - 00:13:46.181 --> 00:13:48.050
 - They don't determine your future.
 - 00:13:48.050 --> 00:13:50.252
 - God determines your future.
 - 00:13:50.252 --> 00:13:52.888
 - That's why jesus said in matthew 10:28: "do not fear those who
 - 00:13:52.888 --> 00:13:57.059
 - Kill the body, but are unable to kill the soul, but rather fear
 - 00:13:57.059 --> 00:14:01.597
 - Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."
 - 00:14:01.597 --> 00:14:06.902
 - Focus on god, not other people.
 - 00:14:06.902 --> 00:14:10.639
 - And that leads to the application for us today.
 - 00:14:10.639 --> 00:14:13.742
 - What's the application of this passage?
 - 00:14:13.742 --> 00:14:16.745
 - Some of you are tempted to think, "man, showing favoritism.
 - 00:14:16.745 --> 00:14:21.784
 - Why a whole sermon on this?
 - 00:14:21.784 --> 00:14:23.585
 - This is much ado about nothing."
 - 00:14:23.585 --> 00:14:27.957
 - When i was growing up, my father had a hobby.
 - 00:14:27.957 --> 00:14:31.393
 - He rebuilt volkswagens and our backyard was strewn with
 - 00:14:31.393 --> 00:14:36.298
 - Volkswagens half-finished, but every now and then he would
 - 00:14:36.298 --> 00:14:40.436
 - Finish one and he had his newest volkswagen parked out in front
 - 00:14:40.436 --> 00:14:45.741
 - Of our house in richardson.
 - 00:14:45.741 --> 00:14:47.543
 - And one day he heard a knock at the door, he opened the door and
 - 00:14:47.543 --> 00:14:51.547
 - It was a richardson policeman and the policeman asked,
 - 00:14:51.547 --> 00:14:55.617
 - "who owns that volkswagen out front?"
 - 00:14:55.617 --> 00:14:58.754
 - And my dad got excited thinking he had a potential customer on
 - 00:14:58.754 --> 00:15:02.424
 - The hook, said, "well, it belongs to me."
 - 00:15:02.424 --> 00:15:04.293
 - He said, "fine," and he wrote him out a ticket.
 - 00:15:04.293 --> 00:15:07.596
 - You know what the ticket was for?
 - 00:15:07.596 --> 00:15:09.531
 - My dad in his repainting of the volkswagen got a little bit of
 - 00:15:09.531 --> 00:15:13.369
 - Paint on the license plate and he got a ticket for his efforts.
 - 00:15:13.369 --> 00:15:18.173
 - My dad was furious.
 - 00:15:18.173 --> 00:15:20.776
 - I'll never forget, he went into a rant about why can't the
 - 00:15:20.776 --> 00:15:24.480
 - Police spend time hunting down the murderers and the rapists
 - 00:15:24.480 --> 00:15:27.616
 - And the bank thieves instead of giving tickets to people because
 - 00:15:27.616 --> 00:15:30.419
 - Of paint on a license plate?
 - 00:15:30.419 --> 00:15:32.321
 - What a small thing.
 - 00:15:32.321 --> 00:15:33.689
 - Well, we kind of think that way about this sin of favoritism.
 - 00:15:33.689 --> 00:15:37.626
 - Why the big deal?
 - 00:15:37.626 --> 00:15:38.961
 - Why not james talk about really big sins instead of little sins?
 - 00:15:38.961 --> 00:15:44.767
 - The answer, he says in verses 9 and
 - 00:15:44.767 --> 00:15:47.036
 - 10, is because there is no such thing as a little sin.
 - 00:15:47.036 --> 00:15:51.707
 - Look at this: "if you show partiality, you're committing
 - 00:15:51.707 --> 00:15:55.244
 - Sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
 - 00:15:55.244 --> 00:15:59.948
 - For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point,
 - 00:15:59.948 --> 00:16:06.822
 - He has become guilty of all."
 - 00:16:06.822 --> 00:16:10.259
 - Pop quiz.
 - 00:16:10.259 --> 00:16:12.027
 - Anybody know how many laws moses had in the old testament?
 - 00:16:12.027 --> 00:16:18.500
 - Six hundred and thirteen.
 - 00:16:18.500 --> 00:16:21.070
 - There are 613 laws.
 - 00:16:21.070 --> 00:16:23.038
 - I want you to imagine a giant chain with 613 links in it, a
 - 00:16:23.038 --> 00:16:30.145
 - Chain that is used to keep a luxury ocean liner harbored at
 - 00:16:30.145 --> 00:16:35.284
 - A pier.
 - 00:16:35.284 --> 00:16:36.618
 - It's held there by these 613 chains in a chain--links in
 - 00:16:36.618 --> 00:16:42.724
 - A chain.
 - 00:16:42.724 --> 00:16:44.059
 - How many links would you have to break to set that entire
 - 00:16:44.059 --> 00:16:47.563
 - Ship adrift?
 - 00:16:47.563 --> 00:16:49.164
 - Only one.
 - 00:16:49.164 --> 00:16:51.200
 - One link broken and the ship is lost.
 - 00:16:51.200 --> 00:16:55.904
 - It's the same way with god's law.
 - 00:16:55.904 --> 00:16:58.540
 - All you have to do, james says, is stumble in one point of the
 - 00:16:58.540 --> 00:17:02.544
 - Law and before god you're guilty.
 - 00:17:02.544 --> 00:17:06.048
 - You see, god doesn't grade us on the curve.
 - 00:17:06.048 --> 00:17:09.451
 - He doesn't say you may not be perfect, but you're better than
 - 00:17:09.451 --> 00:17:11.954
 - This person.
 - 00:17:11.954 --> 00:17:13.322
 - We don't get graded on a curve.
 - 00:17:13.322 --> 00:17:15.257
 - It is an absolute standard.
 - 00:17:15.257 --> 00:17:17.693
 - It's a standard that paul mentions in galatians 3:10.
 - 00:17:17.693 --> 00:17:20.996
 - He says, "for as many as are the works of the law are under a
 - 00:17:20.996 --> 00:17:24.967
 - Curse: for it is written, 'cursed is everyone who does not
 - 00:17:24.967 --> 00:17:28.937
 - Abide by,' some, "'things written in the book'"?
 - 00:17:28.937 --> 00:17:31.507
 - No.
 - 00:17:31.507 --> 00:17:33.108
 - Most things written in the book?
 - 00:17:33.108 --> 00:17:34.810
 - No.
 - 00:17:34.810 --> 00:17:36.178
 - "'cursed is the person who does not abide by all things written
 - 00:17:36.178 --> 00:17:41.984
 - In the law to perform them.'"
 - 00:17:41.984 --> 00:17:45.187
 - You have to be absolutely perfect to go to heaven when
 - 00:17:45.187 --> 00:17:50.792
 - You die.
 - 00:17:50.792 --> 00:17:52.761
 - Never a wrong action, never a wrong attitude, never a wrong
 - 00:17:52.761 --> 00:17:57.599
 - Word, never a wrong thought.
 - 00:17:57.599 --> 00:17:59.501
 - Cursed is you and me if we do not keep all things in the book.
 - 00:17:59.501 --> 00:18:04.940
 - Well, who in the world can meet that standard?
 - 00:18:04.940 --> 00:18:09.478
 - No one, and that's the point.
 - 00:18:09.478 --> 00:18:13.115
 - All of us have sinned, some more than others, but it
 - 00:18:13.115 --> 00:18:16.218
 - Doesn't matter.
 - 00:18:16.218 --> 00:18:17.586
 - All of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of god, and
 - 00:18:17.586 --> 00:18:21.089
 - That's why we all need a savior, the lord jesus christ.
 - 00:18:21.089 --> 00:18:25.594
 - When christ came and died on the cross, he came to offer
 - 00:18:25.594 --> 00:18:29.798
 - Forgiveness from all of our sins.
 - 00:18:29.798 --> 00:18:34.403
 - To draw favor to one person over another, to judge somebody based
 - 00:18:34.403 --> 00:18:41.043
 - On external circumstances like their net worth over which they
 - 00:18:41.043 --> 00:18:45.581
 - Have no control is a complete violation of what james is
 - 00:18:45.581 --> 00:18:50.752
 - Telling us.
 - 00:18:50.752 --> 00:18:52.154
 - Three principles i want to share with you.
 - 00:18:52.154 --> 00:18:55.123
 - First of all, to show preference to others is contrary to the
 - 00:18:55.123 --> 00:18:59.561
 - Nature of god.
 - 00:18:59.561 --> 00:19:01.196
 - You know, we call the church the body of christ.
 - 00:19:01.196 --> 00:19:05.934
 - The head, jesus is in heaven, but we are his body, paul said.
 - 00:19:05.934 --> 00:19:12.274
 - And that means what unbelievers see is not jesus the head, they
 - 00:19:12.274 --> 00:19:16.812
 - Can only see his body that's you and me in the church and how
 - 00:19:16.812 --> 00:19:22.251
 - They feel about god is largely determined by what they think
 - 00:19:22.251 --> 00:19:26.288
 - About us.
 - 00:19:26.288 --> 00:19:27.756
 - If we act with partiality, they think god is partial to
 - 00:19:27.756 --> 00:19:32.694
 - Superficial criterion.
 - 00:19:32.694 --> 00:19:36.365
 - Secondly, to show preference toward the rich prioritizes the
 - 00:19:36.365 --> 00:19:40.936
 - Material over the spiritual.
 - 00:19:40.936 --> 00:19:43.238
 - When we in the church show preference toward the rich, it
 - 00:19:43.238 --> 00:19:47.142
 - Prioritizes the material over the spiritual.
 - 00:19:47.142 --> 00:19:51.546
 - The great theologian madonna said it this way: "we live in a
 - 00:19:51.546 --> 00:20:00.589
 - Material world."
 - 00:20:00.589 --> 00:20:03.558
 - I shouldn't have said that.
 - 00:20:03.558 --> 00:20:04.893
 - That's all you're going to think about now is--
 - 00:20:04.893 --> 00:20:08.063
 - But isn't that true?
 - 00:20:08.063 --> 00:20:09.398
 - We live in a material world.
 - 00:20:09.398 --> 00:20:11.933
 - We live in a material world, and we get it crammed down our
 - 00:20:11.933 --> 00:20:14.870
 - Throats six days a week.
 - 00:20:14.870 --> 00:20:17.773
 - People ought to have a day of the week they come and see the
 - 00:20:17.773 --> 00:20:21.777
 - World as god sees it.
 - 00:20:21.777 --> 00:20:23.812
 - It's not about the material.
 - 00:20:23.812 --> 00:20:25.247
 - It's not about keeping up with the joneses.
 - 00:20:25.247 --> 00:20:27.716
 - It's about our relationship with god.
 - 00:20:27.716 --> 00:20:31.420
 - Finally, to show preference to the rich prioritizes the
 - 00:20:31.420 --> 00:20:36.091
 - Temporal over the eternal.
 - 00:20:36.091 --> 00:20:39.094
 - One of the constant themes in the letter of james is how
 - 00:20:39.094 --> 00:20:43.065
 - Fleeting riches really are.
 - 00:20:43.065 --> 00:20:46.001
 - In verses 10 to 11 of chapter 1, james says, "and the rich man is
 - 00:20:46.001 --> 00:20:50.539
 - The glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass, he
 - 00:20:50.539 --> 00:20:56.445
 - Will pass away.
 - 00:20:56.445 --> 00:20:58.113
 - For the sun rises with a scorching wind and withers the
 - 00:20:58.113 --> 00:21:01.350
 - Grass; and its flowers fall off and the beauty of its appearance
 - 00:21:01.350 --> 00:21:05.520
 - Is destroyed, so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits
 - 00:21:05.520 --> 00:21:11.426
 - Will fade away."
 - 00:21:11.426 --> 00:21:13.729
 - An old southern preacher said it this way, "our lives is
 - 00:21:13.729 --> 00:21:17.065
 - Like grass.
 - 00:21:17.065 --> 00:21:18.867
 - It is sown, it is grown, it is mown, and then it's gon'."
 - 00:21:18.867 --> 00:21:27.409
 - That's not just grass, that's us.
 - 00:21:27.409 --> 00:21:30.912
 - If you're rich today, don't get too excited about your wealth.
 - 00:21:30.912 --> 00:21:36.251
 - If you're poor today, don't despair over your poverty
 - 00:21:36.251 --> 00:21:39.821
 - Because your economic status, whether rich or poor, is
 - 00:21:39.821 --> 00:21:43.392
 - Very temporary.
 - 00:21:43.392 --> 00:21:45.427
 - It's all going to be left behind and the church's responsibility
 - 00:21:45.427 --> 00:21:51.299
 - Is to show people, to help people prioritize that which is
 - 00:21:51.299 --> 00:21:55.404
 - Eternal over that which is temporal.
 - 00:21:55.404 --> 00:21:58.640
 - Paul said it this way in 1 timothy 6:17.
 - 00:21:58.640 --> 00:22:01.376
 - He said, "instruct those who are rich in this present world not
 - 00:22:01.376 --> 00:22:06.748
 - To be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of
 - 00:22:06.748 --> 00:22:11.219
 - Riches, but on god who richly supplies us with all things
 - 00:22:11.219 --> 00:22:16.525
 - To enjoy."
 - 00:22:16.525 --> 00:22:18.960
 - D.l. moody, the great evangelist
 - 00:22:18.960 --> 00:22:20.595
 - Said it this way, "trust in yourself,
 - 00:22:20.595 --> 00:22:24.266
 - And you're doomed to disappointment.
 - 00:22:24.266 --> 00:22:27.436
 - Trust in your friends, and they may leave you or die.
 - 00:22:27.436 --> 00:22:32.040
 - Trust in your riches, and they may be taken from you.
 - 00:22:32.040 --> 00:22:36.812
 - Trust in your reputation, and some slanderous tongue may
 - 00:22:36.812 --> 00:22:40.682
 - Destroy it.
 - 00:22:40.682 --> 00:22:42.617
 - But trust in god, and you'll never be confounded in time
 - 00:22:42.617 --> 00:22:47.589
 - Or eternity."
 - 00:22:47.589 --> 00:22:50.392
 - James says, "if you have authentic saving faith, you
 - 00:22:50.392 --> 00:22:56.097
 - Will prioritize the spiritual over the material; the eternal
 - 00:22:56.097 --> 00:23:01.903
 - Over the temporal."
 - 00:23:01.903 --> 00:23:03.705
 - ♪♪
 - 00:23:03.939 --> 00:23:08.810
 - Jeffress: james reminds us that authentic faith doesn't
 - 00:23:08.810 --> 00:23:11.780
 - Play favorites.
 - 00:23:11.780 --> 00:23:13.148
 - When we truly understand god's impartial love, we'll treat
 - 00:23:13.148 --> 00:23:17.352
 - Everyone who enters our church with equal dignity and respect.
 - 00:23:17.352 --> 00:23:21.723
 - I want to thank those of you who support pathway to victory
 - 00:23:21.723 --> 00:23:24.526
 - Through your faithful giving, especially our pathway partners.
 - 00:23:24.526 --> 00:23:28.864
 - Your generosity enables us to broadcast the unchanging truth
 - 00:23:28.864 --> 00:23:32.767
 - Of god's word to millions of people every week.
 - 00:23:32.767 --> 00:23:36.371
 - Through television, radio, and digital streaming, we're
 - 00:23:36.371 --> 00:23:39.508
 - Reaching into homes, automobiles, and workplaces with
 - 00:23:39.508 --> 00:23:43.111
 - The transforming power of the gospel.
 - 00:23:43.111 --> 00:23:46.414
 - Every day we receive testimonies from viewers whose lives have
 - 00:23:46.414 --> 00:23:50.252
 - Been touched by this ministry and it's all possible because of
 - 00:23:50.252 --> 00:23:54.256
 - Partners like you.
 - 00:23:54.256 --> 00:23:56.324
 - Thank you for helping us pierce the darkness with the light of
 - 00:23:56.324 --> 00:23:59.794
 - God's word.
 - 00:23:59.794 --> 00:24:01.196
 - Stay right there, i'll be back with more "pathway to victory"
 - 00:24:01.196 --> 00:24:04.332
 - In just a moment.
 - 00:24:04.332 --> 00:24:06.768
 - Male announcer: every believer wants to see clear evidence of
 - 00:24:07.969 --> 00:24:10.572
 - Their spiritual growth and discover the fruit that god is
 - 00:24:10.572 --> 00:24:13.842
 - Producing in their lives.
 - 00:24:13.842 --> 00:24:15.777
 - Dr. robert jeffress shows you exactly how to recognize that
 - 00:24:15.777 --> 00:24:19.314
 - Fruit in his brand new book "how to know if you're really saved."
 - 00:24:19.314 --> 00:24:23.485
 - Jeffress: the book of james teaches us that the christian
 - 00:24:23.485 --> 00:24:25.854
 - Life is about more than just knowing god's word, it's about
 - 00:24:25.854 --> 00:24:30.025
 - Living it out.
 - 00:24:30.025 --> 00:24:31.359
 - In my new book "how to know if you're really saved," i'll walk
 - 00:24:31.359 --> 00:24:34.329
 - You through what it truly means to be a doer of the word,
 - 00:24:34.329 --> 00:24:38.133
 - Showing you how to respond to trials, control your speech,
 - 00:24:38.133 --> 00:24:41.903
 - Endure hardships, resist temptation, and so much more.
 - 00:24:41.903 --> 00:24:46.942
 - Male announcer: this outstanding 232-page book will help you
 - 00:24:46.942 --> 00:24:49.911
 - Examine the evidence of your faith and see the spiritual
 - 00:24:49.911 --> 00:24:53.281
 - Fruit that should be growing in your daily life.
 - 00:24:53.281 --> 00:24:56.318
 - Request your copy of "how to know if you're really saved"
 - 00:24:56.318 --> 00:24:59.387
 - When you give a generous gift to support the ministry of pathway
 - 00:24:59.387 --> 00:25:02.591
 - To victory.
 - 00:25:02.591 --> 00:25:03.892
 - With your ministry gift of $75 or more, we'll send you not just
 - 00:25:03.892 --> 00:25:07.762
 - The book but also the personal and group study guide and the
 - 00:25:07.762 --> 00:25:11.333
 - Complete message series on dvd video and mp3 format audio disc set.
 - 00:25:11.333 --> 00:25:17.005
 - Jeffress: if you are truly saved, there's gonna be evidence
 - 00:25:17.005 --> 00:25:20.442
 - Of it.
 - 00:25:20.442 --> 00:25:21.776
 - There's some tests that you need to apply to your life.
 - 00:25:21.776 --> 00:25:25.013
 - Male announcer: thank you for your generous support of pathway
 - 00:25:25.013 --> 00:25:27.282
 - To victory.
 - 00:25:27.282 --> 00:25:28.617
 - Your partnership helps us bring bold biblical and practical
 - 00:25:28.617 --> 00:25:31.886
 - Teaching into homes across the nation and around the world.
 - 00:25:31.886 --> 00:25:37.425
 - Jeffress: we often judge people by their appearance, their bank
 - 00:25:38.627 --> 00:25:41.896
 - Account, or their social status, even in the church, but god's
 - 00:25:41.896 --> 00:25:46.301
 - Kingdom operates by different standards.
 - 00:25:46.301 --> 00:25:49.337
 - God chose the poor to be rich in faith, reminding us that eternal
 - 00:25:49.337 --> 00:25:53.975
 - Treasures matter more than temporary wealth.
 - 00:25:53.975 --> 00:25:57.979
 - Well, next time we'll tackle what many call the biggest
 - 00:25:57.979 --> 00:26:01.449
 - Contradiction in the bible.
 - 00:26:01.449 --> 00:26:03.685
 - Paul says we're saved by faith alone.
 - 00:26:03.685 --> 00:26:06.955
 - James seems to say faith without works is dead.
 - 00:26:06.955 --> 00:26:10.725
 - So which one is it, or can it be both?
 - 00:26:10.725 --> 00:26:13.895
 - Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next in our
 - 00:26:13.895 --> 00:26:16.398
 - Series "how to know if you're really saved."
 - 00:26:16.398 --> 00:26:20.669
 - Jeffress: but if we're honest, we would have to say that there
 - 00:26:20.669 --> 00:26:23.371
 - Are some passages that seem, at least at face value, to
 - 00:26:23.371 --> 00:26:27.942
 - Contradict one another.
 - 00:26:27.942 --> 00:26:30.211
 - And that is true of the passage we're going to look at today.
 - 00:26:30.211 --> 00:26:34.282
 - I call it the biggest contradiction in the bible.
 - 00:26:34.282 --> 00:26:39.154
 - Male announcer: set your dvr and
 - 00:26:39.154 --> 00:26:40.455
 - Join us next time for
 - 00:26:40.455 --> 00:26:41.790
 - The message
 - 00:26:41.790 --> 00:26:43.124
 - "the biggest contradiction in
 - 00:26:43.124 --> 00:26:44.459
 - The bible" here on "pathway
 - 00:26:44.459 --> 00:26:45.794
 - To victory."
 - 00:26:45.794 --> 00:26:48.830
 - Take a journey through alaska's awe-inspiring wilderness
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 - On the 2026 pathway to victory cruise to alaska
 - 00:26:53.168 --> 00:26:56.271
 - With dr. robert jeffress aboard holland,
 - 00:26:56.271 --> 00:26:58.373
 - America's magnificent koningsdam.
 - 00:26:58.373 --> 00:27:00.709
 - Share laughter with dennis swanberg.
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 - 00:27:03.445 --> 00:27:06.414
 - Powerful worship.
 - 00:27:06.414 --> 00:27:07.682
 - Make plans to set sail
 - 00:27:07.682 --> 00:27:09.150
 - For an unforgettable week of adventure.
 - 00:27:09.150 --> 00:27:11.319
 - June 13-20, 2026.
 - 00:27:11.319 --> 00:27:13.988
 - Call 888-280-6747
 - 00:27:13.988 --> 00:27:17.192
 - Or visit ptv.org.
 - 00:27:17.192 --> 00:27:17.192