James 2:9

but if ye have respect of persons, ye commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors.

Even Christians who willfully violate the commandments of Christ are transgressors, being breakers of his law. It is a gross error to refer this to keeping the Law of Moses; but of course the same principle held with reference to it. People like those showing partiality to the rich and powerful, through their value judgments based upon external conditions, were violating the law of love, as taught by Jesus and his apostles. As Wessel said, "The law here is not the Old Testament law as such, but the whole spirit (of Christ) which is contrary to partiality." [21]