February 15, 2004

NO RESPECT OF PERSONS

Romans 2:11

Clearing all charges of misbehavior, Paul declared, "there is no respect of persons with God" (Romans 2:11). To respect persons means to prefer one before the other or show partiality. In this setting the persons are Jews and Gentiles and the issue is judgment, that is, condemnation and justification. God is not speaking of their place in society or in His purpose.

This principle has many applications but the thought is always even handed fairness. Paul wrote the Ephesians about submitting one to another in the fear of God and to the Masters to forbear threatening their servants because "neither is there respect of persons with God" (6:9). On the same subject of mutual submission Paul instructed the Colossian servants to obey their masters, "for ye serve the Lord Christ... He that does wrong shall receive for the wrong which he has done: and there is no respect of persons" (3:24-25).

God gave Peter the vision of the sheet let down wherein were all sorts of animals. Peter three times refused God's command to slay and eat. Peter's conviction regarding Moses' prohibition was so strong that he could not bring himself to obey and was troubled as he thought upon the vision. But not until he stood before the Gentile, Cornelius, did he realize that "God is no respecter of persons, but in every nation he that works righteousness and fears God is accepted with Him" (Acts 10:34-35). Peter applied this same truth writing his brethren to "pass the time of your sojourning...in fear" because the Father "without respect of persons" will judge them (1 Peter 1:17).

James also applied the same principle toward social standing, the poor and the rich. He wrote, "Have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons" (2:1). He explained that fine cloths and gold rings cannot be the basis for seating in the synagogue or any other relations for that matter. "If you have respect of persons, you commit sin, and are convicted of the law as transgressors" (2:9). While we "are not under law but under grace," it is also true that a grace believer walking in the spirit would do nothing that Moses' Law could condemn!

Ivan L. Burgener