Do You Think God Will Show You Partiality ?

Have you ever met someone who because they were rich and came from a particular family line thought they were entitled to special treatment? Some people think because of the knowledge they possess or because they hold a high position in a company that they are deserving of privileges. Parents deserve honor and respect from their children. Bosses and those who hold places of authority do deserve it as well. Those who are mature in age deserve our honor and respect. The Bible is clear; these positions are deserving of respect and honor. But, there is a difference in getting honor and respect and expecting to be treated a certain way because of status. Do you think God will Show You Partiality?

In the context Romans 2:11-17, Paul deals with the Jew who boasts in God giving them the Written Law. I would venture to say; they felt like God was partial to them. After all, they were His chosen people! They may have even thought; there must be something pretty special about us. So God will judge us according to who we are, His chosen people. We know this is not so according to Deuteronomy 7:7, and Deuteronomy 9:4-6.

Paul deals with the Gentile as well. They may have felt they were not deserving of His wrath and punishment since he had not given them the Written Law. They could have thought God would show them partiality because they had no idea what His written Law was.

However, Paul says in Romans 2:11, God does not show partiality. The word in the Greek text literally means: Face taking. The idea is looking to see who someone is before deciding how to treat them. Judging by appearance and giving special favor and respect.

God’s judgment does not rest on who you are or who you are not. God’s judgment does not rest on whether you know the Law or do not know the Law. God’s judgment and wrath is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness. Romans 1:18

For there is No Partiality With God

“For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law.” Romans 2:12

The main point of the text, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23. “For it is not the hearers of the law who are just before God but the doers of the Law will be justified.” Romans 2:13

This verse is NOT teaching a works based salvation. To say that is to do away with what the rest of what the scriptures teach. As Bible study students and Berean’s of the word, we must keep the surrounding Scripture in context. If we do not, we will be building a false foundation. Eventually that foundation will crumble and we will fall.

These passages address the Jews who knew the Law and had it read to them in their homes and the synagogues. They heard it with their ears but not with the heart.

My mind goes to the ones who sit in a church pew every Sunday morning, they hear the word Sunday after Sunday but there is no fruit during the week. It is just a Sunday morning thing! Read the words of Christ:

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord,’ did we not prophesy in Your name, and in your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?” “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’ Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.” Matthew 7:21-25

Salvation is not by works. Going to synagogue or to your home church merely listening to the word does not save you. That is a work, a dead work.

You Are Condemning Yourself

Gentile you are condemning yourselves. How?

1. You did not have the Written Law, yet you do instinctively the things of the Law.
2. You did not have the written Law ,yet, you are a Law to yourselves. You know what is right and you know what is wrong.
3. You show that the Law is written on your hearts because your conscience witnesses against you.
4. Your thoughts accuse you or defend you in the matter of right or wrong.

You have condemned yourself! You are without excuse. According to the gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ. God knows each and every heart. There is nothing hidden from His sight. According to the Scriptures all men stand condemned before God. Jeremiah says, “our heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately wicked.” Jeremiah 17:9

The Jew condemns himself. How?

1. You bear the name Jew, you rely upon the Law and boast in God.
2. You know His will and you approve the things that are essential. You agree with the Law
3. You have confidence in yourself that you are a guide to the blind, and a light to those who are in darkness
4. You are a corrector of the foolish, a teacher to the immature.
5. You have the Law that gives knowledge of the truth

Yet

1. You teach others. Do you not teach yourself?
2. You preach that you should not steal.Do you steal?
3. You say none should commit adultery. Do you commit adultery?
4. You abhor idols! Do you rob temples?
5. You boast in the Law! Do you dishonor God by breaking the Law?

Paul is not asking these questions so that the Jew or the Gentile can check off the list, I did not do this or I did not do that. He is asking the questions to show that the Gentile and  the Jew have nothing in the flesh to boast about.  We know what is right and what is wrong, yet we live in arrogance and deception of who we truly are. I cringe as I write out these words.The arrogance that is displayed by our thoughts and how they really play out in our every day lives. This is the point of this passage: Jew, do not think more highly of yourself than you ought. Gentile, do not think more highly of yourself than you ought.

All men every where are in great need of a Savior!!

I am praising God that he reveals His truth to us through His word.