Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that G-d is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him;" Galatians 3:28
Does the Bible really teach G-d is not a "respecter of persons"? It is true that today Jesus is for everybody and everyone can now choose to receive him; and it makes no difference what condition you find yourself in. Your externals do not make one tiny bit of difference--just repent, believe, and follow Jesus. When Jesus walked this earth, it was the outcasts of society that heard Him and followed Him gladly--the prostitutes, the publicans, the sinners. Is He the G-d of the Jews only? is He not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also. In Romans 3:29 we read: "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus."
Consider a sampling of the passages that emphasize G-d’s fairness toward all humans:2 Chronicles 19:7: "Now therefore, let the fear of the Lord be upon you; take care and do it, for there is no iniquity with the Lord our God, no partiality, nor taking of bribes."Job 34:19: "Yet He is not partial to princes, nor does He regard the rich more than the poor; for they are all the work of His hands." Romans 2:10-11: "[B]ut glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with G-d."Galatians 5:6: "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision or uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love."1 Peter 1:17: "And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear."
But G-d obviously has not created all men equal, nor does He deal with every single individual or nation in what seems to carnal man as a "fair and impartial" manner. Many have become so influenced in their thinking by the reasoning of the world, that they cannot discern this obvious truth. G-d has created, formed and made each of us. Yet He has not given to all equal intelligence, good looks, strength, bravery, physical skills, nor spiritual gifts. "He divideth to every man severally as He will" 1 Corinthians 12:11. Exodus 4:11 states: "And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?". Not all are born in a country which even has the word of G-d in its culture, or where it would be openly taught and encouraged. Psalms 147:19,20 "He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel. He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the LORD." Some people are born in abject poverty, disease and ignorance, while others are blessed with abundant crops, education and families that care for them. "The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all." Proverbs 22:2. The phrase "G-d is no respecter of persons" can only mean that His dealings with a man are not based on outward appearance, position, rank, wealth or nationality. We all, because of our fallen and sinful nature, are guilty of respecting persons. G-d does not look to the outward face of a man - He looks at their heart (1 Samuel 16:7) to determine His dealings with anyone. The literal rendering of this phrase "to respect persons" is "to receive the face". It is to look at the outward appearance and make that the basis for your dealing with such a person. Contrary to our natural ways, G-d's own sovereign purpose, unsearchable design and the pleasure of His will are the only deciding factors in how He deals with His creatures of dust. We are told in Deuteronomy 7:6-8 "For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people: for ye were the fewest of all people: But because the LORD loved you".
Deuteronomy 10: 14-17 "Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the LORD'S thy G-d, the earth also, with all that therein is. Only the LORD had a delight in thy fathers to love them, and he chose their seed after them, even you above all people, as it is this day." Verse 17 "For the LORD thy G-d is G-d of gods, and Lord of lords, a great G-d, a mighty, and a terrible, which REGARDETH NOT PERSONS, nor taketh reward." In this context, G-d says He chose only the fathers (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob) and their seed to be His people, and not the others. That He "regardeth not persons" means that He does this, not on the basis of their nationality, nor their good moral character (for they were a stiffnecked and rebellious people), but because is was His good pleasure to do so. If G-d chose Israel to be His people, and not the others, is not this showing partiality? Deut. 14:1,2 "Ye are the children of the LORD your G-d...and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth." Why did not G-d choose the other nations to be his children and to know his laws? Isn't this showing partiality or favoritism?
"For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again: NEITHER DOTH G-D RESPECT ANY PERSON: yet doth he devise means, that his banished be not expelled from him." In other words, we all must die, whether rich, poor, Jew, Gentile, man or woman, king or servant; G-d does not look at our social station and on this basis exclude some from death. The Bishop's Bible 1568 says: "For we must nedes dye, and are as wather spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered vp againe: NEITHER DOTH G-D SPARE ANY PERSON, yet doth he appoynt meanes that his banished be not vtterly expelled from him. The brand new 1998 Complete Jewish Bible says: "For we will all die someday; we'll be like water spilled on the ground that can't be gathered up again; and G-D MAKES NO EXCEPTION FOR ANYONE. We know "the LORD struck the child" of David and Bathsheeba and it died. In 1 Samuel 2:6 we are told "The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up", and in Deuteronomy 32:39 G-d says "See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand."
The phrase "no respecter of persons" is found 6 times in the New Testament: Romans 2:11 "For there is no respect of persons with G-d."; Ephesians 6:9 "And ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him."; Colossians 3:25 "But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons."; James 2:1 and 9 - "My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons"; "But if have respect of persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors."; Acts 10:34-35 "Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that G-d is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him." G-d does not treat all people the same, nor are we told to do so either. We are to withdraw from some, avoid, exclude, reject, separate from, and not cast our pearls before others. Most importantly, G-d Himself chose His elect in Christ before the foundation of the world and "of the SAME LUMP" makes one vessel unto honour and another unto dishonour - Romans 9:21. Romans 2:11 says "For there is no respect of persons with G-d." So also read the ASV, Geneva, Revised Version, Spanish "acepción de personas", Lamsa's translation of the Syriac Peshitta, the 21st Century KJV and Green's Modern KJV. However, the NKJV, NASB, and ESV say " G-d shows no partiality" and the NIV and Holman say "G-d does not show favoritism". Yet this very book declares in Romans 9 "For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of G-d according to election might stand, not of works but of him that calleth...Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated...I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy...So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of G-d that sheweth mercy...Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth." In Matthew 20 the Lord Jesus Christ told a parable that illustrates the grace of G-d and how, to our natural way of thinking, it is "not fair". A householder went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. Some started work right away, others at the third hour, the sixth hour and some at the eleventh hour. Yet He paid them all the same. Those who had worked the whole day began to complain. Then the Lord said: "Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil because I am good. So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen."
We know there is a third heaven according to Paul - so there are different places of honor and reward. When Jesus noticed how the guests were trying to secure the places of honor, He spoke to them in a parable. “ When you are asked by someone to a wedding –feast, do not sit down in the place of honor. It may be that some person more distinguished than yourself has been invited. And the Host will come and say to You,” Give this man your seat.” Then you will look foolish as you begin to take the lowest place. No, when you receive an invitation, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when your Host comes he will say, “Come up higher my friend.” Then all your fellow-guests will see the respect in which you are held. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” In Romans 9: 12 we read: "It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with G-d? G-d forbid. For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of G-od that sheweth mercy. For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against G-d? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? What if G-d, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved. And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living G-d. Some in heaven will sit next to the Lord Jesus Christ, some will be the bride, some will be guests, some will be servants and some will be thrown out and destroyed.
Matt 22:2-14 "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king, who made a marriage feast for his son, and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the marriage feast, but they would not come. Again he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, "Behold, I have made ready my dinner. My oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the marriage feast!"‘ But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his merchandise, and the rest grabbed his servants, and treated them shamefully, and killed them. When the king heard that, he was angry, and he sent his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city (Revelation 17:18) . "Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited weren’t worthy. Go therefore to the intersections of the highways, and as many as you may find, invite to the marriage feast.’ Those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together as many as they found, both bad and good. The wedding was filled with guests. But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man who didn’t have on wedding clothing, and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here not wearing wedding clothing?’ He was speechless. Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and throw him into the outer darkness; there is where the weeping and grinding of teeth will be.’ For many are called, but few chosen."
Are you chosen dear one?
No comments:
Post a Comment