Text: Acts 10:34-35
Our text is a passage commonly used to show that God is willing to welcome anyone to come to Him if they will meet His conditions of pardon (to fear Him and do what is right). However, rather than thinking about what this means for “anyone,” let us consider what it means FOR US. The fact that God shows no partiality means more than just that salvation is open to all. It should also affect what we do each day.
What does it mean FOR US that God shows no partiality?
It Impacts How We Treat Others (Ephesians 6:9; Colossians 3:23-25)
- Paul instructs masters to treat their slaves well – why? … there is “no partiality” with God
- He also instructed slaves to serve well – why? … God rewards us “without partiality”
- All people have been made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27) – therefore, we are equally valuable; the rich and poor have a common bond (Proverbs 22:2); different status, but equal in this regard
- We need to be careful not to treat others unfairly based on their appearance (James 2:1-4) – show kindness and respect to the poor, even if they have nothing to offer, because we value their soul; show kindness and respect to the rich without trying to gain something, because we value their soul
It Shapes How We View Our Brethren (Galatians 2:4-6)
- Paul explained that he refused to compromise with “false brethren” (Galatians 2:4-5) – they were threatening the spiritual well-being of others (Galatians 2:5; cf. 1:6-7)
- He did not show special treatment to anyone – even Peter (Galatians 2:11-14)
- We are to love our brethren (1 Peter 1:22) – we are all one in Christ; the brethren of “high reputation” and those who are relatively unknown are part of the same body
- We do not want to cause our brethren to stumble (1 Corinthians 8:13)
- We also do not want to fail to turn a brother from sin (James 5:19-20) – even one like Peter
It Influences How We Share the Gospel (Acts 10:34-35)
- God told Peter in a vision that he was not to call unholy what God has cleansed (Acts 10:9-16) – this was not just about OT dietary laws; it was about the Gentiles
- Jesus originally sent His apostles to the Jews (Matthew 10:5-7) – later He sent them to the rest of the world (Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8); but Peter had to be told, and so did his Jewish brethren (Acts 11:2-3, 18)
- Jesus died for the world (John 3:16) – God wants all to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9) – therefore, we should spread the gospel whenever and with whomever we have opportunity
It Affects How We Prepare for Judgment (Romans 2:6-11)
- Paul spent the second half of the first chapter condemning the Gentiles for their sins (Romans 1:18-32) – yet the Jews were also guilty (Romans 2:1-2); they stood condemned before God (Romans 2:3)
- God will judge all people fairly (Acts 17:31) – “in righteousness,” which means according to His perfect standard; God does not make exceptions based on who we are (Matthew 3:8-10); all can be saved or lost depending on how they respond to Him (Romans 11:22-23)
- We will be judged according to our deeds (Romans 2:6) – those who do good will receive eternal life (Romans 2:7, 10; cf. Hebrews 5:9); those who do not obey the truth will receive wrath (Romans 2:8-9; cf. 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9)
Conclusion
- God shows no partiality – therefore, anyone can be saved if they faithfully obey Him; but it also means that anyone can be lost if they fail to follow Him or fall away from Him
- Let us make sure we are serving the Lord faithfully and encourage others to do the same
