There Is No Partiality with God
Text: Romans 2:1-11
I. People tend to be biased.
A. We have our viewpoints. We have our favorites. We understand that being unbiased is a better position, but biased views always creep into our decisions.
1. Listen to a radio commentator. It doesn’t take long to figure out wether he is conservative or liberal. His bias shows in what he favors and what he opposes.
2. Not that all bias is wrong. Being biased against evil is a good thing.
3. But when judgments are needed we want an unbiased judge
B. The Bible declares God to be unbiased toward men
1. Romans 2:9-11 - God doesn’t care about nationalities, He looks at what people do.
2. Acts 10:34-35 - God looks at people’s attitudes and deeds
C. One of flaws of Calvinism is that it paints God as being biased, while at the same time denying that it is doing so.
1. “As God hath appointed the elect unto glory, so hath He, by the eternal and most free purpose of His will, foreordained all the means thereunto. Wherefore, they who are elected . . . are effectually called unto faith in Christ by His Spirit working in due season, are justified, adopted, sanctified, and kept by His power. through faith, unto salvation. Neither are any other redeemed by Christ, effectually called, justified, adopted, sanctified, and saved, but the elect only” [Westminster Confession of Faith, III.6]
2. “The rest of mankind God was pleased, according to the unsearchable counsel of His own will, whereby He extendeth or withholdeth mercy, as He pleaseth, for the glory of His Sovereign power over His creatures, to pass by; and to ordain them to dishonour and wrath for their sin, to the praise of His glorious justice” [Westminster Confession of Faith, III.7]
3. “God then did manifest himself such as he is; that is to say, merciful and just: Merciful, since he delivers and preserves from this perdition all whom he, in his eternal and unchangeable council, of mere goodness hath elected in Christ Jesus our Lord, without respect to their works: Just, in leaving others in the fall and perdition wherein they have involved themselves” [Belgic Confession of Faith, XVI].
4. The claim is that God is being just and merciful by picking in advance who will be saved and who will be lost, regardless of what a person does. But these are direct contradictions of the passages we just read!
II. How God impartially condemns
A. All men sin - Romans 3:10, 23
1. Throughout the Bible we read of the great men and realize even they sin
a. Noah got drunk - Genesis 9:21
b. Abraham lied - Genesis 12:11-13
c. David committed adultery - II Samuel 11:3-4
d. Peter shunned brethren - Galatians 2:11
2. The problem of sin is universal. It make exceptions for no one - Romans 5:12
B. The condemnation for sin the same - Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:1
1. God doesn’t condemn some sins and ignores others
2. What we consider great sins or little sins are treated alike - Revelation 21:8
III. How God impartially saves
A. All men are loved - John 3:16
1. The message of the gospel is that you are loved by God - Romans 5:6-8
2. This is a message that needs to be spread. So many are trapped in the notion that they are too sinful that God would never want them, that they are rejected before they even try to be accepted.
3. II Peter 3:9 - Who is not included in “all”?
B. The same sacrifice was given for all
1. Jesus tasted death for everyone - Hebrews 2:9
2. One sacrifice for all - Hebrews 10:10
3. For the whole world - I John 2:2
4. A free gift to all men - Romans 5:18
C. The same message is preached to all
1. Preached too all the creation - Mark 16:16
2. Paul taught the same message in all the churches - I Corinthians 4:7
3. The gospel was handed down once for all - Jude 3
4. There wasn’t one message for the Jews and another for the Gentiles. There wasn’t one message for people in the first century and a different message for people today.
5. A message which cannot be altered - Galatians 1:8-9
D. The same invitation is offered to all
1. For all who are burdened - Matthew 11:28
2. For all who wish for eternal life - John 7:37; Revelation 22:17
E. The same terms for salvation is offered to all - Romans 10:8-13
1. Acts 2:38-39 - Terms for every one of you
2. The Lord sets the terms, but they are impartially set. The same terms are expected of every person.
IV. How God impartially teaches
A. All the saved belong to the same church
1. There is only Jesus’ church - Matthew 16:18
2. There is only one body - Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:4
3. On salvation we enter that one church - I Corinthians 12:13; Acts 2:47
B. There is one standard to live by - Philippians 2:16
1. One faith - Ephesians 4:4
2. After all, Jesus left only one example - I Peter 2:21
3. Saved by the eternal word of God - I Peter 1:2-25
4. Whatever we do, it is by one authority - Colossians 3:17
V. How God impartially judges
A. All will be judged - Romans 14:12; John 5:28-30
1. No one is left out
B. The same standard will be applied
1. The words of Jesus - John 12:48
2. All will receive based on things done in the body - II Corinthians 5:10
3. According to his deeds - Romans 2:5-6
C. The same consequences applied
1. Life for the obedient - Romans 2:7
2. Wrath for the disobedient - Romans 2:8
D. God is impartial. He has no respect for any individual. So how will you be judged? You do have time to make changes - Ezekiel 18:21-23
Based on an article by Jim Deason