Acts 10:24 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons
WHAT DOES “God is no respecter of persons” mean?
God is not fair, He is just and righteous. People think that this verse shows that God has no favoritism or partiality. But that’s not true. God said Jacob have I loved but Esau have I hated Romans 9:13. Pharaoh didn’t have a chance. God hardened Pharaoh’s heart Exodus 7:13-8:19, but Righteous God probably saved Pharaoh’s first born, if he was still a baby. God does however (except for a few extreme exceptions) treat everyone equally. He gives the same opportunities for love, forgiveness, and salvation, regardless of their social status, nationality, or background; it’s a core biblical concept. God is impartial in that we all have access to God’s grace.
The reason for the extreme examples above, among others is that God knows the future at the same time He knows the past and the present. He knew Pharaoh was fickle and was going to harden his heart anyway, so God saved him the trouble and did it for him. Esau was going to sell his birthright, and father the Edomites (Israel’s worst enemies), and forefather Herod (the only king who Jesus refused to talk to, and further down the road, the anti-Christ I believe)
What this also says is that God respects no one. He judges no one, good nor bad. We are born in sin. Jesus didn’t come to condemn us but to save us. We are already condemned through Adam. That’s why Jesus had to be born through a sinful mother (Mary) but a sinless Father. DNA of weak man, and GOD. Sin comes through the father’s line, in Jesus’ case, the sinless Holy Spirit. Just like God doesn’t judge us for bad (we are all bad), He also doesn’t judge us for good (respect us, we are just clay)
One of my favorite preachers always said he was ‘God’s Favorite’. Kind of sat wrong with me, because of the verse that ‘God is not a respecter of men’. I drifted away from him because of that. I’m sure he was joking but it bothered me. Like two christian school football teams praying to beat each other to a pulp. Once heard full on godless commie guerrillas praying to win a firefight with the Americans ‘enemy of humanity’. Likewise the heathen American soldiers praying to the same God as well to kill the commies and be victorious. One chaplain insisted on singing ‘onward Christian soldiers’. Turns my stomach to this day. (And all these prayers before they start hurling insults against each other’s mothers, would’ve been kinda funny if it wasn’t so scary at the time). Haji prayed as well except it wasn’t to our God, it was to their little moon god. But it doesn’t matter. If you aren’t repentant of your sins and believe on Jesus to save you, God doesn’t hear your prayers.
Every Buddhist, Islamist, hindi, animalist, atheist, commie, satanist, witch etc. has the same opportunity to escape the endless terrors of hellfire & go to heaven as an american falling to sleep in the soft pew of an American church. In fact when I was a missionary to the Indians in Panama and Colombia, God always guided me to evangelize the tribes with doctors first. God says if they have never heard the Gospel (our job to deliver it) He will judge them by their hearts. Romans 2:12-16,
The point is, look up to God, don’t look up to man. The junkie in the street did not wake up at 8 years old and decide to be a junkie. They all wanted to be doctors and lawyers and such. Want your eyes opened? This is my favorite thing to do. Winnie hates it when I do it, especially when our kids were with us, but we were always amazed afterwards. All of us. My son only remembers the bums. Never remembered the famous hollywood people, rock musician stars or famous pastors. Do this!
Instead of throwing a quarter, an admonishment and a Bible verse at a bum (in front of other Christians so they praise you). Invite one with you into a MacDonalds and buy a supersized meal for him, and one for yourself as well. (God can afford it). In between bites, ask him or her what their goals are. If it’s just to survive, or buy more crack as one told me, ask them what they wanted to be when they were young. The answers are amazing, humanizing, and sometimes almost accomplished. No matter what, this conversation leads to witnessing. Most fun of all is steering them in the right direction afterwards to getting them on their feet. I have a success rate of about 1 in a thousand but it gives life to the Gospel.
I personally did not choose to be a Christian Missionary at the age of 8 either. I wanted to be a tobacco chewin- motorcycle ridin-kindergarten teacher. Well I got 1 out of the three right. If things had been a little off I could very easily have ended up a junkie on the street (although few make it to 69). If some things had gone right for the junkie, maybe they would end up being Christian Missionaries. God doesn’t respect any one. We are all born going to hell. That’s the only reason Jesus came and died for us. There was no other way and keep God’s righteousness.
In reference to the above. (Looking for audio books) I have always spent a couple hours a day working out (not that it shows). For thirty two years I would listen to preachers as I did so. And listen to some praise and worship as well. At least one teaching tape a day, for 32+ years. Plus the current ‘hit parade’ Christian music. I really respected them all. My problem is, in being a Calvary Chapel pastor, I met a lot of the famous preachers that I listened to and musicians of my favorite praise and worship bands. Not always, but usually was A huge let down every time, Almost EVERY time. I just respected them so much, and when I met them all, they were just like me. Bummer!! Almost Every single time. God keeps warning me, but I’m a slow learner.
I find reading the Word is fine. (Entire bible every year) But it doesn’t set me on fire usually. It feeds my soul but doesn’t set me on fire. I read 4 chapters in 15-20 minutes, pray a couple hours, but I love to be sent to a spiritually high plateau. Then I started only listening to dead preachers, the live ones were too depressing. The only problem with the dead ones is they’re limited in teachings you can find online. Praise and worship I have stopped listening to completely. I am looking for fresh inspiration. The only thing that really excites me are books about revival, pastors, monks and or missionaries of old. I try to do podcasts on spotify but it keeps trying to bill me. Do you know where I can get an endless supply of audiobooks on biographies of pastors and missionaries? I know some public libraries do. I don’t want anything secular. Just missionaries and pastors and revival. One or two hours a day.
Romans 2:11-16
11 For there is no respect of persons with God.
12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.