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This morning,
there is not a particular subject on
my mind, but due to some conversations lately with
different folks, my mind has been stirred a good bit
about the subject of "Respect of Persons." One of my favorite questions to ask is, "Is God a respecter of
persons?" To properly answer the question, we must
dig to the heart of many foundational points of
Scripture. Of course, it never hurts to state up
front that the Scriptures are not at odds with each
other when some talk of God respecting persons, while
others assert that He does not. As is usually the
case when doing Scriptural study, one must understand
the context to frame their points of reference in
their mind to understand the intent of the lesson.
So, let us proceed down several avenues of thought to
discover what the Bible has to say upon the subject inregards to God primarily, and to us secondarily.
The first frame of reference to investigate is the
thought of elect versus non-elect persons. In Genesis
4, we read very plainly and clearly that God had
respect unto Abel, and He had not respect unto Cain.
While their offerings were either blessed or condemned
as well, the respect (or lack thereof) to the man
takes precedence to the offering made. Abel's
offering was made by faith, and this made the offering
acceptable to God. (Hebrews 11:4) But, should Abel
have not had faith, it would have been impossible to
offer anything to please God. (Hebrews 11:6)
Therefore, since Cain did not have faith (was not one
of God's own), his offering was unacceptable as well.
This lesson teaches us clearly and unequivocally that
there are people that God does not respect. The idea
that God loves everybody and has respect unto all does
not stand up to clear Scriptural examination. Cain
was of the wicked one (I John 3), and he is hated just
as Esau is by God for his abominable nature and
actions that were not touched by the grace of Almighty
God.
When the Lord comes in His glory (Matthew 25), we
read that He will separate from among all the nations
gathered before the throne of His glory. When that
day comes, it is clear that those He loves are His,
while those He hates are not. Notice the personal
language of the text. He separates "his sheep" from
"the goats." The sheep are given the distinction of
being His, while He claims no ownership of the goats.
We understand that, as the Creator and Ruler of the
universe, He owns them in the sense of being able to
judge them and condemn them. But, He does not claim
the ownership of them as objects of His love. Rather
than sending them to hell sorrowful for their lack of
"acceptance," He will plainly tell them, "I never knew
you." That strong language states that while the Lord
knew who they were and knew all things about them, He
does not know them in the intimate fashion
(foreknowledge) that He knows His sheep. God is,
therefore, a great respecter of persons when it comes
to the sheep and the goats.
Now, let us move into the realm of the sheep. Does
God love any of His sheep more than the others? Does
He have respect of persons as it pertains to His
elect? Again, we must focus on what aspect we are
talking about. In the sense of His love, there is no
respect of persons with God. (II Samuel 14:14) If
someone can Biblically show how God saves one of His
people by His love, we can easily show how He saves
all of His people by His love. The sequence of events
in Romans 8:28-32 show in the plainest of terms that
everybody embraced in the foreknowledge is the same
people that get carried all the way through
predestination, calling, justification, and
glorification. John 6:37 states that the same people
given to Christ by the Father are the exact same in
number and scope as those that will never be cast out
of His sight. Furthermore, heaven will not have
elevated levels of glory. The glory that one heir of
grace inherits will be identical with every heir of
grace. Even more, we will be joint-heirs with Christ
and possessors of the same inheritance as His.
When one looks at the saving work of Christ, one
cannot possibly indulge in the thought that some are
saved differently, for that would make God a respecter
of persons with His love. The way He loves one is the
way He loves all, for His parenthood is far superior
to ours. We may try not to play favorites with our
children, but He DOES NOT play favorites with His.
There is no elite group of elect persons. There are
not any that are "more elect" than others, for the
love and inheritance is the same. Consider the
thought for a moment that what is Christ's is ours
(joint relationship). My wife and I have a joint
relationship, which we will attempt to prove is a
Biblical practice. What is mine is hers, and what is
hers is mine. We do not each own 50% of our estate,
but we both own 800 of it. Notice that God's elect
family (triumphant bride of Christ), has all that is
Christ's. (Romans 8:14-16) He has given His bride
(elect children in this instance) everything that is
His. What greater example could we have in our lives
as married couples in how we view one another.
So now that we have laboured to prove that God does
not respect persons among His children in love, does
He have respect to persons among His children in
another sense? In I Timothy 4:10, we read that God is
the Saviour of all men, but especially to them that
believe. Again, this text is not teaching dual
methods of redemption and atonement, for the first
phrase "Saviour of all men" indicates that He is the
Saviour of all of His people without distinction. He
saves them from every race, nation, creed, and time in
the exact same way. Peter learned this lesson in Acts
10 when he preached to Cornelius's house. One's
background matters for nothing in relation to God's
eternal purpose of salvation for His people. Perhaps
they have heard the gospel or perhaps they have not.
It matters not! Perhaps they lived in Old Testament
times, or perhaps they just came into this world, it
matters not! The same for one is the same for all.
But what about the last phrase "specially of those
that believe?"
While God does not respect persons in love, He does
respect persons among His children in fellowship.
There is a special closeness among them that believe.
I will even say that that closeness is felt the most
special among the household of faith in the church of
the living God, which is the pillar and ground of the
truth. (I Timothy 3:15) While those that believe
erroneous teachings are not without some spiritual
food, I believe the bounty of God's fat and dainty
things is among THE church of our Lord and Saviour, of
which I trust to be a part. If it were not so, I find
no reason to contend for this faith so earnestly. The
true church is special to Him, and the reason she is
special is because we believe. Now, dear friendsthere is much more to this belief than saying, "I
believe in God."
This belief extends to saying, "I believe God."
When He declares that He finished it all (Hebrews
1:3), we either believe He did or we believe He did
not. When He established His one true church upon
Himself (Matthew 16:16-18), we either believe He did
(and set her up correctly with nothing added or taken
away), or we do not. To feel the special fellowship
that He has with us, spirit and truth must be present.
Without these two things, proper worship (and close
fellowship) is impossible. (John 4:24) I trust that as
long as God gives me the grace, strength, and mind to
proclaim the specialness of His church, I will. God
did not ever apologize for this, and neither should
we. God set His church in this earth for our
consolation, and primarily for His glory. If we fail
to believe in what He says (in any fashion), we lose
that consolation, and worse, we take from His glory.
Therefore, the Lord has respect of persons as it
pertains to fellowship among His people.
Finally, let us move into the church and see whether
God respects persons (and if we should as well).
James exhorts us in James 2 not to have respect of
persons in God's house. Why is this? James uses the
example of rich and poor, but any corollary applies.
Whether rich and poor, young and old, married and
single, etc., the premise holds that we should not
respect persons in God's house. The principle reason
for this is that God does not respect persons in His
house. In Matthew 20, we read the parable of the
labourers in the vineyard of the master. At the end
of the day, each received a penny for their labours.
Some laboured 12 hours, some only one, but they all
received the same. Dear friends, God can raise an
entire congregation of believers in the same assembly
to the mountain of His holiness. They can all be
blessed to feed and rest in the pastures of His
goodness. Whether they are the young child or the
aged in Israel, I have seen them weep together, feed
together, and joy in praises with equal satisfaction.
There is no need for separation (respect of persons),
for God Himself does not do such in His courts. We
may from time to time, think we deserve more (laboured
longer than others), but God blesses together.
When it comes to the respect that God has between
elect and non-elect, we cannot cross into that
territory. The Lord knoweth them that are His (II
Timothy 2:19), and we should be content to leave it
there. We can see and perceive those that are
believing in truth and spirit (at times), and those
that are not. But, we should still show love and
charity for those within and those without, although
Paul asserts a special place for the household of
faith. (Galatians 6:10) We need to do good to our
enemies (according to the gospel), but there is
something special about our brethren inside the walls
of Zion. However, there should never be any respect
of persons by those within. We should encourage those
without to "Come and see," but we should encourage
those within equally. God has set us in His church as
equals. May we strive to follow after His example as
we can, and most certainly always understand that God
does and does not respect persons, depending on what
is under consideration.
In Hope,
Bro Philip
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