God's Impartiality

Paul summarized God’s willingness to reward or punish all people, regardless of their ancestry, by saying in Romans 2:11, “For there is no partiality with God.” God is willing to reward those who persevere in doing good and is equally willing to punish those who do not obey the truth. God will repay each person according to their deeds, not their physical lineage. Furthermore, God leaves the deeds done and the goals pursued up to each individual, rather than maintaining partiality because of what their ancestors chose. God’s impartiality is intended to promote impartiality in the behavior of His people toward every person.

In James 2:1, James, the half-brother of Jesus, accused Christians of behaving with favoritism rather than godly impartiality. They showed consideration to visitors who appeared rich, while treating those who appeared poor with disdain. Even a rapid scan of their behavior betrays their motives: they wanted people with money so they could have some, and people who appeared powerful (in a worldly sense) so they might gain some earthly power or influence through them. After summarizing their conduct, James judged them in James 2:4, asking rhetorically if they had “become judges with evil thoughts.” The impartiality of God is intended to produce impartiality in His people.

The impartiality of God is the product of His love for humankind, and our impartiality is the product of our imitation and adoption of His love. John 3:16 states, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” The impartiality of Jesus’ sacrifice, along with the impartiality of the great commission found in Matthew 28:18-20, should be enough to inspire Christians to look beyond the physical surface of every individual and see the soul in need of Christ that lies within. Imitate God’s impartiality.