Jesus was no respecter of persons

JESUS WAS NO RESPECTOROF PERSONS
EDITED BY GLENN PEASE
God is No RespecterofPersons
By: MichaelBradley
Last updated on: October11, 2018
Part of the sanctificationprocessthat God the Father would like to start with
eachand everyone of us is to make sure that our minds get properly renewed
according the knowledge and revelationthat is in His Word. In other words,
we have to learn how to develop right thinking in our minds and in our
thought process.
In order to getour minds properly renewedwhere we canstart thinking right
about things, the Holy Spirit will be moving very strongly to put in what He
does want you to be thinking right about, and taking out what He does not
want you to be thinking about.
One of the very first areas that you will really need to get a grip on in this area
is to learn that God the Fatheris no respecterofpersons.
What this means is that every single man and woman He has ever createdis
on an equal footing with Him.

What this means is that He has an equal and unconditional love for each
person He has ever createdand He is not going to be playing favorites with
anyone.
As you will see in the Scripture verses I will list below, they are all telling us
that God the Father is no respecterof persons and that He will not be showing
any type of partiality or favoritism to anyone.
What this means is that God will work with eachperson who will properly
come to Him with the same amount of intensity and to the same degree that
He will work with anyone else. In other words, there will be equal treatment
for everyone!
This means we will all have an equal chance to be able enter into God’s
perfect plan and destiny for our lives – and then allow Him to build that life
up and take it into the specific directions that He will want to take it in.
Part of the problem in this area is that the Body of Christ is divided into one
of two main camps. In the one camp is the Christian who has fully
surrendered his entire life over to the Lord and is willing to enter into God’s
perfect plan and destiny for his life.
As a result of making this kind of full surrender to the Lord, God is now
working and building up this person’s life to its maximum capabilities and
possibilities in this life. This fully surrendered Christian has a very active and
powerful walk with the Lord as a result of being willing to come into this full
surrender with the Him.

And then you have the secondcamp, which is where I believe most Christians
are living in today – and that is out of the perfectwill of God for their lives.
In other words, they have never made that full surrender with the Lord where
He would be the One to fully guide and direct their lives into the specific
directions that He would want it to go in.
As a result of this extreme contrastbetweenthese two camps, you have
Christians who are walking in this secondcamp, which is out of the perfect
will of God for their lives, wondering why the fully surrendered Christian is
getting all of the goodactivity and blessings in their lives and they are not
getting anywhere in their lives with the Lord.
The fully surrendered Christians have meaning and purpose in their lives.
They know where they are going with the Lord and they now have God’s
anointing, blessing, and favor operating in their lives so they canmake it to
the tops of the mountains God is asking them to climb for Him.
And all of this positive activity is being brought into their lives as a result of
being willing to fully surrender their entire lives over to God the Fatherfor
His direction and handling.
The Christians who are living and walking in the secondcamp are calling all
of their own shots and running all of their own shows, and many of them are
getting absolutelynowhere in this life as a result of trying to do all of this on
their own.

In the Bible basics sectionofour site, we have another article titled, “The Full
Surrender.”
In this article, I give you all of the main verses from the Bible that is telling us
that there is only one way for eachand every Christian to live this life – and
that is operating under a full and complete surrender with the Lord, where
He will now be the One to guide and lead your life in the direction that He will
want it to go in.
As a result of this kind of divide in the Body of Christ, you have many
Christians who are in this secondcamp being very jealous and envious of all
of the goodworks and fruit that the fully surrendered Christian is producing
for the Lord.
But insteadof trying to see the truth as to why these fully surrendered
Christians are getting this kind of blessedactivity with the Lord in the first
place, they start getting mad at Godand start accusing Him of playing
favorites with a certain amount of His people, much like what siblings will do
with their own natural parents if they think one of the other siblings is getting
preferential treatment from one or both of the parents.
The Bible says that the truth will set you free, but you first have to be willing
to see what that truth is and then fully understand it before it can start to
work to set you free.
If you are not willing to see that fully surrendered Christians are receiving
this kind of blessedand meaningful life from the Lord all as a result of
making this full surrender with Him – then you will continue to stay stuck and

grounded right where you are at, and you will continue to throw pity parties
and blame everyone else for your miserable and unproductive life, including
God Himself.
Bottom line – because the Bible tells us so – God the Father is no respecterof
persons, and He will not be showing any type of partiality or favoritism to any
man or any woman He has ever created.
What this means is that you will have no excuse on your day of judgment with
the Lord as to why you did not have a more blessed, active, productive, and
fruitful life for Him while living down here on this earth.
You will have nobody to blame but yourself if you have chosenwith your own
free will to run your own life and callall of your own shots rather than
turning your entire life over to God the Father for His direction and handling.
Now here are 4 very powerful and profound verses from the Bible that is
giving us this powerful revelationfrom the Lord. The first verse is from the
Original King James Version.
This will be the verse that will give you the specific wording that God the
Father is no respecterof persons. The other three verses are from the New
King James Version.
“Then Peteropenedhis mouth, and said, of a truth I perceive that God is no
respecterof persons:But in every nation he that fearethHim, and worketh
righteousness, is acceptedwith Him.” (Acts 10:34)
“… God shows no personal favoritism to no man ….” (Galatians 2:6)

“Forthe Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God,
mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe.”
(Deuteronomy 10:17)
“And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to
eachone’s work … ” (1 Peter1:17)
As Christians, we all need to grab a hold of the profound revelation that is
being given to us in these four verses.
Think of what God is trying to tell all of us with this revelation – that every
single one of us, with no exceptions, canbe treated equally and fairly with the
Lord in how He will handle our lives – but only if we are willing to enter into
this full surrender with Him where He will now be the One to control and lead
our lives in the direction that He will want them to go in.
If you are willing to enter into this full surrender with the Lord, He will now
handle both you and what He wants to do with your life with the same amount
of care, love, compassion, and intensity as He would with any other fully
surrendered Christian.
There are no exceptions to this revelation.
There is an equal amount of unconditional love, support, and guidance from
God the Father for every single Christian who is willing to enter into this full
surrender with Him.
This means that every single Christian has an equal chance and an equal
window to become everything that Godis calling them to become in Him in
this life – and to fully achieve everything that He is wanting them to
accomplishin this life.

This particular revelationis so powerful from the Lord, that I have chosento
put this article in the Sanctificationsectionofour site.
This revelation has to be believed on, grounded on, and actedon. This
revelation has to become a permanent part of your right thinking.
If you will not believe that God will treat everyone fairly and justly in this
realm of the full surrender – then you will never make it to the top of
whatevermountain God is calling you to climb for Him in this life.
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In addition to the Christians who steadfastlyand stubbornly refuse to commit
and surrender their entire lives over to the Lord for His full handling – you
then have many Christians who have made this full surrender with the Lord,
but they are still continuing to remain stuck and grounded in their personal
walks with the Lord.
And the reasonsome of these fully surrendered Christians are remaining
grounded and stuck in their walk and calls with the Lord is because they have
never been able to get over the mental hurdle of being able to believe in the

revelation that is being given to us in these four verses in that God the Father
is no respecterofpersons, which will include every single one of them.
I have met many of these types of Christians in my own walk with the Lord.
When I askedthese people why they could not believe in this revelationsince
it is being given to us direct from the Bible itself – many of them have told me
that it was because ofsome of the bad things that their own natural fathers
had done to them in their past.
Even though they know this type of thinking is wrong since it is going against
what the Bible is trying to tell us, there appears to be an emotional factorthat
comes into play, especiallyif there has been any type of severe abuse from
their parents, especiallythe father.
When a child is born into a family, God has things setup in that the parents
are supposedto properly love, nourish, and care for their child as they are
growing into adulthood in the family.
When that proper love, care, and nourishment is not there, and all the child
ever hears or receives is verbal and/or physical abuse, then the child has a
hard time learning how to trust anyone as they get older. They have been so
beat up from all of this dysfunctional abuse, they even have a hard time in
being able to trust in God Himself, even though they know God is all-perfect,
all-loving, and is no respecterof persons.
Since they were not treatedfairly and justly by their natural parents, they
have a hard time in being able to believe that God will treat them equally and
fairly like He would anyone else.

As a result of not being able to getthis revelation properly workedinto their
mindset and way of thinking in this life, they end up remaining stuck and
grounded in their own personalwalks with the Lord, and they never climb or
reachto all of the goals that God would have had in store for them in this life.
This is why it is so vitally important that eachand every Christian believe and
act on this revelation– that you are just as important to God as anyone else is,
and that He will give you the same amount of time, care, and attention that He
would give to anyone else.
To think that the one and only all-powerful God of this entire universe can
personally single you out, and tell you from His Word that you are just as
important and just as precious in His sight as anyone else that He has ever
createdsince the beginning of our world – is enough to knock you right off the
couchwhen you really stopand meditate on this revelation.
To those of you who are having a hard time in believing in this revelation –
you will simply have to make up your mind whether or not you want to try
and believe on it. If you do not, then you will never fulfill the divine destiny
that God would have had in store for you in this life.
You only have one chance and one opportunity to fulfill the divine destiny to
which God has calledyou to in this life.
You can either choose to believe that God has a greatplan and a great
purpose for your life, and that He will give you just as much time and
attention to be able to fulfill that divine destiny as He would anyone else – or
you canchoose to believe that our God is not who the Bible says He is.

If you believe that the Holy Bible is truly the inspired and infallible Word of
God – then you have to believe what the above 4 verses are trying to tell you.
God cannot lie, and neither can His Word!
This revelation is money in your bank if you can believe on it, ground on it,
and acton it in this life.
If you can ground on this revelation as a major foundational truth in your
walk with the Lord, God can then take full control of your life and remove all
obstacles,barriers, and hindrances that will keepyou from flying full force
into the realm of His perfectwill for your life, where an incredible adventure
just lies waiting for you.
The choice is yours!
One other thing once you enter into this realm with the Lord where you are
now walking and operating in His perfect will for your life – do not ever
compare where your walk is going in the Lord to where anyone else may be
going in their walk with Him.
The calls and divine assignments that God will pass your wayin this life are
all relative.
What this means is that if Godcalls you to be a stay-at-home mom for the first
20 years of your marriage so that you can properly raise up your children in
their earlier formative years, that callwill be just as important as someone
who is being called by God to become the next president of the United States.

The little finger is just as important as the right arm in the Body of Christ.
What matters with the Lord is not what He calls you to do for Him in this life
– but what you do with the call that He hands out to you. Your job is to do the
best job you can at whateverGod will be calling you to do for Him on a daily
basis.
God will be rewarding you for how well you work for Him, not for what He
will actually callyou to do.
If you end up doing a better job for God raising up your children in the first
20 years of your marriage than what someone does with their call of being the
next president of the United States – then you will be more highly rewarded
once you enter into heaventhan the one who may have receivedthe bigger
and heavier callsuch as being calledto be the next president.
This is why the Bible tells us that many who are first in this world may end up
being last, and those who are last in this world may end being first once we
have all entered into heaven and everyone has gone through their own
personaljudgments at the Judgment Seatof Christ.
Once you have entered into this full surrender with the Lord where He will
now be the One who will be in total control of your life and the direction it will
now be heading – your job will be to the best job you can at whateverthe Holy
Spirit will lead you to do on a daily basis.

If you can work this kind of bottom-line truth into your mindset, you will be
less likely to become jealous of other Christians who may be walking in some
of the more glamorous type calls than what you may be walking in.
Remember – every Christian has a vital and important part on God’s team.
The job of the third baseman is just as important as the job of the pitcher or
first baseman. All of these positions are relative in the big picture.
All that matters to the Lord is that you put the pedal to the metal for Him and
try to accomplish, to the best of your abilities, everything that He will be
calling you to do for Him in this life.
If you do – then you can leave this life knowing that you have not squandered
and wastedyour one and only chance to do something very meaningful for the
Lord in this one earthly lifetime.
As a result, God will be highly rewarding you once you enter into heaven and
meet Him face-to-faceforyour own personaljudgment.
Romans 2:11 Context
8But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey
unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, 9Tribulation and anguish, upon
every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
10Butglory, honour, and peace, to every man that workethgood, to the Jew

first, and also to the Gentile: 11Forthere is no respectof persons with God.
12Foras 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(Fornot the
hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be
justified. 14Forwhenthe 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:
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Bible Verses like Romans 2:11
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DiscussionforRomans 2:11
4
months
ago
Lorna on Romans 2:11
He (our creator), is no respectofpersons, we read from the bible.
so why did he choose to be born a jew?

then later become a christian?
this seems a controversialissue!
for the bible also says...
i change not!
can one begin to trust anyone who calls himself
god, who changes not,
then,do a complete flip? to keepwhat has always
been his!
and after what he so firmly says!i change not!
even satanwould have something to sayabout this!
and as we also know, he is immortal

he is perfect,
so there is
no change from perfection to being a mortal creator
which would, put him in the same bracketas satan, who is
a createdbeing, thus here he lowers himself
(when there is no need to), in not only satan's eyes,
but all mankind, being born again to prove
his ownership!he turns human like us!
no...
he is the ownerto all his creation!
never has he lost anything to a createdbeing - satan!
who can never stand up to his maker, owing every

minute to him for his own life, and would surely be
consumed by the creator's presence!
for the wages ofsin is death,
satanis living only
through his makers gratis, or he should have long
been dead by now!
i believe my creatoris perfect in everyway.
never has he lost anything he is ownerof,
not incompetent, untruthful to his word,
lacking a sure foundation, and the ability
to hold on to what is rightfully his!

unaware of the helplessnessofman's
suffering, that he took so long to come to
his aid!
had to leave a place called heavento show
who he rightfully is!
then to prove to man he had to lowerhis
status in order to win back the ownership
of this sad world! and his people!
and then be told by satan...
to bow down to him, and he (our creator)
would be given this whole!
i also believe my creatorknew what he did

back then, even before he createdanything
for surely he is an immortal being, knows his
own, and how to manage it all, even satan.
he need never to prove to anyone or answer.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Romans-2-11/
God is No RespecterofPersons
by CalebColley, Ph.D.
When the first Gentile was convertedto Christianity, the apostle Peter
perceivedthat “God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoeverfears
Him and works righteousnessis acceptedby Him” (Acts 10:34-35). Before the
church was establishedand Gentiles began to be converted to Christ, many
Jews supposedthat God favored them over all other ethnic groups; some had
the false notion that merely being Jewishwas a sure sign that one was saved
(Matthew 3:9; Luke 3:8; 7:30).
When the religious barrier betweenJews and Gentiles was brokendown,
Petermore fully understood one important aspectofGod’s character:He

does not favor—and never has favored—one person or group of people over
others. Whether or not the Israelites always understoodit, anyone who obeys
God’s commands can be justified in His sight. Considera sampling of the
passagesthat emphasize God’s fairness toward all humans:
2 Chronicles 19:7: “Now therefore, let the fear of the Lord be upon you; take
care and do it, for there is no iniquity with the Lord our God, no partiality,
nor taking of bribes.”
Job 34:19:“Yet He is not partial to princes, nor does He regardthe rich more
than the poor; for they are all the work of His hands.”
Romans 2:10-11:“[B]ut glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what
is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Forthere is no partiality with
God.”
Galatians 5:6: “Forin Christ Jesus neither circumcisionor uncircumcision
avails anything, but faith working through love.”
1 Peter1:17: “And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges
according to eachone’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your
stay here in fear.”
Exactly what does it mean that God is impartial? God offers salvationto every
man, no matter what external circumstances,suchas socioeconomic status or
nationality, might apply to him. God does not offer salvation only to the Jew,
just because he is a Jew, or only to the Gentile because he is a Gentile. The
Greek word translated“respecterofpersons” in the King James Version of

Acts 10:34 (“God is no respecterof persons”)is prosopolemptes, a word that
refers to a judge who looks ata man’s face insteadof at the facts of the case,
and makes a decisionbased on whether or not he likes the man (Lenski, 1961,
p. 418). Under Roman law, for example, a defendant’s societalstatus was
weighedheavily along with evidence. Any human judge might show undue
favor to a plaintiff or a defendant because ofprivate friendship, bribery, rank,
power, or political affiliation, but God, the perfect Judge, cannot be tempted
by any of the things that might tempt a human judge to show unfair partiality.
God’s impartiality does not keepHim from choosing people and nations of
people to accomplishHis specific purposes. He was free to use the Israelites as
the seedline to bring about the Sonof Godin human form (the Israelites have
never been the only group of people who had accessto salvation—seeRomans
1:18ff; Jackson, 2004);He was free to use the Babylonians to defeatthe
disobedient Israelites in battle and to take the spoils from them (2 Kings 25:1-
21); He was free to use Peterand Paul to spreadthe Gospelto lost sinners.
God can accomplisheverything He needs to do without violating His
commitment to allow all the opportunity to be saved.
Furthermore, God blesses people in different ways. God’s impartiality does
not mean that everyone will have exactlythe same amount of money, exactly
the same amount of influence, exactlythe same number of children, or exactly
the same number of years upon the Earth. (At the very moment that Peter
noted God’s impartiality, he was in the presence of a man who possessedmore
material wealth than Peterdid.) Some do have more money than others, some
have families who love them more, and some even have more opportunities to
hear the Gospelpreached. However, everyone canbe saved, if he is willing to
searchfor the truth. While some accountable adults may live their entire lives
without hearing a single Gospelsermon, they all experience the marvelous
works of the hand of God, showing every person that He exists. Paul wrote:

[W]hat may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to
them. Forsince the creationof the world His invisible attributes are clearly
seen, being understood by the things that are made, evenHis eternal power
and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because,althoughthey knew
God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in
their thoughts and their foolish hearts were darkened (Romans 1:19-21).
God always has expectedimpartiality from His followers. We should not treat
people differently because oftheir financial status or outward appearance.
The Lord said: “You shall do no injustice in judgment. You shall not be
partial to the poor, nor honor the personof the mighty” (Leviticus 19:15).
Deuteronomy 1:17 reads: “You shall not show partiality in judgment; you
shall hear the small as well as the great.” After describing a scenario in which
a rich man was given a favored seatin the assembly, and a poor man was
pushed to the side, James wrote:“But if you show partiality, you commit sin,
and are convicted by the law as transgressors”(James 2:9). In stating that
Christians should not show partiality because they believe in Christ, James,
by inspiration, suggestedthat favoritism—treating certainpeople as if they
are of more inherent worth—is inconsistentwith faith in Christ, and causes
one to violate God’s law of liberty (2:8,12).
We are grateful that God has not arbitrarily chosensome people to be saved
and some to be lost. Imagine a basis upon which He might selectwhich people
should be saved. Would He choose the wealthy? The well known? The most
intelligent? Members of a particular ethnic group or culture? Fortunately,
eachperson canchoose forhimself whether or not to acceptGod’s saving
grace (Joshua 24:15;Isaiah7:16; Ezekiel18:20;Matthew 23:37;Revelation
22:17). Eachperson is responsible for his or her own actions (Ezekiel18:20;
Romans 14:12; 2 Corinthians 5:10). Because ofGod’s marvelous love for all
humans, He is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to
repentance (2 Peter3:9; cf. 1 Timothy 2:4).

REFERENCES
Jackson, Wayne (2004), “To WhatLaw Were the Ancient Gentiles
Accountable?,” [On-line], URL:
http://www.christiancourier.com/questions/whatLawAncientGentiles.htm.
Lenski, R.C.H. (1961 reprint), The Interpretation of the Acts of the Apostles
(Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg).
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Acts 10:25-37 - God Is No RespecterofPersons
By Rev Charles Seet
Preachedat Life BPC 8am & 11amservice, 2016-05-22
Text: Acts 10:25-37
During a televisioninterview in 1997, the well-knownAmerican evangelistDr
Billy Graham made this statement, “Godis calling people out of the world for
His name, whether they come from the Muslim world, or the Buddhist world,
or the Christian world, or the non-believing world, they are members of the
body of Christ because they’ve been calledby God. They may not evenknow
the name of Jesus, but they know in their hearts they need something that
they don’t have and they turn to the only light they have and I think they’re
savedand they’re going to be with us in heaven.”
This strange idea that a person can be savedwithout knowing Jesus Christ is
gaining popularity today. It is knownby names such as ‘Religious pluralism’,
‘Universalism’, ‘Universal reconciliation’, ‘Ultimate reconciliation’, and the
‘Gospelof Inclusion’. One verse from the Bible that is often used by them to

support this idea is Acts 10:34 – “ThenPeter openedhis mouth, and said, Of a
truth I perceive that God is no respecterof persons…” To be a respecterof
persons is to practise discrimination, favouring certain people and not others.
So they say that according to this verse, as long as a person has some basic
conceptof God, and tries to do goodworks to please Him, God will surely
accepthim.
But what exactlydid Petermean when he said these words? Did he mean to
say that God will save all regardless oftheir religious beliefs, and without
them believing in Christ alone for salvation? No. As we study the passage
where these words come from, we will find that all that it means is that God
does not exclude anyone on the basis of race, class, culture, socialbackground
or position. Let us turn our Bibles now to the passagein Acts 10:25-37.
This passagereveals three important truths about the Lord’s plan for all men.
These truths help us to understand in what sense Godis no respecterof
persons.
1. Christ Welcomes All

This truth is found in verse 35 – “But in every nation he that fearethHim, and
workethrighteousness, is acceptedwith Him.” Peter said this in the house of
Cornelius, a Roman centurion just before preaching the Gospelto him. You
may recallfrom last week’s sermonthat Cornelius was a God-fearing Gentile
who had done plenty of good works, but he still needed to hear the Gospelin
order to be saved. Thus, it is not true that anyone can be savedwithout
knowing Christ at all. What Petermeant when he said that God is no
respecterof persons is that God has chosenthose who are His people, not
from one nation alone – which is Israel – but that He has also chosento save
people from all nations of the earth.
This salvationof people from all nations was actually God’s plan right from
the beginning. It was revealedfrom the time that God calledAbraham and
said to him, “And in thy seedshall all the nations of the earth be blessed.”
(Genesis 22:18)The future fulfilment of this promise is seenin the heavenly
praise will be given to Christ in Revelation5:9 – “And they sung a new song,
saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof:for
thou wastslain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every
kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.”
In the Old Testament, we have the example of Melchizedek in Genesis
14:18,19 – “And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine:
and he was the priest of the most high God. And he blessedhim, and said,
Blessedbe Abram of the most high God, possessorofheaven and earth.” We
see anotherexample in Job – “There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name

was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and
eschewedevil.” (Job 1:1) Joband Melchizedek were both outside the nation of
Israel, and yet they knew God and were savedby Him.
The most striking example of God’s concernfor Gentiles in Old Testament
times is found in the book of Jonah. God sent the prophet Jonah to warn the
people of Nineveh that they would soonbe judged for their wickedness.But
the Ninevites repented quickly, and God spared them from destruction. This
demonstrates that God’s mercy is not confined to Israel but is shown to
Gentiles as well. Therefore Godis no respecterofpersons. He does not
exclude anyone on the basis of race, class,culture, socialbackgroundor
position.
When God came down into this world two thousand years ago, He showedthe
same openness towards Gentiles. Mark 7:25-29 records that “…a certain
woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of Him, and came
and fell at His feet: The womanwas a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and
she besoughtHim that He would castforth the devil out of her daughter. But
Jesus saidunto her, Let the children first be filled [referring to Israel]:for it is
not meet to take the children’s bread, and to castit unto the dogs[referring to
Gentiles]. And she answeredand saidunto Him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs
under the table eat of the children’s crumbs. And He said unto her, For this
saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter.”

Another Gentile that our Lord welcomedwas a Roman Centurion. We are
told in Matthew 8:5-11, “And when Jesus was enteredinto Capernaum, there
came unto Him a centurion, beseeching Him, And saying, Lord, my servant
lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievouslytormented. And Jesus saithunto
him, I will come and heal him. The centurion answeredand said, Lord, I am
not worthy that Thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word
only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having
soldiers under me: and I sayto this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another,
Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When
Jesus heard it, He marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto
you, I have not found so greatfaith, no, not in Israel. And I say unto you, That
many shall come from the eastand west, [referring to Gentiles]and shall sit
down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.”
All that we have seenshould make it clearthat Goddoes not exclude anyone
on the basis of race, class, culture, socialbackgroundor position. Whoever
you are, Christ welcomes you as long as you come to Him in repentance and
faith. His loving arms are open wide to receive you when you come to Him for
salvation. How wonderful it is to know that He is no respecterof persons!We
go on now to considerthe secondtruth which shows in what sense God is no
respecterof persons.
2. Christ Brings Peaceto All

Before Christ came 2,000 years ago, there was no peace betweenthe Jews and
the Gentiles. Gentiles from almost every ancient civilization hated the Jews
and despisedtheir customs and beliefs. A Gentile prime minister once
persuaded his king to exterminate all the Jews in the PersianEmpire. He said,
“There is a certain people scatteredabroadand dispersedamong the people
in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all
people; neither keep they the king’s laws: therefore it is not for the king’s
profit to suffer them. If it please the king, let it be written that they may be
destroyed…” (Esther3:8,9)
About 200 years before Christ, the Jews suffereda lot under the Greeks who
tried to force them to renounce their religion and worship the Greek gods.
When the Romans took over control of Judea, the Jews were denied any right
to rule themselves. They were also taxed heavily by the Romans. Such hostility
againstJews has beena recurrent theme in history, even until today.
One reasonfor this long-standing hostility is the exclusiveness ofthe Jews.
God had made a Covenantwith them at Mount Sinai and the Gentiles had no
part in it. So the Jews always lookeddownon the Gentiles and kept
themselves awayfrom them. The Law which God gave through Moses
specificallycommanded them not to participate in any binding alliances with
Gentiles, whether in marriage, in business or in politics.

But in their zeal to keepthese commandments, the Jews addedon a lot more
restrictions for themselves. For example, whenever they returned home from
doing any business transactionwith a Gentile, they had to immerse themselves
in water to getrid of all the defilement they contractedthrough that
transaction. Having meals with Gentiles was absolutelyforbidden. Jews would
never enter into the house of a Gentile because doing so would make them
unclean for seven days.
This restriction canbe seenwhen they brought Jesus to be tried at Pilate’s
judgment hall in John 18:28 – “Thenled they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the
hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the
judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eatthe
passover.” In our passagewe see Peternot only entering into the house of a
Gentile family, but after they were savedhe stayed in their home for several
days.
Therefore it is not surprising that after Peterreturned to Jerusalemfrom the
house of Cornelius, the Jewishbelievers there confronted him. Acts 11:2-3
tells us, “And when Peterwas come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the
circumcisioncontended with him, Saying, Thou wentestin to men
uncircumcised, and didst eat with them.” To them, there was only one possible
way for a Gentile to be acceptedas a believer: He must first become a Jew.
This was not easy. It involved a long process whichincludes circumcision for
males, and being bound after that to observe the many legalistic regulations
about food, Sabbath keeping and ritual purity.

Before all that happened in Acts chapter 10, the apostle Peterhimself had the
very same attitude to Gentiles as all of them. He testified about this when he
came to the house of Cornelius in v.28, “Ye know how that it is an unlawful
thing for a man that is a Jew to keepcompany, or come unto one of another
nation; but God hath shewedme that I should not callany man common or
unclean.”
How was this shownto Peter? It came through a vision that he receivedwhen
he was praying on a rooftop in Joppa (10:9-20). In this vision, Petersaw a
large sheetbeing lowereddown to earth on which were all kinds of animals,
reptiles and birds – including all creatures that were forbidden for Jewish
consumption according to the dietary restrictions of Leviticus chapter 11.
Then Peterheard God commanding him to make a meal for himself from the
meat of these animals, because it was lunchtime and Peterwas very hungry.
But he reactedin the same way that any law-abiding Jew would – “Notso,
Lord; for I have never eatenany thing that is common or unclean.” (v.14)
Perhaps Petermight have thought that God was just testing him to see how
obedient he was to the Law. But the Lord’s reply to him was, “WhatGod hath
cleansed, that callnot thou common.” (v.15) These words must have struck
Peterlike a bolt out of the blue – “What God hath cleansed, thatcall not thou
common.”

This was a really huge paradigm shift for a Jew!It meant that Peternow had
to stop regarding any animal, reptile or bird as being unclean. But there was
more than just a change of diet involved here. Since this vision was followed
immediately by a requestfrom Cornelius to come and visit him, it also meant
that Peternow had to stop restricting his socialcontactwith Gentiles. If he
continued to regardthem as common and unclean, then he would be rebelling
againstGod’s decree and denying the work which Godhas accomplished
through Christ – His glorious work of bringing peace betweenJewsand
Gentiles.
In verses 25 and 26 we see the blessedmoment when they came together. Here
comes Peterwith some Jews from Joppa. And here comes the Gentile
centurion welcoming them into his home. “And as Peterwas coming in,
Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. But Peter
took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.”What a powerful
picture of peace this is! After so many centuries of hostile animosity, we see a
Gentile paying homage to a Jew. And after so many centuries of looking down
on Gentiles, we see a Jew lifting up a Gentile to stand with him as a fellow
man!
This wonderful peace has been wrought by the Lord Jesus who is the Prince
of Peace. He has demolished the wall that separatesJewsfrom Gentiles. This
is described by Paul speaking to Gentile believers in Ephesians 2:13,14 – “But

now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood
of Christ. For He is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken
down the middle wall of partition betweenus…”
During World War II many Jews were mercilesslyslaughteredin
concentrationcamps by the Nazis. Just after the war, one of these Nazis came
to a little village and boastedto all his friends there about how he killed
hundreds of Jews. Butwhat he did not know was that one of those who heard
him boastwas a Jew whose wife had lostall her family members in these
concentrationcamps. However, this Jew and his wife were Christians, and
instead of hating him and seeking revenge, theyshared the gospelofChrist
with him and forgave him for killing her whole family. When this German
soldier saw that, he was moved to tears, realising how sinful he was. With full
repentance, he knelt down and askedChrist to save him.
From that time onward he loved God’s people and no longerhated anyone.
When he found peace with God, he also found peace with his fellow men. It is
really exciting to see people who would normally hate or despise eachother
because ofdifferences in race, culture, nationality or socialstatus, now
becoming the best of friends because they now love and serve the same Lord
Jesus!

All distinctions that divide people from one another are dissolvedonly when
they come to know the Lord as their Saviour. In Galatians 3:28, God’s Word
tells us: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there
is neither male nor female:for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”Since we are all
one in Christ, we must lay aside all class distinctions and learn to acceptone
another, even those who carry some socialstigma.
There was once a church that starteda ministry to ex-offenders. By God’s
grace, some were gloriouslysaved, and they started attending the church. But
when the church members saw these ex-offenders, some of them felt
uncomfortable to have them join them in their worship and fellowship. So
they approachedthe pastorand askedhim, “Pastor, we are so thankful that
these ex-offenders are savedand attending our church. But we would like to
ask whether we can start a separate service forthem.” If I were the pastormy
response would be, “Well, if we want to do that, then why not start having
separate servicesformen and women? Or for collar workers andwhite collar
workers? Is worship in heaven compartmentalised?”
Dearly beloved, my question to you this morning is this: Do you show
discrimination towards believers who are different from you? Or would you
welcome them and help them to integrate into God’s family? Since Christ
welcomes alland brings peace to all, how can we do anything less than that?
These are important truths we have seenabout the Lord’s plan for all men.
We shall go on now to considerone more truth which shows in what sense
God is no respecterof persons…

3. Christ Must Be Preachedto All
Christ must be preachedto every nation with a sense of utmost urgency,
because millions of souls are perishing without Him. Without knowing Christ,
there isn’t even the remotestpossibility of salvationfor them! Whatever
knowledge ofGod they may have from nature is insufficient to save them. It is
only sufficient to judge them. God’s Word in Romans 1:20tells us plainly –
“Forthe invisible things of Him from the creationof the world are clearly
seen, being understood by the things that are made, evenHis eternal power
and Godhead;so that they are without excuse…”
Instead of leading men to fear God and worship Him, this inadequate
knowledge has only leads them deeperand deeper into sin and false worship,
as stated in the next three verses – “Because that, when they knew God, they
glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their
imaginations, and their foolishheart was darkened. Professing themselvesto
be wise, they became fools, And changedthe glory of the uncorruptible God
into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted
beasts, and creeping things.”

Besides this knowledge ofGodfrom nature, God has also given all men a
consciencethat enables them to know the difference betweenright and wrong.
Romans 2:14-15 refers to this God-given conscienceby saying, “Forwhen 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:Which shew the work of
the law written in their hearts, their consciencealso bearing witness, and their
thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another.”Butthe end
result of being directed by one’s consciencealone is still condemnation.
There is only one kind of knowledge that can bring sinners to salvation:It is
the GospelofChrist! Cornelius understood this very well. He had abandoned
the paganidol worship of his owncountry and he was seeking for God
earnestly. But even though he was a very devout man living a goodmoral life,
he was still unsaved. Thus he fastedand prayed that God would give him the
knowledge he needed. And God answeredhis prayer by sending the apostle
Peterto his home. Let us see whatCornelius said to Peterin vv.33 –“…thou
hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present
before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.”
Here Cornelius reveals his greatneed to hear the Word of God – he had
prayed so hard for it, and he had waited so long for it. Now the moment had
finally come for him to receive it. Then Petersaid in verses 36-37 – “The word
which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ:
(He is Lord of all:) That word, I say, ye know, which was published
throughout all Judaea, and beganfrom Galilee…”

This ‘word’ that Peter mentioned here is none other than the Gospelof Christ
which must be preachedto all. If Cornelius needed to hear it in order to be
saved, then every other Gentile in the world also needs to hear it. That is why
Christ has given us the Great Commission, “Go ye therefore and teachall
nations…” (Matthew 28:19) The word for ‘nations’ here is ethnos, and that
would include every tribe, language, and ethnic group, regardless ofwhatever
beliefs they already have. There is therefore no doubt that the Gospelof
Christ must be preachedto all. All men are lost;all men need to be saved;
therefore all men must hear the Gospel, or else they will not be saved.
And this also includes people whom we may not be so comfortable to witness
to because ofcertain prejudices that we hold. In 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 Paul
provides a list of people: Fornicators [referring to all kinds of sexual sins],
idolaters, adulterers, effeminate, abusers of themselves with mankind [These
two terms refer to practising homosexuals], thieves, covetous, drunkards,
revilers, and extortioners. But after all that he adds, “And such were some of
you: [the Christians in the Corinthian Church] but ye are washed, but ye are
sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, andby the Spirit
of our God.”
This means that God is able to save anyone. No one is too unrighteous or too
unholy to be saved. The question is, ‘Who will bring the Gospelof Christ to
them?’ Are we willing to overcome our own personalprejudices in order to be

effective witnesses to anyone at all who needs to hear the Gospel? This is not
an easyquestion for us to answer. But then neither was it an easyquestion for
the Jews in the early church to answerbecause oftheir long-standing
alienation of Gentiles. We must be convincedthat God is no respecterof
persons, and this means that Christ welcomes allregardless ofrace or social
distinction, Christ brings peace to all and Christ must be preachedto all.
There is one question that many people ask:How about those who die in
infancy and those who have no mental capacityto understand the Gospel –
Can they be saved? Are they totally denied salvation just because theylack
the capacityto understand the Gospel?
It must be admitted that God’s Word does not speak very much on this
matter. But Jesus did sayin Luke 18:16 – “Suffer little children to come unto
Me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.” And in 2 Samuel
12:23 King David expressedconfidence that he will see his deceasedinfant in
heaven one day – “I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.”
But there is a definite limit on what we may legitimately sayon this matter.
Some would speculate that all infants who die in infancy are automatically
savedbecause it is claimed that they have done nothing to deserve judgment.
But the Scriptures teachthe sobertruth that we are already sinners not only
from birth, but even from the moment of conception, even though no actual
sins have been committed yet. David testified in Psalm 51:5 – “Behold, I was
shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.” This sinful nature

can be seeneven in a newborn baby – He learns quickly how to be naughty
and how to getwhat he wants. And so infants are sinners in need of salvation.
The best answerwe cangive is that since God is no respecterofpersons, He is
able to save anyone whom He has elected, and that includes those who cannot
hear or understand the Gospel. The WestminsterConfessionexpressesit well:
“Electinfants, dying in infancy, are regeneratedand saved by Christ through
the Spirit, who worketh when, and where, and how He pleaseth. So also are all
other electpersons, who are incapable of being outwardly calledby the
ministry of the word.” (WCOF Chapter X, para 3)
All that is stated here is that by the same divine electionthat we have been
saved, those who are incapable of hearing the Gospelcanalso be saved. It
does not speculate how this happens, or whether they include only the infants
of Christian parents or also those of non-Christian parents. All whom God
elects are ultimately saved, and their salvationis wrought by God through
Christ alone.
But what is goodfor us to know out of all this, is that their incapacity poses no
barrier at all to God’s work of salvation. That puts them on the same levelas
everyone else. And this gives us tremendous hope and comfort if we ever have
loved ones who are in such a state – a child who dies in infancy, or one who is

born with some abnormality which makes him mentally handicapped (e.g. due
to the Zika virus). Let us do our best for them, knowing that God can
somehow save them. Let us pray for them, communicate Christ to them as
simply as we can, and then leave the rest up to God.
The truth of the matter is that we too were once just like them. Ephesians
2:1,5 tells us that before we were saved we were all dead in sins. That means
we were totally incapable of responding to the Gospelof Christ until the Spirit
of God workedin us. Jesus saidin John 6:44, “No man can come to Me,
exceptthe Father which hath sent Me draw him.” If God had not workedin
your heart, and drawn you to Christ, would you be savedtoday? I am sure
you would say, “No, I would not be saved.” Therefore, if you are saved, please
be sure to thank God for it. He deserves allthe glory for your salvation
What does it mean that God is not a respecterof persons?
Bible Question:
What does it mean that God is not a respecterof persons?
If God is no respecterofpersons does this mean that He looks NOT at who the
person is (if he is a Christian or not, baptized believer or not, gay or straight,
Buddhist or Muslim, rich or poor, criminal, drug addict, etc.)but looks atthe
heart, the purity & goodness,orthe wickednessofit? Who goes to heaven?

Bible Answer:
Acts 10:34 tells us that God is not a respecterofpersons.
Then Peteropened his mouth, and said, “Of a truth I perceive that God is no
respecterof persons . . .” Acts 10:34 (KJV)
The Greek wordthat is translated as “respecter” is prosopolemptes. Itmeans
“to show favoritism.” Therefore, what does it mean that God does not show
favoritism? In some Bibles the word “partial” is used instead of “respecter.”
That communicates the same idea. God is not partial or we could say God is
impartial in His dealings with people.
God is not a respecterofpersons.
Principle of Impartiality
When we see the word impartial in the Bible, it is easyfor us to assume that
the word means people should be treatedequally. But a carefulexamination
of the principle of impartiality in the Bible does not teachus that everyone
should be treated equally. Instead we learn that everyone is to be treated
identically according to a divine standard or principle. The book of Proverbs
provides an excellentexample of the meaning of biblical impartiality.
These also are sayings of the wise.
To show partiality in judgment is not good.
He who says to the wicked, “You are righteous,”
Peoples will curse him, nations will abhor him;
But to those who rebuke the wickedwill be delight,

And a goodblessing will come upon them
He kisses the lips
Who gives a right answer. Proverbs 24:23-26 (NASB)
Notice that one who is partial is someone who states that the wickedare
actually righteous people. That is, they ignore what God says about our
behavior. Righteous people obey God’s precepts and laws and the wickeddo
not. This proverb reveals that people were being partial at the time it was
written. People were ignoring the truth in favor of the wicked. That is, they
were being partial. They honored the wickedas if they were godly individuals.
We still see this occurring in our world today. Next, we discoverthat someone
who rebukes the wickedwill be a delight to others and blessing will come to
them. That is, the principle of impartiality means that we hold to biblical
principles regardlessofcircumstances and persons. We are impartial in our
judgments and in our statements. That is, we say sin is sin, the wickedare
wickedand the godly are godly.
First Illustration of Impartiality
In the New Testament, we find four illustrations of God’s impartiality. The
first illustration starts in Acts 10:34 where the apostle Peterstates that God is
not partial in salvation. That is, God offers salvation to both Jews and
Gentiles. He is not the God of the Jews only.
Opening his mouth, Petersaid: “I most certainly understand now that God is
not one to show partiality, but in every nation the man who fears Him and
does what is right is welcome to Him.” Acts 10:34-35 (NASB)
A few verses laterin Acts 10:43 the apostle says that everyone who believes in
Jesus Christ will be forgiven their sins. This is a great promise for the one who

believes in Jesus, becausethen there is no fearon judgment day he or she will
be sent to hell or the Lake of Fire. One who is forgiven their sins is calleda
Christian. God tells us that there are only two types of people: the wicked,
who are going to hell, and Christians, who are going to heaven. This not a
subjective decisionbut an objective decision. Christians are those who believe
that Jesus Christ died for their sins and returned to life three days later (1
Corinthians 15:1-8) are repentant over their sins (Luke 5:32; Acts 11:18) and
have turned their life over to God (Romans 10:9-10).
SecondIllustration of Impartiality
The secondillustration is that God will be impartial on Judgment Day. This
illustration starts in Romans 2:4. We are told that Godwill judge the
unrepentant and everyone who does not obey the truth, but He will give glory,
honor and peace to those who do good. That is, God will call the wicked,
wicked, and call sin, sin. Then we are told,
For there is no partiality with God. Romans 2:11 (NASB)
Third Illustration of Impartiality
The third illustration starts in Colossians3:23. In that verse we are told that
slaves are to do their work as unto the Lord rather than to men because they
will receive the reward of inheritance from God. Then we are told,
For he who does wrong will receive the consequencesofthe wrong which he
has done, and that without partiality. Colossians 3:25 (NASB)
The messageis that God evaluates our conduct without partiality. He does not
evaluate us on some subjective standard or because He likes us or hates us. He

does not give preference to the rich, famous and powerful. In Revelation20:12
we are told,
And I saw the dead, greatand small, standing before the throne, and books
were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And
the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what
they had done. Revelation20:12 (NASB)
Notice, Godsays that the greatand small will stand before Him on the Day of
Judgment. There will not be any exceptions. It is important to note that this
judgment is for non-Christians only. The evaluationof their works is designed
to demonstrate that they deserve hell or the Lake of Fire. Christians will also
be judged according to 2 Corinthians 5:9-10, but this judgement is one
resulting in rewards for goodbehavior. Please seethe study on Bema Seat –
Judgment of Christians for more information.
Fourth Illustration of Impartiality
The final illustration that we will look at is in 1 Peter1:17. The messageis a
repeatof the last two illustrations.
If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each
one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth . .
. 1 Peter1:17 (NASB)
When scripture tells us that God is impartial, it means that He does not bend
or ignore His standards for certainindividuals. A common experience in
every country is that the rich, powerful and politically connectedare favored,
but the common person is not. The rich and famous escapeprison but not the
average person. But that is not true with God. God impartially saves everyone

who believes in Jesus Christ. They do not have to do any goodworks in order
to go to heaven. Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone and in Christ
alone.
For by grace are ye savedthrough faith; and that not of yourselves:it is the
gift of God: not of works, lestany man should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 (NASB)
Conclusion
We have explained that when the Bible says God is not a respecterof persons,
this means He does not ignore or change His standards for anyone. The Bible
teaches that Godknows our thoughts and, consequently, our hearts (Proverbs
15:11;21:2; Matthew 9:4; Mark 2:8). From a human perspective, this is bad
news since God has a standard that every person must satisfyin order to go to
heaven. We cannot deceive God.
God Knows Everything About You
Luke 16:15 warns us that God knows our hearts and God has a different
standard for behavior than we do.
And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of
men, but God knows your hearts;for that which is highly esteemedamong
men is detestable in the sight of God. Luke 16:15 (NASB)
In Matthew 12:36 Jesus warns us that on judgment day God will judge every
carelessword,

But I tell you that every carelesswordthat people speak, they shall give an
accounting for it in the day of judgment. Matthew 12:36 (NASB)
In Revelation20:13, we are told that God will judge our every deed.
And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up
the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them
according to their deeds. Revelation20:13 (NASB)
Therefore, we have discoveredthat God knows our thoughts and hearts. As a
result, He can and will judge our motives (James 2:4), words and deeds. No
one canhide from God. Matthew 6:6 says that God sees everything that is
done in secret. There is no escape. This is bad news if you are trying to make
God think you are a good person.
God’s Standard – Believe We Are Not GoodPeople
What is worse is that Jesus tells us that only God is good.
There is only One who is good. . . Matthew 19:16 (NASB)
Contrary to the view of so many people, this means no human is a good
person. Listen to Jesus’words on another occasion.
Therefore, I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe
that I am He, you will die in your sins. John 8:24 (NASB)

Jesus clearlytells us that we are all sinners. Jesus repeats this truth in John
8:34-35. This is the first standard that a person must accept.
God’s Standard – We Must Jesus is God
The Greek text of the phrase “I am He” in John 8:24 does not include the
word “He.” Therefore, a better translationof the verse would not include the
word “He.” The Greek testis just ego eimi. That is, Jesus saidHe is the greatI
AM or God (see Exodus 3:14 and John 8:58). Here Jesus tells us that we are
all sinners and unless we believe that Jesus is God, we will die in our sins.
That is, we are spiritually dead and going to hell. This is the secondstandard
every person must satisfyin order to go to heaven. Every person must believe
that Jesus told the truth when He repeatedly said that He was God (John 1:1-
2, 14;5:18; John 8:58; 10:31-33).
God’s Standard – We Must Believe in Jesus
We must also believe that Jesus Christ 1) died for our sins on a cross and 2)
returned to life three days later (1 Corinthians 15:1-8).
Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospelI preachedto you . . . unless
you believed in vain . . . For I delivered to you as of first importance what I
also received:that Christ died for our sins in accordance withthe Scriptures,
that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordancewiththe
Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he
appearedto more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are
still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Thenhe appeared to James, then to
all the apostles. 1 Corinthians 15:1-7 (ESV)
Notice that the passagesays one canbelieve in vain. That is, someone can
believe in Christ but their “belief” does not result in eternal life. This reveals

that there are two kinds of faith – real faith and empty faith. Therefore, let’s
discoverwhat is true or real faith.
God’s Standard – We Must Repentof Our Sins
The third standard that we must satisfyin order to go to heaven or have
eternal life is that we must be repentant of our sins. This is a characteristic of
true faith.
I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance. Luke 5:32
(NASB)
The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people
everywhere to repent . . . Acts 17:30 (ESV)
We alreadyknow that Jesus is God, He knows our hearts, and will judge each
person equally againstHis absolute standards. Since there are no exceptions,
this truth should cause fearbecause we are sinners headed for hell. Luke 5:32
and Acts 17:30 revealthat God commands us to repent or be sorrowful
because ofour sins and want to be changed. True faith results in sorrow over
our sins.
God’s Standard – We Must Submit to Christ
The elements of true faith in Jesus Christ means that we believe 1) Jesus is
God, 2) He died for our sins on a cross, 3)returned to life three days later.
Consequently, true faith results in repentance over sins (Luke 5:32; Acts
17:30)and a willingness to turn one’s life over to God (Romans 10:9-10).

. . . that if you confess withyour mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your
heart that God raisedHim from the dead, you will be saved; for with the
heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness,and with the mouth he
confesses,resulting in salvation. Romans 10:9 (NASB)
God’s Standard – Who Goes to Heaven
God considers Christians a specialgroup of people because they have believed
in Jesus Christ (John 3:16). Yet, in John 6:65, 44, 37; Romans 8:28-30 and
Ephesians 1:3-8 we are told that God predestined or chose some to become
Christians. This was an act of love by God because we would not have come to
Him on our own (Psalm 14:2-3;Romans 3:10-12). In Romans 8:15-17 and
Ephesians 1:5 Christians are told that God has adopted them as family
members. That is, God has chosensome to be Christians. Then in John 3:16
we are told that anyone who believes will never perish and are promised
eternal life. Also, 1 John 3:23 reveals that everyone is commanded to believe
in Jesus Christ. God says that if someone believes in Jesus Christ, their sins
will be forgiven. These two truths seemto be in conflict, but this does not
change either truth. Only God knows how both can be true. Some think that
they have the solution, but the apostle Paul did not understand how both can
be true (Romans 9:19-20).
Clearly, God has said that if someone believes in Jesus Christ, their sins will
be forgiven. Those who believe in Christ will not perish and will have eternal
life. That is God’s standard for everyone. Those who rejectJesus Christ are
sentencedto hell (John 3:18). Godis impartial. He is not a respecterof
persons. It does not matter how famous, how rich, or how politically
connecteda personis. If they do not believe in Christ they are going to hell.
Those who are Christians will go to heaven. They will be judged also, but their
judgment is one the determines what type, if any, rewards they will receive.
God’s standard applies to everyone Christians and non-Christian.

P.S. Some Catholics are Christians if they do not think that they have to do
goodworks or avoid certain sins in order to get into heaven.
https://www.neverthirsty.org/bible-qa/qa-archives/question/what-does-it-
mean-that-god-is-not-a-respecter-of-persons/
BIBLEHUB RESOURCES
Discourse OfPeterAt Caesarea
Acts 10:34-43
E. Johnson
I. THE EQUAL JUSTICE AND LOVE OF GOD. He is no respecterof
persons. The conditions of acceptancein his sight are everywhere and for all
men the same, viz. reverence and rightness of moral conduct. Does this imply,
it matters not what a man believes, so long as he fears God and does what is
right? Certainly, belief is not immediately under the controlof the will. But
indirectly it so far is that we are bound to keepour minds open to the light,
and to seek some beliefthat may guide conduct. The truth is that the
reverence and the moral rectitude spokenof cannot exist apart from the root
of faith in a supersensualorder and Divine Law. Indifferentism is not
recommended nor excused. But the truth that it is only the genuine qualities
of the heart, the real disposition of the will, not external associations nor
advantages ofbirth, which constitute true worth in God's sight. And any other
principle of Divine dealing than this would shock the conscienceas unjust.
II. RECAPULATION OF THE GOSPEL.

1. It was a goodmessageofpeace sentto the sons of Israel. He says nothing
about natural religion and the universal conscience,onwhich St. Paul dwells
in the Romans. The gospelis pre-eminently a messageby man to man; by a
selectedpeople as ministered to the race. It was diffused through the Holy
Land, and its substance was wellknown.
2. Its substance - Jesus:his person, his sanctified character, and his mighty
deeds. His life of perpetual beneficence, his healing of those under the
bondage of disease and of ignorance. It was manifest to men that God was
with him, setting the sealof powerupon his characterand deeds.
3. The existence of living witnesses to those truths. The apostles were witnesses
of the facts in the physical world on which Christianity was founded.
Christian teachers and Christian men now are witnesses ofthe facts in the
moral world which are eternal, and which interpret the physical facts.
4. The death and resurrectionof Jesus. The suffering and the triumph of love;
here lies the very kernel of the gospel. This triumphant Christ has been made
manifest to chosenwitnesses -to his close companions and intimate associates
during his earthly life. And they have a commissionto make proclamation of
these truths to the people, and to testify that he is appointed Judge of the
living and the dead. Finally, the gospelhas the confirmation of prophecy; and
all who believe on him may receive the remission of their sins. Here, then, is a
useful summary of the gospel.
(1) Peace through Jesus Christ, who has lived, suffered, and risen for men.
(2) This is a messageto all men, and a callto salvation.

(3) Its aim is universal human blessedness. -J.
Biblical Illustrator
Then Peteropened his mouth and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no
respecterof persons.
Acts 10:34, 35
God the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him
Thomas Rundle, LL. B.
I. TO SHOW BY WHAT MARKS WE SHALL KNOW WHETHER WE
OURSELVES, AND OTHERS, ARE SINCERE IN THE FEAR OF GOD.
1. The first mark of sincerity in the concerns ofreligion is having carefully
endeavouredto find our duty. For if we take a matter of this importance upon
trust, and leave customand fashion to choose ouropinions, we must confess
that we are very fortunate if we are in the right. Interest and indolence are
always on the side of giving in to popular systems. If loss of esteemand
authority attend embracing any opinion, men examine timorously, and are
afraid of evidence;and when reasonbegins to strike, then they ask
themselves, Have any of the rulers of the people believed on Him? They creep
and fix their sentiments upon others, and like the ivy, never ascend higher
than that which chance has given them for a support. But the foundation of
Protestantismand Christianity is another method of examination: we must
throw aside the world and all the consequencesthat may attend it, and have
our thoughts wholly on our duty. We must empty our minds of every
favourite prepossession, andreceive the kingdom of God like little children;
have no opinion of our own, and no desire that either this or that doctrine or
actionshould be true and our duty; but only that we may know what is truth

and our duty. No personcan pretend that he has not abilities, because allthat
is required is that they use the abilities they have. If with an honest and
teachable heart they desire to do the will of God, His promise and His
goodness are engagedthat they shall know the truth in everything, on which
their everlasting happiness depends. And if we find difficulties in performing
this duty, and ourselves liable to mistakes, it ought to fill us with modesty and
diligence, with mutual forbearance andcharity, and then our very errors may
be useful.
2. The secondmark by which we may judge whether we are sincere is by
working righteousness, anddoing everything we know to be our duty. The end
of faith is practice, and the only thing valuable in knowing our Master's will is
that we may obey Him. We may therefore comfort ourselves with being
sincere in our fearof the Lord, if we join a religious performance of the duties
we know with our endeavouring to go on to perfection. And we religiously
perform our duty if we are virtuous in secret, as wellas in the eye of the
world. We must perform the whole of our duty if we truly fear God, and not
choose some darling folly to indulge in secret, andflatter ourselves that He
hideth awayHis face and will not see it. We must throw aside at once all our
vices, and caution most againstthat we are most willing to palliate and excuse,
and be in every knowninstance obedient. It is true indeed that God has given
us no commands but what is our interest and presenthappiness to obey; but if
we perform them upon the low motives of convenience only, they are the
actions of a man of prudence, but ceaseto be the offices of religion or
Christian graces.
3. The third mark of sincerity in our fear of God is expressing our zealfor
things in proportion to their real value.
4. Another mark by which we may manifest a sincere fear of God is our being
charitable to those who differ from us in our sentiments.

5. The last mark I shall mention, by which we may know our sincerity in
seeking forthe will of God, is by the methods we use to convince others of the
truth of what we ourselves embrace and believe
II. Which brings me in the secondplace to show WHY THIS VIRTUE
ENTITLES US TO THE FAVOUR OF GOD.
1. And first, it is all that we can possibly perform. The text tells us that God is
no respecterof persons, and therefore He must have put it into every man's
powerto please Him: but He hath given them nothing besides their whole
abilities, and therefore, if these are employed with honesty and fairness, God
can expectno more. The knowledge whichis sufficient to recommend a poor
man, obligedto take care by his industry for the subsistence ofhis family, may
be inexcusably little in those who are raised above such low solicitudes and
enjoy leisure and improvement.
2. The secondreasonwhy this is so pleasing to God is because it will improve
our natures. God who createdman to communicate happiness to him, must be
pleasedto see him advance to all the perfectionand felicity He gave him
capacities to enjoy.
3. The last reasonwhy this sincere fear of God, expressedby diligently
inquiring after His will, is so pleasing to Him, is because it will always teachus
those things which are most truly useful and worth knowing. This discourse
may be thought liable to one objection, viz., that if sincerity is the only thing
required to make us acceptable to God — and that may belong to men of
every religion — therefore all religions are equal. But to answerthis
objection, which would have never been thought so much as plausible, had it
not of late been so often, and with so much delight, repeated, if it be granted

that men may support their lives by herbs and acorns, would it not be a
strange conchastento infer from thence that we esteema country which
produces that food only equal to one flowing with milk and honey? Yet the
case is exactly the same and exposes the absurdity of the objection.
III. THE CONCLUSION I would draw from what I have said, suitable to the
design of the day, is this, that thence we may learn to soften our conduct
toward all well-disposedmen that differ from us.
(Thomas Rundle, LL. B.)
God no respecterof persons
J. Foster.
Here we have one of the many strong contrasts betweenGodand man.
I. WHY GOD IS NO RESPECTEROF PERSONS AS MAN IS. Because —
1. Man's estimate is of very limited compass as to the number of persons taken
accountof — God's is universal. Men can take accountof but very few
persons for either respector contempt. Look at the multitude of the
inhabitants of a greatcity, or province, what a greatmajority of them we can
have no individual estimate of at all! And then, think of a nation — and the
whole world. There are, indeed, a few distinguished persons who have a
characterin the estimate of a great part of the civilised world, but what a
diminutive number do these make! But God has His estimate of every person
of the entire race.
2. The whole world of mere exteriors is as nothing to God. Man is the dupe
and idolater of them all over the world. Nothing so mean or bad, but if a fine

appearance canbe thrown over it, it becomes as a god to him. But God
estimates men in their intrinsic qualities. What an infinity of superficial shows
part off from them under that inspection! What a different thing must man
appear when all these are fled! And if men could be presented thus to one
another, what would become of most of the human gods of human idolatry?
The feebleness ofour vision cannotdo this entirely. But it is true, also, that we
are far too willing to be imposed on by the delusive show of the world.
3. Men are respecters ofpersons from self-interest. They are looking up to
certain men, and thinking what advantages they can confer. It were but
trifling to show how the Divine Being can be under no such influence in His
estimates.
4. Men respectpersons becauseothers do, without wellknowing any other
reasonwhy. As a number of persons collectedata spectacle willquickly draw
a multitude, so let an individual come to be accountedofimportance by a
portion of society, and the restsoonfollows. God has no opinion in the
universe to regard but His own. What is it to Him that one diminutive
creature after another adds its slender intellect in affirmation of the judgment
of a crowd? In every view, He is infinitely superior to the influence of all the
causes by which men are made to be "respecters ofpersons."
II. CONTEMPLATE THIS DIVINE SUPERIORITYIN REFERENCETO
SEVERAL OF THOSE THINGS WHICH COMMAND MEN'S HIGHEST
RESPECT. We allsee how men are affectedtowards persons of —
1. Greatwealth. What deference — what attention to what is said — what
prompt compliance!Suppose the impressiona man not known to be rich
makes shall be simply that of his apparent personal qualities — his
dispositions — his sense — his manners. And suppose it then to become

suddenly known that he is very rich, what a difference! A very considerable
degree of misconduct or vice does not put the rich down in society. Theycan
at once defy opinion, and be sure of obsequiousness. Whata state of human
sentiments is this in the sight of God! He "is no respecterof persons."
2. High stationin what is calledbirth, rank, and power. In former times (and
in many parts it is so still) the multitude have regardedthis class as actually
being of some mysteriously higher order of human nature. Still there is quite
enough "respect" to gratify their utmost pride — pompous titles of honour, a
vast parade of state and ceremony. The ground is clearedfor them, in society,
whereverthey appear; their mere will, or caprice, is consideredas authority,
without requiring a reason;the worship of God itself is deemed to be vastly
honoured if they deign to pay it some formalities of attention. Every
conceivable palliationis adduced, by force, in their behalf, to extenuate the
grossness ofsin; and pompous funeral celebrations are given them when they
die. Now turn the thought to God. Think! If He had any partiality like this,
what would become of His government? What would then have been His
dispensations in Egypt, in Babylon, in Judaea? What would then be the
condition of the oppressed, when they cry and appeal to Him? He looks on all
these distinctions as the mere transitory accidents ofthe mortal condition. He
requires the same self-abasement, and repentance, from all these loftier
persons, as by the meanest — or they reject them at their peril. And His great
messenger, Death, makes, as it were, melancholy sport of all these robes of
grandeur.
3. Greatmental endowment. And this is different from the others, in being a
more intrinsic quality. And from that cause, and from its being less obvious to
vulgar apprehension, it has nothing like so many idolaters. Nevertheless, it has
always been an objectof perverted regard. Every epithet appropriate to
divinity has been applied. There are, at this hour, many enthusiastic admirers
of human talent, who are despisers of God! In behalf of men of greattalent
there has been and is a disposition to suspend or abrogate the most essential

laws of morality. And short of such an extreme, respectof persons may be
excessive.There are persons who have no relish for truth, but as displayed in
the style of genius or eloquence;as if the grave matter were nothing, and the
decorations were all. There are some who habitually indulge contempt for all
who are not distinguished by mental superiority, of whatever excellence
otherwise. But think of Him! What is all this in His sight? The Being whose
intellect pervades all things. What is the greatesthuman intellect compared
with the leastangelic spirit? What may even that spirit be, comparedto the
most elevatedcreatedmind? What is that — what are all minds together, as
compared with the mind of God?
(J. Foster.)
Here we note — First, Peter's acknowledgmentof his former mistake, in
which are three things.
1. The preface. "ThenPeter openedhis mouth" — a Hebraism indicating that
he is about to speak something weighty on mature deliberation (Matthew 5:2;
Psalm8:2; Psalm 78:2.)
2. The means of his conviction. "Of a truth I perceive" — a phrase used of
those who are persuadedto change their opinion on full conviction.
3. The error that God was such a respecterof persons that He would not
revealHimself to any but Jews. Here we see —(1) That God's people may err.
Peterhad read the prophecies about the calling of the Gentiles, and had
receivedChrist's commissionto disciple all nations. So we often hear the truth
expounded and yet perceive it not. Therefore we had need to be careful lestwe
be ignorant of an obvious truth.(2) That the godly, when convinced, confess

their errors. Controversies wouldsoonend if we could learn Peter's modesty.
Second. Peter's positive assertionofthe truth now learned.
I. WHAT IS RESPECT OF PERSONS? Regardfor that outward condition
whereby one differs from another.
1. Gifts of the body. It is not the strong or the beautiful that are acceptedof
God, but the goodand holy.(1) He is strong in a spiritual sense, notthat
overcomethanother man, but that tameth his own flesh (Proverbs 16:32)and
vanquishes temptation (1 John 2:14).(2) So not beauty but grace makes us
amiable in the sight of God (1 Peter3:3, 4).
2. Gifts of mind. Learning, etc., may make us more serviceable in the world,
but do not commend us to God (Genesis 3:1;1 Corinthians 3:18).
3. Gifts of estate, rank, quality. The blood of the poor is of the same colour as
of the rich (Acts 17:26). Socialdistinctions have no weightwith God (1
Corinthians 1:26; Job 34:19;Revelation20:12). So with bond and free (1
Corinthians 7:22; Ephesians 6:9; Colossians 3:25).
4. Nationality. Some peoples lie nearerthe sun than others, but they are all
alike near the Sun of Righteousness (Galatians3:28).
5. Religious professionandprivileges. Cornelius was a goodman, but wanted
circumcision, and was accepted, while many a carnalJew was rejected
(Romans 2:9-11). If by outward professionthere be a people nearer Godthan
others, they have the privilege to be first rewarded if they do good, but to be
first punished if they do evil.

II. In WHAT SENSE IS THIS DENIED OF GOD?
1. He is no respecterofpersons in His government. This is forbidden to man
(Leviticus 19:15);and so denied of God (1 Peter1:17). God may be considered
as a righteous Governorand as a free Lord. In the latter capacityHe may do
as He seethmeet. Hence of His free mercy He calledthe Gentiles, and gives
the grace ofHis gospelto one and not to another (Matthew 20:15). We can
plead no right either by merit or purchase. On the other hand God governs
man by a law, and judges according to that law (Cf. Romans 9:16 and 1
Corinthians 9:24).
2. He is no respecterofpersons in His gifts of grace (Matthew 11:27).
III. WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS QUALIFICATION? "Thatfeareth
God and workethrighteousness."
1. Fearis the principle of obedience. Notthat this excludes faith in Christ
(John 15:5; Hebrews 11:6; Hosea 3:5).(1)Holy fearis of two kinds.(a) The
fear of reverence, which is necessarythat we may not offend God (Jeremiah
10:7; Revelation15:4).(b) The fear of caution, which is necessaryto make us
watchful againsttemptations (Hebrews 4:1; 2 Corinthians 10:12; 1 Peter
5:8).(2) Why is this frame of heart pitched upon?(a) That we may carefully
abstain from what displeases God(Genesis 39:9;Philippians 2:12).(b) Because
it produces a diligent endeavour to approve ourselves to Him.
2. Working righteousness is the fruit of this sense of Godupon our hearts.
This is required —(1) In respectof God that we may honour Him in the
world: for our obedience makes ouresteemof Him visible (2 Thessalonians

11, 12; Acts 10:2).(2)It is for our owncomfort. When we obey God it leaves an
evidence in our consciences(1 John 3:19; 2 Corinthians 1:12; Proverbs 3:17).
Comforts are the rewards of obedient children (Psalm 11:6).
IV. THE MEANING OF THE PRIVILEGE. "Is accepted ofHim." He that
feareth God, etc. —
1. Is sure of God's favour and protection(Philippians 1:6).
2. God will increase this, for He delighteth to crownHis own gifts (Proverbs
4:18; Proverbs 10:29).
3. God will perfect it and reward it (Psalm15:2; Psalm 106:3).
(T. Manton, D. D.)
Bp. Andrewes.
I. A POINT NEWLY PERCEIVED."Now." Thatso greatan apostle should
confess this shows that his Roman chain was not yet made, and that his
brother apostles (chap. Acts 11)had no idea of his infallibility. Jobin scorn
said to some in his time, "You are the only men, you perceive all"; but Moses
did not (Numbers 15:34), nor Elijah (2 Kings 4:27). But Caiaphas perceived
all (John 11:49);not so Peterhere, and Paul (1 Corinthians 13:9). Of a truth
we perceive Peter comes not near his successor,who perceives all that is to be
perceivedat once, and gets Caiaphas'knowledge by sitting in Peter's chair.
But it is not only this they differ in. For Petertook Cornelius up (ver. 26); his

successorlets Cornelius's lord lie. The Samaritanwoman said, "The Messiah
when He is come will tell us all." Yet when He came He said even to Peter,
"What thou knowestnotnow" (John 13:7). I speak this for some who are far
enough from Rome but think they perceive all God's secretdecrees. Luther
well said that everyone has by nature a Pope within. Even they that believe it
not of Rome are easilybrought to believe it of themselves. "Ofa truth I
perceive" will bear two senses — "I perceive that I did not before," or "I
perceive that the contrary whereofI conceivedbefore." Notto perceive is only
to be ignorant, but Peterhad held quite contrary. Ignorance is but privative,
this positive, and so an error — an error in the greatmystery of godliness (1
Timothy 3:16), a part whereofwas preachedto the Gentiles. And this error he
held in common with his brethren. This only we are to look to, that with Peter
we be not wilful, but ready to repent, when shown our error. Then we may
conclude that if we be otherwise minded God will show it unto us (Philippians
3:15).
II. WHAT THAT POINT IS.
1. Privative — that "Godis no respecterofpersons" — i.e., in Greek and
Hebrew "faces"whichshow themselves first (1 Samuel 16:6). Under the face
we understand the facing; under the personeverything that personates and
makes personable — country, condition, birth, riches, etc. Men respectall
this, but it is nothing to God. Was Peter, then, ignorant of this? No, for Moses
had said it (Deuteronomy 10:17), and Elihu saw it by the light of nature (Job
34:19). And so Samuel (1 Samuel 16:7) and Jehoshaphat(2 Chronicles 19:7).
The answeris that Peter knew it before, but not as now. We know many
things by book and speculation, which, when we come to an experience of it,
we say, "Yea, I know it indeed," as if we had never known it before.
Experimental knowledge is knowledge intruth. Was this Peter's knowledge?
No; for he, as we, have experience of it daily. God deals His gifts of nature —
outward: beauty, strength, etc. — inward: wit, memory, judgment — without
respectof persons. He bestows them on the child of the mean as soonas of the
mighty. So it is in wealth and worldly preferment (Psalm 113:7), and in God's
judgments. And no man had better experience of it than Peter, who, a poor

fisherman, was acceptedto be an apostle (Galatians 2:6). What shall we say
then? Though he could not but know this generaltruth, yet he thought that
there were exceptions, not of persons, but of nations, and that of all nations
the Jews alone were acceptedofGod (Amos 3:2; Psalm 147:20). This had run
in Peter's head, but he perceives he was wrong, and that by Cornelius' vision
compared with his own.
2. Positive. "In every nation," etc. Solomonin effectsaid as much long before
(Ecclesiastes 12:13).(1)"Feareth" and "worketh" jointly. Notthe one without
the other — neither fear which works not, nor works which do not come from
God's fear in our hearts. Pharisaic personations, Paul's "mask ofgodliness"
(2 Timothy 3:5), Peter's "cloke" (1 Peter2:16) God cannotaccept. God
Himself told Samuel (1 Samuel 16:7) that He "looks notas man looks." Man
looks upon the outside, God looks within. The inwards were God's part in
every sacrifice. He looks first at the heart, and in the heart to the affections;of
all affections that of fear; of all fears that of God. How comes God to be
feared? We fear evil, but there is no evil in God. Ans.: Not for any evil in Him,
but for some evil we may expect from Him, if we fear not to offend Him, by
doing that which is evil, which punishment is not evil but just. Paul, knowing
the terror of this, persuades men (2 Corinthians 5:11). This fear to suffer evil
for sin makes men fear to do the evil of sin or to forsake it (Job 1:1; Jonah
3:5).(2) Separately.(a)First, fear — because it is first; "the beginning of
wisdom" (Psalm 111:10). It was the first passionthat was raised in Adam
(Genesis 3:10). Then he began to play the wise man and forethink of the folly
he had committed. Fearis a bridle to hold us in or turn us from evil (Proverbs
3:7). Another reasonis, fear is most general. It goes through all — heathens,
as is shown in the case ofNineveh; beasts, as in the ease ofBalaam's ass. And
this fear, if it have its full work to make us depart from evil, is wisdom
complete (Job 28:28; Ecclesiastes8:12);for of the seven spirits which are the
divisions of one and the same Spirit, the last and chief is "the Spirit of the fear
of the Lord" (Isaiah 11:2). Regardnot them who say that this is no New
Testamentdoctrine, for even there it abideth. There it is the dawning of the
day (Malachi4:2). It is as the court is to the temple, as the needle that first
enters and draws after it the thread that sews alltogether. Notto fear is the

next way to fear. The work of fearis to make us cease from sin; ceasing from
sin brings with it a goodlife; a goodlife carries with it a goodconscience;and
a goodconsciencecastsoutfear. This for the introduction, and ever after,
when faith is entered it is a sovereignmeans to preserve (Philippians 2:12; 1
Peter1:17; Matthew 10:28). So, then, this fear is not Moses'song only
(Revelation15:3, 4).(b) But works also. Is God all for within? Accepts He of
nothing without? He accepts a goodrighteous work too if it proceedfrom His
fear in the heart. God would have us begin with "fear," but not end there. For
neither fear alone nor faith alone is acceptedofHim. If it be true fear such as
God will accept, it is not a dull, lazy fear, his fear that "wentand diggedhis
talent in the ground." God will have his talent turned above ground, and not
have religion invisible within. And observe that it is not "that doeth," but
"workethrighteousness,"i.e., that makes it a trade. "Learn it," says Isaiah
(Isaiah 1:17), as one would learn a handicraft to live by; learn it and make an
occupationof it, after Christ's example (ver. 38). This "righteousness"is
describedin ver. 2.
III. GOD'S ACCEPTATION.
1. He will take them —(1) Where they be to take;but where they are not He
cannot take. Our "alms," alas! are shrunk up pitifully; "prayer" swallowed
up with hearing, and feasting substituted for "fasting."(2)But it is said that
there is no faith here, without which it is impossible to please God. But would
Cornelius have spent his words and chastenedhis body without some faith?
Would he have calledupon a Godin whom he did not believe? (Romans
10:14). Nay, he must have believed that God is, that He may be sought, and
that He will not fail them that seek Him (Psalm 9:10; 2 Corinthians 8:12). The
flax did but smoke, but Christ quenched it not, etc. He took him as He found
him, and that in order to bring him nearerthe ways of His salvation.(3)But
now, lestone error begetanother, take this — that he was, and we shall be,
accepted, gives us some heart; and that he was but acceptedtakes awayall
self-conceit. It is neither our fear nor our works, but God's gracious

acceptation. Godcounts them worthy and so makes them worthy. His taking
our works ofrighteousness wellin work is their worth. There was another
centurion whom the elders of the Jews dignified highly; but he indignified
himself as lowly (Luke 7:4-6). So with Job (Job 1:8; 9:15; 10:15). See
Ephesians 1:6. Our work is to get men to do well, but not to weenof their well-
doing.
2. To what end accepted. The professionofreligion by baptism.
(Bp. Andrewes.)
"Oh," you say, "I am such a little plant; I do not grow well; I do not put forth
as much leafage,nor are there so many flowers on me, as many round about
me." It is quite right that you should think little of yourself; perhaps to droop
your head is part of your beauty. Many flowers had not been half so lovely if
they had not practised the art of hanging their heads. But "supposing Him to
be the gardener," then He is as much a gardener to you as He is to the most
lordly palm in the whole domain. In the Mentone garden grows the orange
and the aloe, and others of the finer and more noticeable plants; but on the
wall to my left grow common wallflowers and saxifrages andtiny herbs such
as we find on our own rockyplaces. Now the gardener has cared for all of
them, little as well as great. In fact, there were hundreds of specimens ofthe
most insignificant growths all duly labelled and described. The smallest
saxifage will say, "He is my gardenerjust as surely as he is the gardenerof the
Gloire de Dijon or the MarechalNeil."
Prejudice
J. Foster, B. A.

Prejudice is one of the greatestenemies to human welfare. Of all the train of
mental ills with which we are affectedit is one of the most difficult to be
eradicated.
1. Prejudice has given protracted vitality to countless socialabuses. One of the
best remedies for this evil is to inspect closelythe grounds of our cherished
prepossessions, andto ask, Why do I do this? Why do I feel so?
2. The strongestprejudices are religious. What is given to us by tradition from
our forefathers, familiarisedto our earliestassociations, we canhardly bring
ourselves to question or examine, and we often hold as enemies those who
differ from us even in minor points. As we generally feelmore earnestly about
religion, to our prejudices here we may trace all those religious feuds and
bitter persecutions which have disgracedthe page of history.
3. In the contextwe have a memorable instance of relinquishment of the
strongestpossible prejudice, so strong even in a goodand noble man that
direct Divine interposition was necessaryfor its removal. Notice —
I. SPIRITUAL EXCELLENCE, AND NOT THE ACCIDENTS OF
EXTERNALCONDITION, ALONE AVAILS WITH GOD. Take some
illustrations confirmatory of this from —
1. The Scriptures: e.g., the choice of Abraham, Moses,etc.
2. The dispensations of Providence.(1)Wealthand power are administered
impartially.(2) Health is equally sharedby rich and poor.(3) Genius: our
poets, legislators,inventors, orators, and divines have more frequently
emergedfrom the cottage thanfrom the mansion.(4) So with the blessings of
happiness, life, and age. Deathwhich spares not the hovel spares not the

palace, just as the wind fades the cottage flowersas wellas the productions of
the conservatory.
3. The administration of the benefits of redemption. Not many mighty are
called, yet there are some — Wilberforce and Bunyan. Only one door of
mercy to all. "Whosoeverwill," etc.
4. The day of judgment and its results. "We shall all stand before," etc.
II. WHY HAS GOD NO RESPECTOF PERSONS EXCEPTIN RELATION
TO MORAL GOODNESS?
1. Accidents in condition seeminglygreatto us bear no such relation to Him.
This world is like a grain in the balance of His mighty creation. Its revolving
centuries are but "as yesterdaywhen it is past." He surveys all toils, plans,
etc., serenelyas the stars look with undisturbed light on mortal things.
2. They are not the essentialelements ofour being. They spring from birth,
etc. They are not the man, and pass away with time.
III. WHY DOES GOD SUPREMELYVALUE SPIRITUAL EXCELLENCE?
1. It is the true basis of worth in every intelligent creature. It is so of angels,
and of man as man. "In every nation," etc.

2. It is God's own spiritual reflection, and therefore the true basis of
friendship with Him. God's moral nature must take cognizance ofits kindred
elements. Here, then, is consolationfor all. None are too lowly or poor to be
the acceptedfriends of the Lord of the universe.
(J. Foster, B. A.)
On the receptionof new truth
T. T. Munger.
1. The main purpose of the Acts is to unfold the broadening spirit and form of
the Church of God. It is a history of transition. On its first page the Christ
ascends. As the heavens, into which He rises, overarchthe whole world, so His
gospelspreads its wings for its worldwide flight. Soonthe Spirit breathes upon
the apostles, andthey begin to act under an inspiration as free and wide as the
wind that typifies it. On every page some barrier gives way; with every line
the horizon broadens. One feels as if sailing in a great ship, under a bounding
breeze, out of a narrow harbour into the wide sea.
2. With this change ofscene there is corresponding change of personal
attitude; conversions not only in character, but in opinion; it is a record not
only of repenting and turning, but of broadening. Valuable as this book is as a
record of events, it is more valuable as introducing the life of the Spirit, and as
showing how the faith of ages develops into liberty and the full life and
thought of humanity.
3. The incident before us is a happy illustration of this in its assurance of
possible sainthood outside of the Church, yet showing its hard conditions,
telling us how the centurion's devout aspirations carriedhim into the realm of
vision, and brought upon him an inspiration greaterthan any that came upon
his blind yearnings after righteousness. Here also is a somewhatsimilar
experience of Peter. Sleepis not vacantof spiritual impression. Into that

mystery the Spirit may come as unto its own, and saywhat it could not when
the man is hedgedabout with wakefuland watchful powers. Shakespeare puts
the deepestmoral experiences ofmen into their dreams.
4. Notice how God not only enlarges and broadens the views of these men, but
does this in the direction of Himself. Forthere is an enlargementof view that
is mere breadth without height; it grows wise overmatter and force, creeps
but never soars, deeming the heights above to be empty. In preceding
centuries the mind shot upward, but within narrow limits. There was no look
abroad; nature was simply to be used as found, not studied for further uses.
Hence, there was greatfamiliarity with the lore of religion, but dense
ignorance of the laws of matter and of human society. Todaythe reverse is
true. It is interesting to note how this tendency pervades classes that
apparently do not influence one another: thus the scientific class andthe
lighter literary class;neither reads the works of the other, yet in eachwe find
the same study of matter and man, and the same ignoring of God and the
spiritual nature. Or, compare the man of universal culture with the average
man of the world, who reads the newspaper, and keeps his eyes open on the
street:the latter knows little of the former, yet we find them holding nearly
the same opinions about God and the faith, vague and indifferent; but both
are very observantof what is about them. And all this is for some wise end. It
had become necessarythat man should have a better knowledge ofthe world,
and of his relations to it and to society. Hence his attention is directed thither
by a Divine and guiding inspiration, and no thinking man can be exempt from
it. The only danger is lest the tendency become excessive, andwe forgetto
look upward in our eagerness to see whatis about us. It is the office of
Christian thought to temper and restrain these monopolising tendencies and
secure a proper balance betweenthem. "Godfulfils Himself in many ways,
lest one goodcustom should corrupt the world."
5. I have fallen into this train of thought by reflecting how God led Peteraway
from his small notions of religion, and brought him into a higher and larger

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