ROMANS 2:11-12 NO RESPECT OF PERSONS It is common practice for people to think more highly of some people than they do of others. A person's occupation, family name, social position and wealth or lack of it affects our attitude towards each other. Very seldom do we meet or even know of a person who acts impartially toward all men. But with God, it is very different. He always sees through holy eyes and measures every one by His truth. Our tendency toward partiality is in view of how it will be to our "advantage." God's impartiality as the Righteous Judge, is true because He knows the thoughts and intents of the heart of every person, not just their deeds.
God's righteous judgment is not only because one has committed sin, but because there has been a choice made to sin. When a person has been given light, by that degree of light they will be judged. People are not condemned for what they don't know, but for what they do with what they know. There is a difference made between people based on their responsibility to the light.
The light of the law which the Jews had (and by which the knowledge of sin is clearly defined) gave them precise guidelines for living. If they choose sin, there is the condemnation of the written law against them. The evil works of those who never had the law, are enough to judge them righteously because there is light in every man. In both cases the choice of going against the light they have is why they will perish.
"Perish" does not mean a person is annihilated. It does mean that the reason for one's existence in the first place has been misplaced by the choice to sin they have made. That choice has eternal consequences. Whether condemned by the law of conscience and the light one has, or condemned by the written moral law
- both will experience eternal punishment. Eternal life when refused for the "pleasures of sin for a season," will never be experienced by those who reject the light. "They loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil."
To favor one above another is a very common response, To those who are of our flesh and blood, or who showed favor to us once. But God looks not on the outward appearance, nor measures as we do. His judgments are righteous in every way, they are in every way so true.
Respect of persons is a human thing; we choose who we want to honor. It may be those of wealth and fame, maybe a son or daughter. This seems natural to us because we are limited in what we know, And form our opinions based on what we see, those are the things that show.
But with God there are no hidden features, no areas of life concealed. The just judgments of a righteous and holy God make every part revealed. There are no snap decisions with God, judgments are made by the light, Of what a person knew wherever they lived, they are conscious of wrong and right.
In every society and culture there are standards acceptable for living. When those standards are strayed from, in that way they are sinning. The light they have might be dim, but in every human being, There is a nature that rebels against restraint wanting what to themselves is pleasing.
The conscience of man dictates standards even if no one else is around. To ignore that inner warning means in spite of ignorance, one is found To be in the place of the condemned, and God the Judge they will face. They will recognize righteous justice even if they're from some obscure place.
The law makes the knowledge of sin to be easily understood by men. And because they have written laws, much more is expected of them. No matter what privilege or lack, something is the same in all. The will of God is disregarded, willful sin was passed on by "the fall."
No matter the basis we live under, one fact is unmistakably clear; Men want to do "their own thing," they do not want God to interfere. But on the calendar of events of every one who has lived; There will be a just recompense given based on the light we have.
"O Righteous God, may it please Thee to give those who are spreading Thy Word all over this world, the right message of light and life the listeners need to hear. It has
been hard for me to give a message to those who do not want to even hear it. Open to Thy servant areas of service for Thee. I pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen."