However, there are some tough passages that sound like a person is saved by what they do. I’m reading one of them this morning, and as I do, I recognize how important it is to consider the context when trying to understand something in the Bible, not just the context of a verse or even a chapter, but the context of the book and even the entire Bible.
But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God. (Romans 2:5-11)The passage is about judgment on those who do not believe. Any honest and clear-minded unbeliever who reads this might recognize that they are not “patiently continuing in doing good,” even though they might not admit that they are actually “self-seeking” and not interested in obeying the truth. (In this context, the truth is the gospel)
The part that catches my conscience today is the reference to both Jews and Greeks. In those days, the Jews considered themselves God’s people, but anyone outside of that group was not. The Greeks were pagan in Jewish minds.
Today, if there is a parallel, it could be the “religious” and those who are not, or the churched and the unchurched. In any case, whatever the separation or whoever makes it, God is saying that He has no favorites when it comes to judgment. No matter who a person is, if they have not been obedient to the truth of the gospel and are not living a life characterized by seeking righteousness, they are under His wrath. He is not partial. It does not matter if a person goes to church or not, is interested in spiritual things or not. What matters is what that person does with Jesus Christ.
This is true because in the economy of God those who “work what is good” must get that goodness which comes from Christ. If He lives in a person’s heart, His goodness makes that person righteous, not their own, and it does not matter if they are a Jew or a Greek, a man or a woman, a master or a slave, or a black or a white or a brown. God is not partial.
My devotional reading says this plainly too. It is a sin for a Christian to show favoritism to people. I am not supposed to be prejudiced for or against another person based on their position in life, their wealth or lack of it, nor their influence, popularity, or appearance. This is clearly taught elsewhere as well. While I recognize that goodness comes only from Jesus, I’m never to let that or any other things affect the way I treat people.
My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes . . . have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? . . . . but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. (James 2:1-4, 9).God never plays favorites. I am not like God, and in this area I particularly notice it. I don’t think I have a problem with racism because I don’t often notice the color of someone’s skin, but I do have problems with prejudice concerning the way some people think and act. God has rebuked me about this on several occasions. I need to repent and obey Him.
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