James 2:1 “My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality.”
Do not claim that you are a Christian if you discriminate. To hold a person to a higher or lower value based on any number of things from social standing to race to economic standing to gender to age etc. is not Christian. Jesus loves everyone and the gospel is available to all. As the song says, Jesus loves all the children of the world, red and yellow, black and white; they are precious in his sight. Is every soul precious in your sight?
The teaching of James is backed up by OT teaching and the fair treatment of everyone is a characteristic of God. Proverbs 24:23 says, “These also are sayings of the wise. Partiality in judging is not good.”In Leviticus 19:15 we read, “You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor.” Deuteronomy 1:17 says, “You shall not be partial in judgment. You shall hear the small and the great alike.
In 2 Chronicles 19:5-7, we read, “He appointed judges in the land in all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city. 6 He said to the judges, “Consider what you are doing, for you do not judge for man but for the LORD who is with you when you render judgment. 7 “Now then let the fear of the LORD be upon you; be very careful what you do, for the LORD our God will have no part in unrighteousness or partiality or the taking of a bribe.”
Acts 10:34 Opening his mouth, Peter said: “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality,”
It is so clear that God does not show partiality. John 3;16 says, “For God so loved the world!” Christ died for sinners which means He died for everyone because ALL have sinned. He died for the Jews. He died for Gentiles. He died for the Romans. He died for the Greeks. A reading of the book of Acts will have one seeing He offers salvation to a man of Ethiopia. Salvation was offered to Saul, called later Paul. He offered salvation to Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment. Salvation was offered to a woman named Lydia, a demon-possessed woman, and a Roman soldier.
Showing partiality – favoritism – is unchristian. It is incompatible with Christianity. Favoritism, prejudice, partiality, discrimination, etc. keeps one from obeying the Great Commission.
A converted heart sees the ground at the cross is level and wants the gospel to go to the WORLD that God loves, and for whom Jesus died!
Continue Strong without partiality,
And remember to DATE The Word