“And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear.”
who without partiality judges
The words “without partiality” mean without respect of persons. Literally, these words mean “one who does not receive face.” God operates without prejudice. He is impartial and, therefore, just. He has no favorites. He does not look at the face of someone and then makes His judgment.
God is without partiality in judgment. He judges according to the standard of our true behavior. God does not operate on the basis of favoritism. Wealth, culture, social position, family, education, beauty, intellect make no difference to God.
“But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart,‘” (1 Samuel 16:7).
There is an impartial character to God’s judgment, “But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him,” (Acts 10:35). God is consistent in His nature. He doesn’t use different standards of evaluation. God does not disregard the evidence. He is honest in His assessments,
“For there is no partiality with God,” (Romans 2:11).
“Judges” means evaluation. God is in the business of objective assessment of our lives. His judgment is not primarily to find fault. God is not a critical person. He is not in the place of seeking defects merely to criticize.
The strictness of God’s judicial process has reward as its primary aim (2 Corinthians 5:10). “What can I give this believer based on his usage of my assets?” God will honestly appraise things. God expects to find in the life of each saint upon which He can place His approval. It’s just like a parent who loves to approve the actions of his child.
PRINCIPLE:
God rewards without favoritism.
APPLICATION:
God has no partiality toward persons. No one has an “in” with God in prayer. Inevitably people ask clergy if they would pray for them, thinking that their prayers have God’s special hearing. Any Christian in fellowship can pray as well as any pastor.
God hears our prayers because of His Son. We can never earn His respect. We approach God on the merits of Christ. God judges all our personal sins on the cross.