No Partiality Between Jew or Gentile

Paul now begins to transition his argument from the “whole of mankind” down to Gentiles and Jews. Consider the following passage: He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality. Romans 2:6-11

This thought process of Paul has enormous implications to the both the Jewish world, as well as to all Gentiles. Paul is calling out that God will judge each person according to his works, declaring that those who patiently seek to do the will of God are granted eternal life, but those who are self-seeking and unrighteous will receive God’s wrath and fury. Both Jew and Greek will be treated the same under this revelation. The Jew will come first to his judgment, but the Greek (Gentile) will likewise be judged. Each one will be judged according to his works with no partiality shown. The reasons why no partiality will be show are further explained in the rest of Chapter two of the book of Romans.

Many people in todays world would like to claim that they do have an excuse for their unrighteous behavior, pointing out that they have neither known God, or his Son, and that they should be excused on this ground. Yet the apostle Paul shatters this hope for the Gentile in the next section, and in the section following that utterly destroys the hope of the Jew claiming special protection by being God's chosen people. In the next two days we will explore why Gentiles are without excuse, and why Jews are guilty as well, even thougt they were God's chosen people.

Heavenly Father,
I ask that you would continue to work in my heart as I explore the book of Romans. That you would continue to teach me the truth of why mankind desperately needs your Son and the forgiveness that comes through his shed blood on Calvary's cross. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.