Can you explain how a person has no respect to God as it says in Romans 2:11?
Romans 2:11 reads, “For there is no respect of persons WITH God” (KJV). Notice, this verse is NOT speaking of persons who show “no respect TO God”; rather, it is speaking of God having “no respect OF persons.” The word “respect” in this verse means “favoritism, partiality” and so we are being taught that “God doesn’t favor one person over another.”
The actual SUBJECT that is being discussed in this passage is that of JUDGMENT. This is clearly seen in verses 1-3, “Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who JUDGE, for in whatever you JUDGE another you condemn yourself; for you who JUDGE practice the same things. But we know that the JUDGMENT OF GOD is according to truth against those who practice such things. And do you not think this, O man, you who JUDGE those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the JUDGMENT OF GOD” (NKJV). In these verses God is calling out those who consider themselves exempt from God’s judgment because of their supposed moral virtues. Yet they look down on those who they consider to be uncivilized and guilty of gross immorality. The problem is they were guilty of the very same sins and thus they would not escape God’s judgment on the day that He judges their lives in righteousness according to the truth. God will not show favor to anyone; if one is guilty of practicing sinful behavior they will be judged accordingly, for “there is no respect (favor) of persons with God.” Again, these so-called “moralists” were FAVORING THEMSELVES (by excusing themselves from God’s righteous judgment) and JUDGING OTHERS while at the same practicing the very sins they accused others of committing.
This particular sin (of showing favoritism to yourself and others like you while judging and condemning others who aren’t like you) is pervasive in our society. We often see this act of “favoring one over another” in our court systems where a judge will show leniency to one who may be wealthy or famous while at the same time condemning a poor and unknown person for the very same crime. It is quite possible that the judge who is guilty of this has resorted to taking a BRIBE from the wealthy criminal with a promise to “go easy on him/her.” The Lord knew that there would be this tendency in fallen man and yet He declares that He is holy and would never be guilty of such things “For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who SHOWS NO PARTIALITY NOR TAKES A BRIBE” (Deuteronomy 10:17).
No believer in the Lord Jesus Christ should ever be guilty of favoritism. James 2:1 states, “My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, WITH PARTIALITY.” I will close by quoting 3 verses that echo the truth of God “having no respect of persons” and may these be so impressed on our hearts that we, as God’s dear children, will imitate our heavenly Father by “having no respect of persons.”
Acts 10:34 says, “Then Peter opened his mouth and said: ‘In truth I perceive that God SHOWS NO PARTIALITY.”
Galatians 2:6 reads, “But from those who seemed to be something—whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God SHOWS PERSONAL FAVORITISM TO NO MAN—for those who seemed to be something added nothing to me”
1ST Peter 1:17 declares, “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.” (455.5) (DO)