Over and over again, the argument is made that God cannot base His decisions upon the characteristics of a person, because God is not a respecter of persons. This is false doctrine; it is unbiblical and denies that God chooses those rich in faith, which is what the inspired word says. God is not a respecter of persons based on the world's value system is the biblical principle.
If you look at Acts 10:34-35, you see that Peter proclaims God does not show partiality to people because of where they live or based on their bloodline, i.e. God is not the God of Jews only, but rather He welcomes those who fear Him and obey Him. Does He welcome those who do not fear Him and do not obey Him? No. So the very passage used to say God does not use our characteristics when He decides whom to welcome actually demonstrates that God does indeed use our characteristics to decide whom to welcome.
In Romans 2:11, again we see that God is not partial to Jews because they are Jews, but rather, verse 10, God bestows honor and peace to everyone who does good. So again, the passage says God's actions are contingent upon faith, not bloodline.
In Ephesians 6:9, Paul teaches that God is not partial to believing masters - Christian slave owners - but rather to those who are obedient from the heart to Christ (verse 6). Yet another example of God using the characteristics of men, men of faith, rather than showing favoritism to those rich in worldly treasure, in this case slaves.
In Colossians 3:25, Paul makes the very same point, telling slaves to do good as unto the Lord when serving their worldly masters, knowing that even if their masters do wrong unto them, the masters will receive what they deserve because God does not show favoritism to those with worldly treasure.
In 1 Timothy 5:21, Paul instructs Timothy not to treat those to whom he is ministering with bias, doing nothing in partiality. He is not to favor some men over others, but treat all as if they were his father or brother depending on age. In the same way he is to treat older women as if they were his mother and younger women as if they were his sister in all purity. Treat widows with the same principles, do not refuse to list some or to list some for support based on personal bias. Honor the elders who work hard rather than using personal bias. Do nothing in the spirit of partiality based on the world's value system or the desires of the flesh.
Which brings us to James Chapter 2, with James teaching that we should not be partial to the wealthy according to the world's values, but rather to those God has chosen based on His values.
God chose the poor of this world, not those who turned out to be poor. God chose those rich in faith, and not those who became rich in faith. Many translations miss the grammar of James 2:5 which features the Greek Grammar construction of the double accusative, where the verb – chose – has a direct object – poor and a compliment rich in faith which describes an attribute of the poor.
God Bless
If you look at Acts 10:34-35, you see that Peter proclaims God does not show partiality to people because of where they live or based on their bloodline, i.e. God is not the God of Jews only, but rather He welcomes those who fear Him and obey Him. Does He welcome those who do not fear Him and do not obey Him? No. So the very passage used to say God does not use our characteristics when He decides whom to welcome actually demonstrates that God does indeed use our characteristics to decide whom to welcome.
In Romans 2:11, again we see that God is not partial to Jews because they are Jews, but rather, verse 10, God bestows honor and peace to everyone who does good. So again, the passage says God's actions are contingent upon faith, not bloodline.
In Ephesians 6:9, Paul teaches that God is not partial to believing masters - Christian slave owners - but rather to those who are obedient from the heart to Christ (verse 6). Yet another example of God using the characteristics of men, men of faith, rather than showing favoritism to those rich in worldly treasure, in this case slaves.
In Colossians 3:25, Paul makes the very same point, telling slaves to do good as unto the Lord when serving their worldly masters, knowing that even if their masters do wrong unto them, the masters will receive what they deserve because God does not show favoritism to those with worldly treasure.
In 1 Timothy 5:21, Paul instructs Timothy not to treat those to whom he is ministering with bias, doing nothing in partiality. He is not to favor some men over others, but treat all as if they were his father or brother depending on age. In the same way he is to treat older women as if they were his mother and younger women as if they were his sister in all purity. Treat widows with the same principles, do not refuse to list some or to list some for support based on personal bias. Honor the elders who work hard rather than using personal bias. Do nothing in the spirit of partiality based on the world's value system or the desires of the flesh.
Which brings us to James Chapter 2, with James teaching that we should not be partial to the wealthy according to the world's values, but rather to those God has chosen based on His values.
God chose the poor of this world, not those who turned out to be poor. God chose those rich in faith, and not those who became rich in faith. Many translations miss the grammar of James 2:5 which features the Greek Grammar construction of the double accusative, where the verb – chose – has a direct object – poor and a compliment rich in faith which describes an attribute of the poor.
God Bless