Respect of Persons

Who says the sin has gone unpunished? God's ways are not our own and His punishment may be so subtle as to not be seen by my eyes, while being completely recognizable to the person for whom the punishment is intended.

 

I agree. My sister (a believer) paid with her life for getting so wrapped up in sin.

 

I think you're not getting the point of the verse.

This verse is part of a passage that says that HUMAN judges should judge impartially. Those God appoints as judges whould not give favor to those who are richer, smarter, work harder, are better looking, or give gifts (bribes).

We should judge as the Lord judges - without respect to things like how smart a person is, how much harder he/she works, their looks, how rich they are, without respect to bribes (what do we have, anyway, that He has not given us?).

 

Christ died on the cross for my sins -- and yours, too. I've accepted this gift of God's grace. I am concerned about keeping sin out of my life, but not because of any of God's punishments. On the contrary, my concern is pleasing Him. I prefer not to place my faith or doctrinal beliefs on single verses, much less individual words.

 

Well, I don't agree with the last part. The fact that God treats a believer differently does not make Him a respecter of persons. A believer is only a believer because God changed his heart. So God is treating him differently because God made him different, not because of anything the believer did to make himself different (and therefore worthy of different treatment based on his own merit).

But I do believe God will judge believers, but that the payment will be different than for unbelievers. Of course God holds us (believers) accountable for sin. Otherwise, what would be the point in saying that if any of us do sin, we should confess our sins and God is faithful and just to forgive us those sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness? If we were not in any way responsible for our sins just because we are believers, that verse shoudln't exist.

 

Well, I certainly can't disagree with that.

 

Just a thought, "respector of persons" could be a subtile remark telling us that God does not look a human figureheads such as well-known pastors, presidents, CEOs etc. any differently than an "common" person unlike man tends to do. It may not refer to how fair He deals with everyone's sin but how He views people in thier man-made ranks and recognitions. Besides, we know that He shows mercy on whom He would.

 

I think this is precisely what it means. I don't think it has anything to do with salvation. In fact, the scripture implies that His value system is quite opposite man's. The following scripture implies that God is a respecter of persons when it comes to who He calls, just not in the same way men are respecters of persons.

However, if you combine it with the rest of scripture, it doesn't really say God is a respecter of persons, since God is ultimately responsible for who is mighty and who is not.