When I hear first hear the words, “There is no partiality with God” I usually take it as comforting and encouraging. After all, what a blessing to know that God sees us all the same and that no better is any better or more privileged than me in God’s sight.
However that is not the context of Romans 2v11. The context is that the harsh judgemental spirit in the first few verses of Romans 2 is the same as the wickedness of the end of Romans 1. The impenitent heart of Romans 2 is no better or worse than the lustful heart of Romans 1. The self-seeking of Romans 2 is no better or worse than the vile passions of Romans 1.
Why is it that we can all recall message after message on the sins of Romans 1 and very few if any on the sins of Romans 2? Can it really be true that the kind of arrogant, prideful, judgemental Galatian Pharaseeism of Romans 2 is just as bad as the vile sexual immorality and other wickedness of Romans 1?
Look at this from verse 5 – “you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,”
We all know that works are the indication of salvation. We read in Romans 2 that God rewards every man according to his deeds, not in the context of the wickedness of Romans 1 but the judgemental spirit of Romans 2.
I fear that it is much easier to talk the lostness of those involved in homosexuality of Romans 1 than these words from Romans 2: And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who "WILL RENDER TO EACH ONE ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS":
At the end of the day we still need to deal with the words, “There is no partiality with God”
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