Table of Contents

 

Chapter 167.

Respect of Persons

1. OF what has God made all nations?

"And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation." Acts 17:26.

2. To how many is God good?

"The Lord is good to all: and His tender mercies are over all His works." Ps. 145:9.

3. Is God a respecter of persons?

"Neither doth God respect any person." 2 Sam. 14:14.

4. Who is accepted with God?

"Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that feareth Him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with Him." Acts 10:34,35.

5. What prohibitions are given in the Scriptures against having respect of persons?

"Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man." Deut. 1:17. " Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbor." Lev. 10:15. "Blessed is that man that . . . respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies." Ps. 40:4.

6. Of what are those guilty who respect persons?

"If ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors." James 2:9. "He that despiseth his neighbor sinneth." Prov. 14:21.

7. By what illustration is this sin made plain?

"My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; and ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?" James 2:1-4.

8. What led to the appointment of deacons in the early Christian church?

"And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration." Acts 6:1.

9. What mistake did Peter and others make some years later in their conduct?

"But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation." Gal. 2:11-13.

10. How are all national, unholy, and unjust distinctions among men swept away in Christ?

"For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus." Gal. 3:27,28. See also Col. 3:11.

 

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