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“The Full Rights Of Sons” Simply Put 
 / K.E. Stegall
 
Chapter III
-
No Di
fference: “...God does not show favoritism.”
 
14
 
 
No Difference:
“...God does not show favoritism.”
 
(Acts 10:34; Romans 2:11,3:22-24, 10:12)
We are all the same.... but different.Our differences are only too clear to all of us. Not a day goes by that each one of us does nothave to deal with differences. Sometimes we enjoy the differences. But most of the time those
differences just mean that we have to work harder at getting along with other people. Let‟s face it.
Life would be a lot easier if we were just all the same.Or would it?Yes, differences c
an confuse us. We don‟t know what to think.
 
Men and women are different. That‟s why the women‟s issue is so controversial. The
disagreement is about how to handle the difference. At the root of most controversies is a difference.Yet God created us to be one. How does he expect us to cope with all the differences? What ishis attitude toward our differences.On what basis does God discriminate between people? The Bible is clear in teaching that
God‟s own mercy is the only determining factor in the bestowal
of his favor.Paul gives the example of the twins, Jacob and Esau. Both were children of Abraham through
Isaac. the promised seed. Yet God‟s favor concerning these two boys was not based on anything other than God‟s mercy. Esau was the elder, who according
to custom was the inheritor of the birthright.But Esau was rejected, and instead, God bestowed his favor on his younger brother, Jacob.
“It does not, therefore, depend on man‟s desire or effort, but on God‟s mercy. ...Therefore God
has mercy on whom he w
ants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.” (Romans
9:16-
18; Exodus 33:19) Paul repeats this message to Titus. “...he saved us, not because of righteousthings we had done, but because of his mercy.” (Titus 3:5)
 This message permeates Scripture. God never discriminates among people: he does notbestow special favor; he is not partial to any person for any other reason than this: because of hismercy.Of course God welcomes all who come to him. He will never reject anyone who comes. Thereare many Scriptures which teach this truth (Isaiah 55: 1-3; Matthew 1 1:28; Luke 9:23; John 7:37;Romans 10:11,13: 1 Timothy 2:3-4; Revelation 22:17). But we should also remember our coming is
always the result of God‟s mercy. In our coming to God we humbly
accept this truth and praise Godfor it.
Through a dramatic vision on a housetop in Joppa. Peter learned this startling truth. “I now
realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fearhim and do what is rig
ht.” (Acts 10:34)
 
What is God‟s reason for not showing favoritism? For discriminating among human beings
only on the basis of his own mercy? The Scriptures give us two reasons:
“Is he not the One who says to kings, „You are worthless,‟ and to nobles, „You are wicked,‟
who shows no partiality to princes and does not favor the rich over the poor. for they are all the work 
of his hands?” (Job 34:18
-19)
“This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is
no difference,
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,...” (Romans 3:22
-24).God made us all. But we all fall far short of the glory which he created us to radiate. All havesinned. These two facts are the same for all human beings. That is why all depend
s only “...on God‟smercy.” (Romans 9:16)
 
 
“The Full Rights Of Sons” Simply Put 
 / K.E. Stegall
 
Chapter III
-
No Di
fference: “...God does not show favoritism.”
 
14
 
 
The Question:
On what basis does God differentiate or discriminate between people?
What do we know to be true?
God differentiates among people only on the basis of his mercy.(Romans 9: 13-16; Titus 3:5)God does not differentiate among people on the basis of Heredity.(Romans 9:10-29)Human desire.(Romans 9:16)Human effort. (Romans 9:16)Righteousness deeds. (Titus 3:5)Wealth. (Job 34: 18-19)Status and position. (Job 34:18-19)External appearance. (I Samuel 16:7; John 7:24; Galatians 2:6)God does not discriminate among people on the basis of these things because All humanbeings are the work of his hands. (Job 34:19)All have sinned. (Romans 3:23)
 
“The Full Rights Of Sons” Simply Put 
 / K.E. Stegall
 
Chapter III
-
No Difference: “...God does not show favoritism.”
 
15
 
 But that is God. What about us, within the Christian community? Are we to discriminateamong people?There was Peter on the rooftop. Through a vision God was showing him all kinds of animals,creatures Peter saw as unclean, revolting, disgusting. God told Peter to kill and eat. Peter was aghast.He would n
ever consider such a thing. “Surely not, Lord!‟ Peter replied. „I have never eaten anythingimpure or unclean.‟ The voice spoke to him a second time. „Do not call anything impure that God hasmade clean.” (Acts 10:11
-15)What God makes clean on the basis of his own mercy and grace, we must not judge as impurein anyway. Our judgment of others must be based only on what God calls clean. Again the Scripturesare clear, if we discriminate among people on any basis other than those allowed and exhorted inScripture, then that is favoritism or partiality.And since all human beings have sinned, how are we to judge what God has made clean?
Jesus answers, “By their fruit you will recognize them.... A
good tree cannot bear bad fruit,and a bad tree cannot bear good f 
ruit....Thus by their fruit you will recognize them.” (Matthew
 7: 15-20)
We understand this fruit to be qualities of character and action which reflect God‟s standard of righteousness. Any judgments we make are to be based only on God‟s standard of righteo
usness and
sanctification because that is the outward manifestation of God‟s mercy, and cleansing (Galatians
5:22-26; Ephesians
5:8-10;
Acts 10:15). But even these judgments must be carried out with greatcaution, for ultimately, judgment belongs to God alone (Deuteronomy 1:17:Ephesians 6:9).God does not discriminate among people on the basis of wealth (Leviticus
19:15:
James 2:1-12), or on status or position (Leviticus 19:15; Deuteronomy 1:17), or on external appearance (ISamuel 16:7; Galatians 2:6), and therefore neither can we (Ephesians 6:9).There is one other area we are not to using as a criteria for discrimination. This is the area thatseems most open to abuse by mankind. Perhaps that is why Scripture spends the most time refuting it.This is the criteria of heredity.Heredity is the thing that determines at the moment of conception whether we are black orwhite, tall or short, smart or dumb, Jew or Greek, brown eyed or blue eyed, male or female. These areall a matter of heredity, genetics, chromosomes, all unconsciously determined by earthly parents. Thisis heredity.But the Bible is clear. Discrimination on the basis of heredity has no place in the Christiancommunity.Or is it clear? At times in the Old Testament, it seemed as if God put a great deal of 
importance on heredity. He chose a certain people. His blessings were for their descendants. God‟s
people were warned many times against entanglements with other peoples.
 No, God‟s Word is not always easy to understand. Yet the truth is always the
re. Tucked away
 back in Genesis God tells Abram, “„I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you:
 ...and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you.‟ ... Abram believed the Lord, and he credited itto him as righteousness.” (Genesis 12:2
-3,
15:6)
Just a few sentences to enfold a great truth. The greatnation fathered by Abraham would be composed of and bless all peoples on earth.Jesus illuminates this truth revealed to Abraham in a conversation with the Jewish religiousleaders of his day. Jesus gives us the real scoop on parentage. heredity, genetics, chromosomes(John8:31-
47). The religious leaders told Jesus, “Abraham is our father,...” (vs. 39). Listen to Jesus‟ reply.
 
„If you were Abraham‟s children,‟ said Jesus, „then you would do th
e things Abraham did. Asit is, you are determined to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that 1 heard from God.Abraham did not do such things. You are doing the things your
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