Things New and Old: God is no respecter of persons

Things New and Old

Ancient truths revealed in the Scriptures are often forgotten, disbelieved or distorted, and therefore lost in the passage of time. Such ancient truths when rediscovered and relearned are 'new' additions to the treasury of ancient truths.

Christ showed many new things to the disciples, things prophesied by the prophets of old but hijacked and perverted by the elders and their traditions, but which Christ reclaimed and returned to His people.

Many things taught by the Apostles of Christ have been perverted or substituted over the centuries. Such fundamental doctrines like salvation by grace and justification have been hijacked and perverted and repudiated by sincere Christians. These doctrines need to be reclaimed and restored to God's people.

There are things both new and old here. "Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things" 2Ti 2:7.

Thursday, November 20, 2025

God is no respecter of persons

Of a truth, I perceive that
God is no respecter of persons:

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

When I googled "God is no respecter of persons" images for this post, I was horrified by some of the sincere opinions attached to the passage.

Let me give three examples. Check them out for yourself.

1. One Kenneth Copeland says it means "What God does for one person, He will do for all."

2. One reads, "God is no respecter of persons; we are defined by what we choose, not what happens to us."

3. "God is no respecter of persons when it comes to blessings and success", followed by the Acts 10:34 text.

I fear each betrays serious error, abusing the text, wresting it out of context.

The truth that God is no respecter of persons is the foundational truth of salvation by grace alone. How one understands Apostle Peter's declaration reflects how well he has understood salvation by grace alone.

Have you understood it? Apostle Peter discovered it, and he solemnly declared that at last, he PERCEIVED this glorious truth.

How is God no respecter of persons in His acceptance of a sinner?
What are some implications of this truth?
How is it so plainly illustrated by Cornelius' case?

1. One Kenneth Copeland says it means "What God does for one person, He will do for all."
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If that is true, then God loving a person obligates Him to love all!
This is a complete twisting of the truth "God is no respecter of persons.

The truth simply stated is this: The BASIS of how God accepts one person is the SAME basis He will accept others.

2. "God is no respecter of persons; we are defined by what we choose, not what happens to us."
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So, God's dealings with us are determined or affected by our choices?
If that's the case, is God still no respecter of persons?

3. "God is no respecter of persons when it comes to blessings and success", followed by the Acts 10:34 text.
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This completely ignores the context of Acts 10:34. Acts 10:34 has to do with God's acceptation of sinners. It is based solely on the finished works of Christ Jesus, and not on anything in, of, or by the sinners. Apostle Peter discovered a great truth that day. His Jewish prejudice and baggage were shattered that wonderful day. "Of a truth, I perceive that God is no respecter of persons."

In blessing and success, God is obviously a respecter of persons. Read the Beatitudes in Matt 5, and hosts of other conditional statements.

Ann Atwood Fraley
I have never had much light on this passage. You have piqued my interest.