…what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality… (Galatians 2:6 ESV)
Impartiality
I once submitted an article to a magazine for publication. My submission was rejected. When I telephoned the editor for his rationale, I found out that the accepted article was written by a good friend of one of the staff. When I pointed out that I, too, was a friend of a member of the staff, I was told, “Oh… we did not know that. If we had…”
Partiality is a problem. Whether it is favoritism towards family members of politicians, or anti-favoritism towards family members… impartiality is both rare and wonderful.
Paul declares in this verse that God is impartial. Perhaps that surprises us. We might expect that God would show partiality towards US, His children!
But partiality, because our REAL relationship with the God of the Universe is that of rebellion, ignorance, and sin, would go against us, not in our favor. What favor we have with God, and it IS intense favor, comes through our faith-brother, Jesus Christ. What favor we have with God, and it IS wonderful favor, comes through our blood-brother, Jesus Christ. What favor we have with God, and it IS abundant favor, comes through God’s only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.
God shows no partiality dependent on who we are, what we are like, what we have done. Because God is completely partial towards His perfect Son, Jesus Christ.
So, God is indeed impartial… other than where Jesus is concerned.
And that actually makes Him partial to us, too.
We are peculiar, God is partial towards us.