Impartiality in the Gospel
Acts 16.13-34
Lady Justice is an allegorical personification of the moral force in judicial systems. Lady Justice is most often depicted with a set of scales typically suspended from her left hand, upon which she measures the strengths of a case’s support and opposition.Since the 16th century, Lady Justice has often been depicted wearing a blindfold. The blindfold represents impartiality, the ideal that justice should be applied without regard to wealth, power, or other status.The last distinctive feature is her sword. The sword represented authority in ancient times, and conveys the idea that justice can be swift and final.
In the Old Testement God repeatedly tells His people, the nation of Israel, to be impartial in their legal system as He Himself is impartial. In the New Testament God’s impartiality is seen in the Gospel message. In Romans 2.11 we read, “There is no partiality with God”, ( New King James Bible).
This is illustrated in Acts chapter 16 when the apostle Paul and his fellow evangelists met three distinct individuals at Philippi during his second missionary journey. Despite their differences each was in need of salvation: Lydia, the business woman; the demon possessed slave girl; and the barbaric jailor.
God’s methods of dealing with them varied according to their personality. Lydia, a seller of purple, received the Gospel as Paul and his companions spoke to her at the riverside, verses 13,14. The slave girl had to be exorcised, verse 18. The jailor required an earthquake for his conversion as he was “ a hard nut to crack”, verse 26. With the famous cricketer, C. T. Studd, it was the death of his brother that led to his salvation.
God is not restricted to space or time when He saves people. Lydia was saved at the riverside, on the Sabbath, verse 13. The jailor was saved in the prison at midnight, verses 25,26. Saul of Tarsus was saved on the road to Damascus at midday, Acts 26.13. No one needs to go on a pilgrimage at a certain time of the year to be saved. If you are not already saved, you can be wherever you are now.
Divine sovereignty and human responsibility come into play here. Lydia was the one “whose heart the Lord opened [completely]”, verse 14, whereas the jailor was told, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved”, verse 31. Compare the three parables in Luke 15. In the first two God takes the initiative as He seeks the lost sheep and coin, whilst in the third the prodigal son does so because he illustrates the repentant sinner.
In conclusion, we can say none are so good as not to need the grace of God and none are so bad as not to receive it.