An Impartial God?

                In my sermon on June 28, 2026, I insisted that no one will go to eternal damnation without having had the opportunity to respond to God’s grace. Salvation is offered to all. I believe this because if God did otherwise – randomly save some and randomly reject others – it would mean God is arbitrary. I believe God is intentional in God’s oversight of the universe. I also believe God is just and generous. So, God offers salvation to all.

               In this assertion, I am referring to God’s character. One of many verses that I believe indicates this generous character of God is 1 Peter 1:17: “If you invoke as Father the one who judges all people impartially according to their deeds, live in reverent fear during the time of your exile.” In the sermon (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QlVnHUkcYY , beginning at the 40:30 mark), I explain what Peter means in calling the church members “exiles.” As followers of Christ, we belong to the Kingdom of God, so we are strangers in the kingdoms of the world. However, we are here, in the world, to draw the world to Christ. We are in this strange world for God’s purposes.

               As exiles, people outside the mainstream, we will suffer because of our allegiance to Christ. Peter tells us that when that happens, we are to “live in reverent fear.” We are to know God’s ways and live by God’s ethics. The world says that if someone hits me, I ought to hit back, harder. Jesus says, “turn the other cheek.” The world says, seek your own self-interest. Jesus says, “love your neighbor as yourself.” In a world that doesn’t show any regard for Jesus, we are to live by the ethical standard he set, knowing it will put us out of step with the world.

               This reverent fear 1 Peter speaks of means we give absolute respect and deference to a God who judges impartially. It is a relief to think of God as a judge who puts everyone on equal footing. God doesn’t favor one person over another. It should also terrify us that God is impartial because everyone, including each one of us, is a sinner who has offended God with our rejection of his authority. If God were to judge the people of the world with pure impartiality, we would all deserve punishment and separation from his kingdom.

               Here is where the work of Christ on the cross mitigates God’s impartial judgment. God’s impartiality means every person has access to God. It also means, because all have sinned, that every person will come under condemnation. The work of Christ on the cross means our sins are covered. The condemnation is removed. His resurrection means our death has been defeated. We are bound for eternal life in God’s Kingdom. God’s impartiality means this grace is open to all. I believe it is extended to all, which means no person will enter eternity without having had the opportunity to put their faith in Jesus.

               Notice, I have not described God as “fair.” It’s the wrong word. If God were fair, Jesus would have not died on the cross. He didn’t deserve that. His death is a result of human sin. God allowed it because God loves us. God is not fair. God is generous. I also would not call God impartial. God judges impartially, but God gives grace extravagantly. “Gracious” is a more apt epithet for God than “impartial.” As you read 1 Peter this summer, keep in mind that the God we meet in this work is one who welcomes you with love and grace. Put your faith in that God.