It does not appear that Christ is respecting men here.
AMEN!
"For there is no respect of persons with God." -- Romans 2:11
And we see Peter agreeing with Paul...
But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him." Acts 10:34-35 "Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
The question then becomes who is able to be righteous and thus judged well according to the fruits of his life? And the answer is all and only those in whom the Holy Spirit dwells, according to the will and purpose of God who determined the names of His children from before the foundation of the world...
"For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." -- Philippians 2:13
As you've noted, we are either servants to sin or servants to righteousness. There's no middle ground. How do we become servants of righteousness? Paul explains...
But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness." -- Romans 6:16-18"Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
We're able to act righteously and "obey from the heart" because God gives His children a "new heart" with which to understand and believe.
"A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh." -- Ezekiel 36:26
With this new heart we are able to comprehend the reason for our salvation -- Jesus Christ upon the cross. We then become "servants of righteousness" not by our own efforts, but by Jesus Christ's redemptive sacrifice. His righteousness becomes our own and we are acquitted of our sins. "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." -- 2 Corinthians 5:21
It's all Jesus Christ, all the time, everywhere for everything, whether the world recognizes this fact or not.
And he is before all things, and by him all things consist." -- Colossians 1:16-17"For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Amen, Dr. E.! Great post. It all ties in together.