While on holiday, my wife and I enjoyed some early morning bike rides. One route took us through a neighbourhood of multi-million-pound homes. We saw a variety of people—residents walking their dogs, fellow bike riders and numerous workers building new homes or tending well-kept landscapes. It was a mixture of people from all walks of life, and I was reminded of a valuable reality. There was no true distinction between us. Rich or poor. Wealthy or working-class. Known or unknown. All of us on that street that morning were the same. “Rich and poor have this in common: the Lord is the Maker of them all” (Proverbs 22:2). Regardless of differences, we were all made in God’s image ( Genesis 1:27).
But there’s more. Being equal before God also means that no matter our economic, social or ethnic situation, we’re all born with a sin condition: “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). We’re all disobedient and equally guilty before Him, and we need Jesus.
We often divide people into groups for a variety of reasons. But, in reality, we’re all part of the human race. And though we’re all in the same situation—sinners in need of a Saviour—we can be “justified freely” (made right with God) by His grace (v. 24).
By Dave Branon
REFLECT & PRAY
How does it help you to love others better by recognising we’re all equal before God? How has Jesus met your deepest need?
Dear God, thank You for sending Jesus to earth to live a perfect life and to willingly give His life as a sacrifice for my sins.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
In Romans 3:21-26, Paul is building a legal case for our need of a saviour—our need for Jesus. And even though he’s writing to gentiles in Rome, he roots his argument in the Old Testament. The evidence of our need is set forth in verses 10-18, which begins with the phrase “as it is written” because Paul is drawing from several psalms and Isaiah. The conclusion? “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23 ). The apostle describes the utter sinfulness of the human condition to prepare us for God’s response. He didn’t abandon us to our guilt and shame but sent His Son to our rescue: “All are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith” (vv. 24-25). This is the good news of the gospel!
Bill Crowder
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