Unlimited: No Difference
Jun 17, 2022 1143
There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:22(b)–23.)
Paul emphasises that there is now no difference between Jew and Gentile before God. The first reason he gives us is because all have sinned and all have fallen short of the glory of God.
Throughout the Bible, the glory of God centrally refers to his character (Ex 34:5–7). The Son of God came to earth to reveal the character of God to humanity. When the Bible tells us that Jesus came to reveal the Father’s glory (John 1:14–18) this means that Jesus reveals the character of God.
There is no difference; we are all in the same place before God.
There are few who would be so self-deluded as to say that they are everything that they would like to be. If we fall short of the character expectations that we have for ourselves, how much further do we fall short of the glorious perfection of the character of God?
I’ve met a few people who have told me, with a straight face, that they have stopped sinning. I have met many people who have acted as if they never sinned. And there have been many times when I have not been honest with myself about my own sin. We need to be honest and remember the words of the apostle John:
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us (1 John 1:8).
Spiritual Application
Rather than casting us down, this should be a source of the greatest joy. There is no difference; we are all in the same place before God. Yet God has done what was impossible for us to do ourselves. God has revealed a righteousness to which we should have no right, but he has given us the right through Jesus to be brought into his family, and considered perfect in his sight. Ponder that and in your prayers, give thanks.
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