Equality In Christ

That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel….There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Ephesians 3:6, Galatians 3:28&29

‘Equality’ is a common cry and has been throughout history.  “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity’ was the motto of the French Revolution and remains the motto of modern France.  The American Declaration of Independence asserts that ‘all men are created equal.’  Yet for all this desire for equality, we find that there exists very little equality even in works such as Plato’s Republic, and right away through to the historical scenarios we could describe as having occurred throughout the course of human civilization.  Where shall we find true equality?  We find it in Christ.  Our text for today derives from two different passages, both written by Paul the Apostle under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.  In these passages, Paul is declaring that in Christ we become genuinely equal.  Both of the passages make reference to the combining of all manner of humanity, both Jew and Gentile into the body of Christ.  In that Body, ‘there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male or female.’  This is equality only ever imagined under any other scheme.  If there is ever to be any true equality among the vast array of humanity it will be in Christ and Christ alone.  Christ brings equality to places it will never exist apart from Him.  In Christ we are equal. 

Our Glorious Living God,
we rejoice that in Christ, You bring about that which could never be,
in any other way.
We praise You that day-by-day,
You give us the privilege to proclaim this Christ
in Whom we have true equality.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning