No More Discrimination

Hello people of God. It’s the start of a new week and it’s an opportunity for us to add a new view to our collection of vignettes of grace.

 “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” Gal 3:26-28 New International Version

Back in the world the early Christians lived just like in our day, society was stratified along different lines- major distinctions were about ethnicity, economic power and gender. The distinctions are usually very marked and many people become prejudiced on account of these. So very entrenched and deeply ingrained have these prejudices become in different human communities that they continue to affect our relationships and human socialization in general.

In response to some of the ills of such social systems, a number of human ideologies and initiatives have been developed in an attempt to proffer alternatives with promises of better life experiences. Sadly like many other human inventions, they usually provide an avenue for the expression of the evil in man with pride, rebellion and disobedience to God eventually marring any good intentions people may have started off with.  

The 3 verses in focus present to us a reality of our new existence in Christ that far supersedes any man fabricated system or ideology. Every discrimination has been put away:

“There is neither Jew nor Greek…” This abolishes any racial discrimination or divisions based on ethnicity or place of origin. The Jews were God’s special people under the Old Testament (Exodus 19:5). Every other nation on earth was not part of God’s household and kingdom (Ephesians 2:12). But Christ Himself has broken the wall of hostility that formerly separated the two groups and has united both groups in one body (Ephesians 2:14-18).

“…slave nor free…” This abolishes discrimination based on economic power and social stratification based on perceived values of people simply because of their vocations or professions. Our material riches or poverty do not give us any special privileges in Christ.

“…male nor female…” Not even gender discrimination has any place anymore. The feminine gender has for long been trampled upon by the society but in Christ Jesus there is an elevation of the female to an equality with the male in salvation.

In Christ Jesus all discrimination is put away. God receives us solely on the basis of faith in Jesus and we all have equal access by one Spirit (Ephesians 2:18). We are all on the same level, saved the same way, entitled to the same privileges. There are no special favours on account of birth, beauty, body physique, skin colour, employment category, level of income or gender.

 “Here (in this new life), it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters and He lives in all of us” Col. 3:11.

 This week will you just remember that God does not discriminate against us based on any human characteristics? Nothing else aside Christ Jesus matters; God's grace has broken down all those distinctions. Live in this reality. 

I hope you are thrilled as I am by this snapshot of God’s truly amazing grace. My song for the week is "Grace That Won't Let Go" by Gateway Worship. Have a very good week. 

"Grace That Won't Let Go" by Gateway Worship