“HERE THERE CANNOT be Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scyth´ian, slave, free man, but Christ is all, and in all” (Col. 3:11). This is one of the most important verses in the Scripture depicting the life in Christ. In an age seeking equality of opportunity for all, this is the charter of equality. Nothing in all literature can compare with this.
A dramatic scene took place in the Indian parliament when a bill to prohibit conversions to Christianity among the outcastes was being debated. A member of parliament, himself an outcaste, arose and said, “You want to protect us? From Christians? What about this?” He read a passage from the Hindu lawgiver Manu: “If an outcaste should listen to the words of the Vedas he should be beheaded.” He tore the page out of the book and threw it away. A commotion ensued. The bill was thrown out—by government. That commotion in parliament was a tempest in a teapot compared to the world commotion caused by this verse. It bumped into the whole structure of society and shattered it—and it is still shattering it and will continue to shatter it until man is free—and equal.
Listen: “Here [in the new man in Christ] there cannot be Greek and Jew [race distinction], circumcised and uncircumcised [religious rite distinction], barbarian, Scyth´ian [cultural distinction], slave, free man [social, economic distinction].” Galatians 3:28 adds: male or female, sex distinction. “Christ is all and in all.” This abolishes race, religious rite, cultural, economic, social, and sex distinctions. It sweeps the field. Note: “cannot be.” If there are these distinctions, then you are not in Christ. You are in something else. The equality is not artificial or paper—“Christ is all and in all.” Note the “in all”—if we reject them, we reject Him. Nothing could be more thoroughgoing.
O Jesus Lord, Thou hast inspired Thy servant to sweep the decks of all artificialities and snobberies and to set men free. Thou art pressing upon the citadels of privilege. They too shall fall. Thou wilt be King over all men, and all men will be free. Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: The Jews let the Gentiles into the outer court of the temple; I let everybody everywhere into the shrine of my heart.
