A Biblical Perspective on Race (part 3)

Romans 5:12-15, 19

There have been many terrible acts committed all around the world because of racism. When one group of people looks at another group of people with disdain because they are "different" they tend to view those who are "different" as less than. While the degree of "less than" may vary, it is never a good thing. Hitler views those who were "less than" as "less than human". In the Bible, Jonah viewed the Assyrians as "less than worthy of forgiveness". This perspective always comes from a place of hate instead of love.

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Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned-- For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law.  Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.  But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many...  For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.

Romans 5:12–15, 19

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Understanding our common ancestry is important to the gospel message. In Adam, the father of all humanity, we are all sinners. As Romans 5 puts it, that one man made all humanity sinners and the judgment of death was on all of us. So, Jesus came as the seed of the woman promised in Genesis 3 to bring salvation and redemption from that sin. What one man messed up, another man fixed.

The understanding of our common ancestry is vital to the plan of salvation. According to the law, a person could only be redeemed from the debt they owed by a near relative. The person had to be related, and both capable and willing to repay the debt. We see this portrayed in the book of Ruth. As widows, Naomi and Ruth could not provide for themselves in the ancient Jewish culture. So, Boaz said he would purchase the property and marry Ruth to have children with her so that the family name would continue on. Boaz was related, and he was capable and willing to redeem Ruth and thereby redeem Naomi.

Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of that picture. He came to the earth as our near relative. Being sinless, he was capable of paying our sin debt. He demonstrated on the cross His willingness to pay our debt. Since we are all related through Adam (and Noah) salvation is offered to all humanity. There is no difference in the Jew and the Greek (Romans 1:16; 10:12). No matter what our complexion, salvation is offered to all of us.

While salvation is offered, it is not forced. Many people do not want God's salvation offered through Jesus. They do not want to be redeemed and to be born into the family of God. They have the free will to choose that. Those people will remain under the curse of sin and the judgment of death for all eternity.

God did not exclude anyone from having salvation offered to them. Race, nationality, language, or any other division we place on people is capable of separating us from the love of God. Because of this, we should not be willing to refuse sharing the gospel with anyone based on how they look. Jesus said that we are to be witnesses in ALL the world, to every creature.

Father, You offer salvation to people of every tribe and tongue. Help us to remember that we all have a common ancestry, and it is for this reason that Your salvation is offered to any of us who are not Jews. Let us not think of ourselves as better than anyone, but in humility willing to proclaim the gospel to everyone everywhere.