It has been quite a hard couple of weeks as we have seen again the racism that exists in this world. With that in mind, we wanted to equip you with a series of Bible verses which speak directly to our equality, no matter what our ethnic background may be. May these prove helpful to you in the days ahead as you have conversations with others regarding issues of race and ethnicity.
Verses on How We Were Created and Viewed by God as Equal
At the very beginning of time we see that God was against any kind of racism, making mankind equal from the very beginning.
Genesis 1:27 – “So God created man in his own image; he created him in the image of God; he created them male and female.”
Romans 2:9-11 – “There will be affliction and distress for every human being who does evil, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek; but glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does what is good, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. For there is no favoritism with God.”
Deuteronomy 10:17 – “For the Lord your God is the God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, mighty, and awe-inspiring God, showing no partiality and taking no bribe.
Acts 10:34-35 – “Peter began to speak: “Now I truly understand that God doesn’t show favoritism, but in every nation the person who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.”
Acts 17:26 – “From one man he has made every nationality to live over the whole earth and has determined their appointed times and the boundaries of where they live.”
Verses on How to Treat Those Who Look Different Than You
Likewise, the Lord has been very clear throughout His Word that we are to, as His image bearers, treat our fellow image bearers fairly and equally.
Malachi 2:10 – “Don’t all of us have one Father? Didn’t one God create us? Why then do we act treacherously against one another, profaning the covenant of our ancestors?”
James 2:8-9 – “Indeed, if you fulfill the royal law prescribed in the Scripture, Love your neighbor as yourself, you are doing well. If, however, you show favoritism, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.”
Verses on the Implications of the Gospel on How we View Others
As we saw above, God created all of mankind as equal in worth and dignity in His sight. Likewise, a specific aspect of the gospel itself and how we live it out in our day-to-day lives is that we would cease to view any one people group as better or more important than another, for we are all one in Christ.
Colossians 3:11 – “In Christ there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all.”
Galatians 3:28 – “There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male and female; since you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
1 Corinthians 12:13 – “ For we were all baptized by[a] one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and we were all given one Spirit to drink.”
James 2:1 – “My brothers and sisters, do not show favoritism as you hold on to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.”
Verses on the Diversity of Heaven
One of the most beautiful things about Heaven is knowing that people from every nation, tribe, and tongue will be there, for they are all equal and loved in God’s sight.
Revelation 7:9 – “After this I looked, and there was a vast multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language, which no one could number, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes with palm branches in their hands.”
Revelation 14:6 – “Then I saw another angel flying high overhead, with the eternal gospel to announce to the inhabitants of the earth—to every nation, tribe, language, and people.”
My prayer is that these beautiful lessons and truths from God’s Word will help guide and direct all of us in the days ahead.