“But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:21-23).
“For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:11-13).
Sin is a humbling thing. There is no difference in the humbling of all. Regardless of our status in life, our position, our possessions…we came in the front door of this life with no difference made because of our pedigree―all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
Song-writer Joel Hemphill wrote – “Doctor, or lawyer, traveler, or merchant, or builder who builds on the sand. Pauper or king to be saved is the thing, If he’s lost then pity the man.”
“The apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith” (Acts 15:6-9).
“For the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him” (Romans 10:12). This is one of Paul’s characteristic phrases and reveals truth in many senses. “The things in which all men are alike are far more important than those in which they differ. The diversities are superficial; the identities are deep as life. Physical processes and wants are the same for everybody. All men, be they kings or beggars, civilized or savage, rich or poor, wise or foolish, cultivated or illiterate, breathe the same breath, hunger and thirst, eat and drink, sleep, fall ill with the same diseases, and die alike” (Dr. Pierson).
Pierson (a consulting editor for the original Scofield Reference Bible), goes on to say, “What a humbling statement Romans 3:22 and 23 is! It drags us all down from our self-righteous pedestals. Whilst there may be a difference in the degree of sin, there is no difference in the fact of sin. All colors are not the same shade; all sin is not of the same gravity. God never said that all men were sinners alike, but He says that all men were alike sinners.”
Thankfully, we see both sides of the coin in this entire matter of No Difference. There is more than one sense in which there is no difference. If there is no difference in the fact of human guilt, there is no difference in a gracious God who will extend His saving mercy to all that call upon Him. All may have hearts of purity.
He is “over all” without distinction, and He is the “same” to all―ready to pour out the wealth of His grace to anyone and everyone who seeks Him. Note the exquisitely simple terms of acceptance. “For the Scripture saith, ‘Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.”
The Scripture saith…” The Bible is still authoritative. One of the first requisites of experiencing this wonderful salvation free to all is an absolute trust in the Bible; and though there are in it things that may be hard to understand, and harder to explain, I am going ... reverently, to trust the Book because of Him.
Francis Mason Pastor Mason