“…all men are created equal.”

At the playground today, I heard a mom shout, “If you break something, your gymnastics coach is going to kill you!” It made me snicker as the daughter paid no heed and launched herself into the air, landed with a laugh, then ran to do it again. The daughter believed she was invincible, while the mom believed in gravity and its potential dangers. On the way home, my son and I started talking about how people act based on what they believe. Eventually getting around to how some are mean to others because they believe they are better than other people, or they think groups of people are inferior due to gender, skin color, beliefs, socioeconomical standing or a myriad of other nonsensical reasons. I talked to him about Adolf Hitler and Abraham Lincoln and explained how one believed that people are not created equal and ended up killing a lot of people because of it, while the other believed that all we are all created equal and was killed, partially because of that belief.

This got my wheels turning and through research, I came to the following conclusion – all people are created equal – guilty and condemned, but don’t have to end equal – condemned vs. redeemed. All people are sinners (Romans 5:12,18, Ephesians 2:1-3, Psalm 51:5) and are condemned (John 3:18-20) to eternity without our Creator God (Thessalonians 1:8-9). Compared to a holy and just Creator (Matthew 5:48), the only point of true comparison, it doesn’t matter that to you, your sins seem small or insignificant, “just little white lies and indiscretions that everyone does.” We are all born equal – in sin, with a sin nature that will continually keep sinning until the day we die. Many will attempt to avoid the inevitable judgement (Hebrews 9:27) by doing good works, following a strict set of rules, or doing some extreme penance. However, we are told that there is only one way to change from being equal in condemnation, to joint heirs with Christ in redemption (Romans 8:17).

  That one way is through Jesus Christ (John 14:6). He was not born equal – in sin, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:18), then lived a sinless life (Hebrews 4:15), which He allowed to be sacrificed on our behalf (Hebrews 7:27). Because of His love for us (Romans 5:8, But God), He paid the cost to move us from condemned to redeemed (Ephesians 1:7). For those who believe in Him and accept his free gift of salvation (John 1:12), we are now equals with others bound for eternal life. As such, Christ Jesus is conforming us into one people, a body of believers (Ephesians 2:11-22). Our duty is to continue the work He started – loving each other (John 13:35), making disciples (Matthew 28:19-20), and conforming to the image of Christ (Romans 12) – all while eagerly awaiting His return (Titus 2:11-14).

  So, let us remember that while all people are created equal, they don’t have to stay that way. Do your part in spreading the Good News – all people can be changed from condemned to redeemed thanks to God and His indescribable gift (1 Corinthian 9:15).