THE PRINCIPLE OF EQUALITY TEXT: Topical with Texts
INTRO: The Declaration of Independence opened with the bold proclamation: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all [people] are created equal and are endowed with certain unalienable rights which include life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
I. ALL PEOPLE ARE NOT CREATED EQUAL IN ALL THINGS.
A. Inequality is obvious with just a quick look around us. 1.) Not in physical or mental abilities or aesthetic appeal.
2.) Not in socio-economic status.
3.) Not in access to opportunities to financial or social favor. 4.) Not in ideal cultures, belief systems, or families.
II. ALL PEOPLE ARE CREATED EQUAL IN SOME THINGS.
A. Having made a list of unequal matters, here is a list of equal realities for every life.
1.) We are all “created.” Col. 1:16 says, “For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on the earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things have been created by Him and for Him.” Jn. 1:3, “All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.”
2.) We are all created in His image. Gen. 1:27, “And God created man in His image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” Prov. 22:2 says, “The rich and the poor have a common bond, the Lord is the maker of them all.” It is this that makes us all humans.
3.) We are all equal in that we are finite. Heb. 9;27, “for it is appointed to [every person] once to die and after this the judgment.” Acts 17:26, “And [God] made from every nation of [humanity] to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times, and the boundaries of their habitation.” Ps. 139:16, “Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Your book they were all written, the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them.” Eccles. 2:14, “The wise man’s eyes are in his head, but the fool walks in darkness, And yet I know the one fate befalls them both.”; 3:2, [There is] a time to give birth and a time to die.”; 12:7, “then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.”
Ps. 139: “You have enclosed me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me. It is too high, I cannot attain it.”
4.) We are equal in that we live in a fallen world. Gen. 3:18-19, [God warned Adam after his sin} “Cursed is the ground because of you; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it will grow for you and you shall eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread until you return to the ground, because from it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” Rom. 12:2, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed.” 2 Tim. 3:1-3, “But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come,
for men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient t0 parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, haters of good.” 1 Jn. 5:19, “For we know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” Jn. 16:33, “In the world you have tribulation, but take courage, I have overcome the world.”
5.) We are equal in that we are all sinners. Rom. 3:10, 12, “As it is written, ‘There is none righteous, not even one . . . . all have turned aside; together they have become useless; there is none who does good, not even one.” Rom. 3:23, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”
6.) We are equal in that God loves us all. Jn. 3:16, “For God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” Rom. 5:8, “But God demonstrates His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” And because He loves us, He has given us both the ability and challenge to share that love with others. Matt. 5:44, “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” In Matt. 22:39, Jesus said, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 1 Jn. 3:10, “By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.”
CONCLUSION
We may not be equal to someone else in some ways. We should never think we are better than other people or think we deserve more than other people. All we have to do is seek Him and listen to His guidance and we will be blessed – no matter who we are! God makes us equal!!