God made only one race – the human race and He created His children on His image (Genesis 1:26,27). Although people may have different colors, there is only one human race. We are all of the same human species—Homo sapiens. No one person is inherently more valuable than another. Every person is the son and daughter of Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:20) and the descendant of Noah and his wife, through whom the Earth was repopulated after the worldwide Flood (Genesis 6-8).
Paul said that God “made from one blood every nation to dwell on all the face of the earth” (Acts 17:26) and states that, “…we are also His offspring” (Acts 17:28-29). James echoes the same principle that we “are made after the likeness of God” (James :8-9). And God “does not receive a face” (Galatians 2:6); that is, “God does not judge by external appearance” (Galatians 2:6).
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:16-17). And “God…desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:3-4). For this reason, “repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations” (Luke 24:47)—to people of all colors, in all cultures, and in all countries.
Through the saving power of Christ all the believers become one in Christ Jesus. Therefore, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:29). Let us follow Christs example and not show favoritism “for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).
God cannot show favoritism based on race “For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe. He administers justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the stranger, giving him food and clothing. Therefore love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt” (Deuteronomy 10:17-19). And Peter confirms: “God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him” (Acts 10:34-35). For this reason Christians should follow their Master and not show favoritism, “My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality” (James 2:1).
Racism is motivated by hate, but Christianity is motivated by love. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23). Therefore, Paul wrote: “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth” (1 Corinthians 13:4-6). And he added, “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another…. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse…. Repay no one evil for evil…. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men” (Romans 12:9-18).
John warns, “If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also” (1 John 4:20-21). In fact, the whole law of God is summed up in love “[W]hatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law” (Romans 13:9-10).
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In His service,
BibleAsk Team
