What then, are we better than they? No, in no wise! For we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin. Romans 3:9
One of the root causes of the second World War was the doctrine that Adolph Hitler tried to instill in the German people that they were better than anyone else. Now, there is nothing wrong with a healthy spirit of patriotism toward one’s native country, but Hitler’s doctrine went far beyond that. He claimed that the Germanic superiority entitled them to subdue all other nations, and to exterminate and persecute all those who he deemed inferior to the Germans, including the Jews, blacks, and members of other races and ethnic groups. Although the Nazis under Hitler caused untold tragedy and disaster because they thought they were better than others, they paid a heavy price for their evil mistake. Nobody has any right to claim superiority over others, because we are all nothing but descendents of sinful Adam.
Our text spells out the equality that exists between Jews and Gentiles. But it is not an equality of common greatness; it is an equality of common shame. While it is true that the Jews as a nation rejected their Messiah, it is also true that the vast majority of Gentiles have done the same. While it is true that the Jews place their confidence in their religion, it is also true that the majority of Gentiles do the same. At least the Jews practice a religion that was originally given to them by God. But the point that Paul is making in our text is that there is no room for pride or smugness on our part. Only the grace of God has changed our status from sinner to saint, and only the mercy of God has granted us deliverance from damnation and assurance of glory. All that we have and are as Christians is from God, and our attitude should be of thankfulness, not of superiority.
Although we claim to understand the message of this text, we still have a long ways to go in terms of ridding ourselves of the better-than-you attitude. We are deeply thankful, for example, for the godly men who did the pioneering work that established for us the principles of God’s Assembly as we practice them today. But does the knowledge that we are following what the Word of God teaches regarding our gatherings cause us to look down our noses at those who gather in denominational churches? Don’t forget that many of those people are where they are because they have never been taught the truths that we have. And many of them are wonderful testimonies to their Lord, surpassing many of us in their godliness. As for being better than the unsaved, we need to remind ourselves every day that we used to be every bit as confused, rebellious, and degraded as any of them.
I don’t know about you, but the only person I am better than is the person I used to be, and I am not as much better than him as I should be. -Jim MacIntosh