ONE by Gary Rose

Regardless of what you believe or don't believe- this statement is true! As a nation, we need to STOP believing the lies of a media bent on division. We need to have a little faith in our fellow man and start believing in The United States of America once again.

The truth is: There are both good and bad people in every ethnicity, every geographical location, age group, sex and time in history. When we put generic labels on people, we put them into a little box in our mind. And if you are a small minded person, then you only get a small concept of who those people really are- STUPIDITY TO THE NTH DEGREE!!!

One way to overcome this human tendency, is to consider Christianity as a world-view. Read the following passage from The Apostle Paul's letter to the Galatians to gain some insight....

Galatians, Chapter 3 (World English Bible)

¹³ Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us. For it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree,”  ¹⁴ that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. 

  ¹⁵ Brothers, speaking of human terms, though it is only a man’s covenant, yet when it has been confirmed, no one makes it void or adds to it.  ¹⁶ Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his offspring. He doesn’t say, “To descendants”, as of many, but as of one, “To your offspring”, which is Christ.  ¹⁷ Now I say this: A covenant confirmed beforehand by God in Christ, the law, which came four hundred thirty years after, does not annul, so as to make the promise of no effect.  ¹⁸ For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no more of promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by promise. 

  ¹⁹ Then why is there the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise has been made. It was ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator.  ²⁰ Now a mediator is not between one, but God is one.  ²¹ Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could make alive, most certainly righteousness would have been of the law.  ²² But the Scripture imprisoned all things under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 

  ²³ But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, confined for the faith which should afterwards be revealed.  ²⁴ So that the law has become our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.  ²⁵ But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.  ²⁶ For you are all children of God, through faith in Christ Jesus.  ²⁷ For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.  ²⁸ There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.  ²⁹ If you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring and heirs according to promise. 

If you say the word "Abraham" to most people, they will associate that name with the concept of faith. And in fact- He WAS A MAN OF VERY GREAT FAITH, indeed!!! But Abraham had faults, just like we do! 

Those who make the decision to become Christians are NOT PERFECT, but they are trying to be the absolute best they can be. Not by their own ideas, but by what God has said in the Bible. And in that Bible we see a progressive revelation of perfection- first by adhering to a set of laws and then by a mature concept of LOVE combined with doing the right thing, as Jesus exemplifies.

The result- Those who make the decision to become Christians we are one in Jesus; regardless of who we are, what we look like, or where we come from. Jesus guides us, directs us and encourages us through his word. 

And if you think the picture is correct, just imagine a world where everyone is genuinely trying to follow what Jesus says we should do? NOW, THAT IS TRULY A MENTAL IMAGE that will amaze you!!!