God proved that there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—both are under the same sin and stand on the same level before Him.
God sovereignly set Israel apart as His covenant people, gave them His Word, and kept them separated from the nations. Yet those privileges did not remove the old Adamic nature or make the Jew better than the Gentile. Paul concludes in Romans 3 that all, Jew and Gentile alike, have sinned. Les teaches that the Jew must come to God on the same level playing field as the Gentile.
Romans 3:22-23 — This is the biblical conclusion that there is no difference and that all—Jew and Gentile—have sinned, directly answering what God proved by setting Israel apart.
Scripture records that God drew a line between Israel and the nations. In Egypt He declared, "I will put a division between my people and thy people" (Exodus 8:23). He later called Israel "a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation" (Exodus 19:6). The separation was real and distinct. When Paul sums up the human condition, however, he writes, "there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:22-23). Romans 10:12 repeats the point: "For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him." The same Lord is Lord over both, and the same sin problem applies to both.
Les teaches that from the call of Abraham, God made clear He was setting Israel apart as a sanctified, set-apart nation (Clip 3). Once Israel left Egypt, God told them, "You're different. I'm going to set you apart"—they were not to intermarry or have social contact with the pagan peoples around them (Clips 1, 4). God even placed a visible division between Egypt and Goshen during the plagues to prove His power and His dealings with His covenant people (Clip 3). Israel's separation carried great advantages. They had the Word of God and everything going for them, yet most were not true believers (Clip 2). God sovereignly set them above the nations as His chosen, favored people for a unique role in His overall program, ultimately to bring all nations to a knowledge of Israel's God (Clips 6, 2). But Les emphasizes that Paul's whole point in Romans is that there is now no difference. The Jew cannot come before God on covenant ground; God sees the Jew no differently from the Gentile (Clip 5). The separation ultimately proved that the old Adamic nature is the shared problem of all humanity, and that Jew and Gentile alike must be saved the same way (Clips 0, 1, 5, 7).
Les explains that God called Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and from the very beginning let them know He was going to set them apart as a sanctified nation. After Israel came out of Egypt, God told them they were different and instructed them not to intermarry or have anything to do with the pagans around them. Even at the fourth plague, God drew a division between Egypt and Goshen so there would be no flies where Israel dwelt—to prove His power and His dealings with His covenant people.
Les notes that Israel had the promises given to Abraham, the Word of God, and everything going for them—yet most of them were not true believers. God sovereignly designated them as the chosen people, the favored nation, set above all other nations for a unique role in His overall program for the human race.
Les emphasizes a point that often surprises people: God never instructed the Jew to go out and win or proselyte the Gentiles. God was dealing strictly with this covenant nation, keeping them socially separate, and He was going to make them different.
After showing Israel's privileges, Paul concludes that there is no difference—for all have sinned (Romans 3:22-23). Les stresses that the Jew cannot come before God today on covenant ground; God sees him as no different from a Gentile. Romans 10:12 confirms that there is no difference between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call on Him.
The Old Adamic Nature and Grace
Les shows that the old Adamic nature is the shared human problem, yet sin does not have to rule the believer because he is not under law but under grace—the same grace that saved Saul.
Set Apart, Yet No Difference
Les explains that God told Israel they were different and set apart from the pagan nations, yet Paul's message was that there is now no difference—all have sinned.
Israel's Advantages Did Not Make Believers
Les notes that Israel had the Word of God and everything going for them, yet most were not true believers—privileges did not remove sin.
A Division Between Egypt and Goshen
Les shows that from Abraham onward, God set Israel apart as a sanctified nation, even placing a visible division between Egypt and Goshen in the plagues to prove His power and His covenant dealings.
No Command to Proselyte
Les emphasizes that God never told Israel to go win the Gentiles; He dealt strictly with this covenant nation, keeping them socially separate.
The Jew Cannot Come on Covenant Ground
Les stresses that in Romans 3, God says there is no difference—the Jew must come on the same level playing field as the Gentile, not on covenant ground.
Set Above the Nations for a Unique Role
Les teaches that God sovereignly set Israel above all nations as the chosen, favored people to prepare them to bring all nations to a knowledge of Israel's God.
Same Lord Over All
Les reminds that Paul's conclusion stands: there is no difference between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him.
Romans 3:22-23: Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
This is the key conclusion that there is no difference between Jew and Gentile and that all have sinned.
Romans 10:12: For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
Paul repeats that the same Lord is rich to all who call on Him, whether Jew or Greek.
Exodus 8:23: And I will put a division between my people and thy people: to morrow shall this sign be.
God placed a visible division between Israel and Egypt to prove His power and His covenant dealings.
Exodus 19:6: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
God designated Israel as a holy, set-apart nation above the other nations.
Romans 6:14: For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
The old Adamic nature is the shared problem, but the believer is under grace, not law.
No. Although Israel was made God's covenant people and given every advantage, the outcome Paul describes is that all—Jew and Gentile—have sinned. Les teaches that God sees the Jew as no different from the Gentile, and the Jew cannot come before God on covenant ground.
Les explains that God told Israel they were different and set apart. They were to have no social contact with pagans and were not to intermarry with them, because God was dealing strictly with this covenant nation and keeping them a separated, holy people.
It proved that there is no difference between Jew and Gentile. Even with the Word of God and everything going for them, most of Israel were not true believers. The separation demonstrated that the old Adamic nature is a universal problem and that all stand under sin.
Les emphasizes that God never instructed the Jew to go out and proselyte or evangelize the Gentiles. God dealt strictly with the covenant nation of Israel and was preparing them for a unique role in His program.
Watch the Teaching: Justification by Faith: What Does It Really Mean?