Colossians 3:10-11 No Advantage

...and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him— a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all. [Colossians 3:10-11 NASB]

We have laid aside the old self, having died with Christ; and have put on the new self, having risen again with Him to new life. As Paul said;

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. [2 Corinthians 5:17 NASB]

With our new creation comes true knowledge. This is opposed to the false teaching which is composed of legalism, mysticism and human philosophy. 

It is based on Jesus, who lives in each of us, and has made us into His image. Spiritually, we have been created into the image of the risen Jesus. We will see the fullness of that creation when we have died, and have received our new, glorious bodies.

In this new creation, there is no such thing as Jew or Greek - which relates to the historical and cultural advantage the Jews once had over the Gentiles in relation to God. There is no circumcised or uncircumcised - which relates to the legal advantage the Jews once had. No one is considered a barbarian or even a Scythian, which more barbaric than the barbarians - an extreme example. There is not difference between slave and free.

That is because Christ is all, and He is in us all. We are His body. We are one with Him;

...that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. “The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me. [John 17:21-23 NASB]

If you are a believer, then Jesus is in you, and you are in Him. He is also in every one of us, as we are all united in Him. Nobody has an advantage over another.

You may have a pedigree of preachers in the family going back for many generations, but that doesn't make you any more qualified than anyone else. Likewise, you may be the first believer in a long line of pagans, but that doesn't make you any more or less qualified than any other.

Your calling doesn't make you any more spiritual. The pastor is no greater than anyone who sits in a seat on Sunday morning.

I recently met a husband and wife who were missionaries to Papua New Guinea. They were sincere and humble, and a joy to speak to. They confessed that they almost didn't mention that they had once been missionaries, because people tend to elevate them when the find that out.

The attitude of this missionary couple was inspiring. They are a reminder that we need to be careful not to revere people or put them on a pedestal. The only one who is to be revered is God.

Father, please look in my heart, examine my motives, and reveal them to me. I know that I am no  greater than anyone else. I know that You are Lord over us all, and that You dwell in each of us. Please open my heart to see my brothers and sisters as You see them.