We know that the Bible teaches that all are unclean in God’s eyes due to possessing a wicked heart and therefore all are completely dependent on the cleansing power of Christ’s blood that is effectual to a sinner only through faith in Christ’s finished work. Despite that, we have to admit that it’s easy to adopt a view of the depravity of man that does not extend to yourself and the general group of people which you include yourself in, whether that’s ethnic or socio-economic distinctions.

This is why the Apostle Paul’s words are so critical in Rom. 3:9…for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin…22…for there is no distinction; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus…

Both parts of that text—our status of unclean and the gift of salvation through Christ—are necessary to embrace in order to give God the glory he is due for our salvation and to be a faithful witness to other sinners. Reason being, God’s gift of salvation is equal to all recipients and God’s gift of salvation is worthy to be praised.