For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.

                                                                                                                            James 2:10 

To believe that we are all equally in need of salvation because we have all equally transgressed the Law is biblical truth. Today’s passage could not be any clearer. However it is something that I am quite convinced many in the church simply do not believe. Perhaps they would concur with the scriptural reference but would stop short of placing themselves alongside the most vile offenders. We tend to think of violating the Law in terms of what we have actually done and what we have not.

For example, it is easy for someone to look down on another for being caught up in an adulterous relationship when they in fact have not committed that offense. Likewise, someone who steals might be judged by someone who does not. But scripture doesn’t allow us to assess ourselves in such a way. To do so would be to place ourselves and others under the Law. When we do so, we are then judged as those who live according to the Law. And for those who choose this avenue as a means of being made right God, they will find themselves guilty of transgressing the whole Law. Why? Because when we break one Law it is the same as breaking them all! Whether it is murder, adultery, or just showing favoritism, when we break a portion of God’s Law, we become transgressors of that Law and are, by extension, guilty of violating the entire thing.

This did not sit well with the Pharisees of Jesus’ day and it does not sit well with the religious people of today either. But scripture tells us that all of us are alienated from God and it is only by God’s offer of salvation through faith in Jesus that any of us can be justified, forgiven, and made right. Consider the following passages regarding mankind’s need for a Savior:

But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus…

                                                                                                                 Romans 3:21-24 

All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him.

                                                                                                            Isaiah 53:6 

So then as through one transgression (of Adam) there resulted condemnation to all men (mankind), even so through one act of righteousness (of Jesus) there resulted justification of life to all men (mankind). 

                                                                                                                 Romans 5:18 

We tend to think in terms of the world being divided into two groups: “good people” and “bad people.” For the religious, they might divide the world into “those who live uprightly and correctly” and “those who do not.” But scripture says that the two divisions in the world are “believers” and “unbelievers”, those who are saved and those who are not. And this salvation comes by faith in Jesus. Take a look at the same three passages that brought us the news of our need for a Savior and consider the fact that the same rhetoric is used in regards to this salvation:

But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus…

                                                                                                                 Romans 3:21-24 

All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him.

                                                                                                            Isaiah 53:6 

So then as through one transgression (of Adam) there resulted condemnation to all men (mankind), even so through one act of righteousness (of Jesus) there resulted justification of life to all men (mankind). 

                                                                                                                 Romans 5:18 

Just as the transgressing of one Law makes us guilty of the whole thing, the one act of Jesus on the cross makes a way for everyone who believes to be saved (John 3:16, Romans 10:9-10).

We have all sinned…but His salvation is for all those who believe.

We have all gone astray…but the iniquity of us all fell on Him (Jesus).

Adam’s one sin brought condemnation to all of mankind…but Christ’s one act of righteousness on the cross brings justification of life to all who believe.

If we choose to live by the Law as a means of being justified before God, then we must live perfectly according to the Law. But if we choose to place our faith in what Jesus has already accomplished for us on the cross, we find blessing, forgiveness, and healing.

For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law. 

                                                                                                             Romans 3:28