One in Christ
"For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." (Galatians 3:26-29 - King James Version)
The word sons, sometimes translated children, in verse 26 means adult sons. We have grown up because of faith in Christ and no longer require the services of the Law, which was designed for spiritual children.
Most commentators write about water baptism in respect to verse 27. However, I do not think this verse is speaking of that. Baptized means immersed. When a person is born again, they are immersed into Christ in a mystical sense. We are in Christ.
In Christ, all the barriers that separate people disappear. This is very powerful in light of whom Paul’s opponents were. They were Jews. Jewish men often prayed along these lines, “Thank you Lord that I am a Jew, not a Gentile dog; a man, not a lowly woman; and a freeman, not a poor slave.”
As far as our relationship with God goes these distinctions no longer matter. All people, whatever their nationality, their gender, or their social status, stand on equal ground before the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. No individual, no group of people, has an inside track to Heaven.
However, Paul is not teaching that these distinctions no longer exist. He is saying that they do not matter in our personal relationship with God. We are all saved by grace through faith.
However, Paul in the book of Romans speaks about how God still has a special plan for the people of Israel. The New Testament teaches that men and women have different obligations. The New Testament also talks about the duty of slaves to obey their masters. Trusting in God did not remove them from slavery.
In Christ, we are one. In Christ, we are equal. In Christ, there are no distinctions. In Christ, there is no room for pride in self. However, that does not remove our individuality or make us all the same or require us all to serve God in the same way.
If we are in Christ, then we are Abraham’s spiritual seed, his children. If we are Abraham’s children, then we inherit the promise God made to him. If we are Abraham’s children by faith, then like Abraham, because we have believed God, God has counted us as righteous.
The Law had a purpose. From Moses until Jesus, it was a judge declaring people guilty; it was a prison guard keeping people in sin’s prison; and it was nanny bringing people to spiritual maturity that they might trust in the coming Messiah. Once Jesus came and died, the Law could go into retirement.
The word sons, sometimes translated children, in verse 26 means adult sons. We have grown up because of faith in Christ and no longer require the services of the Law, which was designed for spiritual children.
Most commentators write about water baptism in respect to verse 27. However, I do not think this verse is speaking of that. Baptized means immersed. When a person is born again, they are immersed into Christ in a mystical sense. We are in Christ.
In Christ, all the barriers that separate people disappear. This is very powerful in light of whom Paul’s opponents were. They were Jews. Jewish men often prayed along these lines, “Thank you Lord that I am a Jew, not a Gentile dog; a man, not a lowly woman; and a freeman, not a poor slave.”
As far as our relationship with God goes these distinctions no longer matter. All people, whatever their nationality, their gender, or their social status, stand on equal ground before the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. No individual, no group of people, has an inside track to Heaven.
However, Paul is not teaching that these distinctions no longer exist. He is saying that they do not matter in our personal relationship with God. We are all saved by grace through faith.
However, Paul in the book of Romans speaks about how God still has a special plan for the people of Israel. The New Testament teaches that men and women have different obligations. The New Testament also talks about the duty of slaves to obey their masters. Trusting in God did not remove them from slavery.
In Christ, we are one. In Christ, we are equal. In Christ, there are no distinctions. In Christ, there is no room for pride in self. However, that does not remove our individuality or make us all the same or require us all to serve God in the same way.
If we are in Christ, then we are Abraham’s spiritual seed, his children. If we are Abraham’s children, then we inherit the promise God made to him. If we are Abraham’s children by faith, then like Abraham, because we have believed God, God has counted us as righteous.
The Law had a purpose. From Moses until Jesus, it was a judge declaring people guilty; it was a prison guard keeping people in sin’s prison; and it was nanny bringing people to spiritual maturity that they might trust in the coming Messiah. Once Jesus came and died, the Law could go into retirement.
posted by David Frank Wilson | 2:50 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home