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Galatians 3 - Baptized Into Christ
Galatians 3 - Baptized Into Christ
(23) But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed.
(24) Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.
(25) But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
(26) For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
(27) For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
(28) There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
(29) And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise. (Galatians 3:23-29).
In contrasting life under the Old Covenant and life under the New Covenant, Paul makes an interesting “before’ and ‘but now’ contrast (vs. 23-25). BUT NOW we are no longer under ‘a tutor’ (which he identified as being ‘the Law’).
He then states two reasons for such a change, both introduced with the word ‘FOR’ (vs. 26, 27).
We are NOT under the Law FOR (because) we are sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. Most people stop at that point in their thinking, but Paul continues! We are sons of God through faith FOR (because) we were baptized into Christ. The contrast of being saved ‘by works’ and ‘by faith’ has baptism on the side of faith! There is no contrast with ‘baptism’ and ‘faith’.
“All of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ”, but then all of you who were NOT baptized into Christ have NOT clothed yourselves with Christ.
Having been baptized into Christ, we then belong to Christ. And having been baptized into Christ we are now Abraham’s descendants. Having become Abraham’s descendants, we have now inherited the blessing – the blessing of salvation by forgiveness through Jesus. Are you a Son of God?
Hugh DeLong