Scripture Reading(s)
Galatians 3:23-29
3:23 Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed.
3:24 Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith.
3:25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian,
3:26 for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.
3:27 As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
3:28 There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.
3:29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise.
Reflections
Paul here is painting a picture to his audience that there is a crucial difference between the old covenant and the new covenant. The law that the Jewish people once lived under, was not one that could lead to salvation that is found in Christ alone.
As a result of Christ’s work on the cross, it ushered in a brand new promise not only for the Jewish nation, but to the entire world! Life in Christ is now marked by the freedom that comes from being children of God. The word “sons” emphasizes the point that we are all adopted into God’s family.
In addition, Paul also emphasizes the the old traditional law is no longer in affect. The distinction between the two groups “Gentiles and Jews” is now broken. The gospel was and is now available to all! In verse 28 Paul says that we are all one in Christ. This was a turning point in history because now there was no room for each group to look down on the other. Due to their common love for Christ, they were to be united.
Because of this, our churches are now united in the same way. Thank God that He broke down all the barriers and extended His hand of Grace to not just you and I, but to all.
Some passages in scripture get repeated a lot but stripped of it’s original context. Galatians 3:28 is one of those passages.
There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28)
But what does it mean that these people are all one now? Some have argued that since there is no distinction between any of these things that there is no such thing as male and female anymore and thus there is no such thing as homosexuality or since there is no longer Jew or Greek then there is no longer race. But that’s not really what this passage is saying. It’s making a statement about equality not about physicality.
Paul is making a clear statement that ALL people no matter who they are, are equal. There is no one that is standing higher than another. We are all children of God and as such, we are all heirs to the same inheritance. No one gets special treatment. I would suggest that likewise, we view society in the same manner. We must not
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