Gálatas 3
Wayne Barber · Citado em PreceptAustin
Gálatas 3
Barber - Now in Christ Jesus we are made sons of God by faith. And that’s what we are going to look at today. It is through Christ that we are set free from the bondage to the law. We’re completely set free. So when a person chooses to go back and be religious again he has just simply chosen his flesh over choosing Jesus to be Jesus in his life. When we trust Christ as our Savior, we enter the family of God. (Galatians 3:26-29 Commentary - Sons of God) W E Vine on sons of God - “As many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God,” (Ro 8:14-note) i.e., these and no other. For all who become children of God attest the reality of their confession by yielding themselves to the guiding and enabling of the Spirit of God; thus by becoming sons of God, i.e., by manifesting in their conduct the character of God, they give evidence that they are indeed the children of God. As to his “standing” (cp "position") the believer is a child of God, as to his “state” (the condition of a person or thing, as with respect to circumstances or attributes. Compare "practice") he ought to be a son of God, and it is a vain thing for anyone to be a child of God unless he is giving evidence that he is a son of God. But full conformity to the “image of His Son” will be attained only when the Lord comes, cp. Romans 8:29-note with 1 John 3:2-note; for that consummation the groaning creation waits, Romans 8:19-note....Here the contrast is between the Jewish state of pupilage under the law and the believer’s state of sonship in Christ. It is noteworthy, too, that the apostle does not now call the converts sons of Abraham, as in Gal 3:7-note, above, but much more and higher than that, they were sons of God. (Collected Writings) While one might say that God is the Father of all people in a general sense because He "made the world and all things in it" (Acts 17:24-28+), not every created being can rightly refer to God as their Father. In fact John explains that "the one who practices sin is of the devil." (1 John 3:8+) It is only those who have put their faith in Christ Jesus who can rightly say they are spiritual children of God the Father. John 1:12+. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 1 John 3:1+ See how great a love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 1 John 3:9+ No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 10 By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother. 1 John 5:1+ Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him. As the preceding passages clearly show, there are only two "families" on earth (Spiritually speaking) - those who believe in Christ Jesus and those who do not. It is worth noting that there are two "races" for all mankind can be classified as either Jew or Gentile. However every individual in those two "races" belongs either to the family of God or the family of the devil. In other words (and this is definitely not politically correct) every person who has ever lived on earth is either a spiritual child of God and an heir to the kingdom of God (Lk 18:25, John 3:3, 5, Acts 8:12, Acts 14:22) by virtue of placing their faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord (cp Ro 10:9,10+) or they are a spiritual child of the devil by "default" based on their sinful nature inherited from Adam (Ro 5:12+). Matthew 13:38 and the field is the world; and as for the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the tares are the sons of the evil one; John 8:38 (For context see Jn 8:30-31 for the audience Jesus is addressing in this section! They had made a profession of faith but did not have a "possession" of faith!) “I speak the things which I have seen with My Father; therefore you also do the things which you heard from your father.” John 8:41 “You are doing the deeds of your father.” They said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father: God.” John 8:44 “You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. Acts 13:10+ and said, “You who are full of all deceit and fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to make crooked the straight ways of the Lord? Eph 2:3+ Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. Paul speaks more of the benefits of our sonship in the family of God in Galatians 4 Galatians 4:5+ so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. 6 Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” Paul speaks of sons of God in Romans 8 Romans 8:14-17+ For (explaining that those who are putting to death [present tense] the deeds of the flesh by the Spirit - Ro 8:13-note) all who are being led (present tense = continually) by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him (Not our favorite part of this passage but true - 2 Ti 3:12-note, Php 1:29-note, etc) so that we may also be glorified with Him. Comment: This is an important passage because it helps us identify those who are truly the children of God. How so? Notice that first of all they are those who are being led by the Spirit. And in context how do you know someone is being led by the Spirit? Because they will be actively (not perfectly but as the general direction of their life) putting to death the deeds of their fallen flesh by relying not on their natural power but by relying on the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit (Ro 8:13-note). Ultimately, He is the only One Who can enable us to defeat the lusts of the flesh! SONS OF GOD NEED TO SHOW A FAMILY RESEMBLANCE Sons of God - This is an incredible privilege I fear that I too often fail to appreciate. Think for a moment that Paul even describes "the anxious longing of the creation" which "waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God." (Ro 8:19+). The lost world has no concept of who we are now and what is our eternal destiny, John writing "See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is." (1 Jn 3:1+, 1 John 3:2+) Like Him. Like Jesus Christ! No wonder the creation is waiting eagerly for this glorious day. But sons of God should even now bear a family resemblance. We have a different future which should motivate us to live different in the present. Privilege always conveys responsibility. In fact John says that "everyone who has this hope fixed on Him (the hope = absolute certainty that we will be like Him) purifies himself, just as He is pure. (1 John 3:3+) 2 Cor 6:14-18 Paul gives us a similar exhortation as sons of God writing "Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness (in the world but not of the world!) in the fear of God." (2 Cor 7:1+). What promises? Those Paul had just described calling on believers to live as holy (separated) sons and daughters... Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? 16 Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, “I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. 17 “Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE,” says the Lord. “AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; And I will welcome you. 18“And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,” Says the Lord Almighty. (2 Cor 6:14-18) Comment: Notice that the verbs in red are not suggestions but commands, commands which we can ONLY obey by relying on God's provision of supernatural power via His Spirit (cp Ro 8:13+). Don't treat these commands as laws you will try to keep in your own power, for (1) you will fail, (2) you will be frustrated and (3) you will place yourself under the law which is legalism (eg, see the note on "do not touch" in Col 2:20-21)! Related Resources: Discussion of the Need for the Holy Spirit to obey NT commands or "How to Keep All 1642 Commandments in the New Testament!" Filled with His Spirit/Richly Indwelt with His Word - Chart Showing one who is filled with the Spirit of Christ is one who is filled with (letting it richly dwell within) the Word of Christ. Timothy George - Paul was not teaching here the liberal Protestant doctrine of the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man. He did not say that all persons are by nature the children of God. He pointed instead to a decisive difference within the human family, the distinction between those who know God as Father through faith in Jesus Christ and others who remain under the curse of the law and in bondage to the demonic forces that prevail in the world at large. (New American Commentary) Wuest on you are all sons of God - By the change from the first person we, with its reference to the Jews, to the second person you with its reference to his readers, both Jew and Gentile, Paul shows that the wall of separation between Jew and Gentile had been broken down at the Cross, and that both Jew and Gentile become children of God in Christ Jesus. The word translated children is huios and is the important word here. This word signifies someone of full age. Under LAW, the individual was in his minority and under a guardian. Now, under GRACE, he has attained his majority, having outgrown the surveillance of his former guardian. (Wuest Word Studies - Eerdman Publishing Company Volume 1, Volume 2, Volume 3 - used by permission) Faith (4102) (pistis) is that state of believing on the basis of the reliability of the one trusted, in this case Christ Jesus, the sole Source of soul salvation (Acts 4:12). Pistis as noted above is clearly a key word in Galatians 3 occurring in 13 of the 29 verses of this chapter - Gal. 3:2; Gal. 3:5; Gal. 3:7; Gal. 3:8; Gal. 3:9; Gal. 3:11; Gal. 3:12; Gal. 3:14; Gal. 3:22; Gal. 3:23; Gal. 3:24; Gal. 3:25; Gal. 3:26 In Christ Jesus - The object of our faith is what is critical. We all manifest faith in something (or someone), but the ONLY object of faith that saves one's soul is Christ Jesus. Paul will elaborate on this idea of in Christ Jesus in the following verses. Martin Luther - As a true and excellent teacher of faith, Paul is constantly saying through faith in Christ Jesus. He does not say, “You are God’s children because you are circumcised, because you have heard the law and have obeyed it,” but through faith in Christ Jesus. It is not the law, then, that makes us God’s children, much less human traditions. The law cannot give us new birth, but it sets before us the old birth, by which we were born into the kingdom of the devil; and so it prepares us for a new birth that comes through faith in Christ Jesus and not through the law. (See also John 1:12; Romans 8:16–17.) Philip Graham Ryken has a very encouraging word on sons of God - When it comes to personal identity, the first thing to know is who the father is. So the apostle Paul establishes the Christian's paternity: "for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith" (Gal. 3:26). If you know Jesus Christ, then you know who you are, because you know to whom you belong. A Christian is a child of God. Back in verse 7 Paul said that every believer is a child of Abraham. Now he takes it one step further: every believer is a son or a daughter of the Most High God. This is the climax of Paul's argument. He has just finished explaining how the law is a pedagogue for underage children. But eventually children outgrow their need for a guardian, so the law lasts only until the coming of Christ. Now we have the full rights of sons and daughters. We are no longer "minors, under the restraint of a tutor, but sons of God and heirs of His glorious kingdom, enjoying the status and privileges of grown-up sons." This was a message that the Galatians especially needed to hear. Remember what the Judaizers were saying. Since they were Jews, they had always thought of themselves as God's only children, so they treated Gentile Christians like second-rate members of the family. Until they got circumcised, Gentiles could not be siblings; at most, they were only cousins. Paul responded to this teaching by welcoming the Gentiles within the full embrace of God's family: "in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith" (Gal. 3:26). His emphasis falls on what is the first word of the verse in Greek: "all," meaning both Jews and Gentiles. The gospel is for Gentiles as much as for Jews, and therefore the privilege of sonship is for all God's children. The way anyone becomes a member of God's family is by legal adoption, which the Westminster Shorter Catechism defines as follows: "Adoption is an act of God's free grace, whereby we are received into the number, and have a right to all the privileges of the sons of God" (A. 34). Legally speaking, an adopted child is a true son or daughter. He or she has the same rights and privileges as a natural-born child. There is someone to call "Father." There is someone to care for every need. There is someone to give fatherly affection and discipline. In addition, the adopted child will receive a full share of the family inheritance. The Christian gains all these rights and privileges by becoming a child of God. There is someone to call "Father," for we pray to our Father in heaven (Matt. 6:9). There is someone to care for us, for our heavenly Father knows exactly what we need (Matt. 6:32). He loves us with tender affection. "See what kind of love the Father has given to us," marveled the apostle John, "that we should be called children of God; and so we are" (1 John 3:1). Our Father loves us so much that he refuses to let us go our own way. Instead, he disciplines us to make us holy: "It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?" (Heb. 12:7). Best of all, God has promised his children a full share of his infinite and eternal inheritance. If we are God's children, Paul reasoned with the Romans, then we are heirs—"heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ" (Rom. 8:17). A good father gives everything he is and everything he has to his children. God, who has the most to give, is the best Father of all. Thus there is no higher status a human being can ever achieve than to be called a son or a daughter of the Most High God. (Reformed Expository Commentary - Galatians) Children of God by Faith in Christ - Devotional by C H Spurgeon The fatherhood of God is common to all his children. Ah! Little-faith, you have often said, "Oh that I had the courage of Great-heart, that I could wield his sword and be as valiant as he! But, alas, I stumble at every straw, and a shadow makes me afraid." List thee, Little-faith. Great-heart is God's child, and you are God's child too; and Great-heart is not one whit more God's child than you are. Peter and Paul, the highly- favoured apostles, were of the family of the Most High; and so are you also; the weak Christian is as much a child of God as the strong one. "This cov'nant stands secure, Though earth's old pillars bow; The strong, the feeble, and the weak, Are one in Jesus now." All the names are in the same family register. One may have more grace than another, but God our heavenly Father has the same tender heart towards all. One may do more mighty works, and may bring more glory to his Father, but he whose name is the least in the kingdom of heaven is as much the child of God as he who stands among the King's mighty men. Let this cheer and comfort us, when we draw near to God and say, "Our Father. " Yet, while we are comforted by knowing this, let us not rest contented with weak faith, but ask, like the Apostles, to have it increased. However feeble our faith may be, if it be real faith in Christ, we shall reach heaven at last, but we shall not honour our Master much on our pilgrimage, neither shall we abound in joy and peace. If then you would live to Christ's glory, and be happy in his service, seek to be filled with the spirit of adoption more and more completely, till perfect love shall cast out fear Peter Kennedy - The Highest Rank "You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ."—Galatians 3:26-27 Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. grew up under the shadow of a large man. His father was the hero of San Juan Hill and the President of the United States. The pressure to excel often caused him problems, but Teddy, Jr. went on to be a highly decorated Brigadier General during World War II, receiving the Medal of Honor for heroism. He was also the Governor General of the Philippines, Governor of Puerto Rico, and Assistant Secretary of the Navy. During World War II, while waiting for a flight at an airport, Teddy, Jr. saw a sailor step to a ticket window and ask for a ticket. "I want to see my mother," the sailor explained. "I don't have much time." The indifferent woman at the ticket window was not impressed by the sailor's sense of urgency, "There's a war on, you know," she rudely replied. At this point, Roosevelt, who had overheard the conversation, stepped to the ticket window and told her to give the sailor his seat. A friend of the general spoke in surprise, "Teddy, aren't you in a hurry too?" "It's a matter of rank," he replied. "I'm only a general; he's a son!" Sons of God. What a marvelous name! This is what the Bible calls everyone who trusts in Christ. Do you sometimes forget you have the rank of a son? Today give thanks that you have been bestowed with this high rank. "Abba, Father, we approach thee in our Savior's precious name. We the children of your mercy bow before your throne today."—James G. Deck Vance Havner - Is God Your Father? I will be a Father unto you. II Corinthians 6:18. Yes, if you are born from above by faith in His Son. Popular modern preaching to the contrary notwithstanding, He is the father of them only that believe (Gal. 3:26). Jesus' word to the Pharisees, "Ye are of your father the devil" (John 8:44), is forgotten these days. But we are told that if we come out and are separate and touch not the unclean thing, God will be a Father unto us. Does His Fatherhood depend on our separation? No, it depends on our regeneration. But He cannot be to some of us the Father He wants to be because we are not in fellowship. There are fathers who cannot be to their children what they want to be because their children are in no condition for such favors. Sometimes they must be corrected and chastised. What a grief it is to want to do things for a child whose rebellious spirit makes it impossible! God wants to bless us with all the riches of His grace, but He cannot until we are separated from sin and made "blessable." God may be your Father in relationship and still not be your Father in fellowship. Don't miss anything His Fatherhood holds for you! Adrian Rogers - Often we hear people speak of the universal fatherhood of God. But that is not right. All people are not necessarily brothers. We may be brothers in our humanity, but spiritually we are not brothers until we are born into the family of God and have one common Father. The first thing that must occur if you want your prayers to be answered—if you want your prayers to be powerful—is to become a child of God. And in order to be a child of God, you must receive Jesus as your personal Savior. Have you done that? Does He live in your heart? If so, then you are ready to pray. QUESTION - Are we all God's children, or only Christians? from Gotquestions The Bible is clear that all people are God’s creation (Colossians 1:16), and that God loves the entire world (John 3:16), but only those who are born again are children of God (John 1:12; John 11:52; Romans 8:16; 1 John 3:1-10). In Scripture, the lost are never referred to as God’s children. Ephesians 2:3 tells us that before we were saved we were “by nature objects of wrath” (Ephesians 2:1-3). Romans 9:8 says that “it is not the natural children who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring.” Instead of being born as God’s children, we are born in sin, which separates us from God and aligns us with Satan as God’s enemy (James 4:4; 1 John 3:8). Jesus said, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me” (John 8:42). Then a few verses later in John 8:44, Jesus told the Pharisees that they “belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire.” The fact that those who are not saved are not children of God is also seen in 1 John 3:10: “This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.” We become God’s children when we are saved because we are adopted into God’s family through our relationship with Jesus Christ (Galatians 4:5-6; Ephesians 1:5). This can be clearly seen in verses like Romans 8:14-17: “…because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” Those who are saved are children “of God through faith in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:26) because God has “predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will” (Ephesians 1:5). QUESTION - What does it mean to be a part of the family of God? from Gotquestions The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ and the Father are One (John 1:1-4), and that He is also the only begotten Son of God (Hebrews 1:1-4). This familial term indicates God regards Jesus as a family member. Born-again believers are told that we, too, are members of this family (Romans 9:8; 1 John 3:1-2). How do we become a part of this family of God? When we hear the gospel, confess our sins, and place our faith and trust in Jesus Christ, we are at that moment born into God’s kingdom as His children and become heirs with Him for eternity (Romans 8:14-17). While Jesus Christ is referred to as the only begotten Son of God, believers are referred to as children born into God’s family who need to grow and mature in our faith (Ephesians 4:11-16), and as sons and heirs adopted into His family (Galatians 4:4-7). God’s infinite grace and mercy are revealed in Ephesians 1:5-6, which says He redeems sinners, whom He has “adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.” As children of God, what do we inherit? Nothing less than the kingdom of God (Matthew 25:34; 1 Thessalonians 2:12; Hebrews 12:28)! Ephesians 1:3 tells us that believers are blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. These spiritual blessings are infinite, eternal, and reside in Christ, and by God’s grace we are given these blessings as His children. As earthly children we eventually inherit what our parents leave behind for us after their death. But in God’s case believers are already reaping the rewards of our inheritance by having peace with Him through the sacrifice of His Son on the cross. Other rewards of our inheritance include the gift of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit at the moment we believe in Christ (Ephesians 1:13-14), which empowers us to live for Him in the present, and the knowledge that our salvation is secure for eternity (Hebrews 7:24-25). Being a part of the family of God is the greatest blessing bestowed upon believers and one that should drive us to our knees in humble adoration. We can never do anything to deserve it for it is His gift of love, mercy, and grace to us, yet, we are called to become sons and daughters of the Living God (Romans 9:25-26). May we all respond in faith to His invitation! QUESTION: What does it mean that we are children of God (1 John 3:1)? It is God’s great love that takes the initiative to make us the children of God. This extravagant outpouring of our heavenly Father’s love made the apostle John marvel: “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1). Being children of God means we have been born into God’s family. We become God’s children through faith in Jesus Christ, which results in spiritual rebirth: “But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God” (John 1:12–13, NLT; see also Galatians 3:26; 1 John 5:1). Jesus taught that only the children of God experience new birth and the opportunity to see the kingdom of God (John 3:3). When we hear the gospel message, repent and confess our sins, and believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, at that moment we are born into God’s family. We become a child of God and co-heir with Christ of everything in God’s kingdom for all eternity (Ephesians 1:13–14; Romans 8:14–17). All that God has given to His Son in the kingdom belongs to us as His children, as well. Presently, we have only limited knowledge of what it means to be children of God: “We are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure” (1 John 3:2–3, NLT). When we see Jesus face to face, our understanding of what it means to be children of God will be expanded (2 Corinthians 3:18). Yet, John explained, even a partial grasp of our status as children of God will make us want to live pure and holy lives. John continued with a challenging teaching about sin, concluding with these statements: “Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God. So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God” (1 John 3:9–10, NLT). As children of God, we have a new nature “created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:24). Contemplating who we are as the children of God will cause us to think seriously about how we live and whom we serve. Will we pursue a life of holiness and obedience to God and His Word, or will we take on a lackadaisical attitude toward sin? Will we serve our heavenly Father or our sinful nature, “which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires” (verse 22)? Children of the devil (see John 8:44) make a practice of sinning, but Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil in the lives of God’s children (1 John 3:8). As the children of God, we are new creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), led by the Holy Spirit: “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God” (Romans 8:14, NLT). Although at times we still sin, a child of God has “an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous” (1 John 2:1, NLT). Jesus Christ paid the penalty for our sins and restored us to a right relationship with God (2 Corinthians 5:21). We prove ourselves to be children of God by living to please and obey our heavenly Father (practicing righteousness) and by loving our brothers and sisters in the family of God (1 John 3:10). Salvation in Christ is pictured not only as a rebirth but also as an adoption: “God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son” (Ephesians 1:5–6, NLT; cf. Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:5). It’s difficult to fully comprehend the love of our heavenly Father—a love that delights in transforming rebellious, undeserving sinners into the children of God. At times, like John, we can only marvel at being adopted into God’s family. Our security in God’s household does not depend on our behavior or performance. We owe our position as His sons and daughters all to our Father’s gracious love that purchased our salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ. Our identity as children of God is hidden in Jesus Christ (Colossians 3:3; Galatians 3:26). We are no longer orphans or slaves, but sons and daughters (Galatians 4:4–7). We have a good father who loves us and will care for us and supply our needs for all eternity. Our purpose now, as the children of God, is to develop into our full stature and unique potential by becoming like Jesus: “For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters” (Romans 8:29NLT). ILLUSTRATION - The Glory Christian (sent to me from Arpu a follower of Christ in India) - A poor, ignorant, illiterate Hindu, who could neither read nor write heard of Christ as a Saviour. For long had he been searching for God: now he had found Him (cf Lk 19:10+). He begged for more teaching, so they began reading to him the Gospel of John. When the 12th verse (Jn 1:12+) was read, the Hindu manifested the greatest excitement. “Stop!” he cried. “If a man believes on Jesus Christ as his Saviour does he become a son of God?” “That is just what the verse teaches,” they replied. “But I believe on him: Am I indeed a son of God?” said he. “Yes— that is so.” “Well, that is the most wonderful and glorious news I have ever heard! Read no more. I cannot stay. Truly I must get back to my people and proclaim this amazing fact.” With his face radiant with the new found joy he hurried away (Gal 5:22+). Many scores of miles had to be traversed before he could reach home. But all along his way people turned to wonder at his joyous look. And to all who accosted him he cried, “I am a son of God!” “Well, you look it” many replied. “Tell us—how can we become sons of God?” And he told the story of the Saviour. His village was at length reached, and they welcomed him back. “I am a son of God!” he exclaimed. “We know something has happened,” was the answer. “Your face is radiant and your every gesture tells of joy of heart! Tell us how may we become sons of God?” I am told that this poor illiterate man won the whole village for Christ, and many hundreds from the surrounding country, because he knew he was a son of God. Others saw the glory given him and desired to have it too. (Written by An Unknown Christian) Galatians 3:26-29 TODAY IN THE WORD You are all one in Christ Jesus. - Galatians 3:28 The caste system in India creates a rigidly stratified culture where opportunities for social mobility do not exist. In fact, Hinduism actually sanctions the hierarchical, birth-ordained Indian caste system. It’s little wonder, then, that the Christian gospel has held appeal for many Dalit, those least regarded in India who were formerly known as the Untouchables. The Christian gospel, quite contrary to the teachings of Hinduism in India, celebrates the joyful announcement of the unity and equality of all people in the name of Jesus Christ. Disparities based upon ethnicity, economic status, and race disappear. People are not valued based on these distinctions. God’s family members are all equal to one another. This was radically new for these believers in Galatia, who were undoubtedly quite familiar with first-century attitudes. It was common for the Pharisees in Paul’s time to give thanks to God that they were not Gentiles, slaves, or women. Clearly, a great deal of prejudice existed against these groups as well as others. But the false teachers who had come from Jerusalem had not yet embraced this new message of equality: by preaching that Gentiles must become “Jewish” and be circumcised was to insist upon the rules of the old system and reject everything that had been made new through Christ. Paul sums up much of the argument of chapter 3 in these closing verses. Christ Jesus is Abraham’s rightful heir. When we declare faith in Christ, we are baptized into Him and are guaranteed to inherit all the divine promises and the family name of Abraham. We are fully and completely adopted by God into His family. In this family, it does not matter if one is a Jew or Gentile, a slave or a free man, a man or a woman, because what becomes the most defining piece of our identity is that we are “Christian.” We belong to Him through faith, not through the law. The law was a guardian for us, but now this new era was hailed when Jesus the Messiah came. APPLY THE WORD The message of unity in Paul’s letter to the Galatians is still relevant today. We often separate from one another based upon our race, economic status, or other differences. It is a beautiful and dramatic testimony to the gospel when Christian communities are formed among people who are different from one another. True unity comes from our recognition that we are all recipients of saving grace from God through Jesus Christ. This is unity we should pray for and work towards. Henry
Gálatas 3
Barber illustrates the spiritual meaning of baptism in Galatians 3:27- And the beautiful picture of this is, if I had a bowl of red dye I could explain it to you. A clear bowl of red dye, and I took a white cloth and I am going to put that white cloth down into that red dye. I immerse it into it, completely submerge it into the red dye. Now, the cloth is in the dye, but the moment it gets inside the dye, something else happens, doesn’t it? The dye gets inside the cloth, and the cloth is no longer a white cloth. There has been a change. Something has been identified with it. The red dye has entered into the cloth and now you have a red cloth. That’s exactly what he’s talking about here. That is spiritual immersion into Christ and Him into us.....He’s not talking about water baptism. He’s talking about the spiritual immersion into Christ. (Galatians 3:26-29 - Sons of God) Kenneth
Gálatas 3
Barber explains the practical application of clothed with Christ - You have clothed yourselves with Christ, is a graphic illustration of what happens at salvation. His presence, His power, all of who He is comes to live in us. It envelops the believer. You say, “I remember when I got saved. I had a lot of joy in my heart, but I didn’t know this took place.”....At the moment we were saved whether we felt it or didn’t feel it, God came to live in us and His presence now saturates our very being....There is no such thing as a believer who is not clothed with Christ. You say, “Wait a minute wait a minute. I know believers and I have been one myself, and if you are telling me I am clothed with Christ? I haven’t lived that way all the time.” And that’s exactly the point in Galatians 3. Inwardly we are clothed with Christ. You don’t ever get any more of God than you are going to get at the moment of salvation. But is He seen outwardly? Remember, Paul says in Philippians “work out your salvation.” Let the Jesus who is on the inside be seen on the outside. And the same way that you are clothed with Christ, by faith, is the same the way He’s manifest that clothing in your life. He manifests His character in your life. I will tell you what. As long as I pastor churches, and it will be that way till Jesus comes back, you wonder sometimes if people know Christ from a hole in the ground. We sing the hymns. We sing the choruses. We walk right out and act as if we don’t even know Him. And yet we are clothed with Christ. You see, this is the whole point. If it’s going to be Christ living in you, then all that’s within you begins to be manifested through your life. Paul says this to believers in Romans. He tells them in Romans 13:14, “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ.” You already have put Him on. I know inwardly. What he’s saying is, put Him on as your behavior. Make sure He is manifested in your life. And he goes on and tells you how. “And make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.” You see, they have put Him on, but now put Him off. It is two different things here. At [[salvation]] He came to live in you and the clothing is there. The garment is there. Now wear the garment; and you wear the garment by saying yes to Him. He says the same thing in Ephesians 4:22. And he is really on these folks. He says, “That in reference to your former manner of life [your former behavior, before you became a believer], you lay aside the old self.” You know, he isn’t contradicting himself. What he’s saying is, quit living as if you have never been clothed with Christ. Here in our text Paul is referring to the clothing that took place when we were baptized into Christ. And that’s a beautiful part here. Everything I need for life and for godliness, Peter says, I already have. He’s given me the ability to partake of the divine nature. You say, “Well, brother Wayne, I talked to a church during the last week and they didn’t act like they were filled with the divine nature.” That’s exactly right and isn’t that sad? Isn’t it sad when people that are clothed with the very presence of Christ live as if that they’re the pagan that is next door? You see, when you are walking in His garments, when you’re clothed in His garments, the flesh has no way and no will whatsoever. It’s the Spirit controlling our lives. But the very moment we choose to resurrect that old flesh it seems like it crawls off the altar every day, doesn’t it? And when we choose to say yes to it, then it shuts the whole process down, even though we have been given everything that we need, everything in Christ. Well, the word “clothed” here is the word enduo, which means to be dressed a certain way. When I got to military school the first thing they did was cut my hair off. Then they took my regular clothes, put them in a box and sent them home, and I was to wear a uniform every day. Why? Because we were identified with that school. And if you are going to be identified with that school, there’s a certain garment that you have to wear. That’s exactly what Paul is saying. Why is he? He’s not talking about uniformity—we are all different—but he is talking about unity of the brethren when we live surrendered to Him. Why is it, you say? Well, we have Gal 5 to deal with, and he’ll tell you why, how the flesh wars against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh. When everybody wears the same uniform they all have the same identity. Now what’s his point here in the passage? Jew and Gentile alike are dressed in the same garment. The person who has received Christ by faith, then he has put Christ on as a garment, His nature, His presence, His power, that all wraps themselves around and envelops them. Now, his point is that if you go back up under the Law, you have just chosen to deny your total identity in the Lord Jesus Christ. What does it mean to go back up under the law? When I choose my flesh over choosing Him (Ed: Surrendering or yielding to the Spirit of Christ in me), I have just put myself under some law because I’m going to either (attempt vainly to) measure up it or rebel against it. And what he is saying here is if you do that you have denied your identity. Your identity is in Christ..... Here is my question to you this morning: are you wearing that garment? When people are around you, do they see that garment? Are they affected by that garment? (Ed: cp 2 Cor 2:14-16 where Paul describes believers as an aroma of Christ instead of clothed with Christ, but the effect is the same on all we encounter!) I believe all heaven rejoices when we start wearing the garment God has already given to us. A believer has an eternal destiny, but I want to make sure we understand something clear. We as a church have a clear identity. We have an eternal destiny, but we have a clear identity. And the key is, and the challenge is, wear the garment. Wear the garment. Wear the garment. (Ed: Remember don't try to "wear it" in your own power, but by relying on the power provided by the Spirit of Christ) When I preached out of Ephesians I ask "What garment are you wearing?" As a matter of fact, the next time somebody walks up to you and says something just a little bit different, ask them “What garment are you wearing?” Why can’t we get gut honest about this? We’re either wearing it or we are not wearing it. Yes, we have it (positionally), but are we wearing it (practically)? When I was preaching out of Ephesians I had some parents come to me and say, “Would you quit preaching out of Ephesians?” I said why? They said, “We were coming to church today and we were arguing about something and our little children in the back leaned up and said ‘Momma, Daddy, what garment are you wearing?’” What garment are you wearing? Is your speech seasoned with grace so it edifies and lifts up your brother? (Col 4:5-6) Is your character walking in the garment of Jesus Christ? (Eph 5:2, cp Gal 5:16) Or is it just another flesh game that many of us are playing until Jesus comes back, embracing a religion, but denying the power thereof? (Galatians 3:26-29 - Sons of God) Let's explain the practical application of "clothed with Christ" another way to help you understand this vitally important truth. And remember it is one thing to have a head knowledge of the truth but quite another thing to practice it. The Pharisees were experts at this -- they had a head knowledge but lacked the heart change and thus had no power to practice the righteousness they professed! All who have been baptized into Christ are new creatures in Chist (2 Cor 5:17-note) and now in this new covenant with Christ, they received a new power, the Holy Spirit. Ezekiel 36:27-note says “I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances." Do you see the dual spiritual dynamic in that passage? In the first half God speaks of our privilege, His Presence (His Spirit) and His power to enable us to walk in a manner which pleases Him. In the second half of the verse God says we have a responsibility to observe His laws. God's provision and Our practice. You see, if God had just said you must "be careful to observe My ordinances" that's what the law says. But the law had no provision of power to obey. In the New Covenant of grace, God gives us the power to obey and it is our responsibility to obey in dependence on the power He provides (via His Spirit). One of my favorite Christian writers Jerry Bridges (now with Jesus) once wrote that believers are 100% responsible and 100% dependent to live the Christian life. For more discussion of this truth see the Paradoxical Principle of 100% Dependent and 100% Responsible. Now back to Galatians 3:27 where Paul describes Christ "on" the believer (clothed) whereas in Galatians 2:20 he described Christ "in" the believer (using himself as the example), writing “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. (Gal 2:20-note) Comment: Christ clothing me (united with me, identified with me, in covenant with me, in oneness or union with me) should result in the same spiritual dynamic as me being in Christ (and Him in me). In both cases we live out the "Christ life" just as did Paul, by faith, by trusting in His Word and His Spirit to give us the desire and the power to live supernaturally (Php 2:13NLT-note). Paul exhorted believers to imitate him just as he had imitated Christ (1 Cor 11:1-note). That means we need to live out the "Christ life" in our everyday practice, just as the God-Man Jesus did when He walked the earth. And how did Jesus do it? He did it by laying aside His divine prerogatives (otherwise we could never have imitated Him! Php 2:6-7-note) and by depending wholly upon the Holy Spirit. This truth is often forgotten when we study His life in the Gospels because admittedly He did miraculous things that we will never be able to imitate. But in His day to day life, in the moral-ethical sphere, Jesus continually relied on the Spirit's filling and power (Lk 4:1-note, Lk 4:14-note, etc). Peter summed up how Jesus lived out His 3+ year ministry (thus giving us an example to follow, cp 1 Pe 2:21-note, 1 Jn 2:6-note) declaring "you yourselves know the thing which took place throughout all Judea, starting from Galilee, after the baptism which John proclaimed. You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit (the same Spirit with which every believer has been anointed, cp 1 Jn 2:20-note, 1 Jn 2:27-note; see Our Anointing - The Holy Spirit) and with power (dunamis, supernatural power to live like Jesus and the same power Jesus promised believers in Acts 1:8-note, Lk 24:49-note, etc), and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him." (Acts 10:37-38) Clothed (1746)(enduo from en = in + dúo = to sink, go in or under, to put on) means literally to clothe or dress someone and to put on as a garment, to cause to get into a garment (eg, Lk 15:22 where the father says "quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him… ").