Today's Passage: Galatians 3
Discovering our ancestry is quite popular these days! Simply by sending off a bit of our saliva, we can learn quite a bit of what part of the world our ancestors came from. I've not done it myself just yet, but I do consider it fascinating.
Paul is angry at the church in Galatia and begins this chapter by calling them, "You foolish Galatians!" WoW! I bet if he hadn't gained their attention yet, he had it now! And what Paul goes on to reveal to them is truly an incredible blessing to all of us that are "in Christ".
Galatians 3:23-29
23 Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed.
24 Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith.
25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian,
26 for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.
27 As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
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.
29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to the promise.
Did you know that our ancestry goes all the way back to Abraham!? When God called Abraham and told him he would be the father of a great nation, you were on God's mind!
So what does all this mean for us?
Paul exclaims, “If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” All the promises that God made to Abraham are fulfilled by Jesus and given to us.
We are first of all heirs of a promised land. In the New Testament this is not physical property but a meaningful life filled with spiritual blessings and intimacy with God.
Second, the promise includes a multitude of descendants (Genesis 13:16). God promises us the community of his kingdom family to share in our life’s journey.
Third, the promise encompasses a life of faith, rather than being enslaved to the law. Believers are set free from every weight that holds them back from their full potential. (Imagine that for a moment.)
Fourth, all barriers between people have disappeared because of Jesus. We are now free to live in a community that has no divisions of nationality, social status, or gender roles. Jesus gave us the equality many are still seeking in the world today!
Knowing all this is freeing, don't you think? We've been given ALL THINGS through Christ! Why would anyone want to go back to living in bondage to this world?
Blessings!
sue
Knowing all this is freeing, don't you think? We've been given ALL THINGS through Christ! Why would anyone want to go back to living in bondage to this world?
Blessings!
sue