The Certainty of Sonship Galatians 3:26-29.
Dear Sons (and Daughters) of the Most High,
The conclusion to the discussion on the place of the law shifts to an affirmation of our position in Christ. This is crucial for the understanding of the new people of God, whose claim to sonship is not Jewish ethnicity, nor adherence to the law.
Baptism (vv. 26-27). Paul says that we are all sons of God through faith in Christ. The way that people are identified as believers is through baptism. It is a ritual that confirms that one has left one’s former, sinful ways and submitted to Christ. For this to be so, a person must truly believe. It is no use to be baptized when one has not made a faith commitment because baptism is a testimony of an inner transformation. Without that inner transformation, baptism is futile. But when there is a sincere faith commitment, the person then belongs to Christ.
Belonging (v. 28). The previous world of Judaism was exclusive and discriminatory. Unless one was Jewish or had converted to Judaism, one was excluded from the commonwealth of the people of God. In the new people of God, Jewishness or lack of it, slavery or freedom, masculinity or femininity, do not matter, because Christ has made us one in him.
Bestowal (v. 29). Belonging to Christ equals belonging to Abraham. Those who have come to Christ by faith have become Abraham’s seed because Avraham is the father of all who believes (Romans 4:11). Being in Abraham also means that we are legitimate heirs of the promise made to him. Even those of us who are not Jewish are now joint heirs of the promise in Christ (Ephesians 3:6).
That Christ is the best thing to happen to the world is now evident. Not only are the Jews set free from bondage to a law that cannot save, gentiles too have the privilege of inheriting the promise to Abraham. That is all we need, friends.
Your Loving Pastor Chris.