Mankind has always desired to “belong.” People have gone to great lengths and spent fortunes to “earn their right” to be counted among a certain group or club. People have endured extremities to be accepted by an individual that has arrested their attention. College kids have died from hazing in hopes to add a certain fraternity to their resume. People want to belong.
Of all the fleeting interest of men that people have painstakingly sought, none are remotely significant to belonging to Jesus. The chief endeavor of man is to “Fear God and keep his commandments” (Ecclesiastes 12:14). The cardinal reason for our existence is to be “called by His name and bring Him glory” (Isaiah 43:7). No title on earth can rival the name one wears that belongs to the host of heaven. No position of politics or cooperate power can equal the place that being a “child” in Gods family affords. For one to be unashamedly counted as a sibling to Jesus (Hebrews 2:11) is to belong to the conquering, enduring, and royal family in the heavens of God. There is no greater accolade, no finer accomplishment and no richer achievement that can be obtained, than to be joined to the priestly, proficient, perfect, Son of God whose prowess to procure pardon for His people is unparalleled!
A question this writer sees as the great need of discovery is “how.” Is the Bible silent on exactly what needs to be done for a person to be counted “a son of God?” Has the entity of surpassing greatness, love, justice, mercy, and grace left mankind in the dark relative to their most needful pursuit? The resounding answer to that question is, “NO!” God has gone to great lengths to reveal to men our origins, our problem, His promises, and His solution. It is up to the human family to decide based on the evidence provided, how each one will answer Him.
There is not a single religious person that would argue that salvation is on the basis of faith. It always has been and always will be (Hebrews 11:1-40; Ephesians 2:8-10). The issue is those who would say that salvation is by “faith only.” This is to circumvent the command for “every one of you to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38). If there were just ONE passage from which to draw encouragement to obey the commands of God, for His expressed purpose, there may not be one among the multitude any finer or appropriate for this discussion than what Paul recorded in Galatians 3:26-29. The title of this installment comes directly from the 28th verse, but for context’s sake and emphasis, it is needful to consider this string of text.
Paul went all over the region of Galatia and Phrygia strengthening the disciples (Acts 18:23). He had a great love for them as expressed in this epistle, but the apostle was puzzled about the condition of the brethren when the Judaizing teachers had come in among them (1:6).
With the power of his pen, the apostle to the world persuaded those of this area to rely solely on the pure Gospel as had already been delivered to them (1:8-9). Paul finishes the first chapter in strong defense of his God-given apostleship. In the second chapter, Paul writes of his experience in the meeting in Jerusalem, and how the others accepted his ministry as an equal officiant in the office of an apostle (2:1-10). Paul, then, relays his public rebuke of Peter (2:11-14) and embarks on a discourse on being justified by faith and the nullification of the old law (2:15-3:29). In this context, of juxtaposing the old covenant system, with al its physical demands and observations, Paul argues that Abraham was saved by faith prior to the Law of Moses, and so it is with us (3:6-14; see same line of argument in Romans 4).
Continuing in his delineation of the promise given to Abraham, faith and the law, Paul states that the promise of the covenant with Abraham was not voided because of the giving of the law 430 years later (3:16-18). Then, Paul gives the true intent of the Law, which was to make known the transgressions (3:19), to bring about the knowledge of sin (Romans 3:20). The Law was a “teacher,” (KJV) “school master,” (ESV) “guardian” until Christ came (3:21-24). It is interesting that verse 23 says, “before faith came, we were held captive under the law, until the coming faith would be revealed.”
The law could not save. Its purpose was to reveal sin, but all it would do was condemn those in the wrong. The law was just law, but, “grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” When Jesus showed up, the faith, the new system of faith, was to be revealed (Jeremiah 31:31; Isaiah 62:1-2). That’s why verse 24 says, “So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.”
Verses 25-26 are pivotal in understanding where Paul is driving the reader in the discussion of salvation by faith, or belonging to Jesus, by faith. Now that “faith has come” we are no longer under the guardian. The “tutor” or “teacher” brings people to a point in which they go on without them. That is exactly what the Law of Moses did for Israel, and all who would be saved by faith in Christ Jesus (3:25).
Verse 26 begins with a Greek word “γάρ.” This word “gar” is defined by Strongs as, “a primary particle; properly, assigning a reason- and, as, because…” Thayer’s Greek Lexicon states relative to “for; i.e., gar” in verse 26, “Now since by a new affirmation not infrequently the reason and nature of something previously mentioned are set forth, it comes to pass that, by use of this particle, either the reason and cause of a foregoing statement is added, whence arises the causal or argumentative force of the particle, for; or some previous declaration is explained…”
This reveals that it is the fact of being “in Christ” which grants and bestows “sonship” (verse 26). The original text in the Greek includes the definite article “the” before the word, “faith” (Winton, Galatians, p.59). It is through THE FAITH that it is obtained a place in Christ, and sonship which grants “all spiritual blessings” and “salvation” (Ephesians 1:3; 2 Timothy 2:10). This writer would like to recall to your memory what the author of this chapter, which is now considered, had recorded in another place. “Through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all nations” (Romans 1:5). Also, “But has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith” (Romans 16:26).
It is by the faith, the gospel system, and obedience to it, that saves individuals from their sins (1 Peter 4:17; 2 Thessalonians 1:8). To further explain what was done to obey the gospel, to put those to whom Paul is writing in Christ and granting sonship, Paul said, “For as many as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (verse 27). The word “for” here is the same word discussed above, with the same definitions. It introduces the reason, or the “how” they became children of God by the faith in Christ Jesus.
Jesus Christ, after the resurrection, and prior to His ascension said, “He that believes and is baptized shall be saved, he that does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16). It is this command, bound upon all who seeks refuge in Jesus, that must be obeyed to have eternal salvation (Hebrews 5:9). Paul explains that, because all of us were baptized into Christ, have put on Christ, and we are equal in Jesus (27-28).
One of the issues the churches faced was the separation between races, genders, and people who were indentured for various reasons. All of those classes, and their various roles in society, and in the church, are equal in importance in Jesus (Hebrews 2:9; John 3:16). This verse doesn’t do away with societal obligations or religious expectations as laid down by the Holy Spirit elsewhere (1 Timothy 2:8-14; 1 Corinthians 14:34-35). But that all of the saved are equally valuable to the Kingdom and to the mission (1 Corinthians 12:11-27). And no one has an advantage over another in receiving salvation and sonship in Jesus!
And now the context is before the mind and that is solid footing to deal with the statement of verse 29, to which the title of the article is derived. Paul says, “And if you are Christs, then you are Abraham’s seed, heirs according to the promise.”
It is noted that Paul employs an “if/then” statement, or a conditional statement. Many in the religious world today say there are no conditions for salvation. They bemoan the fact that no one can add to “Jesus finished work on the cross.”
It is needful to point out the fact that Jesus came off the cross, was buried, rose the third day, made appearances for 40 days, and then commanded baptism for salvation (Mark 16:16; Matthew 28:20) just prior to His ascension (Luke 24:44-49; Acts 1:2-3)! It is needful to point out that Jesus, as the “author and finisher of our faith” has all the authority He needs to place any injunction He desires on mankind to obey in order to access His grace and pardon (Hebrews 12:2; Matthew 28:18; 1 Peter 3:22). The thing that lowly men need to do is submit to His word. Obey Him for His expressed purpose. Paul by inspiration explains exactly how it is the saved become an heir according to the promise given to Abraham, a son of God, and one in Christ. It is because we are baptized into Christ (Galatians 3:27) where salvation and spiritual blessings are (Ephesians 1:3; 2 Timothy 2:10).
This author wants to take a few minutes to point out some extra blessings that are received when one meets the conditions established by the Lord. Maybe you’ve thought of these before, maybe you haven’t. Don’t you want to belong? Well, if you are Christs:
- You find your place in history.
When someone becomes a part of the family of God through obedience, they become a part of Gods plan for the ages. Luke records that, “the Lord adds to the church daily those being saved (Acts 2:47). This places the saved in the very institution that was in the mind of God for all eternity (Daniel 2; Isaiah 2; Joel 2; Luke 24:44-49; Acts 2). In Ephesians 3:8-11, Paul says, “and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that He has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Those who are sons of God by faith in Christ are then related to Abraham by faith.
- You find your place in society.
A person who belongs to Jesus has an important role to play in society. As disciples, Jesus demands His brethren be the “salt of the earth and the light of the world” (Matthew 5:13-16). The Christians place in society is picking up the mantle of Jesus to “seek and save the lost” (Luke 19:10; Mattew 28:19-20). There is no place in society where Gods child does not belong, and there is no “thing” that the child of God cannot use to bring glory and honor to their Father (1 Corinthians 3:21). As the redeemed of the Lord goes through life, “they should say so” (Psalm 107:2). The church as a whole is to be a lampstand to guide the weary to safety (Revelation 2:5). The church is to fan out into the community, yea, into the world, using the gifts that God has afforded them to bring in a harvest and build up the body in love (1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4). This is where you belong, and what you should be doing.
- You find your place in eternity.
Make no mistake about it, God will save His family (Ephesians 3:15). There is no more pressing endeavor than to realize your place in History, Society, and Eternity in Jesus Christ. Don’t you want to belong to the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Earl of Eternity, the God of Glory, the Prince of Peace, the Magistrate of Magnificence, the Judge of Judiciousness and the Author of Authority? You can belong to the Baron of Beauty, and you can live on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on……
It is important to all of us at the Eastside Church of Christ, to help any seeking the way in which to belong to the winning side. You don’t have to be lost and you can belong to King Jesus. You can go home to live with Him forever in eternity. You can! You have a place there if only you turn your life over to the Lord. You can do that by believing that Jesus is Gods Son (John 8:24; Hebrews 11:6), repenting of your past sins (Luke 13:3; Acts 17:30-31), confessing your faith in Him (Romans 10:10) and being baptized for the remission of your sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16).
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