Sunday: Our Condition in Christ
Keeping Galatians 3:25 in mind, read Galatians 3:26. How does this text help us understand what our relationship to the law is, now that we have been redeemed by Jesus? 1
The word for at the beginning of verse 26 indicates that Paul sees a direct connection between this verse and the preceding one. In the same way that a master’s son was under a pedagogue only as long as he was a minor, Paul is saying that those who come to faith in Christ are no longer minors; their relationship with the law is changed because they are now adult “sons” of God.
The term son is not, of course, exclusive to males; Paul clearly includes females in this category (Gal 3:28). The reason he uses the word sons instead of children is that he has in mind the family inheritance that was passed on to the male offspring, along with the fact that the phrase “sons of God” was the special designation of Israel in the Old Testament(Deut. 14:1, Hos. 11:1). In Christ, Gentiles now also enjoy the special relationship with God that had been exclusive to Israel.
What is it about baptism that makes it such a significant event? Gal. 3:27, 28; Rom. 6:1–11; 1 Pet. 3:21.
Paul’s use of the word for in verse 27 indicates once again the close logical development of his reasoning. Paul sees baptism as a radical decision to unite our lives with Christ. InRomans 6, he describes baptism symbolically as our uniting with Jesus, both in His death and resurrection. In Galatians, Paul employs a different metaphor: baptism is the act of being clothed with Christ. Paul’s terminology is reminiscent of wonderful passages in the Old Testament that talk about being clothed with righteousness and salvation (see Isa. 61:10, Job 29:14). “Paul views baptism as the moment when Christ, like a garment, envelops the believer. Although he does not employ the term, Paul is describing the righteousness which is conferred upon believers.”—Frank J. Matera, Galatians (Collegeville, Minn.: The Liturgical Press, 1992), p. 145.
Our union with Christ symbolized through baptism means that what is true of Christ also is true of us. Because Christ is the “seed” of Abraham, as “joint-heirs with Christ” (Rom. 8:17), believers also are heirs to all the covenant promises made to Abraham and his descendants.
Dwell on this thought that what is true of Christ is also true of us. How should this amazing truth affect every aspect of our existence?
(1)
Keeping Galatians 3:25 in mind, read Galatians 3:26. How does this text help us understand what our relationship to the law is, now that we have been redeemed by Jesus?
Isaiah 40:31
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
I see the relationship between law and grace as a caterpillar and a butterfly.
As a caterpillar, you are crawling around trying to do the best as you can. But when your transformation comes, you are a new creature. You have incredible capabilities. You can soar to heights without limitations. You have a sense of freedom.
When your under the condemnation of the law, it's a heavy, restricting life.
God gives us freedom, through His power by the miracle of writing the law on our hearts as His character becomes part of our character. All this happens, when faith comes.
Sunday: ABC’s of Our Condition in Christ
We (Accept) Christ as our personal Saviour. We (Believe) His pardoning love is for us and not just our neighbor. We believe we are (Chosen) of God. God wishes that all be saved. We (Don’t Depend) on works or happy feelings. The elect are chosen through Christ. We are saved by the (Exercise) of (Faith), through the (Grace) of Jesus Christ, and works of the Holy Spirit. We (Humble) ourselves, allowing Christ to adopt us as children of God through His blood. We realize that (Imputed) to us is (Jesus) righteousness. We (Keep) these truths imprinted on our hearts. We let the pardoning (Love) of God be appropriated, and joyful gratitude springs up in our heart. We let (Merits) fade out of the picture. We see clearly now, (Nothing) can deter us from being (Overwhelmed) with amazement. We tell the world with words of (Praise) and songs of gratitude what Christ has done for us. We now have no (Question), (Rejoicing) with the assurance we are (Saved), (Testifying) of His love. We are (Undaunted), (Victoriously) under His (Wings). We (eXclaim), and (Yell) with joy, (Zion) is in sight. The faith I John live by, Good day
It is my understanding that baptism has its roots in the sanctuary services were the priests would wash themselves at the laver before entering the tent. In Scripture water is a symbol of the Holy Spirit which is found throughout the Bible as a cleansing agent.
In the New Testament we find it first employed in the baptism of Jesus where John said, “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Mat 3:11 NKJV; fire is a symbol of the Holy Spirit, as used at Pentecost). Later on, Jesus uses water as a symbol of the Holy Spirit in his discussion with the woman at the well in Samaria, “Jesus answered and said to her, ‘If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you,`Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water’” . . . “but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:10 NKJV; John 4:14 NKJV). He again uses it in same way while in the Temple, “’He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive” (John 7:38-39 NKJV).
We also find it used in the Old Testament in that same way. Ezekiel’s of vision of the Temple and the water coming out from it is a good example of that. “Then he said to me: ‘This water flows toward the eastern region, goes down into the valley, and enters the sea. When it reaches the sea, its waters are healed. And it shall be that every living thing that moves, wherever the rivers go, will live. There will be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters go there; for they will be healed, and everything will live wherever the river goes” . . . “Along the bank of the river, on this side and that, will grow all kinds of trees used for food; their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for medicine” (Eze 47:8-9 NKJV; Eze 47:12 NKJV). We should recognize parts of this vision in the vision that John had in revelation of the new Jerusalem. “And he showed me a pure1 river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations” (Rev 22:1-2 NKJV).
Both water and fire are symbolical cleansing agents in the Bible. The fact that in baptism one is totally submerged and surrounded by water is clearly a symbol of the Holy Spirit completely engulfing us and cleansing us from all sin. This is why Paul's explanation of baptism in Romans and in Galatians is so appropriate.
Reading this passage we realize that our dying to sin is the result of our union with Christ symbolized by baptism. Because He took our sins upon His own body and died bearing those sins (See 1 Peter 2:24) we too die to sin through His death, and being dead to sins, live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
We are to consider, or reckon ourselves dead to sin. Now some people think this means that somehow sin’s ability to tempt us is removed. But that is not the case as temptations may become fiercer as satan realizes he is losing his prey.
What then does it mean to be dead to sin and alive unto God through Jesus?
I think it means we, through Christ's death, died to the dominion of sin. Prior to our acceptance of Christ and baptism we were in the kingdom of Satan and sin.
Eph. 2:2 Wherein in time past you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience:.
So we were in satan's kingdom, enslaved by sin. –Slaves to sin.
But through our union with Christ we have died to this realm of sin and turned from the power of Satan to the redeeming power of God. Now we are sons and daughters of God!!
And God sends His Holy Spirit to lead us in the path of sanctification.
When we realize these awesome provisions we can stand up to temptation and satan and say “NO” I’m no longer serving in that realm, I’m a child of God, living for Him!
praise God brethren, i thank God for the lesson writer's story, it has really inspired me, that no matter what mess am in (or even me being the mess itself), am still a child of God and I approach His throne of mercy with confidence through Christ who died for me. AMEN.
"The word for at the beginning of verse 26 indicates that Paul sees a direct connection between this verse and the preceding one. In the same way that a master’s son was under a pedagogue only as long as he was a minor, Paul is saying that those who come to faith in Christ are no longer minors; their relationship with the law is changed because they are now adult “sons” of God."
The only "law" we are not under is the ceremonial law. To imply or assume that since we are now "in Christ" we no longer need the moral law is far from the biblical norm.
No one "grows up" to the point where they are beyond the moral law as a "schoolmaster" to not only educate in spiritual matters, but convict of sin.
So the moral law acts not only as a "schoolmaster" for unbelievers to lead them to Christ, but continues to act as a "schoolmaster" for believers to keep them in Christ.
The only law that has been "added" is the ceremonial law, and once it has served its purpose, can now be subtracted. This is certainly not the moral law.
And to imply that it is, can only lead to ongoing confusion at best, and lead people away from Christ at worst.
Bill Sorensen
Ulrike said......
"So we were in satan’s kingdom, enslaved by sin. –Slaves to sin.
But through our union with Christ we have died to this realm of sin and turned from the power of Satan to the redeeming power of God. Now we are sons and daughters of God!!
And God sends His Holy Spirit to lead us in the path of sanctification."
This is true, and I like how John Wesley put it......"Sin remains, but does not reign."
Probably from Rom. 6.
We can be free from the power of sin, but not from the presence of sin.
In Rom. 7, Paul is not speaking of slavery to sin when he discussed his inablitity to do what he desired to do. And then confessed a law "in his members" contrary to the law of God.
The whole context of his exhortation is built on his confession that he did not know sin until the law had said, "Thou shalt not covet." Coveting is simply one of the sins of our nature that plague us continually such as pride, love of the world, envy, jealousy, selfishness.....etc. So what does Paul mean?
He would like to serve God free from all these afflictions just like the angels of heaven who have never fallen. And he states in another letter, "The flesh lusteth against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh, so that ye can not do what you would."
Meaning again, serve God without all these afflications.
It is a false application of Paul's meaning if we state or imply that since we are sinful by nature, we can not keep the law of God. The "new man" masters the world, the flesh, and the devil.
EGW has well said....
"Those who have genuine love for God will manifest an earnest desire to know His will and to do it. . . . The child who loves his parents will show that love by willing obedience; but the selfish, ungrateful child seeks to do as little as possible for his parents, while he at the same time desires to enjoy all the privileges granted to the obedient and faithful. {RC 96.5}
The same difference is seen among those who profess to be children of God. Many who know that they are the objects of His love and care, and who desire to receive His blessing, take no delight in doing His will. They regard God's claims upon them as an unpleasant restraint, His commandments as a grievous yoke. But he who is truly seeking for holiness of heart and life delights in the law of God, and mourns only that he falls so far short of meeting its requirements."--The Sanctified Life, pp. 80, 81. {RC 96.6}
We would love to obey like the sinless angels. But not in this life. The school of afflication is our heritage and remains so until Jesus comes and we are finally liberated from "this body of sin."
Bill Sorensen