The news coming from the churches of Galatia was distressing to the apostle Paul. Some were perverting the gospel of Christ, and many Christians were turning away from Christ to follow this “false gospel” (Galatians 1:6-9). The false teachers claimed one must first obey the Law of Moses before being saved by Christ (Acts 15:1, 5).
In refuting this misuse of the Scriptures (2 Peter 3:16), Paul reminded the Galatian Christians of the blessings they enjoyed in Christ and what they would be losing if they left the truth of His gospel.
Everyone in Christ is God’s Child.
Paul wrote:
“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:26).
They were not God’s sons – His children – because of their physical heritage. They were not God’s children because of their obedience to the Law of Moses. Instead, they entered the family of God “through faith in Christ Jesus.” Specifically, the Galatian Christians had “put on the family name” of God when they “put on Christ” in baptism (Galatians 3:27).
John, referring to Jesus Christ, said:
“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12-13; 3:3-5).
Everyone in Christ is One.
Under the Law of Moses, there were many “separations” among the people, perhaps best illustrated by the various “courts” around the temple.
The outermost court was the “Court of the Gentiles,” which was as close as non-Jews could get to the temple of God. Next was the “Court of the Women,” which was for Jewish women. The third court was the “Court of Israel,” for the ritually clean Jewish men. Finally, the closest court to the temple was the “Court of the Priests,” reserved for the Levites.
But, in Christ, there wasn’t all this separation. Paul penned:
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).
In worship at the temple, men, women, Jews and Gentiles would not be worshipping God side by side. But in Christ, they were all one.
Everyone in Christ is an Heir of God.
Paul reminded the Galatian Christians of another blessing they had in Christ. He said:
“And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:29).
The promise he referenced is the promise God made to Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3). Ultimately, this promise was not about the Jewish nation but about “those who are of faith” (Galatians 3:7-9, 16).
Through Christ, not only are we God’s children, but we are also His heirs (Galatians 4:7). This inheritance is reserved in heaven for God’s faithful children (1 Peter 1:3-5).
