You are all children of God through faith
Galatians 3:26-27 - Clothed in grace, we are no longer defined by who we were—but by who we are in Christ.
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“So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”
Galatians 3:26-27 NIV
Throughout history, people have tried to “find themselves.” They are trying to find meaning in their lives, a reason for their existence. For those of us who are believers, we find our identity with Jesus Christ.
These verses in the Epistle to the Galatians were Paul’s way of correcting what was being taught in their church at that time. Most of these church members were Jews who were now following Jesus… but they were still thinking like Jews. Traditionally, their standing before God was dependent by the level of their obedience to the law.
To be “children of God,” Jews of the time had to observe the law to the extremes, much in the manner that the Pharisees and Scribes followed the law. Jesus pointed out the hypocrisy of these pious followers of the law in Matthew 23, and He was quite unhappy with them! Paul’s deep understanding of Jesus is coming through in today’s verses, and he’s saying that all can be considered children of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
In his Enduring Word commentary on these verses, David Guzik explains (note that he uses the term “sons of God” while the NIV translation of the Bible uses “children of God”):
i. The standing is impressive. To be among the sons of God means that we have a special relationship with God as a loving and caring Father. It is a place of closeness, a place of affection, a place of special care and attention.
ii. The method is impressive. To become a son of God through faith in Christ Jesus means much more than believing that He exists or did certain things. It is to put our trust in Him, both for now and eternity.
Guzik also explains the second verse (starting with “for all of you…”) quite beautifully:
b. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ: Here, using the picture of baptism, Paul illustrates what it means to have faith in Christ Jesus. He doesn’t say we were baptized into water, but baptized into Christ. Just as in water baptism a person is immersed in water, so when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, we are immersed in Jesus.
i. Many Christians seem content with just “dipping a bit” into Jesus. God wants us to be fully immersed in Jesus; not sprinkled, not just a part of us dipped. When a person is immersed in water, you don’t even see the person much anymore — you mostly see the water. When we live as baptized into Christ, you don’t see so much of “me” anymore; you mostly see Jesus.
ii. It should be stressed that this is the baptism that really saves us: our immersion into Jesus. If a person isn’t baptized into Christ, he could be dunked a thousand times into water and it would make no eternal difference. If a person has been baptized into Christ, then he should follow through and do what Jesus told him to do: receive baptism as a demonstration of his commitment to Jesus (Matthew 28:19-20).
c. Have put on Christ: Another way of expressing our immersion in Jesus is to say that we have put on Christ. In the original language, the phrase has the idea of putting on a suit of clothes. So we “clothe ourselves” with Jesus as our identity.
i. How we dress has a real impact on how we think and act. How we dress has a real impact on how we appear to others. We also need to know how to dress appropriately for each occasion. Paul says to us, “Your appropriate clothing for each day is to put on Christ. People should see that you belong to Him by looking at your life. You should live with the awareness that you are adorned with Jesus.”
ii. Some people might wonder if this is only play-acting, if it is really an illusion, like a child playing “dress-up.” The answer is simple. It is only an illusion if there is no spiritual reality behind it. In this verse, Paul really speaks of the spiritual reality — those who were baptized into Christ really have put on Christ. Now they are called to live each day consistent with the spiritual reality.
⬆️ THIS is what I pray more Christians begin to understand. You can’t just say “I put my faith in the Lord Jesus,” get baptized, and then go on living as if nothing has changed from your previous life! Guzik’s comment that “People should see that you belong to Him by looking at your life. You should live with the awareness that you are adorned with Jesus” is the key here.
Clothed in grace, we are no longer defined by who we were—but by who we are in Christ.
Heaven On Wheels Daily Prayer:
Father in Heaven, thank You for the gift of faith that allows me to be called Your child. I pray that all who are Your children through faith in Christ are able to break down the barriers which cause such discord between Christian churches and demonstrate true unity. Thank You for affording me the rights and privileges of being an heir in Your family. Assist me to live out my identity as Your child daily by reflecting Your love and grace to those I meet each day. AMEN.