Galatians 3:27—”For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”
Someone described being united with Christ and putting on Christ in baptism as belonging on a team. The team’s uniform allows its members to recognize each other as a child of God and not focus on differences among the team. The team members do not look down on others outside of the team, but gladly welcomes and encourages others to join.
When we put on Christ, it means we try our best to emulate Christ in our thinking, actions, and attitude – What would Jesus do. The putting on of Christ according to the Gospel, doesn’t consist in outward imitation alone, but in a new birth – an entire change.
And if we are in Christ, it also means that we have put to death our physical – flesh with its passions and desires – and have donned Christ in our hearts, minds and souls. Gal 5:24—(And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.)
When we don Christ, we can no longer walk in our pride, ego, anger, lust, envy, provocation and other attitudes. Gal 5:25-26—(If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.)
In Christ, there are no differences; no Jew/Greek/church denominations, male/female, and so on. For all in Christ are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
As believers baptised into Christ, we enjoy great privileges under the Gospel; we no longer are servants who are accountable but sons. When we accepted Christ Jesus as our Lord and Savior, and relied on Him alone for justification and salvation, we became the sons of God (heirs).
3:29—(And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, heirs according to promise.)
He who makes believers to be heirs, will provide for them. Therefore, we ought to take care to do the duties that belong to us, our special care must be for Heaven, and we can cast all the other things on God. However, no outward forms of our work, traditions followed, or profession can secure these blessings. The things of this life are merely incidental. If we do not have the Spirit of Christ, we will not be included as an heir.
God’s promise to Abraham was fulfilled – God multiplied Abraham’s descendants into a great nation, God delivered them from slavery in Egypt, God lead them to the Promised Land, and then bound them to Himself with a covenant at Mount Sinai. (Romans 4:1) The promise was realized through Abraham’s faith. God is seen as a holy God who cannot ignore rebellion or unbelief, but also as the One who faithfully keeps His covenant and patiently provides for the needs of his people. The promise to Abraham and his offspring did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. If law followers were to be the heirs, faith would become null and God’s promise would be void. Therefore, the promise depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all! And remember, this promise is given to Abraham and us by the One who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.
