Galatians 3:23-29

23: But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed.
24: Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.
25: But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
26: For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
27: For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
28: There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
29: And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.

*** 

It’s an amazing statement for Paul to make that if you belong to Christ, you are Abraham’s descendent and heirs according to the promise. In Christ, all class distinctions which would give religious preference or status to one over another is removed. Both Jew and Gentile, slave and free, male and female are all one in Christ—descendants of Abraham and heirs according to the promise. To include the Gentiles in this promise of Abraham, without them following the Law, was difficult for many Jews to accept.

However, this promise is available to anyone who believes in Christ no matter their race, social status, or gender. Eternal life, and the promise of the Holy Spirit, is given to all who believe now, in this life! The clothing in Christ which occurs as we are baptized into Him removed the old identity. We are now living as residents of His kingdom, not the world’s. We truly are new creatures in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Paul said before Jesus came and made this possible, they were kept under the Law until the time when faith would be revealed. Until then, the Law was their tutor, teaching them and preparing them for Christ as they realized the Law would not free their heart from the sin that bound it. They knew the Messiah would come and make everything right, even though they didn’t understand the way He would do it. They were expecting Him to conquer earthly governments and rule through an earthly kingdom; not conquer sin in the hearts of men, and rule through the heavenly kingdom by the Spirit.

Now that faith has come, the tutoring of the Law is over and all who believe in Jesus Christ are sons of God through faith in Him. You belong to Him and have a place in Him and His kingdom. Everyone who believes in Jesus has a place prepared for them. It’s a place where you fit in perfectly. You’re not an afterthought where God has to figure out what to do with you. He has had this plan for you to fit into His kingdom all along. He has the perfect place, prepared just for you.

 

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