God’s Children through Faith
Galatians 3:23-29 NLT
23 Before the way of faith in Christ was available to us, we were placed under guard by the law. We were kept in protective custody, so to speak, until the way of faith was revealed.
24 Let me put it another way. The law was our guardian until Christ came; it protected us until we could be made right with God through faith. 25 And now that the way of faith has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian.
26 For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. 28 There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you.
Examine the scriptures:
Galatians 3:23-29 NLT
God’s Children through Faith
23 Before the way of faith in Christ was available to us, we were placed under guard by the law.
- God gave the law, through Moses, to His chosen people more than 1400 years before the birth of Jesus.
Exodus 19:3-6 NLT
3 Then Moses climbed the mountain to appear before God. The Lord called to him from the mountain and said, “Give these instructions to the family of Jacob; announce it to the descendants of Israel: 4 ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians. You know how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me. 6 And you will be my kingdom of priests, my holy nation.’ This is the message you must give to the people of Israel.”
- God instructed His people to obey the Law of Moses.
Malachi 4:4 NLT
4 “Remember to obey the Law of Moses, my servant—all the decrees and regulations that I gave him on Mount Sinai for all Israel.
We were kept in protective custody, so to speak, until the way of faith was revealed.
The law was a guard, keeping God’s people in “protective custody” until the way of faith in Christ was revealed.
- God had reasons for giving the Law.
The law instructed God’s people how to live their lives.
God always expected his people to live differently than those around them.
Both New and Old Testament
2 Corinthians 6:17 NLT
17 Therefore, come out from among unbelievers,
and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord.
Don’t touch their filthy things,
and I will welcome you.
Leviticus 18:3 NLT
3 So do not act like the people in Egypt, where you used to live, or like the people of Canaan, where I am taking you. You must not imitate their way of life.
The Law showed people the need for a Savior.
- The law was temporary. The law was designed to last only until the coming of the child who was promised. (Galatians 3:19)
24 Let me put it another way. The law was our guardian until Christ came; it protected us until we could be made right with God through faith.
The law is like a child’s guardian. In Greco-Roman culture, a guardian was a faithful slave responsible for training and protecting the heir until he came of age.
25 And now that the way of faith has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian.
In Greco-Roman culture, a freeborn child who came of age was no longer under the discipline of a guardian but was free to rule himself.
- A time came when the law was no longer needed as a guardian.
Verses from the next lesson.
Galatians 4:4-5 NLT
4 But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. 5 God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.
- God sent his Son, Jesus, to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.
Now:
26 For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
John 1:12 NLT
12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.
- To all who believed in Christ and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.
Romans 8:17 NLT
17 And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory.
- Christians enjoy all the privileges, responsibilities, and inheritance rights of God’s children.
27 And all who have been united with Christ in baptism
Baptism represents death of an old life and birth into a new one.
have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes.
2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT
17 … anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
- Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
28 There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Human distinction lose their significance.
None is spiritually superior over another.
A believing Jew is not more privileged before God than a believing Gentile.
A believing slave does not rank higher, or lower, than a believing free person.
A believing male is not superior to a believing female.
1 Corinthians 12:27 NLT
27 All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.
Romans 12:4-5 NLT
4 Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, 5 so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.
There are different roles.
- Believers are all one in Christ Jesus.
- All believers receive God’s promises.
29 And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham.
Jews and Gentiles who believe in Christ become the spiritual seed of Abraham.
Romans 9:8 NLT
8 This means that Abraham’s physical descendants are not necessarily children of God. Only the children of the promise are considered to be Abraham’s children.
- Abraham’s physical descendants are not necessarily children of God. Only the children of the promise are considered to be Abraham’s children.
You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you.
All believers are heirs of all that was promised to Abraham.
Galatians 3:6-9 NLT
6 In the same way, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” 7 The real children of Abraham, then, are those who put their faith in God.
8 What’s more, the Scriptures looked forward to this time when God would make the Gentiles right in his sight because of their faith. God proclaimed this good news to Abraham long ago when he said, “All nations will be blessed through you.” 9 So all who put their faith in Christ share the same blessing Abraham received because of his faith.
- All who put their faith in Christ share the same blessing (promises) Abraham received because of his faith.
