No Barriers; Galatians 4

May the mumbling commence!

Sometimes, I read the Apostle Paul and I am befuddled.  Today, I began to read the letter to the Galatians, and I feel like I am treading in some deep waters.  As far as scholars can tell, the letter was written in response to some like Jewish teachers who wanted to impose the Jewish laws onto the Gentile converts.  One of these rules was the rite of circumcision.

For the Apostle Paul, this battle was more than about dietary laws and circumcision.  It was about the path to salvation and righteousness.  Paul preached the gospel of grace through faith in the risen and living Jesus.  This grace path to faith, though it does not shun works or the Law, is all that is necessary.  Paul argues that the Law could not save the Jews, then why should we think that the Law will be able to save the Gentiles?  Paul also argues that Abraham received the covenant of faith far before the Law was given unto Israel.  Faith preceded the Law, and the Law serves faith – not the other way around.    

The grace of God through Jesus Christ erases all former barriers between people of the faith.  Any such barriers that remain are strictly constructed by humanity.  In this passage from Galatians, there is one of my favorite quartets of verses from chapter three.  Read them below:

You are all [children] of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.  There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.  If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Verses 26-29)

We are clothed with Christ.  We are “little Christs.”  The Holy Spirit will allow no division among the family of God.  We are children of God.  There is no Jew or Greek – no citizen and illegal alien.  There is neither slave nor free – no working poor or wealthy.  There is neither male nor female – I know that many of the translations that read sons of God, but those translations miss the point of what Paul was saying in this passage.  All are one in Christ.

And there is a promise.  If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed – a singular seed that point to Christ Jesus.  Remember we have put on Christ, so let’s act in accordance to that Name.  And, being Abraham’s seed, we are heirs according to the promise.

We are blessed!

Let us share that blessing with others so that we can become avenues of blessing for the entire creation.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out