Before this faith came, we were confined under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith was revealed. The law, then, was our guardian until Christ, so
that we could be justified by faith. But since that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for through faith you are all sons of God in Christ Jesus. For those of you who were baptized into Christ have been clothed with Christ. There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male and female; since you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, heirs according to the promise. —Galatians 3:23-29
Faith in Christ
“You crazy/foolish Galatians” —Galatians 3:1
We are
“Before this faith came, we were confined under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith was revealed. The law, then, was our guardian until Christ, so that we could be justified by faith.” —Galatians 3:23-24
“Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning by the Spirit, are you now finishing by the flesh? Did you experience so much for nothing — if in fact it was for nothing? So then, does God give you the Spirit and work miracles among you by your doing the works of the law? Or is it by believing what you heard — just like Abraham who believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness? You know, then, that those who have faith, these are Abraham’s sons. Now the Scripture saw in advance that God would justify the Gentiles by faith and proclaimed the gospel ahead of time to Abraham, saying, All the nations will be blessed through you. Consequently, those who have faith are blessed with Abraham, who had faith.” —Galatians 3:2-9
“For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” —John 3:16
We are made
“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” —Galatians 5:22-23
By faith we are all
“There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male and female; since you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, heirs according to the promise.” —Galatians 3:28-29
“Let me show you the implications of this. As long as the heir is a minor, he has no advantage over the slave. Though legally he owns the entire inheritance, he is subject to tutors and administrators until whatever date the father has set for emancipation. That is the way it is with us: When we were minors, we were just like slaves ordered around by simple instructions (the tutors and administrators of this world), with no say in the conduct of our own lives. But when the time arrived that was set by God the Father, God sent his Son, born among us of a woman, born under the conditions of the law so that he might redeem those of us who have been kidnapped by the law. Thus we have been set free to experience our rightful heritage. You can tell for sure that you are now fully adopted as his own children because God sent the Spirit of his Son into our lives crying out, “Papa! Father!” Doesn’t that privilege of intimate conversation with God make it plain that you are not a slave, but a child? And if you are a child, you’re also an heir, with complete access to the inheritance.” —Galatians 4:1-7
“For freedom, Christ has set us free.” —Galatians 5:1
For further study:
Scripture: Genesis 15; Joel 2:28-32; Romans 4; Ephesians 2
Resources: “A New Era in Christ” by Jill Hicks (https://rb.gy/hhdwgw)
Community Group Guide:
How have you seen/experienced separation in the world?
Is it disorienting to consider our freedom in Christ?
What are some ways we are tempted to limit that freedom?
Which aspect of unity impacts you the most:
Welcomed by faith.
Made on by faith.
Equal by faith.
What impact could the unity of the church have on the world?
To prepare for next week: Diverse - The Body of Christ; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14