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Tag: Letter to Galatians

Baptized into Christ

Written by LWOM Amsterdam on . Posted in Galatians, What’s new?.

What does it mean to be baptized into Christ (Galatians 3:27)?

In Galatians 3:23—4:7, the apostle Paul discusses what it means to be a child of God: “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and 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). When we accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, we are “baptized into Christ” through faith in Him.

What are the implications of being baptized into Christ?

We are clothed in Christ.

Paul explains, “All of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” In the original language, the phrase translated as “clothed yourselves with Christ” (NIV) or “put on Christ” (ESV) means to be “endowed with the quality of being wrapped in a covering” of Christ. “And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes,” says Galatians 3:27 in the New Living Translation. The same term appears in Romans 13:14: “Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.”

When we are baptized into Christ, we become wrapped up in Jesus Christ like a robe. Our filthy, old, sin-infested rags are cast off (Isaiah 64:6), and we put on the new righteous nature of Jesus Christ (Colossians 3:10; Ephesians 4:24). Water baptism outwardly depicts this inner work of baptism into Christ by the Holy Spirit (see Acts 10:44–48).

This idea of changing clothes carried an additional implication for the Galatians. In ancient Roman society, when a young person reached the legal age of adult citizenship, he would stop wearing his childhood apparel and begin to don a toga, the customary outfit of an adult. This change of attire indicated a rite of passage into the responsibilities of adulthood. As believers baptized into Christ, we receive full, mature sonship status before God (see Romans 8:17).

We are all one in Christ.

The baptism of the Holy Spirit joins us to Christ and identifies us with Him. As children of God, we become members of God’s family, who are all “one in Christ Jesus.” Paul reiterates this truth in 1 Corinthians 12:12–14: “The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:12–13, NLT).

As believers baptized into Christ, we belong to God as His sons and daughters and to each other as brothers and sisters. God’s family consists of people from every nation, culture, skin color, and language (Matthew 28:19; cf. Revelation 5:9). In Christ, there is no distinction of rank (“slave nor free”), status (“Jew nor Gentile”), or gender (“nor is there male and female”). We are all on equal footing with God when it comes to salvation. There is nothing we can do to earn or deserve it (Romans 3:10, 23; Ephesians 2:9; 2 Timothy 1:9–10; Titus 3:5). We all receive it as a gift from God through Jesus (John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8). The equality of our union transforms into fellowship—a communion of brothers and sisters that can only exist in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:18–19; 2 Corinthians 5:18–19).

We are dead to sin, alive in Christ.

Being baptized into Christ means identifying with Him in His death, burial, and resurrection. We died with Him and, through Him, received a new life in which we are set free from sin. Paul asks the Romans, “How can we who died to sin still live in it? Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in a new way of life” (Romans 6:2–4, HCSB).

As born-again Christians, we are set apart with Christ in righteousness and justification: “Our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin” (Romans 6:6–7, NLT).

Christ lives in me

Written by LWOM Amsterdam on . Posted in Galatians, What’s new?.

What is the meaning of “Christ lives in me” in Galatians 2:20?

Galatians 2:20 is a well-known passage with profound implications: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” This declaration of identity underscores the reality of all who have placed their trust in the Son. We must understand what Paul meant in this passage and its relevance in the 21st century.

First, let’s consider the context. The book of Galatians emphasizes salvation by grace through faith and rejects salvation by works. The argument extends beyond justification and addresses the Christian way of life. The early church faced a significant conflict as some Judaizers insisted that Gentile Christians must be circumcised to be fully accepted by God (see Acts 15). Apparently, some Gentile believers were succumbing to the pressure, prompting Paul to write this letter. In chapter 2, Paul recounts his visit to Jerusalem to meet with the church leaders. Following this, he confronts Peter for hypocrisy, and then comes Galatians 2:20.

The statement “Christ lives in me” holds profound theological significance. When we are born again, we become united with Christ in His life, death, and resurrection. Understanding our union with Jesus eliminates the need to rebuild the old system of law-keeping. Paul describes this union in his letter to the Romans:

Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.

Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. (Romans 6:3–11)

Our union with Christ resolves one objection people have to the concept of grace. If we are declared righteous through faith in Christ rather than through obedience to the law, does that mean we can cast off all moral restraints and live however we want? After all, where sin increased, grace abounded even more (Romans 5:20). The answer lies in our new identity, rooted in our union with Christ. We identify with Him and live as He does, which means we live for God.

Moreover, the Holy Spirit, sent by the Son, dwells within us. It is through the Spirit’s supernatural connection that we are bound to Christ. Our lives are no longer lived for ourselves; instead, we follow Christ under the influence of the Spirit, bringing glory to the Father.

Our identity in Christ also carries personal implications. Believing that Christ lives in us means we represent Him here on earth, imperfect though we may be. The expected result is a transformed lifestyle, thoughts, desires, character, and goals. Even the way we approach daily activities like chores should change. Consider the example of a young man who gets married. His status as a married man naturally brings about changes in lifestyle, behavior, and attitude; otherwise, there would be a disconnect between his actions and his new situation. Similarly, a relationship with Jesus is transformative, affecting every aspect of our lives. We become His students, learning and applying His teachings. We love what He loves and hate what He hates. Becoming more like Jesus is our ultimate objective (Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 1 John 2:6).

A man reaps what he sows

Written by LWOM Amsterdam on . Posted in What’s new?.

What does it mean that a man reaps what he sows (Galatians 6:7)?

In the first few verses of Galatians 6, Paul emphasizes that individuals are responsible for their actions and should be gentle when others fail (Galatians 6:1). Besides gentleness being an expression of love and a fulfillment of the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2), a gentle response to others is one way we can keep ourselves out of trouble, because it can help us to avoid being hyper-critical. Even as the passage encourages readers to be considerate of others, the truth remains that whatever a man sows that he also reaps (Galatians 6:7). So, while we should bear each other’s burdens (Galatians 6:2), we are still accountable to carry our own load (Galatians 6:5).

In Galatians 6:7 Paul reminds readers that “whatever a man sows, that he will also reap” (NKJV). God is a just God and has instituted throughout human experience the concept of sowing and reaping. When a farmer plants seeds and cares for those seeds, they will usually sprout and produce growth. In the same way, whatever a person “plants” in his own thinking and behavior will later bear fruit—either good or bad. If a person is focused on fulfilling the desires of the flesh, and that is what he invests in, then that person will reap fruit of that investment. Paul describes this fruit in Galatians 5:19–21, and the list is not pretty. On the other hand, if one invests in spiritual things, then the “fruit” in his life will be spiritual and wholesome (Galatians 6:8). Paul explains how the Holy Spirit produces fruit in people and what it looks like (Galatians 5:22–23).

Paul introduces the truth that a what a man sows that he also reaps with a somber warning: “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked” (Galatians 6:7). Wise readers will take heed to their own lives and take steps to ensure they live according to this principle. Let no one entertain the idea that he or she is the exception to the rule. Reaping follows sowing, and it matters what you sow. God searches the heart and knows every circumstance, and His decree that the harvest will match the planting will not be set aside.

Elsewhere, Paul further explains the concept that whatever a man sows that he also reaps. In 1 Corinthians 3:8 he asserts that each person will be rewarded according to his or her own work. Neither the one who plants nor the one who waters are the most significant factors in the equation, because God causes the growth (1 Corinthians 3:7–8). So, even when we are planting and watering well—focusing on the things related to our new life in Christ—it is still God who causes the growth. And even though God rewards the one who works, we understand that even our opportunity to work is a gift from God. In other words, the principle that whatever a man sows that he also reaps teaches both God’s justice and His mercy.

We can apply the principle of reaping what we sow to the matter of salvation. If we do not know Jesus Christ as our Savior, then we are still dead in our sin, or separated from having a right relationship with God (see Ephesians 2:1–5). If we are in that state, then even our righteous deeds are as unclean rags in comparison with God’s standard of righteousness (Isaiah 64:6). If we are in that condition, then the truth that whatever a man sows that he also reaps (Galatians 6:7) is actually terrifying because we are sowing according to sin and death, and the fruit will reflect that. On the other hand, if in His mercy God has made us alive together with Christ by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8–10), then we have the opportunity to sow according to newness of life. Because of His grace we can now invest in things that have eternal value and see fruit that also has eternal value. The fact that whatever a man sows that he also reaps is not only about justice, but about God’s magnificent mercy. God hasn’t given us what we deserved; in His amazing grace God has given us what we did not deserve—the opportunity to sow the seed of righteousness so that we can see the fruit of His righteousness in our lives.