Galatians - What Does True Equality Look Like?

 Galatians 3 - NIV

Enduring Word Commentary

26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

In Chapter 3, Paul continues to address the divide between the Jews and Gentiles. He teaches that the promise God made with Abraham could only be obtained through faith. In the famous passage from Genesis 15:6 it says, "Abram believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness." We often thnk that the Old Testament is all about the law and God's wrath, but it started with a promise to Abraham, which he received by faith. It was only later that the Mosaic Law was introduced which was to set the Israelites apart from the pagan nations.  

As part of this covenant God made with Abraham, he told Abraham that he would be blessed to be a blessing to all nations. In effect, Paul says this is the first time the gospel was preached. A gospel which would be fulfilled in Jesus coming from Abraham's offspring. Paul then redefines what it means to be a child of Abraham. 

This is what the Jews prided themselves on, so by saying this, Paul would be make a radical and perhaps offensive comment to the Jewish people gathered there. He proclaims that all people who have faith in Jesus are children of Abraham. They are children the promise. The promise God made with Abraham that all people would be blessed through him.  

Then, Paul makes a radical statement as a result of what he has just taught. Through faith we are all children of God. This erased all of dividing lines of race, religion, gender and economic status. 

The dividing line between Jews and Gentiles is not the only dividing line erased. Regarding our standing before God in Jesus, every dividing line is erased. Now that Jesus is our identity, that is more important than any prior identity we possessed. We are all one in Christ Jesus. (Guzik)

At that time, some Rabbis quoted a morning prayer that was popular among many Jews of that day. According to William Barclay, in that prayer the Jewish man would thank God that he was not born a Gentile, a slave, or a woman. Paul takes each of these categories and shows them to be equal in Jesus.

There have been many historical figures who have fought for the equality of men and women, the abolition of slavery, and an end to racism.  

Paul also teaches us that true unity can only come through Christ. He says, "We are all one in Christ!"

 “He is not writing about a unity that comes about as a result of human achievement. He is saying that when people are saved by Jesus Christ they are brought into a marvelous unity, a unity between the saved and the Saviour and a unity that binds together all the saved.” (Morris)

What is the difference between the unity and equality Jesus brings?

How you be someone who treats people with equality and someone who promotes unity, not division? This is the same unity and equality God has given you in Christ!

Jesus, thank you that you have erased all of our dividing lines. Help us to be unifiers of the world around us. Help us to show the world what true equality looks like, a unity and equality that can only come through you by faith. Amen. 

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