The implications are astounding. These four short verses explode with possibilities.
"For you are all sons 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, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise." (Galatians 3:26-29)
It's like being adopted in to the Rockefeller, Gates, Bush, and Spielberg families all at once and having full benefit of their power and finances. Except that it's even greater; vastly greater. A simple act of faith inducts us into the very family of the Creator. Not only that, this act of faith that moves us to baptism wraps us with the perfect personage of God's one and only sinless Son, Jesus the Messiah. We could not be elevated to a more exalted position.
This new exalted status completely revolutionizes relationships. All imposed class, racial, and sexual distinctions are obliterated. All persons of faith are equally exalted.
As if all this were not enough, there is one additional benefit of monumental significance - the inheritance of Abraham of old. This man of faith who was promised the ancestry of the Christ, an innumerable genealogy, and a specific land inheritance has become our rich relative in the faith. His inheritance has becomes ours.
All of these astounding promises and truths leave you and I with a smug humility (if there is such a thing). We see how futile the frenetic efforts for power, money and prestige really are. These elusive pursuits are obtained only through divine action on behalf of the humble faith seeker. We are destined to be given that which others zealously seek to buy or conquer.
Given our amazing status per these words in Galatians, our entire lifestyle is radically reoriented. Status and wealth seeking is replaced with status and wealth equalizing. We live and operate in harmony with the One who will "with righteousness ... judge the poor, And decide with fairness for the afflicted of the earth" (Isaiah 11:4). We are merciful to the oppressed and generous to the deprived. The agenda of His kingdom takes priority over pursuit of our kingdom.
Celebrate your exalted status today. Bask in the freedom it brings from the tiring pursuit of this world's elusive prizes. Capitalize on that freedom and let it serve to advance the cause of the weak and the poor.
Press on for the Kingdom, Kingdom citizens!
Steve
"For you are all sons 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, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise." (Galatians 3:26-29)
It's like being adopted in to the Rockefeller, Gates, Bush, and Spielberg families all at once and having full benefit of their power and finances. Except that it's even greater; vastly greater. A simple act of faith inducts us into the very family of the Creator. Not only that, this act of faith that moves us to baptism wraps us with the perfect personage of God's one and only sinless Son, Jesus the Messiah. We could not be elevated to a more exalted position.
This new exalted status completely revolutionizes relationships. All imposed class, racial, and sexual distinctions are obliterated. All persons of faith are equally exalted.
As if all this were not enough, there is one additional benefit of monumental significance - the inheritance of Abraham of old. This man of faith who was promised the ancestry of the Christ, an innumerable genealogy, and a specific land inheritance has become our rich relative in the faith. His inheritance has becomes ours.
All of these astounding promises and truths leave you and I with a smug humility (if there is such a thing). We see how futile the frenetic efforts for power, money and prestige really are. These elusive pursuits are obtained only through divine action on behalf of the humble faith seeker. We are destined to be given that which others zealously seek to buy or conquer.
Given our amazing status per these words in Galatians, our entire lifestyle is radically reoriented. Status and wealth seeking is replaced with status and wealth equalizing. We live and operate in harmony with the One who will "with righteousness ... judge the poor, And decide with fairness for the afflicted of the earth" (Isaiah 11:4). We are merciful to the oppressed and generous to the deprived. The agenda of His kingdom takes priority over pursuit of our kingdom.
Celebrate your exalted status today. Bask in the freedom it brings from the tiring pursuit of this world's elusive prizes. Capitalize on that freedom and let it serve to advance the cause of the weak and the poor.
Press on for the Kingdom, Kingdom citizens!
Steve
posted by steve @ 9:23 AM
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