Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian. 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.
Galatians 3:25-29
Scripture Notes
One of the more challenging notions of scripture is the transition from the Old Testament to the New: the Old Covenant and the New Covenant. There is the Law, but then Christ fulfills the Law. Here, we are being taught that up until the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus, we had been under the guardianship of the Law. It taught us not only how to behave but also how to gain proximity to God. But with the life of Christ, we have graduated from training and are given a new directive. The temple is no longer a place but resides inside each person. But who exactly?
Paul states that we are all children of God, those who are baptized into Christ having faith in Him who redeemed us. This is not merely the plunging and cleansing of the body. This is a symbolic, public demonstration of identity. We are to clothe ourselves with Christ. Our faith should be evident by our mere appearance as if it were written on our coat sleeve. However, this is not done by simply following the Law, minding P’s and Q’s, and being generally amicable to everyone. No, instead, the Christian faith is a radical, bold, countercultural movement. Instead of seeking power, we seek humility. Instead of money, we seek generosity. Instead of dominion, we seek the place of a servant.
How incredibly counterculture it is in the United States to give and not take, diminish oneself for the sake of another rather than propel oneself, and not let capital (money) be the center focus of our lives. Having faith in Christ also means speaking up against injustice and knowing when to keep quiet. The Law has been our guide all along, but Christ has been the example. We have more documentation than the first churches had, and yet the same struggle remains: believers deciding they are above other believers. True understanding of the Christian faith is to lessen oneself and uplift others.
After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.
Revelation 7:9
Another bold statement of the Christian faith is erasing the lines so often found in society. Gender, class, race, nationality, language, and ideology are just the most prominent ways that people try to distinguish themselves from others. What we are currently missing in the witness of our faith is there is more adherence to division and distinction rather than acceptance and unity. For we are told that we are all one in Christ Jesus. Do not all nations and genders sing praise to God in John’s vision of heaven? Male or female, white or black, left or right, rich or poor, native or immigrant, there are no lines with God. If we intentionally associate with anyone, believer or non-believer, only because of race, class, ideology, gender, or nationality, we have lost our way. The focus is no longer on truth and life but on man-made imperatives.
One of the joys of becoming a believer, besides having a wonderful relationship with Christ and a bridge covering the divide between ourselves and God, is the richness of the family of believers. A Christian is not one alone. Not only do we have family in the faith, but we share the promise given to Abraham all those years ago of being brought forth as children of God. Not as sinners or rejecters of truth but as humble and grateful for redemption. Why would we not want to increase our family and welcome more into the promise of redemption unless the focus is not on God or truth at all?
For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
1 Corinthians 12:13
MEMORY VERse
Image: Paul Reboux. Haitian couple, 1919. The New York Public Library
Related Verses
More verses about breaking down barriers:
Prayer Invitation
Application Questions
- In what ways can we follow the edict of uniting together even when our society is constantly trying to divide us?
- How can we better view each other, even strangers, without first designating gender roles, ethnicity differences, or chosen faith?
- How can you better ‘clothe yourself in Christ’ not by the Law and with rules but with compassion and consideration?
Cover Image: Unidentified artist. Man and Woman on Horseback, Yuan dynasty (1271–1368). The Metropolitan Museum of Art
MANÁ 
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