Galatians 3.26-4.7 – Who are we…Who are they

January 21, 2007

Sam Ford

This week has been especially stressful. We received several emails, a few phone calls, about one of our ads we recently put in the newspaper. All of them said different things and all of them expressed the fact that they could not understand how such an ad would in fact do anything for bring shame upon Jesus’ name. I emailed responses, had phone calls with 80 year-old grandmas, and other concerned ‘Christians’ about how we should feel about ourselves. Some say I should feel ashamed because that is not how churches should advertise. They claim that is not how the people are going to be reached. I guess they mean that if our ads were a bit more innocuous and less-shocking, that less people would be offended and more people would hear the gospel. OR, is it that less Christians would be offended and more Christians might transfer in here. I have thanked the few “church” people who have contacted us for taking the time to share their thoughts.

I don’t remember the last time I took the time to contact a church about their ad. Why is that? The ironic thing about this entire experience is that anyone not familiar with church, even those a bit apathetic or hostile from their church/Christian experience…appreciate them. The responses from those who would complete ignore some church ad actually stop, laugh, and think. And if, in that moment of reflection, if because of a simple ad, they want to check out our church, our website, or talk with our people, they’ll find we’re about the gospel, about Jesus, about seeing Jesus transform individuals, and families, and communities.

According to the Bible, there are to two ways to live in this world, as a believer in Jesus or as a non-believer. Whether your atheist, agnostic, or simply ascribe to another religion, you either believe Jesus is the savior or not. For those who question the truth of Christianity (not the authenticity of Christians), then I challenge you to answer the question, what are you going to do with Jesus? But among the believers, there appear to be two different ways to live out your faith.

·  You believe that God pursues you. That He sent His son for you and saved you by grace. You believe that nothing in you is worth anything, that your salvation is dependent upon the grace that God extends to us through the sacrifice of Jesus alone—completely undeserved, unmerited, and all-transforming.

·  You believe that you are pursuing God. Although Jesus came to us, you believe you must work your way to him. And you expect the same things from those around you. You follow a law that you’ve set up that, if you’re honest, even if you could satisfy could not give you anything.

The second set of people are the ones that Paul are trying to correct and the truth Paul is trying to get across to his beloved converts in Galatia. The Judaizers had bewitched them into thinking that the Law would make them better Christians. Their old nature felt an attraction for the Law because the Law enabled them to do things and measure external results. As they measured themselves and their achievements, they felt a sense of accomplishment, and, no doubt, a little bit of pride. They thought they were going forward when actually they were regressing.

It made me a bit sad to talk with some of the people who responded to our ads. It is not that I want to condemn as Judaizers or legalists—I don’t know them. What made me sad is that it felt like they were living in bondage. Now, I am sure they don’t feel like they are in bondage. I am certain wouldn’t identify themselves as salves, but I wonder if they would identify themselves as free. Ultimately, I believe that our understanding of the grace of Jesus Christ is sourced in our understanding of identification—WHO ARE WE IN JESUS? I have said it before, show me your Jesus and I’ll show you who you are. Describe for me who you’re God is and I will tell you who you are. Explain to me what Jesus really did on that cross and I will tell you how you will probably behave.

Once we answer WHO ARE WE…then we will begin to see our true answer to the question of WHO ARE THEY? And once you understand who THEY are, then we will know how to connect THEM with Jesus. Not everyone will be reached the same way…but we are called to reach everyone.

In the last part of this letter, Paul is going to explain to us how our identity has changed. As 2Cor5.17 says, 17 Therefore, if anyone is [i] in Christ, he is [j] a new creation. [1] [k] The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.[i]

26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

In these first few verses, Paul declares what our NEW identity as opposed to our old. The Bible uses several things to describe us as non-believers…none of them too friendly. Paul uses several descriptions for us…

Ephesisans 2.1-3

And you were [k] dead in the trespasses and sins 2 [l] in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following [m] the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in [n] the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in [o] the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body [1] and the mind, and [p] were by nature [q] children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.[ii]

Colossians 1.21

21 [z] And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, [a] doing evil deeds, [iii]

John 8.44

You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Romans 5.10

10 For if [p] while we were enemies [q] we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by [r] his life.[iv]

Even in Galatians, Paul uses some very descriptive language, specifically, to describe who we were under the law outside of the grace of Jesus. He calls us SLAVES, LAWBREAKERS, CURSED PEOPLE. Outside of Jesus, we are anything but sons of God. The term SON is used to imbue an individual with the characteristics of that which HE/SHE is a SON OF. It has been used many times in the Scriptures outside the actual SON OF JOE.

·  SONS of DISOBEDIENCE Eph 2.1-3

·  SON OF THE DEVIL Acts 13:10

·  SONS OF LIGHT John 12:36

·  SONS OF THIS AGE Luke 20:34

·  SONS OF THUNDER Mark 3:17

·  SONS OF ABRAHAM Galatians

Matthew 16.16

16 Simon Peter replied, [a] “You are [b] the Christ, [c] the Son of [d] the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, [v]

Now, Paul calls us Sons of God. It is important that we view ourselves in the way that God views us. For those who have accepted Jesus, you are in the family. Before Christ, we were not sons. We are not part of God’s family by nature and by choice. Our first parents gave up their “birthright” in a sense by rebelling—and now we too do the same. We are, in the truest sense of the words, SONS OF ADAM AND EVE. We attempt to do what they did, which was find a way apart from God. They were told not to eat of the tree. They chose to find their truth apart from God’s word. They chose to imagine that there was more meaning apart from the meaning that God had given them.

In the next chapter, verse 6, Paul says we are adopted. The word translated “full rights as sons” is huiosthesia, “adoption.” This significant legal act in Roman law severed an individual’s old relationships and canceled all his old debts and obligations. The father became owner of the adoptee’s possessions, and the new son became his new father’s heir. The father had the right to discipline the son and became liable for the new son or daughter’s actions. In adoption each party became committed to support and care for the other. What a change this means in our position! We owe all now to God. And for His part, God commits Himself fully to guide us and discipline us, that we might bring credit to Him as members of His household.[vi]

As an act of becoming part of the family we have PUT ON CHRIST. It can also be translated “clothed with Christ”…no other religions make this claim. This is probably why Paul can claim in Galatians 2.20…it is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me. Or, again in Colossians when he says, Christ who is your life. In God’s eyes, we become like Jesus. When God sees us, we see Jesus, which should impact how we see ourselves. We no longer take our identity from what we or others think of us but from what God thinks of us in Christ (I Cor. 4:3-4). The gospel produces neither an inferiority complex (since we are a treasure in Christ), nor a superiority complex (since we are sinners standing only by grace). This unique boldness and humility at once is a sign of the transforming power of the Gospel.

But the most amazing part of all of this is that we have absolutely nothing to do with beginning of finishing this process. God chooses to adopt us. God chooses to welcome us into his family. God transforms our identity and God works to make sure we look more like a member of his family.

28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

The 2nd part of our identity is that we are all one. As we begin to understand WHO WE ARE, SONS OF GOD, we begin to look at people differently. As our identity changes, so do our perceptions of others—we no longer stop on the surface, but look beyond to see and ultimately call out the IMAGE OF GOD in all of us. If we’re honest, this view probably condemns most of us here in the room.

Today, our world is all about differences. We have a world full of people taking pride in the cultural distinctions—even Christians. They attack others, swell up in themselves, and miss the entire point of the gospel that makes those differences within our humanity insignificant considering the unity we have in Jesus. This even happens among churches with different theology, people groups, or even ad campaigns. What becomes of most importance is not what your unique qualities are but the fact that you are on the team with us. This is hard though…we all want to feel special which often translates to wanting to feel better, more important, better looking, smarter, than someone else.

This verse would have sincere significance for the Jews at the time. Basically it says that none is spiritually superior over another, that is, a believing Jew is not more privileged before God than a believing Gentile (Greek, in contrast to Jew, suggests all Gentiles; [cf. Col. 3:11); a believing ]slave does not rank higher than a believing free person; a believing man is not superior to a believing woman. You may remember the passage that reflected the attitude of Pharisees last week. Some Jewish men prayed, “I thank God that Thou hast not made me a Gentile, a slave, or a woman.” Paul cut across these distinctions and stated that they do not exist in the body of Christ so far as spiritual privilege and position are concerned.

·  It does mean that the Gospel reconciles individuals In the gospel, Christians become a new people of God, united to Christ and to each other. As the gospel humbles us and assures us of God’s love, we are freed from either envy or pride, either inferiority or superiority. We no longer receive our sense of worth through the approval or power of men. Our relationships become things of beauty, driven by love (Gal. 5:6) in which we are neither using people nor overly “needy” of them. Instead we are freed to serve, affirm, or confront — whatever is best for the moment.

·  It does mean that the Gospel reconciles people The gospel calls us to repent of ALL of our prejudices big and small. It removes cultural pride and brings down racial identity as a component of identity, making it possible to avoid idolizing one’s cultural strengths and appreciating those of others. Essentially, the gospel makes us humble — which heals the racial/nationality brokenness (Gal. 2:14; Acts 2:1-12). We no longer use our culture’s strengths for self-justification (racism). We now can look at others who are not like us and who are not even Christians and know that we can learn from them (since we are not saved because of our wisdom or performance, but because of Christ). Christianity becomes the greatest basis for civil relationships in a pluralistic society.

James 2.1-4, 9 My brothers, [1] [w ]show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, [x ]the Lord of glory. 2 For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, 3 and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” [y ]while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” 4 have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become [z ]judges with evil thoughts?[vii]… 9 But if you [j ]show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors[viii]

EQUALITY does not mean SAMENESS and that in Christ we suddenly change our race, status, sex, or something else at conversion. It simply means that these things do not hinder our acceptance in Jesus nor should they hinder our approach to the world. It puts the MOST IMPORTANT THINGS as MOST IMPORTANT. Any type of spiritual legalism, like the Law perpetuates distinctions, but God in His grace has declared all men to be on the same level that He might have mercy on all men.