“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. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Galatians 3:28-29
While often misapplied by those seeking to justify women in the pastoral ministry, this word of God teaches that all who trust in Christ Jesus for pardon and are baptized in His name, whether male or female, Jew or Greek, slave or free, are a part of the one body of Christ, members of the holy catholic (universal) church. And those who trust in Christ are the promised offspring of Abraham and will inherit the blessings promised to Abraham — a place in Christ’s eternal kingdom!
Grant that I trust in You, O Christ, that I might be a part of Your church and kingdom and inherit the everlasting joys of heaven. Amen.
“The righteous perishes, and no man takes it to heart; merciful men are taken away, while no one considers that the righteous is taken away from evil. He shall enter into peace; they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness.” Isaiah 57:1-2
Have you ever considered that sometimes God calls His children home to spare them from coming evils and from the judgments that are soon to come upon the unbelieving and wicked in this world?
Keep me faithful to You, O Lord, and preserve me in the true faith unto life everlasting. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” Galatians 3:26-27
We are not children of God by our works under the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, who died for our sins and rose again. When we look to Jesus and His cross in faith and are baptized in His name, as He commanded (Matt. 28:19), we are joined to Christ and partake of God’s new covenant promises: our sins are washed away in Jesus’ blood, and we are clothed with His perfect righteousness.
Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for making me a child of God through faith in Your name and for granting to me, in my baptism, the blessings of forgiveness and life everlasting purchased by Your shed blood. Amen.
“But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. Therefore, the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.” Galatians 3:23-25
God’s law condemns and imprisons us because, though it reveals what is good and right, we are sinners and have come short of doing what God requires. But being condemned by God’s law prepares us for the gospel, in which God offers and promises us forgiveness of sins and eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice on the cross. And when we are justified through faith in Christ, we don’t return again to trusting in our faulty obedience under the law to be counted righteous and acceptable in God’s eyes.
O just and merciful God, Your law reveals my sin and condemnation and prepares me to hear the comforting words of the gospel — the promise of forgiveness and life through faith in Christ Jesus. Grant that I trust in Christ alone so that I might be counted just and righteous in Your sight. Amen.
“Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. “ Galatians 3:21-22
God’s law and His gospel are not contradictory, as some would have us believe. The law is good and right, but it cannot give us life because we are sinners who do not and cannot keep the law as God requires. The law curses and condemns us as sinners and dooms us to death and damnation that we might look in faith to Christ Jesus and His perfect obedience and His innocent sufferings and death in our stead for our sins.
Your holy commandments reveal my guilt and condemn me, O God. Grant that I believe the gospel promise of forgiveness and life through faith in Jesus Christ, who kept the law for me and then suffered my punishment when He died on the cross for the sins of all. Amen.
