So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith,
Summary: Learning to trust Jesus is a big step for people who are used to trusting themselves.
Way back at the beginning of chapter three, Paul said, “Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham” (Galatians 3:7). Now, after a long excursion into the intricacies of law and faith, Paul brings us back to being children. This time, we are “all children of God.”
How did we get here?
Paul outlines two separate paths to God. One is called the “law,” and the other is called “faith.” These are two very different things.
“The law is not based on faith,” says Paul (Galatians 3:12). Instead, the law is a contractual arrangement between God and man. God is the standard for all that is right and good. The law is man’s guide for doing the minimum to honor God and avoid doing what is bad. The problem is that our capacity for doing what is bad exceeds our ability to follow the law.
Faith is different. Faith is placing our trust in God’s Messiah, his Son, the one we call Jesus.
Jesus kept the law. Ironically, the Pharisees took exception to this fact. Jesus did things on the Sabbath that the Pharisees defined as “work.” This resulted in the strange situation of God’s creation telling the Creator that God wasn’t following his own rules.
Jesus, being God and all, knew better. He saw the Pharisees for what they were. Jesus knew their hearts and what they did when no one was looking. He also knew which laws were God’s and which were written by man.
Trusting Jesus is hard for us because he doesn’t fit our expectations. The real Jesus really is God (John 10:30). What he does, by definition, is right and good.
The whole problem with humanity is that we want to be in charge of what is right and good. When God’s idea of “right and good” differs from ours, we tend to get our noses bent out of shape. Sometimes we get mad. Once in a great while, we “shoot the messenger.” One time, long ago, we actually killed God’s Son.
When Jesus rose from the dead, he didn’t wipe humanity off of the face of the Earth. Instead, he reached out to us with an offer of salvation. In effect, he calls us to him. “Trust me,” is his message. He wants us to have faith that he is who he says he is. He wants us to know that God loves us. He wants us to know he forgives us if only we will admit that God is the one who defines what is right and good.
If we can do that one thing, if we accept God as God and Jesus as Lord, he will accept us as family. We can become “children of God through faith.”
Application: Trust in Jesus!
Food for Thought: What does it mean to be “in” Christ Jesus?
Great question brother. This is a theme in Paul’s letters. The words “in Christ” are very important. In Ephesians 1: 3 – 14 we see many blessings for those “in Christ.” The difference between being “in Christ” and not being “in Christ” is a life or death difference.
In John 15 Jesus said that we need to abide in Him or remain in Him for life and to bear fruit. Even those who have made the decision to believe in Christ need to make the moment by moment decision to abide in Him and give up selfish pursuits to follow Him (Luke 9: 23).
We bear fruit and show the world who He is by producing fruit that comes with being connected to the vine – which is Christ John 15: 1 – 8; John 13: 34 – 35.
Thank you, Rich!
Excellent verses! I especially appreciate Luke 9:23
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.”
I think Rich really said it well. There is only “in” or “out”, hot or cold, life or death.
Rich already referenced this verse, but I’d like to say a little more about it.
John 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.
What I like about “abide in me, and I in you” is that, as we often say, Christ lives in our hearts, but also Christ covers our life. He is in us, but also encompasses us.
In Christ we have been given grace.
In Christ we are chosen.
In Christ we are shown love by God.
In Christ we are redeemed.
In Christ we are justified.
In Christ we are a new creation.
Thanks, Chris!
I like the emphasis on being part of the vine. From the outside view, we might say the branch that was broken has been attached to the vine. From the inside, though, there is a fusion that takes place. Parts of each, branch and vine, become intermingled with each other. It is literally true that each enters in to the other.
What does it mean to be “in” Christ Jesus?
Great responses!
Our lives change from DON’T’S to DO’S.
“Love God and do whatever you please”. This quote has been been attributed to St. Augustine, referring to his words in his sermon on
1 John 4:4-12.
Love, and do what you will: whether you hold your peace, through love hold your peace; whether you cry out, through love cry out; whether you correct, through love correct; whether you spare, through love do you spare: let the root of love be within, of this root can nothing spring but what is good.
To live in but not of this world. ( John 15:19 )To live our eternal life in the freedom received now. To experience life in Jesus Christ is to come home to our creator and live in full confidence of God’s Sovereign Will being revealed in every circumstance in this world and our lives. To know we are experiencing His plan and be alert to what He has planned next.
Thanks Ron!
I like your phrase, “to live in full confidence of God’s Sovereign Will.”
That is a nice twist on the use of “in.”
🙂
What does it mean to be “in” Christ Jesus?
I like the others answers and being reminded that you can be saved and you need to have Christ constantly a part of your life and include Him in your everyday activities.
Thank you, Tan!
What you say is true! Jesus is with us every day. He likes it when we notice. 🙂