Our Life In Christ
Galatians 3:26 - 4:7
When this life is over, it will not matter how many possessions you have, how new your car is or how large your house is. It will not matter what your bank account, 401k or stock portfolios look like. Your social standing will not matter. Your career achievements will not matter. What will matter is whether or not you are “in Christ”. Being “in Christ” speaks to the fact that we have been born into the family of God by faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Paul refers to this in Galatians 3:26, there he says “for you are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.”
- I want to take some time examine some of the amazing benefits for those who are “in Christ.” In the process, we will consider “Our Life In Christ”. In this passage, Paul reveals that: Because Of Christ, Our Past Is Erased, Because Of Christ, The Present Is Exciting, and Because Of Christ, Our Future Is Enticing
In this life, we will face many troubles and trials. Though we belong to God, we are not exempt from difficulty. However, we can rejoice in the fact that the troubles that we face are temporary.
2 Corinthians 4:17 For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. 18 So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
As Christians we have a glorious future, but we don’t have to wait until Heaven to enjoy an amazing life in Christ. From the moment you put your faith in Jesus Christ there are innumerable privileges that you are able to enjoy. In verses 26-27 we see that:
I. BECAUSE OF CHRIST OUR PAST IS ERASED
v26 for through faith you are all sons of God in Christ Jesus. 27 For those of you who were baptized into Christ have been clothed with Christ.
Verse 11 of this chapter states that we are “justified by faith in Christ”. Now Paul goes on to say that because we are “in Christ” we are the “Children of God”. There are several scriptures that echo the truth that we find in Galatians 3:26:
Romans 8:15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!” 16 The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, 17 and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
John 1:12 But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name, 13 who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.
Those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ are God’s children. Paul refers to those who have been “baptized into Christ”. This speaks to the fact that the Christian is “immersed” or placed into Christ. The picture here is someone being buried in the watery grave and rising to a new life in Jesus Christ. Back in chapter 2:20, Paul says “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me”. Like Paul, it is no longer we who live, but Christ who lives in us.
In verse 27 we see the phrase “put on Christ”. Through faith in His finished work, we are clothed in the righteousness of Christ. Some commentators believe that Paul had in mind the Toga Virillis which in ancient Rome was the toga assumed by a youth at the age of 14 as a symbol of manhood and citizenship.
Before our conversion, we were clothed in sin. Now that we have been redeemed, Christ has cleansed our sin and clothed us in His righteousness. Through Jesus Christ our sins have been cleansed and our past been erased. The word “pardon” is defined as “the forgiveness of a crime and the cancellation of the relevant penalty”. That is exactly what Jesus has done for us. No matter what you have done, your sins have been forgiven and your sin debt has been paid in full.
If you are in Christ, you can rest in the fact that your past has been erased. There are some things from our past that we all regret. Though we cannot change these things, as Christians we can rest assured that they are under the blood of Jesus.
- Because of Christ, our past has been erased, and as we move further we will see that:
II. BECAUSE OF CHRIST, THE PRESENT IS EXCITING
Jesus, when speaking to Nicodemus, spoke of conversion as being “born again”. Those who are born again have received a new life. I want to see just a few of the exciting benefits of the new life. First of all:
A. WE HAVE A NEW FREEDOM
Galatians 4:4 When the time came to completion, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.
The Law’s demands and curses brought bondage and oppression. Because of this we needed a Savior. God provided us a Savior in the person of His Son. Through His finished work, Jesus has delivered us, and we experience true and eternal freedom in Him.
Galatians 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, because it is written, Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.
Before salvation we experienced bondage and oppression. We were “dead in our trespasses and sins.” The due wages of our sins was death. We were destined for and deserving of Hell. Through Christ we have been freed from the bondage and oppression that we were under. Jesus fulfilled the Law and He defeated sin, Satan, death, Hell, and the grave. Because of Jesus’ work, we can experience true freedom.
- Not only do we have A New Freedom, we also see that:
B. WE HAVE A NEW FATHER
v4 When the time came to completion, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.
Spiritual adoption is the act of God's grace by which He brings men and women into His redeemed family. In this process we become partakers of all the blessings He has provided for us.
v6 "because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!”
“Abba” is an Aramaic domestic term of endearment for a father. This word illustrates just how close the relationship is that we have with God. He is our Father, and we are His children.
- Intertwined with the fact that we have a new Father is the truth that:
C. WE HAVE A NEW FAMILY
v7 So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then God has made you an heir.
There was a group called the “Judaizers” who were trying to put the Galatian believers back under the law. Paul wanted his brothers and sisters to comprehend that they had received sonship through the Spirit of Christ within them. He says that those who are in Christ are “no longer slaves” They were no longer under the dominion of sin. They were free from the obligations of the Law. They were children who had been adopted into the family of God. These truths apply to us as well. We are brothers and sisters in Christ, we are joint heirs with Jesus; and we are heirs to the promises of God. We are part of God’s family!
- Because of Christ our past has been erased, our present is exciting and finally:
III. BECAUSE OF CHRIST THE FUTURE IS ENTICING
4:1 Now I say that as long as the heir is a child, he differs in no way from a slave, though he is the owner of everything. 2 Instead, he is under guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. 3 In the same way we also, when we were children, were in slavery under the elements of the world. 4 When the time came to completion, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.
Here, Paul is using the illustration of a child whose father died. Until that child grew up he was not much better off than a slave, Though he owned all of his late father’s possessions he was not able to properly manage the estate. In a case like this, a trusted servant would care for the inheritance until the child reached a certain age. In this passage there are two positions mentioned: Guardians (tutors) - this was a guardian that would care for the underage heir. Trustees (governors) - this was one who managed the property and estate while the child was underage.
The Galatians needed to understand that before Christ came they were like little children. They were slaves to the “elements of the world.” This refers to the basic observances and rituals of the law. But when the right time came, God sent his Son to deliver them from the bondage of the Law. The reason Jesus did this was so that they could “receive the adoption of sons.”
Throughout this Epistle, Paul shares several illustrations of the anticipation that his audience had experienced in the past. Anytime a person or a group of people endures any sort of oppression, they long to be set free. The young child longed to be free of the control of the “schoolmaster.” The young man longed to reach the point of manhood and receive the “Toga Virillis”. The young heir longed to be free from the “guardians” and “trustees”.
Many people in the world today long for a better life. A better life is only possible through Jesus Christ. He is the one who came to secure our freedom. Moreover, He has made eternal life possible for all who repent and believe in Him. Those who are “in Christ” will testify that the present is exciting, the future is enticing, and this is possible because our past has been erased. These are just a few of the amazing truths concerning “Our Life In Christ”.
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