We'll leave the reading there
and we'll turn now to the third chapter of the epistle of Paul
to the Galatians and this evening we'll meditate on the last three
verses. That's verses 27, 28 and 29 in
the third chapter of Paul's epistle to the Galatians. So starting
at verse 27. For as many of you as have been
baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew
nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male
nor female, for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be
in Christ, then are ye Abraham's seed and heirs according to the
promise. As we have, of course, meditated
earlier in this third chapter, the distinction between the law,
really, and the blessed gospel of the Saviour, the Lord Jesus
Christ, and His righteousness. Now we come down to these last
three verses, which really lead us into the fourth chapter. And the Apostle says, for as
many of you as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ. We have really here a double
situation. First of all, those who are blessed
with the Spirit of Christ have indeed put on Christ in that
new nature. having put on by the grace of
God the righteousness of Christ, indicating that they are of Christ,
and also signifying they are united with Christ. in his death
and also in his resurrection. But it is very interesting and
important to notice that as we read the New Testament, when
the ordinance of believers' baptism was of course instituted principally
by the Lord himself, although there was that baptism prior
to that of John the Baptist, But nonetheless, what it set
forth was the outward evidence of the inward faith. And it is not without significance,
as we read through the New Testament and read of all the number of
people that we read of when they were converted, when they were
called by the grace of God, they immediately were baptized. indicating through that that
God had given them that inward faith to believe in his name. And therefore there was this
double aspect and it is important for the Church of God to realize
today that such an ordinance has not disappeared, it's not
become old-fashioned, it's not become irrelevant. Of course
there are people that make the excuse and say well of course
the dying thief that one who was called by grace he was not
baptized and we know that is true but let us be quite clear
it was not possible for that person to be baptized it was
a physical impossibility So we should never hide under that
premise and think, well, therefore there's no requirement to be
baptised. It is an outward evidence. And
it is a profession before the world that we are followers of
the Lord Jesus Christ. And it's not something that you
and I to ignore or something that you and I should cast aside
as irrelevant and we point to this one and that one and we
say, well of course they weren't baptised and therefore I need
not be. Well that's not an excuse. And
we should surely be concerned that if we are to be a true follower
of the Lord Jesus Christ, and if we are to recognise the cost
of our salvation, what it was, what it cost, the Lord Jesus
Christ, and he willingly died upon that cross to redeem our
souls, should not we today, willingly, desire to follow the Lord Jesus
Christ because the first thing the Lord did when he was revealed
really as the Son of God was to be baptized in Jordan and
we know that God the Father spoke those words this is my beloved
Son in whom I am well pleased well my friends we have a wonderful
example let us therefore be concerned that God is well pleased with
us and to realise what a debt we have to pay, that we will
never be able to pay. And therefore to be aligned with
the Saviour is a great blessing and a great privilege. And it
is something that the people of God never regret. There are many who have regretted
not being baptised. I know none who have regretted
being baptised. And so we have this set before
us here in this verse. And then the Apostle goes on
to explain, there is neither Jew nor Greek, well we know of
course physically there was and is, but spiritually there is
not. There is neither bond nor free.
Those who are servants and those who are masters, we know that's
true of course naturally. But spiritually, they are all
one. They are all the same. They're
on the same ground. And it's level because they're
all sinners. We are all sinners, redeemed
by the Lord Jesus Christ. None accepted. Nothing worthy
in ourselves. All because of the free grace. of our great and glorious Saviour. And then he says, and there is
neither male nor female. We know again, physically of
course there is, but spiritually there is not. So then he concludes
by saying, but ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And that's a
very beautiful statement, isn't it? It's a very beautiful statement
for the whole Church of God. You see, we get divided into
denominations, but in glory there will only be one Church. There
will only be one people, and that people will be united in
Christ Jesus. What a wonderful scene that will
be. How sad it is, in a day and age in which we live, We find
trivial things separate the Church of God, separate true believers. But this word is true, and we
should realise it's true, for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And then he goes on to say, and
if ye be in Christ. That's an important thought,
isn't it? And note how the Apostle phrases
it. He says, and if. ye be Christ's. And how vital it is that every
one of us are Christ's. That means we are those for whom
Christ has died. That means there are those who
are united to Christ. They are indeed in that great
bond and part of that glorious family of God. And if ye be Christ's,
This is the promise. Then are you Abraham's seed and
heirs according to the promise. But again we know that for the
most part we are not Abraham's seed in a physical way. We're
not Jews. But what a great blessing if
we know that we are spiritually Abraham's seed and that we are
united therefore to the whole church of God. And as we trace
out the life of the children of God in the word of God we
can find there those who are our brethren, our brothers and
sisters in Christ and we can rejoice in the great truth and
realize therefore this is so wonderfully true then are you
Abraham's seed and then it goes on and says and heirs according
to the promise and of course that means joint heirs with Christ
that means heirs to an eternal home, the promised land, the
place that the Lord Jesus Christ is in, the place where Jesus
Christ has gone to repair a place for his people, a place where
he will receive us unto himself. It is that inheritance which
is incorruptible and which is undefiled and which is reserved
in heaven for you who are kept by the power of God, through
grace, under salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time. Well, this is the promise of
God. Now men make promises, men break
promises. God's promises stand sure. They never fail. And if you and
I are relying on the promise of God, it's a good foundation. it won't be broken, it won't
disappear, because really we're founded upon that rock, the Lord
Jesus Christ, and that will never be moved. And so tonight, may
we rejoice in the glorious Gospel, and praise God that we have such
simple words set before us that we must not ignore, but we must
recognize this is the very Word of God. May we have grace to
walk in the precepts and to praise God for the wonderful promises
that are recorded.