In his letter to the followers of Christ in the Roman province of Galatia, the Apostle Paul proved that we attain righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ rather than through attempting to keep a law through our own efforts. If righteousness were the only result from putting our faith in Christ, it would be extremely precious. But faith does much more. In verses 26 through 29 of chapter 3 of his letter Paul explains:
“For you are all children of God, through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to promise.”
In this passage, Paul lists four results of believing on Christ. The first is that those who have faith in Him are children of God. Other Scriptures say that God adopts those who believe in Christ into His household. We become part of God’s family. As Paul writes in another place, “Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household,” (Ephesians 2:19 NIV)
The second result of believing on Christ is that we are clothed with Christ. This means that when God looks at us, He does not see our sins and imperfections, but Jesus. It also means that we become like Jesus. We start to think as He does. We live our lives as He would.
How and when do we clothe ourselves with Christ? Paul says it occurs in baptism, that is when we are immersed in water in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. It is baptism which brings us into Christ, and it is baptism which clothes us with Christ. Many deny that baptism has any role in the process of salvation. After all, did not Paul say in chapter 2 and verse 16 of this very letter that we are justified by faith? Those who take this position fail to understand that baptism is actually a part of faith. It is true that water does not save. It is also true that immersion is not a work of merit. But it is also true that baptism is a vital part of the salvation process. Baptism and faith are not opposed to each other, rather baptism is faith manifesting itself in action.
A third result of believing on Christ, is that in Him we are all one. Many people make distinctions between themselves and others. They regard themselves as superior and others as inferior. Christ, wipes away all the barriers that people erect to divide themselves. Regardless of our gender or our economic, social or ethnic backgrounds, we are united in Christ. All have the same worth before God.
The fourth result of believing on Christ, is that in Him we are heirs. Spiritually speaking, by faith we are descendants of Abraham. Therefore, since we are his descendants, we will also inherit the promises made to Abraham.
Because of faith in Christ, our status is also very different than before. Paul explains the difference in verses 1 through 7 of chapter 4: “But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a bondservant, though he is lord of all; but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed by the father. So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental principles of the world. But when the fullness of the time came, God sent out his Son, born to a woman, born under the law, that he might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of children. And because you are children, God sent out the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!” So you are no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”
Paul compares the status or condition of people before the coming of Christ to that of an orphaned child. Until such a child reaches the age when he is legally considered an adult, he is under the authority of guardians and trustees. They control his life. In that sense he is no better off than a slave, even if he is extremely wealthy. He has no control over his wealth and must obey what he is told to do. In the same way, before the coming of Christ, people were under the rule of law. Right behavior was defined by rules and regulations.
But the day comes when a child reaches the age set by his father. The estate and wealth is now his. He is no longer under the authority of those who guided and directed him while he was still a child. How he acts on his own, and what he does with his wealth will now not be determined by rules made by others, but by what kind of person he is.
In the same way, a person who is in Christ enjoys a new status. He is now part of God’s household, one of God’s sons. This change in status reflects a change in character. A member of God’s household will act in godly ways because it is his nature to do so. Before coming to Christ, a person had to be controlled and directed by external forces. Rules and regulations were needed to show him the right thing to do. By putting on Christ, however, a person becomes like Christ. And, once a person becomes like Christ, he does what is right because it is the nature of Christ to do what is right. A person in Christ is inner directed rather than a slave to external rules. He no longer needs rules to direct his behavior because he has God’s Spirit living in him.
In light of this, each of us needs to evaluate our own lives. Why do we act the way we do? Are we trying to live our lives by a set of external rules, or is it our nature to do what is right? If there were no rules, would we live a godly life anyway? If not, we need to ask whether God’s Spirit is living in us. If our lives are not directed by God’s Spirit, then are we part of God’s household? Are we in Christ?