For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.  (27) For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (28) There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave or free, there is neither male or female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.  (29) And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

The letter to the Galatians was written by the Apostle Paul. In the verses we study today Paul is addressing the teaching of disgruntled Jews who went to Galatia to tell the Gentile Christians that they needed to follow the Jewish law to gain salvation. The Judaizers sought to make something out of the law of Moses that it was never meant to accomplish – they preached salvation by man’s works to make men righteous before God.

The Judaizers failed to make a distinction between God’s covenant with Abraham and the Mosaic Law – between works and promise, law and grace. Paul had – earlier in Chapter  3 – reminded the Christians that Abraham was justified by faith and that Abraham was NOT under the Law. Paul is writing that grace is over the Law. By faith we are children of God and the Law cannot do this. The simple means of faith in Christ Jesus makes us God’s children.

Nothing we do qualifies or earns us salvation. In Christ nothing else matters; not circumstance or worth or achievements. In faith we are all equal before God. There is no need for Gentiles to become Jews.  All human distinctions disappear in Christ.

Paul tells his audience to put on Christ. According to the Jews this means to follow the example of Christ.  However according to the gospel putting on Christ   means a new birth; a new life, a new affection toward God and a new determination affecting our will.