Galatians 3:24-27 - You are all sons of God

3:24,25

So the Law was sent to be Israel’s guardian until Christ came. She showed Israel what was right and what was wrong, and kept her in check, up to a point. “that we might be justified by faith”. The Law did not and could not provide justification, only Christ can do that, and that justification is gained by faith. Now that faith has come, we no longer need the Law in the sense of a guardian. This does not mean that the Law has nothing to teach us, but it is not a means to justification.

3:26

“For in Christ you are all sons of God, through faith”. Being sons of God is the highest level of belonging that we can have, and all who have faith in Christ are sons of God. There is no higher place to go, there is no difference on gender, race, or social status. Why were the Galatians even contemplating circumcision? It would be out of fear and confusion, sown in them by the Judaisers. The truth is that there were no grounds for fear, for they were already sons of God, and that through faith. In our own lives when we feel insecure we should remind ourselves that we are sons of God.

3:27

In those days if someone converted to Judaism then they were baptised into God’s people. So the use of baptism and the imagery of baptism was well known. And, of course, John the Baptist had come baptising people. Paul now reassures them that all of them who were baptised in Christ have put on Christ. They fully belong! Note also the implication that all believers are baptised. And further note that they were baptised into Christ. They were not becoming part of the nation of Israel, but part of Christ’s people.