READ: Gal. 3:23–29: … that we might be justified by faith. … all sons of God … for you are all one in Christ Jesus …
The deliverance by Christ followed the period in which God’s people were kept under guard by the law—they were in slavery because fulfilling the law proved impossible. The freedom of God’s grace only broke through after the atoning work of Christ: then it became clear that justification—the acquittal of all guilt—could be received by faith in Him. That changes everything! Freed from the curse of the law, freed from the guilt of sin, freed from futility.
Paul exclaims in Romans 7:24–25: “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!”
Now the law is no longer a custodian in the sense of a disciplinarian who restrains you and keeps you from freedom or maturity. Instead, through faith in Christ, we receive the Holy Spirit, who guides us in the way of God’s Word.
The law does not disappear from our lives, but it becomes the law of Christ. He modeled it for us in His life on earth, bore its curse on the cross, and gives us His Spirit to follow Him.
The faith granted in Christ makes us God’s children. Outside of faith in Christ, that is not possible.
Paul then draws a conclusion regarding the difference between Jews and Gentiles/Greeks who believe in Christ Jesus: before God, there is no difference! They are all His children.
Alongside the believing Jews, the Galatians are just as much included in God’s mercy. All have been bought by Christ with His blood to be His possession. They are all delivered from the guilt of sin when they plead that blood.
It no longer matters whether they are slave or free, male or female. As long as they are united by baptism with Christ’s death and resurrection and so clothed with Him in a life with Him.
How do you know if you have received the Holy Spirit?
Sing: Ps. 34:8