DYNAMIS!
A publication of St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral
Wichita, KS

Galatians 3:23-4:5  (12/4)   Epistle for Feast of Great Martyr Barbara & John of Damaskos

 

Sons in Christ: Galatians 3:23-4:5, especially vs. 26: “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”  When Saint Paul wrote to the churches of Galatia, he was horrified that they were “...turning away...from Him who called [them] in the grace of Christ...” (Gal. 1:6).  Turning away in favor of what, and turning toward what?  Apparently, the Galatians were being persuaded to practice a restrictive Christianity following the manner of traditional Judaism.

Even today some ill-informed souls see Judaism as perfectly acceptable with its high morality, fear of the Lord, and pious worship.  However, Saint Paul plainly warns that Christ will be of no profit to those who revert to the strictness of the Mosaic Law for salvation.  Worse, such misguided choices lose the priceless gift of being one of the “...sons of God...” (Gal. 3:26)!

In this passage, Saint Paul presents the blessed alternative to the estrangement that results should anyone try to live fully by the Mosaic Law: we have the God-given gift of being “...baptized into Christ...” and of putting on Christ (vs. 27)!  The opportunity to become “...sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus” (vs. 26) is ours - the very reason why we sing,  “As many of you as have been Baptized into Christ have put on Christ.  Alleluia” at great Feasts.

Thus, in these verses, Saint Paul reminds us of what it means to be one of the sons of God.  Since the Faith has come, “...we are no longer under a tutor” (vs. 25).  Instead, we are a new creation in Christ, and all of us are “...sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus” (vs. 26).  It is not slavery to rules and the details of regulations, but, as he will say later, we have “...the Spirit of His Son [in our] hearts, crying out, ‘Abba, Father!’” (Gal. 4:6).  We are no longer slaves under Law - important as God’s commandments are - but sons, “...and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ” (Gal. 4:7).  We may call God our Father, even as prodigals, and to come to Him.

Rejoice in the uniqueness of this priceless relationship to God provided by our Baptism into Christ; for having put on Christ (Gal. 3:27), every ethnic, economic, and biological distinction is swept away in favor of the new status that is ours as “...heirs according to the promise” that God made to Abraham (vss. 28,29).  This is what we have received in Christ.  By believing God in our hearts and receiving Baptism, we become Christ’s; and the promise is ours, since in Christ Jesus we “...are all sons of God...” (vs. 26).

The Laws of God are good and holy.  They guide us in daily living; but anyone who doggedly tries to keep the Divine commandments falls into the trap of believing he can do the will of God perfectly.  There is a problem with rules - even God’s holy Laws.  The problem is our sin, our inclination to rebel, to be disobedient.  It is as old as Adam and Eve facing temptation in Paradise.  Sin disrupts kingdoms and nations, as it did in the kingdom of the holy Prophet and king, David.  The temptation of and the sin with Bathsheba ultimately tore his Kingdom apart and faced him with civil war with his own son.  No amount of effort to keep the Law will succeed!  Let us separate from God again and cry for Paradise lost (Gen 3:24)!

God wills it otherwise.  Having made a promise of restoration to Abraham, God went on to promise that “...when the fullness of the time had come, [He would send] forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law...” (Gal 4:4), a True Son Who would deal with sins on the Cross and make it possible for all to come back in trust to Him, as to a good and loving Father, “...that we might receive the adoption as sons” (vs. 5).  The Law alienates and makes us illegitimate before God.  But we have been made “...sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus” (vs. 3:26).

O Master, Who hast revealed the water of Baptism as redemption, sanctification, the loosing of bonds and the gift of adoption to sonship, renew us after Thine image, O our Creator.

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