Featured What does Galatians 3:27 mean?

You are familiar with clothing? Clothes are "put on" your body and that is what people see when they look at you. In direct contrast, we are "created IN Christ" (Eph. 2:10) and that is something occurring unseen WITHIN your body to your spirit as divine quickening of your spirit (Eph. 2:1,5, 10a).

When a person is "baptized" they "put on" Christ in a public profession for all present to visibly see. In the act of baptism in water that person symbolically puts on Christ by publicly identifying with the death, burial and resurrection of Christ through immersion.

Just a few verses further down in the chapter, Paul talks about what the heir does when they turned the proper age according to the "time appointed" by his father to possess their inheritance. They would declare themselves the heir by putting on a white toga signifying they were the heir and had become of age to take possession. They did not put on this toga in order to acquire the proper "time" to take possession of the inheritance, but they "put on" the toga to declare that time had come to take possession. This putting on was declarative and that is the function of baptism. By baptism we "put on" Christ declaring we are children of God through faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

1 ¶ Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.


As Peter clearly states "The like figure whereunto Baptism doth now also save us......by the resurrection of Christ" - 1 Pet. 3:21. It is a corresponding figure of our salvation in that it is a figure of "the resurrection of Jesus Christ" which is what literally saves us. In the parenthetical negative ("NOT the....) Peter clearly states what baptism cannot do and that is remove the filth of the fleshy nature - sin and its guilt - from our conscience. Instead, baptism is the response of a conscience already cleansed from the filth and guilt of sin, and thus a declaration of an already cleansed conscience by faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Indeed, this is true concerning EVERY EXTERNAL DIVINE RITE commanded by God since the Garden of Eden and the institution of external sacrifices as these were all "shadows" which could never LITERALLY remove sin (Heb. 10:1-4). A "shadow" provides a visible image of what is casting the "shadow" but is not that image itself (Heb. 10:1; Col. 2:16). Therefore, the "shadow" provides only a FIGURE of salvation whereas, the image casting the shadow provides the LITERAL means of salvation. Associated with the "figure" or "shadow" is the language of redemption. Hence, they were to offer up sacrifices "for sin" and "cleansing" from sin, as is true with all external divine rites (ceremonial rites, circumcision, baptism, Lord's Supper) but none of these things were designed to LITERALLY remove sin (Heb. 10:4) but only to provide in "figure" or "shadow" images what really did LITERALLY remove sin (the Person and work of Christ). So saints before the cross received LITERAL "remission of sins" EXACTLY as we do after the cross by faith in the coming Christ and his redemptive promises (Acts 10:43; Heb. 4:2) and then they declared their faith outwardly and publicly by putting on that faith in ceremonial "shadow" gospel rites.

Paul's argument to the Galatians is that they had already been fully justified by faith WITHOUT external rites/works (Gal. 2:16-3:27) under the law. Obedience to the law could not obtain their inheritance in Christ (Gal. 3:18) or obtain spiritual life (Gal. 3:21). The Law and its SHADOW ordinances were designed only to lead a person to faith in what they pictured - the redemptive person and work of Christ (Gal. 3:19,22) and therefore, baptism does not obtain spiritual life but is something that already believing children of God "put on" to declare they are already children of God by faith in Christ.

 

Isaiah 61:9 And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the Lord hath blessed. 10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.

Colossians 3:1If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

Romans 3:26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

 

Our POSITION in Christ by justification is the very thing that baptism in water expresses in figure/likeness. It serves as an outward expression of legal position in Christ. That is precisely why baptism is commanded to be observed AFTER believing in the gospel as it serves as the visible profession of faith in the gospel. However, scriptural baptism serves much more than identification with the Gospel. Correctly administered it SYMBOLICALLY identifies with every single major aspect of Biblical theology.

 

Law and grace are being contrasted. The law could not save. The outward sign of the law and its covenant relationship with God was circumcision.

However, grace does save. And it also had an outward sign of a covenant relationship with Jesus Christ, and that was baptism. But baptism symbolized that which was already done in the heart, the circumcision of the heart done by Christ. Baptism symbolized our death to the world and sin, and our rising again to an new life in Christ. We are "cut off" from the old world of sin.

 

But as water baptism only signifies symbolically after salvation, the actual baptism that now saves us is the one baptism that Jesus gives in saving us; the baptism with the Holy Ghost.

 

Since God is making the New Covenant and He is doing all the works within as it is His turn now since man failed under the Old Covenant, then water baptism by men should not be the reference for outward sign of a covenant relationship with Jesus Christ; but a different for of baptism which is an inward sign of baptism with the Holy Spirit, because we are all children of God by faith in Jesus Christ; not by water baptism.

I understand the use of water baptism as symbolic, and it is an ordinance for new saved believers to follow if and when it is available as the Lord provides, but I believe the actual baptism that counts in Heaven as well as on earth in the eyes of God is the one Jesus has given us at our salvation as that is the baptism that saves us. A saved believer can go to Heaven without ever having received water baptism.

 

You are rewriting 1 Peter 3:21 to suit yourself. The baptism that saves in 1 Peter 3:21, saves only in "figure" not literally. The word "whereunto" connects the words "baptism" with "the like figure." The words "like figure" are descriptive of the baptism and how it saves. The baptism in view, and being described by Peter DOES NOT LITERALLY save, it only provides a FIGURE of what does literally save. What literally does save is not baptism of any kind, but what literally saves is "the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (which baptism is a figure of) as the literal resurrection of Jesus Christ is what literally defeats sin and death and is the object of saving faith. It is in water baptism this resurrection is presented in "figure" by those already justified by faith, just as circumcision was an outward "sign" or figure by Abraham already justified by faith (Rom. 4:9-11).

 

Greetings CarpentersApprentice,

Baptism is the appointed means of identifying with the death and resurrection of Christ. A believer who has an affectionate belief of the gospel of the Kingdom and the Name will be motivated to be baptised.
Acts 8:5 (KJV): Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
Acts 8:12 (KJV): But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
This baptism is “into Christ” and and the believer becomes part of the “One Body” of Christ. He will thus be forgiven his sins and be clothed with the righteousness of Christ.

Galatians 2:27 is also part of a larger context in Galatians 3 and this larger context also looks back to Abraham and the Genesis record concerning him.
Genesis 13:14-15 (KJV): 14 And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: 15 For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.
Galatians 3:8 (KJV): 8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
Galatians 3:16 (KJV): 16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
Galatians 3:26-29 (KJV): 26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Galatians 3:8 looks to the promises in Genesis 12:1-3. Also one apsect of the promises to Abraham is the promise of the land to Abraham and his seed in Genesis 13:14-15, and Galatians 3 seems to allude specifically to this promise when it says in v16 “And to thy seed”. Note v16 “the promises” and “heirs according to the promise” v29.

Kind regards
Trevor

 

When God the Father sees us, He sees Christ & His righteousness in us, and by having Christ and His righteousness in us, we shall be able to see God the Father.

 

What you are saying has nothing to do with Galatians 3:27. What you are saying has to do with the doctrine of justification not baptism. The justified are commanded to be water baptized (Mt. 28:19). The baptism in the Great Commission is water baptism as it is administered by men ("ye") not by God. The saved are commanded to follow Christ in WATER baptism, because in WATER baptism one PUTS ON Christ BEFORE MEN as a public WITNESS to the gospel which they have previously trusted in.

 

was that a one time act in Acts at pentacost though, or ongoing?

 

Was Abraham saved by faith or by works.
Was circumcision outward or inward.
Was it faith in God that gave him righteousness or the seal of a covenant made by circumcision.
[FONT=&quot]Genesis 17:11 And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.[/FONT]

Does Jesus save or a baptism save? Which one?
Salvation is by faith. It was by faith in the days of Abraham; it is by faith in our day; it has always been by faith.
Salvation is never by baptism.

 

Let's go back a bit:

So in context of Galatians 3rd chapter...

Galatians 3:14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

It did not say that we are all children of God by water baptism in Jesus's name.

And so this baptism with the Holy Ghost in context of the promise of the Holy Spirit in how He is to be received by faith in Jesus Christ is referring to the baptism with the Holy Ghost upon our salvation by faith in Jesus Christ as that is the baptism we are actually putting on Christ by.

 

It is a one time act in the life of any believer as that day of Pentecost was the day that His disciples had received the actual promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father which was based on the condition when Jesus was no longer present with them as discussed in John 14th chapter.

So the times when Jesus had given them the Holy Ghost when He was present with them in Matthew 10th chapter and in John 20th chapter, that was not the actual promise of the permanent indwelling Holy Ghost that was to be sent by the Father for all the believers.

John 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

 

A token is not what was counted unto Abraham as rightousness.

Romans 4:1What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? 2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. 3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. 4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. 6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, 7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. 9 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. 10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. 11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: 12 And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised. 13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

By believing in Jesus Christ, the Father sends the promise of the Holy Spirit by having His Son baptize us with the Holy Ghost at our salvation.

The seal of the Holy Spirit upon us testifies that we are His and thus we are saved.

So Jesus saves... how... by baptizing us with the promise from the Father of the baptism with the Holy Ghost.

 

You have no Biblical basis for this. It is wrong.

The words of Jesus in the Gospels:
[FONT=&quot]John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.[/FONT]

The words of Paul in the book of Acts:
[FONT=&quot]Acts 10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Acts 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.[/FONT]

The words of the epistles:
[FONT=&quot]Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:[/FONT]

No matter which way you look at it: we are justified by faith, not by any kind of baptism. You are wrong, way out on a limb on this one.

 

But all of your references are on how we are saved by our believing in Jesus Christ.

I am talking about how Jesus saves us when we believe as that is how we receive the remission of sins and thus the promise from the Father which is by baptizing us with the Holy Ghost at our salvation.

Luke 3:16John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:

John 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

 

Except that EVERY NT scripture links sins being remitted due to the Cross of Christ, and that thru faith we receive that from God!

 

From our end, yes. Now flip the process around and see it from His end.

I recognize how we are saved, but now recognize how He saved us.