Galatians 3:21-29: a reflection

21Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could make alive, most certainly righteousness would have been of the law. 22But the Scripture imprisoned all things under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, confined for the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24So that the law has become our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. 26For you are all children of God, through faith in Christ Jesus. 27For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29If you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring and heirs according to promise.

Paul explains the purpose of God's law. It was never meant to give life or to make us righteous; if it could have, righteousness would have come through it. Instead, the law functioned like a guardian or tutor, keeping watch over us and showing us our need until Christ came. Its role was to lead us to Christ, so that we might be justified by faith. The law was a signpost, not the destination; it pointed to the Savior we could not save ourselves without.

And now that faith has come, Paul says, we are no longer under that guardian, for we are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. Then he sweeps away the divisions that once seemed so fixed: there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. In Christ, the barriers of ethnicity, status, and gender that divide the world do not determine your standing before God. All who belong to Christ are one, and all are heirs of the promise made to Abraham.

This is a liberating and unifying truth. Your standing before God does not rest on keeping the law perfectly, which you cannot do, but on faith in Christ, who kept it for you. And your worth and belonging in Christ do not depend on your background, your status, or any of the categories the world uses to rank people. If you are Christ's, you are a full child of God and heir of his promise, one with all his people. Rest in that identity, and treat your fellow believers as the equals in Christ that they are.

Lord, your law was a tutor to lead me to Christ, and now through faith in him I am your child, justified not by my law-keeping but by his. Thank you that in Christ the barriers that divide the world do not determine my standing before you. Let me rest in my belonging as your child and heir, and treat my fellow believers as the equals in Christ that they truly are. Amen.