One in Jesus
Bible in a Year: Joshua 19-21; Luke 2:25-52
There is neither Jew nor Gentile . . . for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28
Today's Scripture: Galatians 3:23-29
Insight
In Galatians 3:28, Paul isn’t abolishing all ethnic, economic, social, or gender distinctions in the church. Rather, in speaking of our salvation, the apostle says that God treats everyone—Jew, gentile, male, female, slave, and free—on the same basis. All have sinned (Romans 3:23) and all need a Savior (Acts 3:19; 17:30). Both Jews and gentiles need to believe in Jesus (Romans 3:22-24; 10:9-12) because everyone is saved in the same way: by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). God gives everyone who believes in Christ a privileged status: “In Christ Jesus [we] are all children of God through faith” (Galatians 3:26). Whether male or female, rich or poor, Jews or gentiles, we’re part of the “great multitude . . . from every nation, tribe, people and language” (Revelation 7:9) who will stand before God’s throne in heaven worshiping and proclaiming, “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb” (v. 10).
Watching sporting competitions and meeting athletes was a dream come true for me when I attended a Summer and Winter Olympics as a young reporter. I was enthralled by hearing people from all over the world speaking in different languages and celebrating their various countries.
I’d been fascinated with the Olympics since I was a teen, but it had become an obsession. After I said yes to following God while at the Summer Games, I felt God was asking me to lay down my idol of sports. But I still had a love for the nations. I still enjoy watching the Olympics, but my heart is truly stirred when people of different backgrounds and from different nations come together during a church service or gathering to pray and to worship the King of kings. What a sweet taste of heaven on earth (Revelation 7:9)!
When we remember who we are in Christ, we remember that we belong to God’s family and His family is international.
The apostle Paul declared to the believers in Galatia, “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith” (Galatians 3:26). “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (v. 28).
No matter where we’re from or where we live, let’s rejoice that as believers we’re one in Christ with our brothers and sisters around the world.
Reflect & Pray
How can you show love to people of different backgrounds? How can you pray for the nations?
Heavenly Father, thank You for making me one in Christ with other believers.