I no longer need a Guardian

Galatians 3:24-28

Now that “faith” has come we no longer need a guardian, and the Scripture is very clear that the “law” was that guardian.  When we hear the term guardian, our thoughts go to a child or someone who does not have the ability to care for themselves, and their guardian is a defender, protector, or keeper till they are of age or able to manage their affairs.   So faith has taken the place of the law, verse 25 is very clear on this and verses 26-28 say that it is the object of our faith that is important, and we all by faith, put on Christ.  In Christ we lost our identity, verse 28, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male or female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”  Yet, have we lost our identity, most of us who claim the name of Christ hold to some identity other than Christ; identity such as Baptist, Catholic, Bible Church, and the list goes on an on.  But it is not in agreement with Scripture, you are in Christ, “you put on Christ and unless we remove or ignore verse 28, you are not many but one in Christ.

I grew-up Baptist, in fact if you had ask me from the age of four on what I was, it was Baptist.  At the age of 12 years, I became an official Baptist, by walking an aisle in a Baptist church, but being a certified Baptist had no effect on my heart.  It was at the age of 27 years of age that I, by faith, entered into Christ and He entered into me, and I was no longer a Baptist who was destined for hell, but I was now a new creation in Christ.  I must tell you that I had no understanding of all that God did for me in that Hotel room that night but this I’ve learned, He took away my identity; “Bob the Baptist,” and I entered into a relationship with God the Father, by simple faith in what Jesus Christ had done to set me free from sin, and the Holy Spirit came as my Helper.  When The Holy Spirit or the Spirit of Truth comes; He will guide you into all the truth, not Baptist truth, nor Catholic truth, nor any other of man’s names that were set-up to divide us.

Bob the Baptist, at the age of 27, had no understanding of Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.  And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”  He also did not know that God’s divine power had already (without any act or effort on Bob’s part) given him everything he needed for life and godliness.  It may amaze you about who you are and what you have been given, when you by faith enter into Christ.  2 Peter 1:3-4 will give you a great understanding of this truth. 

I’ve read that most of us are not ambassadors for Christ, but is that true?  What is an ambassador; ambassadors have no authority of their own, they are to speak and act on behalf of their King, President or government.  Their job is to negotiate and try to persuade people to accept their ruler’s agenda.  I do believe in 2 Corinthians chapter five that Paul was referring to himself and Timothy as effective ambassadors, but verses 17-20 of that chapter states; “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.  The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.  Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us.” 

Therefore, all who are new creations in Christ are called to be His ambassadors, but are you effective ambassadors?  Many are ambassadors of the Baptist or Catholic or Bible Church, plus many others, and that gives you an identity that is not in keeping with Galatians 3:28.  Ask this question, is my identity in my church, or is it in Christ?

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice