“There is neither Jew nor Greek; there is neither slave nor free; there is no ‘male and female’: for all of you are one in Jesus the Messiah.” Galatians 3:28

The context: Are we justified by the Law or by Jesus’ faithfulness and sacrifice?

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree’ (Deut. 21:23)—in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” Galatians 3:13-14

“I do not nullify the grace of God; for if justification comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.” Galatians 2:21

“For you are—all of you—children of God through the faith that is in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:26

“For you are—all of you—children of God through the faith that is in Christ Jesus. “For when all of you were baptized into Christ, you put on Christ as though he were your clothing.” Galatians 3:26-27

“Then shall you say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord: Israel is my firstborn son.’” (Exodus 4:22) “I have become a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.” (Jeremiah 31:9) “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.” (Hosea 11:1)

“In the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ it shall be said to them, ‘Children of the living God.’” Hosea 1:10

Baptism meant recovery of status as God’s children.

“There is neither Jew nor Greek; there is neither slave nor free; there is no ‘male and female’: for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then as a result of that, you are seed Abraham, heirs according to the promise.” Galatians 3:28-29

“For when all of you were baptized into Christ, you put on Christ as though he were your clothing.” Galatians 3:27

Baptism of Converts to Judaism Seven days after circumcision Immersed naked in a pool of flowing water A new birth as a true son of Israel

The Baptism of John in the Jordan River rather than a sacred pool to be cleansed from sin – a substitute for sacrifice? a sign of God’s forgiveness and of the coming of the Messiah

Jesus’ Disciples Baptize “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:19) “Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard, ‘Jesus is making and baptizing more disciples than John’—although it was not Jesus himself but his disciples who baptized.” (John 4:1-2)

“No one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above “No one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above. . . . No one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.” John 3:3, 5

“For when all of you were baptized into Christ, you put on Christ as though he were your clothing.” Galatians 3:27

“Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all!” (Colossians 3:9-11)

“As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” (Colossians 3:12-14)

“From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we no longer know him in that way. So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!” (2 Corinthians 5:16-17)

“Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:3-4)

“I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed!” Luke 12:50

Baptism tears us away from our natural condition, inclinations, background incorporates the believer “into Christ” live in Christ live for God one day be with the Lord

“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.” Galatians 2:20

“Those who belong to Jesus the Messiah have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Galatians 5:24

“For the love of Christ urges us on [or controls us], because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. And he died for all so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them.” Colossians 5:14-15

Analogies to Baptism in the Hebrew Bible the Flood the crossing of the Red Sea the crossing of the Jordan river entrance into the Promised Land

“Our ancestors were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. . . . God was not pleased with most of them, and they were struck down in the wilderness.” 1 Corinthians 10:1-2, 5

“For you are—all of you—children of God through the faith that is in Christ Jesus. For when all of you were baptized into Christ, you put on Christ as though he were your clothing. There is neither Jew nor Greek; there is neither slave nor free; there is no ‘male and female’: for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then as a result of that, you are seed Abraham, heirs according to the promise.” Galatians 3:26-29