Have Ye Put On Christ -- Part 2410

Have you put on Christ? Or even more so, have you so learned Christ? Have you heard Him and been taught by Him — “as the truth is in Jesus!” (Ephesians 4:21)

This same Jesus - “in whom ye also trusted, after ye heard the Word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory.” ((Ephesians 1:13-14)

In the epistles, apostle Paul is giving instruction to the Jesus believing communities to the saints in Galatia, and the faith community in Ephesus. (Galatians 4:1-19; Ephesians 4:20) To the first, Paul is concerned about the Galatians willingness to return to bondage. Indeed, Paul says, “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?” (Galatians 3:1)

Paul goes on to ask, “Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law? Or, by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? Have ye suffered so many things in vain?” (Galatians 3:1-4)

These are valid questions, particularly to those who are non-Jews, that like the Jews have become so entrenched in the law and pompous religious ceremony, that they have forgotten the freedom and liberty that is in Christ. (Galatians 5:1) Indeed, Paul is so adamant on this point that he tells us to stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” (Galatians 5:1; Acts 15:10; I Corinthians 16:13)

Note that Paul does not stop there. In fact, Paul writes, “And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage; to who we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.” (Galatians 2:4-5; II Corinthians 11:26; Galatians 4:16)

As he writes repeatedly, the law was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. For clarity, note that in the traditional sense, a mediator is a go-between but God is excepted from this definition. “Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.” (Galatians 3:20; Deuteronomy 6:4; I Timothy 2:5)

Thus, in the context, the law should not make the promised Seed of none effect. “For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise. This is why the scripture hath concluded that all are under sin, so that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

And when we believe in Jesus — as both Lord and Christ by faith, we want to hear His voice, and be taught by Him. In our hearts, our desire is to so learn Christ — the truth that can only be found in the I AM — Jesus — who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. (John 14:6) The One and Only God manifest in the flesh, who redeemed us who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. (Galatians 4:5; John 1:12; Galatians 3:26)

So when we answer Paul’s question, have we put on Christ — he is asking have we made Jesus the Christ our all in all. Have we been water baptized in His precious name — the Name of the Lord Jesus, wherein we become clothed in His garment of righteousness — in answer of a good conscience toward God? (Acts 2:36-41; I Peter 3:21) Wherein we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost — who leads and guides us into all truth.

If you have not repented and been water baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus for the remission of sins, today is the day to do so! For He has a purpose for each and every one of us — who have turned from the weak and beggarly elements of this world to a much higher calling in His mercy and goodness and grace. Paul travailed in instructing us — until Christ be formed in you. (Galatians 4:19)

This same good news gospel message remains true to this day.

Stand in the offering plate.