Galatians 3:28, commentary and pictures

Those who are baptized into Christ and clothed with him are all one in him, with no gospel distinction between Jew and Greek, slave and free, or male and female. All humanity is one family by creation and redemption, equal before God, with nationality, race, rank, and caste giving no division or advantage in access to him. Jesus paid the same purchase price for every soul, and his cleansing blood avails for all who believe and obey, whatever their color, nation, or condition. Believers are therefore blended into one great brotherhood in Christ, with national prejudice and jealousy broken down in perfect harmony. That oneness must be lived by removing every dividing wall, esteeming others better than self, and letting all racial prejudice die, so that no separate interests, exclusive cliques, or color lines are kept up among the redeemed.

Wording and Historical Context

Those baptized into Christ and putting on Christ are one in him, with no distinction between Jew and Greek, slave and free, or male and female. The gospel is offered to Jew and Gentile alike, and all who believe are joined in the same body and share God's salvation, with belief transforming character so that the fruits of the Spirit become visible in disposition, words, and actions. In Christ, Jews and Gentiles share equal privileges as children of Abraham, and distinctions of Greek and Jew and of circumcision and uncircumcision do not divide their gospel standing. Christ is the head and uniting center of his people, and their unity is grounded in him rather than in those distinctions.

Christ's death broke down the barrier between Jew and Gentile, so custom and nationality must not limit gospel labor. The Jewish nation's rejection of Christ did not end opportunity for Jewish people to share this unity and salvation, for they may receive Christ and be grafted in again. Galatians 3 teaches about the law, a doctrinal point on which differences of opinion are not vital compared with being Christians and having a true, open and frank Christian spirit. Its truth will bear investigation and criticism without tottering and falling, and must be learned by each person investigating the Scriptures and proving doctrine from the Bible rather than taking any man as authority. When its truth is held rightly it sanctifies believers and brings forth fruit after Christ's order rather than fruit bitter as gall.

The interpretation of the law in Galatians must not be defended in a spirit that fails to cherish Christ's Spirit, and taking wrong positions in that controversy brought the church a sad loss. The gospel does not violently or suddenly overturn the established order of society, which would prevent its success, but teaches principles that strike at the very foundation of slavery and, carried into effect, will surely undermine the whole system. Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty, and the religion of Christ has transforming power upon the receiver. A converted slave becomes a member of the body of Christ, to be loved and treated as a brother and fellow-heir with his master to the blessings of God and the privileges of the gospel, while servants do the will of God from the heart as servants of Christ and not with eyeservice as men-pleasers. Christianity thus makes a strong bond of union between master and slave, king and subject, gospel minister and the most degraded sinner cleansed in Christ, because all are washed in the same blood and quickened by the same Spirit and made one in Christ Jesus.

Christ laid the foundation for a religion without caste by a life of constant self-sacrifice, coming to live the life of the poorest and walking and working unrecognized and unhonored among the needy and suffering. He healed people wherever there were those who needed help and pointed them to their heavenly Father. His work of healing and teaching was not confined to any time or place but was bounded only by love and sympathy for those for whom he would give his life, with compassion that knew no limit. Multitudes thronged to him in every town and village, on the hillsides of Galilee, in the great thoroughfares of travel, by the seashore, and in every place where hearts were ready to hear. In this religion Jew and Gentile, free and bond are linked in a common brotherhood, equal before God.

Equal Standing Before God

God values every soul equally and invites all to come to him and live, whatever their age, rank, nationality, or religious privilege, for distinctions of Jew and Greek or slave and free divide no one before him. All humanity is one family by creation and is made one through redemption, so in Christ distinctions of nationality, race, and social caste neither divide people from one another nor limit any soul's access to God. Christ has demolished every dividing wall, removed every barrier, and opened every part of the temple, so that every soul has free access to God by his blood, brought near by his precious blood. His broad, deep, full love penetrates everywhere, reaching even those deceived and deluded by Satan, lifting them out of Satan's circle and bringing them within reach of God's throne encircled by the rainbow of promise.

In Christ there is no caste and no separate ranks of Jew and Gentile or free and enslaved, for all are joined in one common brotherhood and are equal before God. Nationality, social rank, and religious creed do not divide his people, since he breaks down barriers and offers mercy and love without restriction, forming them into one family. What matters to him is a soul thirsting for the water of life, so he treats neighbors and strangers, friends and enemies alike without distinction. His religion recognizes no caste.

He laid on earth the foundation for a religion by which Jew and Gentile, black and white, free and bond are linked together in one common brotherhood, recognized as equal in the sight of God. He came with a message of mercy and forgiveness, and with boundless love he sees in each person capacity for improvement and greets those for whom he gave his life with divine energy and hope, so that in his strength they may live a life rich in good works, filled with the power of the Spirit. Jesus paid the same purchase price for every soul, whether ignorant or wise, rich or poor, heathen or slave, white or black, red, Chinese, or African, of any color or nation. His cleansing blood is applied to all who give themselves to him, believe the truth, and obey, and their names stand together in the book of life, the black person's name beside the white person's.

Birth, social station, nationality, and color neither elevate nor degrade anyone, for character, faith, and obedience make the person. A believer of any race who gives the heart to God in obedience and faith is loved as a brother and well-beloved brother, made a child of God and joint heir with Christ, receiving the Holy Spirit. Wealth, position, talent, and education have value only when surrendered to God and used in cooperation with him, while status, wealth, race, and sex create no castes among those who belong to Christ by creation and redemption. The humblest believer who holds fast to gospel hope will share the kingdom with the redeemed.

White and Black people stand in the same relationship to God as Creator and Redeemer, with the same offer of forgiveness and salvation and the same hope of heaven and resurrection on the same terms. With God there is no caste, nationality, class, division, or party, and no difference is to be made because of skin color, for all have the same heavenly Father and the same Redeemer who loved all and gave himself for all without distinction, and all are preparing for the same heaven. Christ makes no separation in gathering his people, putting no one in back seats and no curtain between dark-skinned and light-skinned, for color gives no measure of a soul's worth for whom he died. Such distinctions grieve him and grieve the Holy Spirit, while pride of nationality and caste is removed where his love and God's love fill the heart, so that each helps any in need of tender regard and consolation of whatever nationality. This equality calls for work for the education, freedom, and spiritual uplift of neglected people without favoring the privileged.

There is no caste in heaven, for God uses whoever is converted and sanctified, with variety of talent, including the ignorant outcast, the heathen, the European, and the slave. All who believe in Christ as personal Saviour, whether high or low, rich or poor, black or white, belong to him, bought with a price by creation and redemption. When converted from sin to holiness they become members of the royal family, children of the heavenly King, heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ, his brethren who will walk with him in white because they are worthy. There those now counted as lords and great men of earth will gladly associate with redeemed people of every race who have washed their robes in his blood, even those whose skin is black as coal.

Those sanctified through the truth are brought into oneness in which earthly distinctions of wealth, poverty, learning, ignorance, and social rank are no grounds for pride or superiority. The whole human race are alike objects of God's love, purchased by the sacrifice of his Son, and at Jesus' feet human caste and pre-eminence are forgotten as rich and poor, learned and ignorant meet together with no thought of caste or worldly pre-eminence, looking upon him whom their sins have pierced. All meet as blood-bought souls alike dependent on their Redeemer who has redeemed them to God, and his self-denial, condescension, and infinite compassion put to shame human pride, self-esteem, and social caste. Pure, undefiled religion manifests its heaven-born principles in bringing into oneness all who are sanctified through the truth.

He has no caste or specially favored people, for he came to save Samaritans as well as Jews, and Jew and Gentile alike must have sins taken away through him, who was without sin and bears sin for them, before entering heaven. Skin color brings no accountability before God and makes no difference to salvation, and all have room in his work because the world demands labor. Whatever a person's color or nationality, however weak, whether rich or poor, Jesus is Saviour and God is Father, and all can come to him and ask for the things they need. Words carry far more weight with God than color, and his life rebukes sitting idle with folded hands, calling all to set to work in earnest without waiting until labor is regarded as genteel.

High and low, rich and poor, free and bond all belong to him, so the brilliant are not to be honored while the humble are despised. Those who have had a hard lot, worn by incessant work and privation and lacking advantages and culture, are to receive thoughtful interest and gentle instruction and training, not blunt or sharp speech, for he pities them and seeks to encourage them. Love requires loving without selfish preference and without warm affection for a small circle while neglecting all outside it, with kindliness cultivated and courtesy entering all daily actions, and only those learning in his school can be true instructors. Racial or social distinctions do not make a person sinful or lessen standing before God, for people of every race can have pure character and receive an equal reward, with their appearance in heaven for God to determine.

The Scriptures are just as precious to Black people as to white people, and God makes no distinction and will put up no walls of partition between white and colored believers. Because of existing prejudice, white and colored believers in the South may meet in different houses of worship, but every church whether white or colored must reveal his sufficiency and show its members seeking preparation for the future life in the earth made new, where there will be no lines of distinction. The home he prepares for those who love him has no such barriers though men have put them up in this world, and while still in this world where these barriers exist, work must reach all classes and present obstructions must not destroy faith and confidence in God. Through transforming grace both white and Black believers become like the heavenly pattern, building character after the meek and lowly Jesus to become a holy temple for God. The Black believer who has given himself to God as his child is just as precious in his sight as his white children, privileged to lift the head toward the light, partake of the divine nature, reveal Christ's character, be transformed in heart and mind by the divine presence, radiate heaven's dazzling beams with Christ shining forth in the perfection of all righteousness, and have the Saviour's glory as defense.

Unity in Christ

All who believe are brought together into one in Christ Jesus, so that national distinctions are blended and national prejudice and jealousy are broken down. The gospel belongs to every class, nation, tongue and people, and its influence joins them in one great brotherhood with one model, Christ, in perfect harmony. Workers are therefore to preach to every person and labor to blend hearts into one, esteeming others better than themselves, kind and courteous, meek and lowly, easy to be entreated, and full of mercy and good fruits, rather than building up separate interests between nationalities or keeping up partition walls. People of different nationalities are made one in Christ while their distinct national identities remain. French, German and American believers may remain French, German and American, yet become decidedly and equally Christlike, because God's message is given through His servants to meet the needs of each people and unite them in Christ.

Christ living in a German believer recognizes Christ living in a French believer, for the truth exerts the same molding, refining and ennobling power upon every heart that accepts it. Those who receive it become of one mind because Christ is not divided, strong in His strength and united in His peace. That oneness means having the same mind and the same judgment and speaking the same things, with one mouth glorifying God. Even with differences of temperament and disposition, those engaged in proclaiming the last message agree in religious belief.

As believers draw nearer to Christ they draw nearer to one another, and those who live in Christ and are sanctified through the truth share harmony. Discord and strife show failure to be united in Him, so every church is called to change, to live in love, and not to separate selfishly from fellow believers. Through Christ, men and women of every class are made one with Christ, with God and with one another, adopted as God's sons and daughters to share the Saviour's power and redeeming love, for true religion and sanctified judgment build no wall between people, while a proud, partial and exclusive spirit that favors only a few and has little sympathy for the lowly contradicts this unity. This oneness does not mean one believer can sustain another, for each must depend on Christ for life and nourishment, abide in Him and live by faith, and mere agreement that the union exists is not enough if the heart remains attached to worldly pleasures and distractions, since such assent only encourages disobedience.

Husband and wife become minds united as one in Christ Jesus when Christ is welcomed morning and evening as a guest in the household. That oneness brings a regenerating influence upon mind and character that ennobles, refines and establishes both minds and keeps evil out of the home, and when marriage fulfills God's purposes it gives constant evidence of Christ's presence by a continual perfecting of the union that will be enjoyed in heaven above. The same oneness is seen in a love that the world knows is not of the world, beginning in homes and in the church, where the salvation of God is seen as never seen or dreamed of before. Its proof does not need to be told in words, for if the Spirit of God is in the heart it will come out in the life, expressing the shared spiritual life and experience of people who belong wholly to God and seek to do His will. Prepared by the third angel's message with perfection of character, united believers form one great family in heaven.

Brotherhood Lived and Proclaimed

Oneness in Christ means workers must not build up separate interests between nationalities or keep up partition walls, but must preach to every person and labor to blend hearts in one, esteeming others better than themselves in kindness, courtesy, meekness and mercy. This oneness is to be demonstrated to the world by removing every barrier and coming into unity in the service of the Master, for erecting such barriers is a human invention that God cannot endorse. Sectional feelings and strife are to be put aside so that Christians regard one another as brethren and unite their means and talents for the best interests of God's cause. Differences of character, disposition and temperament must not divide believers, who are to cherish love and respect for one another and live in the unity for which Christ prayed.

Being one in faith and one in Christ forbids strife between brethren, jealousies, evil surmisings, dissension, dark suspicion and roots of bitterness, requiring instead love, sympathy and tender compassion toward one another. It forbids lording it over God's heritage, oppressing conscience, exalting self above others, and manifesting narrowness and an unkind spirit toward a brother who disagrees. God alone scrutinizes every talent and judges every man's work, and He has not laid upon any finite man, whose judgment would be biased by his own traits of character, the work of judging others or binding another's conscience. Differences of position give no one the right to rule arbitrarily over others or make one person superior, and church office does not make the man, place him where he is unapproachable, or give liberty to rule another's mind and judgment. Every yoke of human control must therefore be broken in favor of meekness, humble counsel, earnest prayer, a conscience void of offense and righteous deportment, with words of consolation, advice and counsel and prayer that makes the worker one with the troubled soul who comes for help.

Christ's followers must not form exclusive cliques or neglect and slight one another, but must live by Christianity's principles rather than worldly likes and dislikes, with unselfish regard for others and a proud, partial, exclusive spirit put away. Becoming one with Christ fills the heart with His love and gives His Spirit, which removes hereditary and cultivated prejudice, so a believer will not be offended when a colored brother sits by his side nor despise him, because the same Saviour abides in both hearts. Both are journeying to the same heaven and will be seated at the same table to eat bread in the kingdom of God, and when this unchristian prejudice is broken down more earnest missionary work will be done among the colored race. When Christ redeems the soul from the bondage of sin all racial prejudice ought to die, so distinctions between white and black have no place among the redeemed. No man may take the place of God by making church resolutions or prescribing a definite plan of working with reference to the color line, for such action only strengthens prejudices that redemption ends; believers must stand aside in awe and leave opportunity for God to work in His own way upon both white and black hearts, and He will adjust all these perplexing questions.

Christians must treat people of different races from the Bible's standpoint rather than follow the world's customs, showing Christ's Spirit by example, resisting prejudice, working to elevate the standard of character, and sharing equally in church membership and worship, while this unity does not require teaching or practicing intermarriage. God estimates men as men and character decides worth with Him, for the religion of the Bible recognizes no caste or color and ignores rank, wealth and worldly honor. Christians are to recognize the Spirit of Christ in whomsoever it is revealed, so no one need be ashamed to speak with an honest black man in any place or to shake him by the hand, and he who lives in the atmosphere in which Christ lives will be taught of God to put God's estimate on men. This unity calls Christians to respect every human being as God's property and to show the tender compassion Christ showed, exemplified by the good Samaritan's care for a wounded man of a hostile people. Skin color and nationality do not determine a soul's value or justify separate treatment, for Christ died for all and those preparing for the same heaven should show equal love and help anyone needing kindness and comfort, since caste, national pride and racial separation grieve Christ and the Spirit of God.

Christ treated neighbors and strangers, friends and enemies alike without distinction, for what mattered to Him was a soul thirsting for the water of life, and His religion recognizes no caste joining all in one common brotherhood equal before God without ranks of Jew and Gentile or free and enslaved. Opposed to making the gifts of heaven a local and national benefit to exclude the rest of God's family, as the scribes and Pharisees desired, Christ came to break down every wall of partition and to show that His gift of mercy and love is as unconfined as the air, the light, or the showers of rain that refresh the earth, offered without restriction and breaking barriers that would reserve God's gifts for one group. A converted slave becomes a member of the body of Christ, to be loved and treated as a brother and fellow-heir with his master to the blessings of God and the privileges of the gospel, while servants do the will of God from the heart as servants of Christ and not with eyeservice as men-pleasers. Thus Christianity makes a strong bond of union between master and slave, king and subject, and gospel minister and degraded sinner cleansed in Christ, because all are washed in the same blood and quickened by the same Spirit and made one in Christ. The gospel does not violently or suddenly overturn the established order of society, which would prevent its success, but teaches principles that strike at the very foundation of slavery and, carried into effect, will surely undermine the whole system, for where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty.

Oneness in Christ removes social distinctions, so slavery, the caste system, unjust racial prejudices, oppression of the poor and neglect of the unfortunate violate that oneness, are unchristian and a serious menace to humanity, and the church is appointed to overthrow these evils. In Christ all race prejudices and national distinctions are laid aside as believers become brethren engaged together in advancing the Redeemer's kingdom, uniting heartily across nations to educate and train young men and women as consistent, well-balanced Christians able to understand and explain the Scriptures. The gospel is for all classes, nations, tongues and peoples, offered to Jew and Gentile alike, and those who believe are joined in the same body sharing salvation. A call from suffering humanity must be heard and answered whatever the difference in religious belief, with personal service and loving ministry breaking down prejudice and winning souls, for Christ demolished every dividing wall and opened every part of the temple so every soul has free access to God by His blood. This equality calls believers to work for the education, freedom and spiritual uplift of neglected people without favoring the privileged, presenting obstructions without losing faith, for distinctions of race and nationality do not lessen standing or right to salvation. The humblest believer holding fast to gospel hope will share the kingdom with the redeemed, with the humblest believing African exalted above earthly kings to inherit the kingdom prepared from the foundation of the world and eat of the tree of life amid heaven's welcome.