Claim God's Promise...Be His Child

Galatians 3:26-29 -  For now we are all children of God through faith in Jesus Christ,  and we who have been baptized into union with Christ are enveloped by him. We are no longer Jews or Greeks or slaves or free men or even merely men or women, but we are all the same—we are Christians; we are one in Christ Jesus.  And now that we are Christ’s we are the true descendants of Abraham, and all of God’s promises to him belong to us.

Paul continued his loving rebuke of the false teachers that tried to convince these new Christians that they needed to follow the Jewish laws to be saved. He said that they were convinced so easily he was afraid a magician had hypnotized them. His rebuke contained a reminder of the first promise given of God to Abraham...and how we that choose to believe in Christ Jesus share that first promise and become children of God ourselves.

Perhaps it was…still is… too easy to believe in a gift that requires nothing back in return. The laws were never given as a way to be saved…it has always taken a proper sacrifice of blood to wash away sins.  Jesus just eliminated the need to kill and offer our own sacrifices like he required those of Abraham’s day. ….and in the process He offered all of us of any color….gender…or economic level the same rights to be His child.

The only requirement from God to claim that promise to be His child is to publicly announce our belief in the great sacrifice of blood that Jesus made.  His sacrifice fulfilled all the prophecy and laws and was just enough blood to wash all the sins of the world away….forever.  God opened the gates to Heaven for all who believe….that is called faith. He wants us to share that good news with everyone we meet….that is called faith in action.

Father…thank you for the reminder that you alone are the way to heaven.  Thank you for allowing your son to offer His blood in exchange for my sins.  Forgive me for the times that I take that precious gift for granted…and keep it to myself. Help me to claim the promises of God that he gives all His children and use them to introduce Him to all those that still don’t believe.  Amen.