As my pastor has commented on more than one occasion, men have to adjust to the idea of being called 'the bride of Christ' and women must reconcile to being called 'sons'.
Christianity is, at its core, gender neutral and ethnically inclusive, regardless of what people have said about it. It supersedes genetics and socio-economic positions.
There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (3:28)
Which is why women are sons and men can be bridal. It has to do with position. Sons are heirs and brides are intimate. Just throwing that out there; today's discussion is limited to sons.
For all of you who were baptized [Greek: baptizo: immersed, submerged] into [Greek: eis: a preposition...with the primary idea of motion into any place or thing....Many times in the NT it is used to indicate intention, purpose, identity, aim] Christ have clothed yourself with Christ. (3:27)
I don't think this is just speaking of the physical act of water baptism, although I'm sure there are those who would disagree. The context is not being baptized in water at all, but literally being submersed into Christ, such that we are contained in Him and He covers us. We are one IN Christ Jesus. By logical extension, any promise to Jesus would also apply to those IN Him.
If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. (3:29).
Now, Paul gives another example from daily life, comparing the life of the heir of the household to a servant in that household. While the heir is a child, he has no more authority than the servants. He has to abide by the wishes of his father, or the estate's trustees, until he achieves the age at which the father designated he should receive the inheritance. Paul doesn't mention this, but it would be common knowledge that the child might even be put under the authority of one of the household servants, so that in a way, the servant had authority over the heir, under the instruction and supervision of the father.
Paul then applies that example to the difference between being under the law and being sons through faith. The Law was the trustee, keeping those under it in guardianship, subject to rules and regulations and human activity...the basic principles of the human world... until the proper time when
God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. (4: 4 - 5)
At the time the Father had determined, Jesus came to redeem those under the Law, so now the old instruction no longer apply; the old master no longer has any authority. The full rights of sonship have been conferred.
When we become sons, we receive the spirit of sonship...the Spirit of The Son...who calls out to Papa from our very hearts. Paul sums up his argument with this statement:
...since you are a son, God has made you also an heir. (4:7b)
One of the great story themes across all cultures is the young one who grows up believing themselves to be insignificant, only to find that he/she is a prince, a princess, a swan...one of the great ones. Someone who will be significant. How would your attitude about your influence, your position, your opportunities change if you really grasped your true identity...a son and heir of the kingdom of God?
Footnotey stuff: All scripture references are from the NIV 84; the bold definitions are from Zodhiates' Word Study New Testament
No comments:
Post a Comment