To read this text CLICK HERE

Galatians 3:26-28, For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes.  There is no longer Jew or Gentile,  slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. 

Paul is pointing out that we no longer live "under the law" but are "in Christ" despite our inability to keep the law.  We are no longer condemned by God because of our sin.  Rather, because we now live in Christ, God is our father.  Because of the forgiveness and salvation that we have in Christ, we don't have to approach God with fear of punishment, but rather we know that God loves us.  We are his sons and daughters and we have the privileges that children have with their father.  This isn't because of anything we've done but because of what Jesus Christ has done for us.

Baptism is a visible sign of this union we have with Jesus.  Our salvation is NOT dependent on baptism (remember Paul is making a point that salvation is by faith alone and nothing else).  But baptism is an outward and visible sign of what Christ has done within us.  Through the inward faith in Christ, we are now sons and daughters of God.

As sons and daughters of God, we not only belong to God but we also belong to one another.  We are brothers and sisters and there is no distinction of race, rank, or sex.  We are equal in the eyes of Jesus and thus, we should be equal in the eyes of one another. 

Over thousands of years, this is a doctrine that has been twisted and/or ignored.  We are all equal and we belong to one another.  Period.

Let's pray...Jesus, Forgive us for the times in which we as individuals or a church have behaved as if some people are better or more deserving than others.  Forgive us for harming our brothers and sisters in Christ.  We are one in you.  Help us behave and act like it.  Give us insight and wisdom into our own culpability.  We need you, Jesus.  More of you and less of me.  In your name, Amen.