Equality in the Church

Adam CozortArticles, GeneralLeave a Comment

“For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Galatians 3:26-29, KJV)

As Paul writes to the churches in Galatia they are greatly struggling with the concept of equality in the church. Their issues are specifically between Jews and Gentiles. Some have been teaching that the Gentile has to become a Jew in order to be what God wants. Paul is in the process of showing that is not the case.

In the statement he makes in these verses he puts forth one main argument: the individual who has been baptized into Christ has put on Christ. No more, no less. There are no sub-headings to Christianity. Men are not better than women, the Jew is not better than the Gentile, every baptized believer is equally covered by the blood of Christ.

Sometimes we can get just as caught up in giving sub-headings to members of the body of Christ today. However, the same principles apply in our day as they did in the first century, so take a moment and make some applications. There are no black congregations and white congregations, only congregations of God’s people. Rich Christians are not better than poor Christians, they equally serve the master (consider back to the statement concerning bond or free). Disabled Christians are not less important to Christ or the church than those who are not disabled, in fact some of the hardest workers in many congregations are those who have some form of disability. The list could continue but you get the point.

God loves and wants to save each individual (2 Peter 3:9). When we come to him in obedience we do not become sub-divided under headings of worthiness or usefulness. We become blood-bought servants of the most high God and heirs of the promises made to them. Let us never lessen or demean that blessing or those who receive it.

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