Covenant of Creativity Galatians 3.27–29. 27 As many of you as were baptized into Christ have...

Covenant of Creativity

Galatians 3.27–29

Galatians 3.27–2927As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. 29And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise.


• Older than Paul: Primary Mystery

• 3.28: Baptismal Formula

• Paul cites it to make a point

A Closer Look at Gal 3.28There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.


• Eradication of differences based on ethnicity



• Eradication of differences based on class




• Eradication of differences based on gender





• “You are all one in Christ Jesus”






• Declaration to each other






• Declaration to each other: community not indiv.






• Declaration to each other: community not indiv.

• Performative Language


• “To clothe oneself” (Gk. endyesthai): Mysticism



• “One in Christ”



• “One in Christ”: Corporate Mysticism (note plurals)



• “One in Christ”: Corporate Mysticism (note plurals)

• “Abraham’s offspring” (“seed of Abraham”): see 3.16(note singular corresponding to “one in Christ”)

Galatians 3.16Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring [=seed]; it does not say, “And to offsprings [=seeds],” as of many; but it says, “And to your offspring [=seed],” that is, to one person, who is Christ.

• Outsiders think Gentiles not good enough

• Paul quotes from Genesis to make his points

“Seed of Abraham”Gen 12.7 Then the LORD appeared to Abram, and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.”

Gen 13.15–16 for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever. I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth; so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted.

Gen 16.10 The angel of the LORD also said to her, “I will so greatly multiply your offspring that they cannot be counted for multitude.”

Gen 17.7–8 “I will establish my covenant between me and you, and your offspring after you throughout their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. And I will give to you, and to your offspring after you, the land where you are now an alien, all the land of Canaan, for a perpetual holding; and I will be their God.”

Seed of Abraham

Gal 3.16

Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his seed; it does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many; but it says, “And to your seed,” that is, to one person, who is Christ.

Gal 3.28–29

... all of you are one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are a seed of Abraham, heirs according to the promise.

Seed of Abraham

Gal 3.16

Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his seed; it does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many; but it says, “And to your seed,” that is, to one person, who is Christ.

Gal 3.28–29

... all of you are one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are a seed of Abraham, heirs according to the promise.

Conclusion: We are “Christ”!

Covenant vs. ContractContract

An agreement creating and defining the obligations betw two or more parties.

An exchange of promises for breach of which the law provides remedy.

Breach of contract recognized by the law and remedies provided.

Law to safeguard against breach of contract.

Limited to the goal at hand.

“Do not do to others what you do not wish done to you 己所不欲勿施於人”

Covenant

Creative, future-oriented.

Less limited by law.

Less defined, more ambiguous.

Not in terms of limiting damage but in terms of making others better.

“Do to others what you would like others do to you”—positive.

Assumption: You will do the best for me.

Love-centered: God’s hesed

Study Questions1. What vision does Gal 3.28 disclose for your

congregation?

2. How might your congregation realize this vision?

3. Gal 3.28 describes three types of division that could break our covenant. Are there others?

4. Are there dangers inherent with this vision?

5. How can we expand this vision to include other congregations? Other convocations?

Thank You

Covenant of Creativity Galatians 3.27–29. 27 As many of you as were baptized into Christ have...

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