Gálatas 3
Leon Morris · Citado em PreceptAustin
Gálatas 3
Morris - Unlike most of his other epistles, Galatians includes no prayer requests from Paul, nor any commendations of the church and its ministry. Paul had preached the doctrines of salvation by grace and Christian liberty so clearly and effectively when he had first established these churches that it was hard for him to understand how they could so quickly and easily be led into false doctrine. This is a problem today as well. Professing Christians are being "tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine" (Ephesians 4:14+), not only with legalism but also with evolutionism, emotionalism, libertinism, and many other unscriptural heresies. Many, like the Galatians, have been "bewitched" by clever persuasion into such deceptions. The Greek word for "bewitched" is used only this once in the New Testament, and does not necessarily refer to witchcraft. The connotation is "fascinated" or "deceived." Harrison - Law demands works; grace requires faith. As law leaves us helplessly on Our Side, impotent to transfer us to His Side, it is evident that all works required by law are equally impotent. As grace alone has positioned us on His Side, so faith lays hold of all the riches that are ours by His saving and sustaining grace. (Galatians 3:2-3 Faith versus Works) BEWITCHED BEFUDDLED Befuddle means to be confusing or perplexing to; to cause to be unable to think clearly; to muddle or stupefy with or as if with drink. It is as if the Galatians had "drunk" of the Judaizer "cool-aid" and were now confused and perplexed regarding the truth of the Gospel. THOUGHT - Beloved, be very careful reading many books other than the Bible (cf Eccl 12:12). Be especially careful reading so-called "Christian books." Only God's Word is inspired. Only God's Word will keep you on the straight and narrow path of the truth of the Gospel. Only God's Word can partake of the promise in Isaiah 55:11! And Peter tells us the Bible is enough for God "has granted to us everything (HOW MUCH?) pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence." (2 Pe 1:3+). Similarly, be very wary of any "new teaching" that comes into your church making big promises. I have seen this method used by the evil one to disrupt and divide several churches. In one situation I even tried to draw the elders attention back to the Word of God to compare with what was being taught. Guess what? They did not heed the advice! And guess what? Several hundred families ended up leaving the church over this issue. Punch line? Stay in the Word and keep the Word as your compass and guide and you won't be led astray or befuddled regarding the truth of the Gospel! Martin Luther - Although I am a doctor of divinity, and have preached Christ and fought His battles for a long time, I know from personal experience how difficult it is to hold fast to the truth. I cannot always shake off Satan. I cannot always apprehend Christ as the Scriptures portray Him. Sometimes the devil distorts Christ to my vision. But thanks be to God, who keeps us in His Word, in faith, and in prayer. Who has bewitched you - This is like we might say to someone today “What has gotten into you?” or "Have you lost your wits?" The pronoun WHO is singular which could allude to a single prominent individual or to the evil one himself as the instigator of the bewitching teaching. Amplified = Who has fascinated or bewitched or cast a spell over you" Barclay = "who has put the evil eye on you."
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Morris says Those who are of faith "are those whose characteristic is faith; it is not that they sometimes have an impulse to believe, but rather that believing is their constant attitude; faith is characteristic of them.” (Galatians: Paul's Charter for Christian Freedom) Faith (4102) see preceding discussion on pistis. Hansen notes that "Faith has been the emphasis in this section. Noun and verb forms of faith occur seven times in verses Galatians 3:1-9. No longer will anyone be excluded from the blessing on the basis of race; those of faith from all nations enjoy the blessing. Abraham is now the prototype of the universal people of faith, not simply the progenitor of the Jewish race. So it is not necessary to belong to the Jewish race to participate in the blessing of Abraham. All that is necessary is faith like Abraham's." (Ibid)
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Morris has an interesting note that “Jewish keepers of the law would overlook small transgressions. Paul would not." To be sure some sins are worse than others, but because of God's holiness and demand for perfection, there are no small sins before our great God! Lehman Strauss - The curse is twofold: (1) a present condition of alienation from God in this life, (2) final banishment from His presence in eternity. A man must render an obedience to the law which is complete and continuous or else be subject to its curse. Doing the best we can is not good enough. We are violators, and since the law is a "ministration of death" and a "ministration of condemnation" (2 Cor. 3:7, 9), all who are under the law are condemned because they have failed to keep it. (Devotional Studies on Paul's Letters to the Galatians and Ephesians)
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Morris - The "holy ones" with God at Mount Sinai were holy angels, all intensely interested in the developing plan of God, especially at this critical point in redemptive history. Note 1 Peter 1:12; Exodus 19:19; Psalm 68:17. (Defender's Study Bible) Henry Morris has an interesting comment: 'The account of the giving of the law through Moses on Mt Sinai (Ex 19:9-25) makes no mention of angels, although it does record the prolonged sounding of a trumpet. Apparently a mighty host of angels was present. [Dt 33:2] mentions "ten thousands of saints" as "the LORD came from Sinai" (Ps 68:17 Acts 7:53+).'' John Trapp on ordained through angels - Therefore it is not to be disrespected, though we cannot attain eternal life by it. Ordained (1299)(diatasso from dia = through + tasso = order) means literally to arrange thoroughly, to give besides, to hand over, to arrange in its proper order, to issue orderly and detailed instructions as to what must be done. To institute, prescribe, to appoint, to set in order (Titus 1:5+), ordain (1 Cor 7:17 regarding marital conditions); to give directions (Acts 7:44+-God directed Moses to make the Tabernacle according to pattern), to command (with the implication of setting in order) as did Emperor Claudius’ “commanding” that Jews must leave Rome (Acts 18:2, cp Lk 3:13). Moulton and Milligan add that diatasso was a technical term used in connection with wills, as well as a general word for commanding. Angels (32)(aggelos/angelos [gg in Greek is pronounced ng] possibly from ago = to bring) literally means a messenger (one who bears a message - Lk 1:11+, Lk 2:9+, etc or does an errand). Most of the NT uses refer to heavenly angels (messengers) who are supernatural, transcendent beings with power to carry out various tasks. All uses of aggelos that refer to angels are masculine gender (the feminine form of aggelos does not occur.) Mediator (3316)(mesites from mésos = middle, in midst) is one who stands in the middle between two people and brings them together. It is basically a neutral and trusted person in middle (mesos), a so called "middle Man" (arbitrator). It is one who works to remove disagreement and thus serves as a go-between or reconciler. All NT uses except the Galatians passages refer to Christ Jesus as the Mediator we need - Gal. 3:19; Gal. 3:20; 1 Tim. 2:5; Heb. 8:6; Heb. 9:15; Heb. 12:24 Oliver Greene on God's dealing with sinful men in grace - Not even Israel knew anything about Law until GOD dictated the Ten Commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai. From Adam to Moses - a period of more than two thousand years - there were no Ten Commandments. "For until the Law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no Law" (Romans 5:13+). Man knew nothing of the written Law of GOD until GOD gave that Law to Moses on the Mount; but before the Law came, the grace of GOD was displayed for more than two thousand years. Adam lived under the grace of GOD for certainly GOD showed unmerited favor toward Adam in the Garden of Eden. Noah lived in a generation of wicked men but he found grace in the eyes of the Lord (Ge 6:8KJV, cf Hebrews 11:7+). Abraham lived under the grace of GOD for he believed GOD, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. GOD dealt in grace two thousand years before the Law of Moses, and GOD dealt in grace during the time of the Law of Moses. He is still dealing in grace. (Ibid) Until = an expression of time = UNTIL means happening or done up to a particular point in time, and then stopping. Stated another way the conjunction UNTIL indicates that a change would take place, the coming of the Seed which is Christ. Don't misunderstand. The Law is not revoked when Jesus came. Recall what He said in his famous sermon - "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill." (Mt 5:17+) When Christ came and died, the Veil of the Temple was torn, which marked a dramatic change in the way one approached God. It was no longer though the Law and the human high priests, but now it was through Christ our Great High Priest. Therefore, brethren (FELLOW BELIEVERS), since we have confidence (BOLDNESS) to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and since we have a Great Priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.(Hebrews 10:19-23+) The Seed would come to Whom the promise had been made - The Seed refers to the Messiah, Jesus as explained in Galatians 3:16 for "the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed." When Jesus came, He fulfilled the Law (Mt 5:17+, Ro 10:4+). Why go back up under the Law? The Law was intended to be in effect UNTIL the Seed (the Descendant, the Heir) should come and concerning Whom the promise had been made. At Mt Sinai, the LAW was given through two intermediaries, the angels and Moses. The people stood afar off. Grace says, “Come nigh,” Law says, “Stand off.” The object of showing how the LAW was given, was to indicate the inferior and subordinate position of the LAW in comparison to the superior position held by grace. The promise was given directly to Abraham, but the LAW through two intermediaries, angels and Moses. Paul shows that the LAW does not, as the Judaizers claim, have as direct and positive relation to the divine plan of salvation as does the PROMISE. He also shows that it is only of transitory significance, whereas the PROMISE has an eternal value and meaning. Paul Apple - The Law was Necessary but clearly Inferior to the Promises 1. (Gal 3:19a) The Law was Necessary Because of Sin "It was added because of transgressions" Again, the emphasis on the law having been "added" after the Promises. 2. (Gal 3:19b-20) The Law was Clearly Inferior to God's Promises - a. Proven by the nature of mediation - "having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator" mediated through angels and Moses rather than directly given by God as the promises were to Abraham b. Proven by the intended duration -- Only Temporary "until the seed should come to whom the promise had been made" c. Proven by the need for a mediator - "Now a mediator is not for one party only; whereas God is only one." (Gal 3:20) (Galatians Commentary) Seed (04690) see note above on sperma The promise (1860) see preceding discussion of epaggelia/epangelia OUTLAWS - Christ has set us free, but as we attempt to live by faith, we are still in danger of falling into certain traps. Wanting the security of being able to earn our salvation, we add human traditions, standards, and rules to our faith. We slip back into performing a certain way, serving, or doing good works as if we need to impress God or earn his approval. And wanting to feel good, we let ourselves be directed by our ever-changing emotions. The security trap makes us prisoners just as surely as the law had held us in its grip. The emotional trap can result in our becoming "outlaws," deciding for ourselves what is right and wrong. Either way, we rob ourselves of the true joy and security we share with all who have accepted God's promise of salvation by faith alone. (Life Application Bible Commentary – Galatians) Scofield - The answer to this question "Why the Law then?" (This list includes the reasons Paul mentions in the following verses) (1) The law was added because of transgressions, i.e. to give to sin the character of transgression = to make sins known and to restrain them. (a) Men had been sinning before Moses but, in the absence of law, their sins were not put to their account (Ro 5:13); the law gave to sin the character of transgression, i.e. of personal guilt. (b) Furthermore, since men not only continued to sin after the law was given, but were provoked to transgress by the very law which forbade it (Ro 7:8), the law conclusively proved the inveterate sinfulness of man's nature (Ro 7:11-13). (2) The law, therefore, "declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin" (cp. Ro 3:19,20,23). (3) The law was an <ad interim> dealing, "until the Seed . . . had come" (Gal 3:19). (4) The law shut sinful man up to faith as the only avenue of escape (Gal 3:23). (5) The law was to the Jews what the child discipliner (paidagogos) was in a Greek household, a custodian of children in their minority, and it had this character to or "until" Christ (Gal 3:23-25; 4:1-2). (6) Christ having come, the believer is no longer under the child-discipliner (i.e. the law, v25), but has become a disciple (i.e. learner) of Christ Himself (Mt 11:29; Lu 10:39; Jn 17:6-8; Titus 2:11-13). GALATIANS 3:19-29 THE MIRROR, FLASHLIGHT AND PLUMBLINE Therefore, the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ (Galatians 3:24). The law has never saved anyone, and it never will. God did not give it to redeem us from sin but to show us our need of salvation. That's why the apostle Paul called it "our tutor." In an unforgettable sermon, evangelist Fred Brown used three images to describe the purpose of the law. First, he likened it to the small mirror dentists use. With the mirror they can detect cavities. But they can't drill with it or use it to pull teeth. The mirror reveals the decayed area or other abnormality, but it can't fix the problem. Brown then drew another analogy. He said that the law is also like a flashlight. If the lights go out at night, you use it to guide you down the darkened basement stairs to the electrical box. When you point it toward the fuses, it helps you see the one that is burned out. But after you've removed the bad fuse, you don't insert the flashlight in its place. You put in a new fuse to restore the electricity. In his third image, Brown likened the law to a plumbline. Builders check their work by using a weighted string. If this plumbline reveals that the work is not true to the vertical, the plumbline cannot correct it. The builder must get out a hammer and saw. The law shows us a need that only grace can fill. Haddon Robinson uses the same illustration of the 3 symbols and then adds this comment: The apostle Paul said, “We know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully” (1 Tim. 1:8). The law of God reveals the problem of sin, but it doesn’t provide a solution. The answer is found in Jesus Christ. He bore our guilt on the cross and now offers us new life. When we put our faith in Him as our personal Savior, He forgives us and enables us to live by His strength in ways that please Him. What the law can’t do, Christ can. Have you asked Him to be your Savior? For Further Study What does Galatians 3 say about our relationship to the law? (Gal 3:11-14,24-25). What can we learn about the law in Romans 8:1-4? God's law pinpoints our problem God's grace provides the solution. Galatians 3:19-22 TODAY IN THE WORD In 1838 the British government sent word to Jamaica that slavery was at an end and that therefore those who were slaves were now free. On that night of emancipation, a mahogany coffin was made. Former slaves filled the coffin with whips, branding irons, coarse clothing, handcuffs, and other tools and symbols used during their years of bondage. The coffin lid was bolted shut and at midnight the coffin was lowered into a grave, dug especially for the occasion. Then the thousands gathered celebrated their new freedom by singing the doxology! Once released, people who have known slavery would never willingly surrender their freedom. Instead, they move forward joyfully to a new way of life. This is the very point Paul is trying to make to the Galatians. ""You have been set free from the law's condemnation,"" he tells them, ""so start acting like it!"" If the law is not in force for the believer now that Christ has come, what good was it? What function did it serve? The answer is that the law was given until the Seed should come and that it was therefore only preparatory, ending with the coming of Christ (v. 19). If law is inferior to promise, is there opposition between these two divine arrangements? Paul says, ""Perish the thought."" The law is all right as far as it goes, but it really could not compete with the promise because it could not give life. The function of the law was to convict transgressors. The picture in verse 22 is variously painted by translators as ""shut up like a fish enclosed in a net,"" ""enclosed entirely by barriers,"" and ""shut up on every side as in a prison."" Everything pertaining to men--thoughts, words, and deeds--is all locked up and thus doomed under sin. APPLY THE WORD We've nearly reached the halfway point of our study of Galatians. We hope you are enjoying and learning from this meaty book! We suggest today that you sit back and reorient yourself to the ""big picture"" of Paul's epistle. (If you're working today on the tax forms that are due tomorrow, you could do one of these activities as a break!) Don Fortner on Galatians 3:19 - The law of God is holy and just and good. But it becomes a very great evil when it is perverted and used for something other than its divine purpose. Now Paul tells us what the design and purpose of God’s law is. It was never intended by God to be a means of justification or sanctification, a motive for Christian service, a rule of life for believers, or a code of moral ethics. The law of God has but one singular purpose. It exposes man’s guilt and sin before God, shutting him up to faith in Christ alone for salvation. ‘It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made.’ ‘The law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.’ (Gal 3:24) To use the law for any other purpose is to pervert and abuse the law. Once a man comes to Christ by faith, the law has no more claim upon him and no longer has dominion over him. The law was not made for a righteous man. The language of Holy Scripture in this matter could not be clearer or more emphatic. ‘After that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.’ ‘We are not under the law, but under grace.’ (Ro 6:14) ‘Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.’ (Ro 10:4KJV) ‘Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.’ (Ro 7:4KJV) We who are free dare not entangle ourselves again with the yoke of bondage. (Gal 5:1) Our freedom has been purchased at too high a price, the precious blood of Christ. We have a higher, better, more effectual motive for our obedience, service and devotion than the law given by Moses. ‘The love of Christ constraineth us!’ (2 Cor 5:14KJV) When true love reigns in the heart there is no need for law. Love for Christ causes us to love one another. This love makes God’s elect patient, kind, honest, generous and faithful. And this love is the fulfillment of the law. (Gal 5:14) Dwight L. Moody said: The law is a good looking glass (mirror) in which to show a child how defiled his face is. But who would think of washing the child’s face with the looking glass?
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Morris concludes that "Far from being the gateway into a glorious liberty, it (THE SCRIPTURE/LAW) turns out to be a jailor, shutting people up. The result is that the only way of escape was through faith.”
Gálatas 3
Morris - True Equality "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" (Gal. 3:28). One of the wonderful aspects of Americas great Declaration of Independence is its repeated recognition of God as our Creator, beginning with its thrilling assertion that "all men are created equal" and that this fact is "self-evident." However, it is not self-evident that men are all born equal. Even in colonial America, there were those who were bondmen (that is, slaves), and these were not equal politically with their owners. Furthermore, some men were wealthy landowners, some were poor clerks. Women were hardly equal to men in terms of suffrage or wages or various other ways. As a matter of fact, nowhere in the world has there ever been a society in which all people were true equals in physical beauty, in mental or physical strength, or in many other ways. In truth, such a society would hardly even be desirable if it could ever be produced. How is it, then, that we are created equal? The only possible answer is that we are equal in God's sight. He is, indeed, the One who has created us and we are all equally responsible to Him. Yet, "all have sinned," and "there is none righteous, no, not one" (Rom. 5:12; 3:10). Consequently, all people were lost sinners, unfit to enter God's perfect kingdom, but "while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:8), and He is "the propitiation... for the sins of the whole world" (1 John 2:2). When we believe on Christ as our Savior, we each are created equal in Him "after the image of him that created him" (Col. 3:10)—whether Jew or Gentile, slave or free, man or woman—"For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus" (Gal. 3:26). SPOTTED CHARACTERS. The brill, or pearl fish, is somewhat like a turbot, and is known by its white pearly spots. But pearly spots don't make pearls, although pearls may have spots. A man may be spotted with many Christian characteristics and yet be as far from being a Christian as the brill is from a pearl. God's children may have spots, but the spots do not make them children. "Ye are the children of God by faith" (Gal. 3:26). Joining The Family You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. — Galatians 3:26 Maurice Griffin was adopted when he was 32 years old. He had lived with Lisa and Charles Godbold 20 years earlier as a foster child. Although Maurice was now a man living on his own, adoption had been what the family and he had always longed for. Once they were reunited and the adoption was official, Maurice commented, “This is probably the happiest moment in my life. . . . I’m happy to be home.” Those of us who have joined the family of God may refer to that time as the happiest moment in our lives. When we trust Christ for salvation, we become God’s children, and He becomes our heavenly Father. The Bible assures us, “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:26). As God’s adopted children, we acquire spiritual siblings—our brothers and sisters in Christ—and we all share an eternal inheritance (Col. 1:12). In addition, Jesus’ Spirit indwells our hearts and enables us to pray using the name Abba, Father (Gal. 4:6)—like a child calling, “Daddy.” I once was an outcast stranger on earth, A sinner by choice, and an alien by birth; But I’ve been adopted, my name’s written down, An heir to the mansion, a robe, and a crown. — Buell God’s arms are always open to welcome anyone home. Galatians 3:27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. Greek - hosoi gar eis Christon ebaptisthete (2PAPI) Christon enedusasthe (2PAMI) Amplified: For as many [of you] as were baptized into Christ [into a spiritual union and communion with Christ, the Anointed One, the Messiah] have put on (clothed yourselves with) Christ. Phillips All of you who were baptised "into" Christ have put on the family likeness of Christ. Wuest For as many as were introduced into (a mystical union with) Christ, put on Christ. (Eerdmans Publishing) NET Galatians 3:27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. GNT Galatians 3:27 ὅσοι γὰρ εἰς Χριστὸν ἐβαπτίσθητε, Χριστὸν ἐνεδύσασθε. NLT Galatians 3:27 And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on the character of Christ, like putting on new clothes. KJV Galatians 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. ESV Galatians 3:27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. ASV Galatians 3:27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ. CSB Galatians 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ like a garment. NIV Galatians 3:27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. NKJ Galatians 3:27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. NRS Galatians 3:27 As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. YLT Galatians 3:27 for as many as to Christ were baptized did put on Christ; NAB Galatians 3:27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. NJB Galatians 3:27 since every one of you that has been baptised has been clothed in Christ. GWN Galatians 3:27 Clearly, all of you who were baptized in Christ's name have clothed yourselves with Christ. BBE Galatians 3:27 For all those of you who were given baptism into Christ did put on Christ. For all of you who were baptized into Christ: Mt 28:19,20 Mk 16:15,16 Ac 2:38 8:36-38 9:18 16:15,31-33 Ro 6:3,4 1Co 12:13 Col 2:10-12 1Pe 3:21 have clothed yourselves with Christ: Job 29:14 Isa 61:10 Lu 15:22 Ro 3:22 13:14 Eph 4:24 Col 3:10 Galatians 3:23-29 Under the Law or in Christ? - John MacArthur Galatians 3:26-29 - Sons of God - Wayne Barber Galatians 3:23-29 The Tutor and the Sons - Phil Newton Galatians Commentary - Verse by Verse - Kenneth Wuest Galatians 3 Resources - Multiple sermons, commentaries, etc SPIRITUAL BAPTISM NOT WATER BAPTISM For (gar) is a term of explanation. Vine says for introduces "the ground for the statement that “all” were sons of God in Christ Jesus. This ground is twofold, the first reason is adduced in this verse, the second in Gal 3:28." For all of you who were baptized into Christ: When were we baptized? The aorist tense indicates that this occurred at a point in time in the past and logically would be at the moment of our conversion. At that moment, in a mysterious, but very real spiritual sense, we were placed (presumably by the Spirit) into Christ, immersed into Christ. We were placed into a perfect and permanent union with Christ. We entered into oneness (union) with Christ when we entered into the New Covenant by grace through faith. We are forever identified with Christ. THOUGHT - Note carefully that contrary to what you may have heard, thought or been taught, the baptism of which Paul is speaking in this passage is not a reference to water baptism. It certainly is not a reference to so-called "baptismal regeneration" (which I consider a false teaching! We are saved by faith apart from any works including the work of baptism! (See Ro 3:28-note See CARM note) Beloved, water baptism never saved anyone, period! Jesus Alone is the Savior! To believe "baptismal regeneration" is to put your eternal destiny in grave danger. Baptism in this verse refers to the "immersion" (or union) of the believer into the body of Christ (and includes union with His death, burial and resurrection), a supernatural transaction which is accomplished by the Holy Spirit at the time of our conversion (cf. 1 Cor. 12:13-see note below). Clearly this baptism is a supernatural work of God, Who Alone could "baptize" a man or woman into the body of Christ. It is a mystery as to how every person who believes is transported back to the Cross, to die with Christ, to be buried with Him and to be resurrected with Him. O holy mystery! Praise God for this profound transcendent truth and for opening the eyes of our heart (cp Acts 16:14-note) to respond by faith and not by sight. To reiterate at the very moment of conversion/regeneration we were immersed spiritually into the body of Christ, and He became our spiritual identity and our life not only in eternity but even now in this temporal life (read Col 3:4-note)