One in Christ 在基督里合而为一
Dexu Xia
There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28
Today's Scripture Galatians 3:26-29
Today's Insights In Galatians 3-4, Paul makes an extended argument for the exalted position of believers in Jesus as members of the family of God. He says that through Christ, we’re no longer treated like minors but have become full heirs to the promises of God (3:23-29; 4:1-7).
The apostle makes the declaration that we’re all “children of God” (3:26). Everyone who comes to Jesus—Jews and gentiles, slave and free, male and female—receives the privileged status of sonship (v. 28). Those who follow Christ share in His full inheritance with all its blessings (v. 29). For an infant church populated with people of all different backgrounds, social standings, and levels of wealth, the promise of the gospel is that all receive the same blessing through the Son of God and are one in Him
Today's Devotional Phillis Wheatley, the first published African American poet, used biblical themes to persuade believers in Jesus to abolish slavery. Born around 1753 in western Africa, Wheatley was sold to a slave trader at only seven years of age. Quicky distinguishing herself as a remarkable student, she finally secured her emancipation in 1773. In her poems and correspondence, Wheatley pressed her readers to embrace the scriptural affirmation of the equality of all people. She wrote, “In every human Breast, God has implanted a Principle, which we call Love of Freedom; It is impatient of Oppression, and pants for Deliverance; and . . . the same Principle lives in us.”
Equality before God is a truth emphasized by Paul when he wrote, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). Because we’re “all children of God through faith” (v. 26), differences such as race, ethnicity, gender, or social status shouldn’t lead to discrimination in the church.
Even as equal recipients of God’s love, we still struggle to live out this principle. But Scripture teaches that diverse peoples united through faith in Christ best reflect God’s heart and is His plan for life in eternity. That reality can help us to celebrate the diversity in our communities of faith now.
Reflect & Pray
How does diversity better represent God? How can you celebrate diversity in Christ?
Dear Jesus, please help me love my brothers and sisters through the unity only made possible in You. By Lisa Samra
“ 并不分犹太人、外邦人、自主的、为奴的，或男或女，因为你们在基督耶稣里都成为一了。”(加拉太书 3:28 )
今日经文：加拉太书 3章26-29 节
今日心得：在加拉太书3-4章中，保罗详细论证了信徒作为神家成员的崇高地位。他说，通过基督，我们不再被当作未成年人，而是成为神应许的完全继承人（3:23-29；4:1-7）。使徒宣告我们都是“神的儿女（3:26）。所有来到耶稣面前的人，无论是犹太人、外邦人、自主的、为奴的、男人或女人，都获得儿子名分的特权（28节）。跟随基督的人将分享祂全部的产业和一切祝福（29节）。对于一个由背景、社会地位和财富水平各异的人们组成的新兴教会来说，福音的应许是，所有人都会藉着神的儿子耶稣获得同样的祝福，并在祂里面合而为一。
今日灵修：菲利斯·惠特利是第一位出版作品的非裔美国诗人，她运用圣经主题劝说信徒废除奴隶制。惠特利约于1753年出生于西非，年仅七岁时就被卖给了奴隶贩子。她迅速成为一名杰出的学生，并最终于1773年获得解放。惠特利在她的诗歌和书信中敦促读者接受圣经关于人人平等的肯定。她写道：“在每个人心中，上帝都植入了一个原则，我们称之为‘热爱自由’；它拒绝压迫，渴望解放；而且……同样的原则也活在我们心中。”
在上帝面前人人平等是保罗强调的真理，他写道：“并不分犹太人、希腊人、自主的、为奴的，或男或女，因为你们在基督耶稣里都成为一了”（加拉太书 3:28）。因为我们“因信都是神的儿子”（26节），所以种族、民族、性别或社会地位等差异不应导致教会中的歧视。即使我们平等地接受上帝的爱，然而活出这一原则并不容易。但圣经教导我们，最能体现上帝心意的，就是不同的民族因信基督合而为一，这也是上帝对永恒生命的计划。这一事实可以帮助我们，现在就为信仰群体中的多样性欢庆。
反思与祷告 多样性如何更好地体现上帝的心意？你如何在基督里庆祝多样性？ 亲爱的耶稣，请帮助我，藉着唯有在你里面才能实现的合一，来爱我的弟兄姐妹。作者：丽莎·萨姆拉