Verse of the Day (August 29, 2020) #BMSeminary – {vv. 26-29} Paul’s references to being “in Christ Jesus” in verses 26 and 28 serve as bookends surrounding those identified in between: those who have been baptized into Christ (v. 27). Baptized Christians are incorporated into a community in which each member has put on a kind of clothing that covers differences that normally divide people, such as gender, ethnicity, and social status. On the basis of faith, by which anyone can be united to Christ, all Christians are included regardless of such apparent differences. Paul neither directly condones nor condemns slavery, a common social institution of his day, but in the short book of Philemon he sets another trajectory for the Christian community as he encourages Philemon to receive back the runaway slave Onesimus and regard him not as a slave but as a brother (Philem. 16). Further, while Paul does not encourage people to deny their gender or ethnicity, he does encourage them to take their primary identity from being in Christ. So even though differences remain, unity and spiritual equality are respected and upheld. All who belong to Christ through faith are Abraham’s true offspring and heirs of the promise of grace (Gal. 3:29). Roles and responsibilities may vary on earth, but value in heaven does not—and we should regard each other from this heavenly point of view (2 Cor. 5:16). [Gospel Transformation Study Bible]
Verse of the Day (August 29, 2020) #BMSeminary – {vv. 26-29} Paul’s references to being “in Christ Jesus” in verses 26 and 28 serve as bookends surrounding those identified in between: those who have been baptized into Christ (v. 27). Baptized Christians are incorporated into a community in which each member has put on a kind of clothing that covers differences that normally divide people, such as gender, ethnicity, and social status. On the basis of faith, by which anyone can be united to Christ, all Christians are included regardless of such apparent differences. Paul neither directly condones nor condemns slavery, a common social institution of his day, but in the short book of Philemon he sets another trajectory for the Christian community as he encourages Philemon to receive back the runaway slave Onesimus and regard him not as a slave but as a brother (Philem. 16). Further, while Paul does not encourage people to deny their gender or ethnicity, he does encourage them to take their primary identity from being in Christ. So even though differences remain, unity and spiritual equality are respected and upheld. All who belong to Christ through faith are Abraham’s true offspring and heirs of the promise of grace (Gal. 3:29). Roles and responsibilities may vary on earth, but value in heaven does not—and we should regard each other from this heavenly point of view (2 Cor. 5:16). [Gospel Transformation Study Bible]
Baptist Ministerial Seminary 