Break Barriers || Galatians 3:28 || Manna for the Mind #101

Welcome to Day 101 of the “Manna for the Mind” devotional! This series is about taking scripture passages (typically 1-3 verses) and building our understanding of their teachings through their context and connecting scripture. I believe that doing this helps us understand how to be the type of human that God created us to be.

Today’s passage is Galatians 3:28. We’ll discuss the importance of recognizing our unity as Christians.

Galatians 3:28

AMP	NLT	MSG
28 There is [now no distinction in regard to salvation] neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you [who believe] are all one in Christ Jesus [no one can claim a spiritual superiority].	28 There is no longer Jew or Gentile,  slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.	28 In Christ’s family there can be no division into Jew and non-Jew, slave and free, male and female. Among us you are all equal.

Everyone can be saved. Regardless of status, wealth, social status, gender, sexual orientation, and more, we are all one in Christ. There is not a single one of us that can claim superiority over another group. This mindset was radical to the Galatians, for even some of them woke them thanking God for not being a Gentile, slave, or a woman. Imagine having the mindset in our world today to pray like that.

Through what Paul said, from the Holy Spirit’s inspiration, Paul showed clearly how Christianity enhanced the role of women immeasurably. Our faith in Christ transcends all the differences we find in each other and makes us all one in Christ. God doesn’t look at the outward appearance but at the heart. Paul mentions that our battles of the world aren’t against flesh but against evil spirits. How we look, act, and live doesn’t need to cause separation. All believers of Christ are his heirs; therefore, we all have an equal place and standing with God. What separates us from this world isn’t what separates us from Christ.

Jesus created a new, multiethnic family of faith where all believers are one in him. We might feel uncomfortable around those who are different from us and will want to stay in the bubbles of similarity and comfortability. When we allow the differences to separate us from our Christian brothers and sisters, we are disregarding clear biblical teachings. We need to intentionally seek those and appreciate those who aren’t like us or our social circle. We can be on two opposite ends of the spectrum in all other parts of life, but we can come together in Christ to love and care for one another regardless of how different we are.

Jesus connected the unity to hearing his voice in John 10:16.

John 10:16

AMP	NLT	MSG
16 I have other sheep [beside these] that are not of this fold. I must bring those also, and they will listen to My voice and pay attention to My call, and they will become [b]one flock with one Shepherd.	16 I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd.	16 You need to know that I have other sheep in addition to those in this pen. I need to gather and bring them, too. They’ll also recognize my voice. Then it will be one flock, one Shepherd.

The other sheep Jesus referred to were the non-Jewish people. Jesus came to save everyone and give us some insight into how he would do that. Jesus was coming to die for the sins of all people in the world. People tend to keep God for themselves, limited to their own community and situations, but Jesus wants us to love and help people beyond the fences we build. It’s letting our guard down, putting ourselves in communities that aren’t in our wheelhouse, and caring for our neighbors by meeting their needs as Jesus did.

That unity to act as Jesus did is shown in John 17:21. (Verses 22 and 23 are added for context)

John 17:21-23

AMP	NLT	MSG
21 that they all may be one; just as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, so that the world may believe [without any doubt] that You sent Me.	21 I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.	21-23 Just as you, Father, are in me and I in you, So they might be one heart and mind with us. Then the world might believe that you, in fact, sent me. The same glory you gave me, I gave them, So they’ll be as unified and together as we are— I in them and you in me. Then they’ll be mature in this oneness, And give the godless world evidence That you’ve sent me and loved them In the same way you’ve loved me.
22 I have given to them the glory and honor which You have given Me, that they may be one, just as We are one;	22 “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one.
23 I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected and completed into one, so that the world may know [without any doubt] that You sent Me, and [that You] have loved them, just as You have loved Me.	23I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.

Jesus’s greatest desire is for his disciples to become united as one. He wanted them unified as a powerful witness to the reality of God’s love. That unification can happen through prayer, encouragement, cooperation, generosity, avoiding gossip, praise, and focusing on sticking to the plan and avoiding arguments and division. Jesus wanted unity among the believers based on their unity with him and God. Christians can find that unity among themselves if they’re in union with God. Our relationship with God often reflects how our relationship with others. We need to make our relationship with the highest priority in our lives, and everything else will fall in line.

1 Corinthians 12:13 talks about our unity through our baptisms.

1 Corinthians 12:13

AMP	NLT	MSG
13 For by one [Holy] Spirit we were all baptized into one body, [spiritually transformed — united together] whether Jews or Greeks (Gentiles), slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one [Holy] Spirit [since the same Holy Spirit fills each life].	13 Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.	13 By means of his one Spirit, we all said good-bye to our partial and piecemeal lives. We each used to independently call our own shots, but then we entered into a large and integrated life in which he has the final say in everything. (This is what we proclaimed in word and action when we were baptized.) Each of us is now a part of his resurrection body, refreshed and sustained at one fountain—his Spirit—where we all come to drink. The old labels we once used to identify ourselves—labels like Jew or Greek, slave or free—are no longer useful. We need something larger, more comprehensive.

The church offers many different types of people from many different backgrounds with a wide variety of gifts and abilities. Our differences can easily divide people, as what happened to the church in Corinth. Despite the differences, we all have one thing in common – faith in Jesus as our Lord and Savior. We can all agree upon this essential truth: how we can find unity. All believers are baptized (re-born) in the family of Christ. We don’t lose our identities, but we have an overriding oneness in Christ that overcomes our individual personalities. Our baptism brings about the death of our previous life before Christ and a rebirth into living our life into Christ.

This rebirth is where the Holy Spirit comes in and takes up residence in our hearts to guide our thoughts, words, desires, and actions. When this happens, we are Christians and a part of the family of God. We are all equipped with the same spirit to go out and accomplish the plans God set for us individually. We all have different gifts and interests but have the same Spirit guiding us. It’s important for us to come together in a community of believers to maximize those gifts and interests and share the biggest piece of love and compassion with the world.

This unity comes with the peace of Christ, as shown in Ephesians 2:14-15.

Ephesians 2:14-15

AMP	NLT	MSG
14 For He Himself is our peace and our bond of unity. He who made both groups—[Jews and Gentiles]—into one body and broke down the barrier, the dividing wall [of spiritual antagonism between us],	14 For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us	14-15 The Messiah has made things up between us so that we’re now together on this, both non-Jewish outsiders and Jewish insiders. He tore down the wall we used to keep each other at a distance. He repealed the law code that had become so clogged with fine print and footnotes that it hindered more than it helped. Then he started over. Instead of continuing with two groups of people separated by centuries of animosity and suspicion, he created a new kind of human being, a fresh start for everybody.
15 by abolishing in His [own crucified] flesh the hostility caused by the Law with its commandments contained in ordinances [which He satisfied]; so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thereby establishing peace.	15 He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups.

By Jesus’ death, Christ ended the reason for angry resentment between Jews and Gentiles. That reason was because of the Jewish law that favored the Jews and excluded the Gentiles. Jesus’ death accomplished the reason for the law. Jesus came to fulfill the law through being the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of the world, which allows humanity to have a right relationship with God and gain eternal life in heaven. Through what Jesus did, he took the two groups that fought each other tooth and nail and made them parts of himself.

Let’s close with a scripture that simplifies and continues the same message. This verse shows that Christianity shouldn’t have any barriers of nationality, race, education, social standing, gender, sexual orientation, power, and wealth. Jesus breaks down all the barriers to have Christ live in us. Nothing should keep us from sharing Jesus, welcoming others in, and creating relationships for those interested in knowing Jesus. Our role as Christians should be to build bridges, not dig wells. Colossians 3:11 says:

“In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you’re a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumsided, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.” – Colossians 3:11