Pastor Luther Walker continues his teaching on Galatians, focusing on the concept of “putting on Christ” as believers’ new identity and position in Him. He reviews prior points: the Mosaic Law’s purpose was not to grant righteousness but to reveal sin and the sin nature through commands like “thou shalt not,” exposing human rebellion (referencing Romans 7:7-8 and Galatians 3:19-22). The Law acted as a “child trainer” (paidagōgos) to lead Israel to Christ, but once faith arrives, the trainer is no longer needed—Christians do not progress from law to grace but start under grace with full provision in Christ.
Believers are positioned as “sons” (mature heirs, not gender-specific), marked off and placed into Christ (not “adopted” but legitimate children via God’s seed, per Ephesians 1:5 corrected translation). This sonship provides everything needed for maturity without external law, as the new mind and Spirit enable rational discernment of God’s will. Immersion (baptism) into Christ means being permanently impacted—like dyed fabric—transferring from Adam’s corrupt headship to Christ’s righteous one (Galatians 3:27; Romans 6). This imputes Christ’s righteousness, so God sees believers as complete in Him, not condemned in Adam.
In Christ, distinctions vanish: no Jew/Greek, slave/free, male/female—all share one position (Galatians 3:28). Believers form part of the new creation (not individually “new creatures,” per 2 Corinthians 5:17 corrected), with Christ as head and the church as His body (Ephesians 1:22-23; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13). The old man (sin nature in Adam) is co-crucified, rendering sin’s body idle—not eradicated but powerless when believers recognize their position (Romans 6:4-6).
Practical living flows from this identity: align conduct with who we are in Christ, not old nature. Renew the mind (Romans 12:2—stop conforming to this age/law mindset; transform via renewed mind to discern God’s unchanging desirous will). Set minds on things above (Colossians 3), put on the new man created in righteousness and piety of truth (Ephesians 4:24). Put off old behaviors (lying, explosive anger, stealing, rotten speech) because they don’t fit the new identity; instead, speak grace, labor to give, avoid grieving the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:25-30).
Sin occurs by acting like the unsaved old man; victory comes by focusing on Christ, using provided defenses against sin nature, Satan, and the world system. Emotional/soulish approaches fail—true maturity discerns spiritually via eternal life possessed now, unlike Old Testament saints.
