Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

Encouragement for the Family of God by Kenton Cheek

24 September 2025

Reading From Galatians 3

“Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slavenor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.”

—Galatians 3:21-29

     The letter of the Mosaic Law showed mankind what righteousness looked like in their ancient context.  It served to reveal to us that, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”[1]  Relationship with God has always been based upon following Him in faith and expressing love for Him in obedience, but as the Old Testament saints were looking forward in faith, more and more was being revealed to them concerning the coming Messiah.  The Old Testament prophetic types and foreshadows pointed to Jesus.  They were saved by looking forward in time to the coming of Jesus and we are saved by looking back in time at what Christ did for us. 

     The covenant made with Abraham reveals that righteousness is by faith, the Mosaic Law showed God’s Old Covenant people how to lead holy lives, and all of this was fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ.  Obedience in the Old Testament was to temporarily appease the wrath of God.  The Old Covenant was fulfilled in Jesus as His wrath was poured out upon Him as He took the penalty for the sins of the whole world. We enter into the New Covenant by being baptized into Him; dying to our old way of life, being washed in His blood by the Spirit, and raised up to walk in the newness of life.  Our love is now expressed in obedience to the way of life laid out in the New Covenant and the spirit of the Law is now written on our hearts.  The letter of the Law was fulfilled, the spirit of the Law lives on within us.

     Gender, age, ethnicity, socio-economic status, and cultural background have nothing to do with receiving salvation.  We are justified by grace through faith from first to last.  Our position with God the Father is fundamentally changed by the new birth experience.  We go from being enemies and strangers of God to being adopted into His eternal family as His sons and daughters.  Each one of us is called to prophetic, priestly and royal service; called to function in the authority humbly modeled by Jesus Christ, our perfect example of life and godliness.  To Him be all the glory in the Church forever and ever. 

“Heavenly Father, thank You for continuing to bring clarity to the nature of the covenants You have made with humanity.  Help us to keep our covenants.  You are so faithful to us even when we are not.  Strengthen us to resist temptation and to return Your love to You by our obedience.  Give us Your perspective to see past the barriers that the world puts up.  Bring greater unity in Your Body the Church as we become more like Jesus.  In the Name of Jesus Christ I pray these things on behalf of myself and Your people.  Amen.”

For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

—Romans 1:17

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[1] Romans 3:23