There’s an interesting little phrase in Galatians 3:27 that tells us an amazing truth and should comfort us and convict us at the same time. It explains why God is able to accept us into His presence, and it reminds us that we have a great responsibility to live in such a way that rightfully portrays this acceptance to the unbelieving world.

Because he does such a great job of expounding on this verse, I’m simply going to quote from MacArthur’s Commentary.

Galatians 3:27 – For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourself with Christ.

“Though water baptism is the outward act of public confession of one’s faith in Jesus Christ, Paul is not here speaking of that baptism. The Bible nowhere teaches salvation by physical baptism, especially not in Galatians. Since it is here equated with being clothed … with Christ, the phrase baptized into Christ cannot refer to any water ceremony at all but rather to spiritual identification with and immersion into the life of Christ. It is precisely the spiritual immersing into the Person and work of Christ that Paul explains in his letter to the Romans:

Romans 6:3-5 – Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection.

“That is a great mystery that the human mind cannot fathom. But in some spiritually supernatural way that transcends time and space, the person who places his trust in Jesus Christ is crucified, buried, and resurrected with his Savior, baptized into Christ. ‘The one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him’ (1 Corinthians 6:17), so that when the Father looks at the sinful believer He sees His sinless Son. Faith appropriates the union that baptism symbolizes.

“When Gideon faced the overwhelming forces of the Midianites and the Amalekites, ‘the Spirit of the Lord came upon’ him (Judges 6:34). ‘Came upon’ literally means ‘clothed,’ indicating that Gideon was enshrouded, or mantled, with the Holy Spirit as a divine coat of armor. That is the concept Paul uses here. The believer who identifies himself with Jesus Christ through faith is divinely clothed…with Christ. That is a graphic way to describe how Christ’s life, presence, and righteous nature envelope the believer.” (end quote)

Isn’t that a wonderful concept? This is why we can approach God’s throne in prayer to find mercy and grace in time of need. We enter clothed in Christ. God sees us through His Son, who has clothed us with His righteousness.

As we walk through life, we are to speak and act in a way that honors Christ. When people look at us, they also should see Jesus as He truly is. It explains why the unbelieving world is so confused about Jesus, doesn’t it? So many claim the name of Jesus, but their lives are a poor reflection of who God is, according to His own revelation of Himself in scripture.

If you have put your faith in Christ, you are clothed with Him. You are identified as belonging to Him, and you represent Him in this life. One day, we will enter heaven and see Jesus for who He is, and truly understand what a miracle God has performed!

Today, as we go about the normal routines of our lives, let us go with the knowledge that we are clothed with Christ, forgiven, accepted, and loved by the Father. May we represent Him well, so that the world can clearly see the Savior we proclaim.