Galatians 3:27 Commentary and Bible Study

There is a unity between water baptism and the baptism of the Spirit for both are connected with the new birth, but, while water baptism points to that change symbolically, the baptism of the Spirit actually brings about that change. Since water baptism does not itself effect that conversion in anyone, Paul must also be referring here to the baptism of the Spirit, for this baptism is efficacious and without exception causes those who receive it to put on Christ. Water baptism must only be carried out in recognition that the new birth has already taken place in the life.This verse is offered as supporting evidence for the statement in verse 26, but it only provides that evidence on the assumption that baptism is linked to faith in Christ Jesus. The scope of ‘as many as’ is as broad, says Hendriksen, as the words ‘you … all’ in the previous verse. Here is further evidence that baptism was not administered to babies but only after those concerned had exercised and confessed their faith, otherwise the link between the two would be broken. The Galatians can be sure that they are all the children of God, because they have all put on Christ, and this happened through baptism, baptism of the Spirit, as pictured by water baptism. This is covenant language, for to put on Christ is to be found ‘in Christ’, that is, to be united with him in the covenant of grace so that God treats us as one with Christ, allowing all the benefits of Christ’s mediatorial work to flow from him to us. At the same time we have been so significantly changed by the Spirit of God that we have received a new nature and are new creatures. All who are in the covenant of grace and have put on Christ are the children of God. We are adopted into the family of God and made his sons and daughters, and if this is the case then we no longer have the status of slaves as Israel had while they were still under the law.