To give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. 16 Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ. 17 This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void. 18 For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.
19 Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. 20 Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one.
21 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. 22 But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.
I have never been much of a clothes horse. I’m not a dapper dresser. My friend Paul, on the other hand, is always dresses to the nines. Impeccable suit and tie, crisply ironed shirt. None of it K-Mart specials for him. Then there’s Tim and Doug, two other dapper dressers. The coolest shirts ever. Collars and cuffs lined with contrasting materials.
In my defense I can point to Lyle Schaller. When I first met this dean of American Christian church growth and leadership he was dressed in a one piece overall. And not the kind of chic overall I just saw reviewed in the New York Times recently: they’re taking the world by storm, or something like that. Well, Lyle, was about as understated in his dress as he was insightful and inspiring in his 50+ books and leadership training. He didn’t depend on his togs to impress. He brought the goods – his unimpressive couture notwithstanding.
There is a far better suit of clothing than custom tailored suits, or designer shirts of which Paul speaks here. “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ,” he says. We have assumed a new identity when we are baptized. God puts his name on us. We belong to him. But what’s more, we are new people. We have a new identity.
To some extent this is a call to live into our new identity as sons and daughters of God. This is a two-edged sword. It is a call to a different way of life – one of godliness, and faithfulness. It is also a reminder of our true identity, and by that a call to remember how God thinks of us. We are his children. To make matters more clear Paul also says that our identity in Christ supersedes race, ethnicity, social standing, and even sex.
When I was baptized I wore a white robe which I thought was just a matter of wearing something rather than my clothes – or even a swim suit. But the symbolism there is worth noting. Through baptism our sins are washed away. We are clothed in the righteousness of Christ. God calls us his own.
I may not be a clothes horse. But O, my Lord, [Jesus has] dressed me. And I am a wonder dressed in his robes of righteousness! (cf. Walter Wangerin, The Ragman)
David Bahn - Reflections 
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