Women
in the Church of the Living God
Part
3
Galatians 3:28 Explained
Preface
Who
have bewitched the so-called professing
Christian ‘mainstream’ community? That they have
turned to other gospels, departing "from the simplicity that is in
Christ". Falling prey to that which are not gospels at all, but gospels
of feminism, prosperity, and this so-called equality in ‘authority’
of men and women in the churches of this world, and teaching other such gospels
(Rev. 2:20 NIV
where the Lord Jesus says, “You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching
she misleads my servants…”; Galatians 1:6-12; 2 Corinthians 11:3-4).
Galatians 1:10 New Century Version (NCV) –
Apostle Paul moved by the Holy Spirit says,
Galatians 3:28
Explained
Today, women claiming they are called to
preach often ask, this question, were not men and
women declared equal in the churches by Galatians
3:28? When trying to justify or prove, they have authority to teach in the
churches of the true followers of the Living God and His Christ Jesus.
Quoting this verse
Galatians 3:28 from different versions of the Holy Bible says…
New King James
Version (NKJV)…28 There is neither Jew
nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female;
for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
A simple reading of this verse clearly shows that a
person having put on Christ being baptized with the Holy Spirit becomes one
with the Holy and Righteous Father in heaven and His Son the Lord Jesus Christ
(John 17; Acts 2:38; Acts 11:16; Romans 6:3; 1 Corinthians 12). This is the context that Galatians 3:28 should be read. As each of the different versions of the Holy Bible above
reads, the status of the Jew and Gentile (Greeks); slave (servants with or
without pay) and free persons; the
status of men and women did not change in this world nor in the churches
(Genesis 3:16).
However, this verse states the status of men and women baptized by the
Holy Spirit are “one” in
the sight of God the Father and God the Son who are one; yet God the Father is the Head of the Lord Jesus
Christ (Hebrews 1:5
NIV “You are my Son; today I have become your Father”; 1 Corinthians
11:3 NIV “the head of Christ is God”; 1 Corinthians 15:27-28 NIV “27 …Now when it
says that “everything” has been put under him, it is clear that this does not
include God himself, who put everything under Christ. 28 When he has done this, then
the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so
that God may be all in all.”).
·
1 In the past God spoke
to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days
he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and
through whom also he made the universe.
As it is written, our
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in:
·
John
17 (NIV)…”11 I
will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am
coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name
you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one…
·
20 “My
prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me
through their message,
·
21 that
all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they
also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
·
22 I
have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I
in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the
world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”
If only
these teachers of this “gospel of feminism” would actually heed the words of
the Lord Jesus Christ to be “one” in the Body of Christ then the world would
know God the Father sent the Son of Man, Son of David, the Son of God.
In the New Life Version (NLV) of Galatians 3:28 above, it clearly gives the context of the verse saying, “God does not see
you as” your current
status in this world as men and women but as “all one in Christ”.
Understanding that the Scriptures interpret Scripture, and we are
commanded to rightly divide the Word of God (Isaiah 28:9-10 NKJV “…percept must be upon precept,
Line upon line…Here a little, there a little”; 2 Timothy 2:15 NKJV “present
yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed”.
We see this same context in 1 Corinthians 12 where the
Holy Spirit speaking through the apostle Paul states we are “one body” of many
parts within the Body of the Lord Jesus.
·
12 Just as a body, though
one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one
body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all
baptized by[a]
one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and
we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not
made up of one part but of many.
·
15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am
not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop
being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should
say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for
that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were
an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear,
where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has
placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one
part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are
many parts, but one body.
·
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t
need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!”
·
22 On the contrary, those parts
of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we
think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are
unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable
parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving
greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be
no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for
each other.
26 If one part suffers,
every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with
it.
·
27 Now you are the body of
Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
·
28 And God has placed in
the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then
miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different
kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are
all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of
healing? Do all speak in tongues[b]?
Do all interpret?
a. 1 Corinthians
12:13 Or with; or in
b. 1 Corinthians
12:30 Or other languages
In Galatians 3:28, women were not declared equal in
authority as men in the “congregations” and the “order” within the Lord Jesus
Christ Church; and Galatians 3:28
do not authorize women to “prophesy” and “teach” in the churches of the
saints. No more than this Scripture making the slave and the free equal in
status in this present evil age.
We are not all men;
we are not all women, and women cannot declare I want to be the “head” of man
in opposition with the Holy Scriptures as the law says.
As we read this
verse carefully, we see no such phrases, as “come together” or “in the congregation of the saints” your sons and daughters are
hereby declared from this day forward equal in authority in the churches of
God. We must conclude that this verse in Galatians
3:28 no more authorize women to usurp men authority in the churches than it
would declare everyone in this world equal in this present evil age in the
churches and in our homes.
Are we to conclude
that this verse that it makes a wife equal in authority with her husband in the
home? Or would we conclude it makes men and
women equal in authority in the churches? There are some women who call
themselves ministers and others who always quote this verse claiming this very
thing. These individuals some knowingly and others unknowingly are twisting
this verse and reading into it their own “private interpretation” to
justify their own desires and actions.
For, there are
other Scriptures that disqualify their “private interpretation” of this
verse. This verse Galatians 3:28 is
speaking to our spiritual status in the faith where God shows no favoritism to
the “way of salvation” (1 Corinthians 15:22 “For as in Adam all die, so
in Christ all will be made alive”); God sees us all as the same in His
Son Christ Jesus. We must read the full text of this thought in Scripture to
fully understand its meaning, see Galatians
3:26-29 (in several versions for more clarity) for the correct context of Galatians 3:28.
·
26 For you [who are born-again
have been reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified and]
are all children of God [set apart for His purpose with full rights and
privileges] through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For all of you who were
baptized into Christ [into a spiritual union with the Christ,
the Anointed] have clothed yourselves with Christ [that is, you
have taken on His characteristics and values]. 28 There is [now no distinction in regard to
salvation] neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there
is neither male nor female; for you [who believe] are all one in
Christ Jesus [no one can claim a spiritual superiority]. 29 And if you belong to Christ [if you are
in Him], then you are Abraham’s descendants, and [spiritual]
heirs according to [God’s] promise.
·
26 For you are all
children[a] of God
through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 And all who have been united
with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes.[b] 28 There
is no longer Jew or Gentile,[c] slave or
free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And
now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children[d] of Abraham.
You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you.
a.
3:26 Greek sons.
b.
3:27 Greek have
put on Christ.
c.
3:28 Greek Jew
or Greek.
d.
3:29 Greek seed.
·
26 for through faith you
are all sons of God in Christ Jesus.
Here we see that we “are all sons of God”
through Christ, and we are all “baptized into Christ” making us all
“Abraham’s
seed, and heirs” to the promises given to Abraham by God and made
through his son Isaac.
The meaning is this: we are “all
one in Christ Jesus” as our Holy Father in heaven views us all as He
views Christ, His Son. God is not declaring women as the head of men,
nor did He make wives the head of their husbands nor is He declaring
them to be equal in authority as men in the churches. If the feminist
gospel were true then would not, we all be “sons”
and not sons and daughters in this present age?
Notice it says, we “are all one in Christ Jesus”; therefore, I ask, is the unbelieving
husband equal to his wife? Or is the believing woman equal to the unbelieving
man as a result of this verse? No, for the Scripture in other places
plainly states that man is the head of woman; and the husband is the head of
the wife (1 Corinthians 11:3 and Ephesians 5:22-24).
Listed below in 1 Corinthians 11
the apostle Paul under the power of God, the Holy Spirit speaks of the
traditions he delivered to the churches were from him imitating Christ Jesus,
therefore we as followers of Christ should remember these things taught, for
they are the teachings of Christ Jesus. And also listed in Ephesians 5, the
Holy Spirit clearly shows that the husband is the head of his wife as Christ is
the Head of the Church.
·
1 Corinthians 11:1-3 (NKJV) … “Imitate me, just as I also imitate
Christ. Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep
the traditions as I delivered them to you. But I want you to know that the head
of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is
God.”
·
Ephesians 5:22-24 (NKJV)… “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the
Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the
church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is
subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.”
Are we to totally deny these Scriptures when seeking to understand Galatians 3:28? Yes, the Scripture must be interpreted using other Scriptures and not our private interpretations to suit our own human nature, the viewpoint of this world (1 John 4:1-6 NIV).
As it is written, there are precept upon precept, line upon line, and here a little and there a little (Isaiah 28:9-13). If our understanding or interpretation conflict with other clearly written Scriptures then our interpretations are wrong. We must go back to the Holy Spirit with a humble spirit and mind, a teachable attitude for a clearer understanding of the word of God.
Let us please, get some understanding, I ask what is the meaning of, “Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually” in 1 Corinthians 12:27 NKJV? Would the Scriptures contradict itself? Is it sound doctrine, for women and others who wish women to rule over them to conclude, from their own private interpretation of this one verse that women are equal in authority with men, when many other verses plainly state otherwise?
Notice
what this verse says, there is neither slave or free; are we to conclude that
Christian slaves and masters (or Christians’ employers and employees -
today’s equivalent of masters and slaves (or servants – see John 18:17)
are equal in this present age (1
Corinthians 7:17-24, 1 Timothy 6:1-2
and Ephesians 6:5-9)? No!
The
phrase that is key to understanding this verse is "all one in Christ
Jesus", meaning if you have the Spirit of Christ, you are one with
Christ - one Body just as the Holy Father in heaven and His Son are One;
yet, still distinct from one another and in the order of authority. For
Christ and God our Holy Father are One, yet God the Holy Father is the Head of
Christ Jesus (1 Cor. 11:3).
Again, are we to conclude base on this faulty logic of feminism that since Christ in John 10:30 says He and the Father are One, that Christ the Son and God the Holy Father in heaven are equal in authority? Does not the Scriptures say God is the Head of Christ?
As it is written, “… the Head of Christ is God” (1 Corinthians 11:3 NIV). Ask yourself are unbelieving women equal to unbelieving men base on Galatians 3:28? Is not the word of God for the believer and not the unbeliever (1 Peter 3:1)? Christian women are exhorted to submit to their unbelieving husbands; again, showing women are to be in subjection to their believing and their unbelieving husbands (1 Peter 3:1-6).
In Galatians 3:28 it speaks of those in Christ (having the Holy Spirit) as being one - not of women and men not in Christ (mere men and women). Galatians 3:28 does not change the order of authority in the churches of the saints of God in this present age as other Scriptures clearly state.
These women preachers and women rulers in the homes reason within
themselves with such questions as:
·
God gave women spiritual gifts of
prophecy, so why can't women use them in the churches?
·
If women have the ability to lead,
then why should they be denied to lead?
·
"Apostle Paul's teachings"
instructing women to remain silent in the churches and not permitting them to
teach concerns the husband-and-wife relationship only.
·
"Apostle Paul's teachings" in
1 Corinthians 14:33-36 and 1 Timothy 2:11-15 are difficult
passages to reconcile with other verses he wrote about women praying and
prophesying, so Paul must have been confused when he wrote these verses.
·
Didn't the Apostle Paul write his own
opinion in the Holy Bible as it states in 1
Corinthians 7? So, he must have written his own opinion in 1 Corinthians 14:33-36 and 1 Timothy
2:11-15.
·
“Apostle Paul's teachings" as
well as other parts of the Holy Bible were written during a male dominated
society when men were male chauvinists, so they wrote women out of leadership
positions.
I ask you to think
about the implications of these types of reasoning,
are we not declaring that all Holy Scriptures were written by mere men when we
say such things? For when you say such things you disqualify yourselves, and
bring into question all Holy Scriptures because of your unbelief.
For it is written, “they
were not able to enter, because of their unbelief” (Hebrews 3:19 NIV). Yes,
no Holy Scriptures have its beginning by the will of man but “men
spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter
1:20-21 NIV).
Therefore, I exhort you to stop twisting the
Holy Scriptures to suit your own beliefs and private interpretations by
accepting the viewpoint of this present evil age rather than the plain Word of
God on this subject. Repent therefore of your wrongful
thinking, and submit your life to following the things of God rather than the
things of this world.
However, the Holy Scriptures tells us that
there are “many” in this present age; just as the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of
the Living God says, “many” who will not repent of their unbelief and endless
myths.
Matthew
7:21-23 NKJV - I Never Knew You
As it is written concerning the woman Jezebel,
Christ Jesus our Great High Priest and Master (Hebrews 4:14 and John 15:14-16)
says:
Revelation
2:20-21 King
James Version (KJV)
Christ Jesus, the Son
of God is our example:
2 Timothy 3:16-17 KJV
·
“All Scripture is
given by inspiration of God…”
John 1:1-14 KJV
·
“1 In the beginning
was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The
same was in the beginning with God…14 And the Word was made
flesh, and dwelt among us…”
Philippians
2:5-11 New King James Version (NKJV)
The Humbled and
Exalted Christ
·
5 Let this mind be in
you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of
God, did not consider it [a]robbery to
be equal with God, 7 but [b]made Himself
of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness
of men.
·
8 And being found in
appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of
death, even the death of the cross.
·
9 Therefore God also
has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that
at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on
earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue
should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Footnotes
a.
Philippians 2:6
Or something to be held onto to be equal
b. Philippians 2:7 emptied Himself of His privileges
Evangelist
(Minister) Ron Davis, a servant of Christ Jesus, of the Kush Edifying Ministries proclaims
the whole counsel of God. This ministry believes in the command of Jesus to His
disciples in Matthew 10:7-8 “As you go, preach this message: 'The
kingdom of heaven is near.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who
have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give” (NIV). Jesus
commands us to “freely” preach the
word without demanding those preached to give us ten (10%) of their income or
earnings.
Please send your
comments to Evangelist Ron Davis, of
the Kush Edifying Ministries.
OR if you want to debate
my conclusion of in this matter; if you want to argue your own “private interpretation”, then please
send it to the below listed email address with your Scripture backing up what
you wish to debate. Thanks, and may God bless you in understanding His Holy and
righteous word.
Now, let us move to Women
in the churches of the saints of God, Part IV, where we will examine
and discuss the Word of God spoken by the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul
and other parts of the Holy Scriptures. Amen. Praise God.