3:27 {28} For as many of you as have been {y} baptized into Christ have {z} put on Christ.
(28) Using the words many of you, lest the Jews should think themselves free from the ordinance of baptism, he pronounces that baptism is common to all believers, because it is a outward sign of our delivery in Christ, to the Jews as well as to the Greeks, that by this means all may be truly one in Christ, that is to say, that promised seed to Abraham, and inheritors of everlasting life.
(y) He sets forth baptism, as opposed to circumcision, which the false apostles bragged so much of.
(z) The Church must put on Christ, as it were a garment, and be covered with him, that it may be thoroughly holy, and without blame.
3:27 For. He now shows how their faith acted to bring them into Christ. As Dr. Schaff says, Faith always implies surrender. Faith leads to obedience. The believer is
baptized into Christ, and being found in him has
put on Christ. Being in Christ, a member of his body, a part of the Son, the believer becomes a child of God. Compare Ro 6:3 1Co 10:2 Mt 28:19. Schaff, in loco, says:
The baptized is surrounded by Christ and covered by his merits.. The figure of putting on Christ as a new dress afterwards gave rise to the custom of wearing white baptismal garments.''
3:27 For as many of you as have testified your faith by being baptized in the name of Christ, have put on Christ - Have received him as your righteousness, and are therefore sons of God through him.
3:26-29 Real Christians enjoy great privileges under the gospel; and are no longer accounted servants, but sons; not now kept at such a distance, and under such restraints as the Jews were. Having accepted Christ Jesus as their Lord and Saviour, and relying on him alone for justification and salvation, they become the sons of God. But no outward forms or profession can secure these blessings; for if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. In baptism we put on Christ; therein we profess to be his disciples. Being baptized into Christ, we are baptized into his death, that as he died and rose again, so we should die unto sin, and walk in newness and holiness of life. The putting on of Christ according to the gospel, consists not in outward imitation, but in a new birth, an entire change. He who makes believers to be heirs, will provide for them. Therefore our care must be to do the duties that belong to us, and all other cares we must cast upon God. And our special care must be for heaven; the things of this life are but trifles. The city of God in heaven, is the portion or child's part. Seek to be sure of that above all things.
