Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Galatians 3:27

"For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ." — Galatians 3:27 (ASV)

This new relationship is not something that happens automatically to everyone. Not everyone is a child of God in the sense that Paul speaks of here. In fact, one can become a son or daughter only through union by faith with Christ Jesus.

Baptism signifies this transforming identification with Christ, so Paul refers to it here. Paul is not suggesting here that baptism now replaces circumcision as a saving sacrament. No one is saved by baptism. Indeed, Paul mentions baptism only once in the paragraph, but faith five times. Rather, baptism is an outward sign of the union that already exists through faith. To be “clothed with Christ” means to become like Christ.