“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ”
(Galatians 3:26-27 NKJV)

to put on Christ, one must be baptized into Christ

No one who professes faith in the word of God would deny that we are saved by faith. Many Scriptures affirm this fact (for example: Galatians 3:26 — “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus”).

However, many who profess this faith in the Bible deny that baptism has any role in the salvation of sinners. They maintain this position in spite of Galatians 3:27 — “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”

This passage proves that salvation does not come at the point of faith (many call it “faith alone”). Consider Paul’s point —

1. The readers are sons of God...through faith.
2. This sonship is in Christ Jesus. But how does one enter Christ?
3. They entered Christ Jesus through baptism (Galatians 3:27) — they were “baptized into Christ” (baptism removed them from being out of Christ and placed them in Christ).
4. Therefore faith here is comprehensive. We would know this even if Paul had not written Galatians 3:27. Think about it: does salvation by faith mean that repentance is not required? Even denominations teach the necessity of repentance. They believe therefore that faith includes repentance; faith is comprehensive: it includes repentance...and, according to Galatians 3:27, baptism also.
5. Paul, writing this passage, knew the role of baptism. Ananias told Paul himself, “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord” - Acts 22:16).

Christians have put on Christ. In Christ, we clothe ourselves with Him: we make His character, our character (Colossians 3:9-14).

– Rick Duggin