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In Roman society, a youth coming of age laid aside the robe of childhood and put on a new toga. This represented his move into adult citizenship will full rights and responsibilities.

Paul combined this cultural understanding with the concept of baptism. By becoming Christians and being baptized, the Galatian believers were spiritually grown up and ready to take on the responsibilities and the privileges of the more mature. Paul was indirectly saying that they had laid down the old clothes of the law and were putting on Christ’s new robe of righteousness.

Many Jewish males were proud of their race and greeted each day by praying, “Lord, I thank you that I am not a Gentile, a slave, or a woman.” The role of woman was enhanced by Christianity. Faith in Christ transcends these differences and makes all believers one in Christ. It is our natural inclination to feel uncomfortable around people who are different from us and to gravitate toward those who are similar to us. But when we allow our differences to separate us from fellow believers, we are disregarding what the Bible clearly states. We must take the initiative to seek out and appreciate people as a treasure God has created in his own image.

Galatians 3:26-28
26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.