The Ninth Day of Christmas
Posted on January 2, 2026 by under
Scripture: Galatians 3:23-29 (NKJV)
3:23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. 24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 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. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Devotion
Before faith came, we were prisoners under the Law, condemned by its righteous demands. The Law served as our tutor, showing our sin and pointing to the promise of Christ. But when faith has come, we are no longer under the tutor. In Baptism, we are clothed with Christ Himself—covered with His righteousness and united to His death and resurrection.
This is no mere symbol. To be baptized into Christ is to be adopted into His family. The Law divides; the Gospel unites. Regarding salvation, there is no Jew or Greek, bond or free, male or female, for all are one in Christ Jesus. The garments of our sin are stripped away, and the robe of His righteousness is laid upon us. Baptism makes us heirs according to promise, not by the merit of our faith but by the grace of the One who gave it.
Every morning the baptized child of God can say, “I am clothed with Christ. My guilt is buried in His death, and my life is hidden in His resurrection.” This garment does not wear thin with time, nor can it be soiled by sin, for it is continually cleansed by the Word of forgiveness.
Collect: Almighty and Everlasting God, direct our actions according to Thy good pleasure, that in the name of Thy beloved Son, we may be made to abound in good works; through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
