Galatians 6:11-18 says,...
We finish the book of Galatians. Today's verses are Galatians 6:11-18, which read,
v.11 - See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand.
Just a note to let the readers know that Paul is writing this letter himself. He didn't have someone write this letter for him through dictation. Also, the large letters could be an indication that his ailment may have affected his eyes and eyesight. A larger issue is that Paul wanted them to know that what he was sharing was coming directly from him. He did not want to deceive them in any way.
v.12, 13 - Those who desire to make a good showing in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised, simply so that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For those who are circumcised do not even keep the Law themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh.
The false teachers were compelling the new Christians to do something in addition to the gospel (as if essential and necessary) for the sole reason to benefit themselves and not the new Christians. Their real reason for this action was to brag or boast about themselves.
There was persecution for holding to just the cross of Christ. The Jews that were becoming Christians were being persecuted for not keeping all the man-made laws of the Jews and the things of the Law that were fulfilled by Christ's coming and death and resurrection. There must have been also some pride to keep all those laws and get others to do so to.
v.14-16 - But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. And those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.
Paul states that his only boast is that Jesus is Lord and Christ. That boast is based only on the cross and what happened there. He is not boasting in himself. Because of Jesus' death on the cross and His work on the cross, the world is "crucified" to Paul. The world is dead to Paul and Paul is dead to the world or the ways of the world. Religious actions have been replaced with a relationship with Christ that has brought about in Paul a new creation.
For those who "walk by this rule,..." not by the ways of the world or the ways of religious rituals but by the new relationship with Jesus Christ will have "peace and mercy." "Peace" would be the result of a right relationship with God and "mercy" would be the forgiveness of God and the setting aside of God's judgement. This peace and mercy is upon those Gentile believers and also the Jewish believers who are the "Israel of God."
v.17, 18 - For now on let no one cause trouble for me, for I bear on my body the brandmarks of Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.
Paul finishes this letter with the fact that he as been personally persecuted for being a follower of Jesus Christ. He has been beaten and whipped as Jesus was. Even so, he is still wanting and sharing the message of Christ. His devotion is evident in his words and in his actions.
Galatians is about us when we put something in place of Christ in our lives. We get too busy and therefore Christ is segmented to just a portion of our lives. We latch onto something else that we deem as necessary to our salvation rather than Christ and Christ alone. We allow "our doings" to be more important than "His doings" on the cross or that we need to "help Jesus out." Those actions are seen by others and will be picked up by them as what is necessary to become a good person or even a Christian and they won't see or hear that it is not about us but it is about Jesus.
"Lord, we all are capable of veering to the right or the left of the cross. I pray for Your help to keep my eyes, my actions and my words focused on the cross and as a result of the cross. May the ways of the world become dead to me and me dead to them as I live my life in the ways of You. Amen."
Pastor Adam
v.11 - See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand.
Just a note to let the readers know that Paul is writing this letter himself. He didn't have someone write this letter for him through dictation. Also, the large letters could be an indication that his ailment may have affected his eyes and eyesight. A larger issue is that Paul wanted them to know that what he was sharing was coming directly from him. He did not want to deceive them in any way.
v.12, 13 - Those who desire to make a good showing in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised, simply so that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For those who are circumcised do not even keep the Law themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh.
The false teachers were compelling the new Christians to do something in addition to the gospel (as if essential and necessary) for the sole reason to benefit themselves and not the new Christians. Their real reason for this action was to brag or boast about themselves.
There was persecution for holding to just the cross of Christ. The Jews that were becoming Christians were being persecuted for not keeping all the man-made laws of the Jews and the things of the Law that were fulfilled by Christ's coming and death and resurrection. There must have been also some pride to keep all those laws and get others to do so to.
v.14-16 - But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. And those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.
Paul states that his only boast is that Jesus is Lord and Christ. That boast is based only on the cross and what happened there. He is not boasting in himself. Because of Jesus' death on the cross and His work on the cross, the world is "crucified" to Paul. The world is dead to Paul and Paul is dead to the world or the ways of the world. Religious actions have been replaced with a relationship with Christ that has brought about in Paul a new creation.
For those who "walk by this rule,..." not by the ways of the world or the ways of religious rituals but by the new relationship with Jesus Christ will have "peace and mercy." "Peace" would be the result of a right relationship with God and "mercy" would be the forgiveness of God and the setting aside of God's judgement. This peace and mercy is upon those Gentile believers and also the Jewish believers who are the "Israel of God."
v.17, 18 - For now on let no one cause trouble for me, for I bear on my body the brandmarks of Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.
Paul finishes this letter with the fact that he as been personally persecuted for being a follower of Jesus Christ. He has been beaten and whipped as Jesus was. Even so, he is still wanting and sharing the message of Christ. His devotion is evident in his words and in his actions.
Galatians is about us when we put something in place of Christ in our lives. We get too busy and therefore Christ is segmented to just a portion of our lives. We latch onto something else that we deem as necessary to our salvation rather than Christ and Christ alone. We allow "our doings" to be more important than "His doings" on the cross or that we need to "help Jesus out." Those actions are seen by others and will be picked up by them as what is necessary to become a good person or even a Christian and they won't see or hear that it is not about us but it is about Jesus.
"Lord, we all are capable of veering to the right or the left of the cross. I pray for Your help to keep my eyes, my actions and my words focused on the cross and as a result of the cross. May the ways of the world become dead to me and me dead to them as I live my life in the ways of You. Amen."
Pastor Adam
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