Galatians 6:11-18

                                                                 Galatians 6:11-18

See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand.  It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.  For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.  But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.  For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.  And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.  From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.

The message of this book was so urgent that Paul decided to write it in his own handwriting instead of dictating it to a scribe.  He ends the book by pointing to the cross of Christ and the implications of the cross on our lives.  The only way to handle false teachers is by exposing them and providing a clear contrast of truth.

 

THE CROSS OF CHRIST IS CAUSE FOR PERSECUTION: The greatest source of persecution for Paul was from the Jews who branded him as a traitor and heretic that was string up trouble around the globe.  Anyone associated with Paul and the preaching of the Gospel was vulnerable to the same persecution.  The Gospel message was offensive to them because it declares that Jesus is the Messiah and that He was rejected and crucified by His own people.  This accusation was too much for the Jewish people to admit so they persecuted anyone who would make such claims.  The false teachers in Galatia were requiring that Gentile believers be circumcised out of an attempt to appease persecution from the Jews.  This not only was a perversion of the Gospel, it was also ineffective.  It is the message of the cross and the identity of Jesus that was the offense to the people.  Mere circumcision would not appease those who were persecuting because of the cross.

 

THE CROSS OF CHRIST IS CAUSE FOR BOASTING: Paul states that the real reason they were forcing circumcision on the Gentiles was to be able to boast in their accomplishments according to the flesh.  Because they were unable to keep the Law, it made them feel better about themselves to impose circumcision on others.  There is no boasting over the deeds of the flesh.  The only thing the flesh is good for is crucifixion.  Our only boasting is in the cross of Christ and what He accomplished on our behalf.  Pride is always from the evil one and anything we boast about doing in our flesh is not of the Lord.  We stand in awe and worship before the Lord at what He did to pay for our sin and provide forgiveness to us.  We boast in His accomplishments; not our own.

 

THE CROSS OF CHRIST IS CAUSE FOR REGENERATION:  Circumcision does not earn anything, and the lack of circumcision does not prevent anything.  All that matter to the Lord is that we are new creations in Christ because of what He has don on the cross.  We have been regenerated or born again and given a new nature. The result of this rebirth is that we walk in peace and mercy before the Lord.  All who have placed their faith in Christ and recognize His work on the cross as their only hope for salvation experience peace and find mercy in the eyes of the Lord.  Paul suffered greatly for proclaiming this message.  He would not have his suffering be in vain by seeing false teachers deceive those he had led to faith in the cross of Christ.

 

APPLICATION: Be willing to suffer any amount of persecution for proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus and the cross of Christ.  Recognize that the Gospel is offensive and that men will naturally gravitate to things they can accomplish in the flesh.  The cross of Christ must be the only focus of our lives.  Walk in peace and joy over the grace and mercy demonstrated by our new birth in Christ.

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