30 The Book Of Galatians – Chapter 6:15-18 - Message 30 – Paul Bore The Branding Marks In His Body – Grace And Peace And Mercy Essential – Circumcision Of No Effect Series

30 THE BOOK OF GALATIANS – CHAPTER 6:15-18 - Message 30 – PAUL BORE THE BRANDING MARKS IN HIS BODY – GRACE AND PEACE AND MERCY ESSENTIAL – CIRCUMCISION OF NO EFFECT

This is the last message in Galatians and I hope the series has helped you in the joy of the word of God. I trust God has blessed the messages to you.

[A]. INTRODUCTION

We are right at the end of the letter and it is as if Paul selects pertinent closing remarks. There would be 5 of these in the closing 5 verses and we considered boasting in the last message. I suppose it is correct to say that when you conclude a letter, you select the closing remarks that are most important to you by way of summary. I believe Paul is doing that.

Verse 14 – Paul and boasting

Verse 15 – Comment on circumcision

Verse 16 – Peace and mercy to those who walk correctly

Verse 17 – Paul wants no trouble and he bears the scars of persecution

Verse 18 – Paul’s greatest word is used to close his letter to these wayward Galatians

Today we are going to begin at verses 15 and 16 and these deal with the whole matter of Galatians, that is, the people coming under Law and being circumcised as a ritual necessary to keep the Law.

As I have intimated on many occasions, the letters of Romans and Galatians were written at almost the same time and cover similar ground. There are lots of parallels in the subjects of the two letters. All through his missionary endeavours Paul and Barnabas and Silas and Timothy had to confront the errors of the Judaisers and the opposition from Jews of the synagogues in whatever city he was.

[2]. NEITHER CIRCUMCISION NOR UNCIRCUMCISION (Verse 15)

{{Galatians 6:15 “Neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, BUT A NEW CREATION,

Galatians 6:16 and those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.”}}

What verse 15 says is that circumcision counts for nothing but a new creation does. Expanding that we get, “Circumcision that is the mark of keeping the Law of Moses, means nothing for salvation or relationship with God. Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for an eternal destination. What really matters is the new creation when one is born again. That is done through faith and is complete and thorough, with no one thing required to be added.”

To the Corinthians Paul wrote – {{2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man is in Christ, HE IS A NEW CREATURE. The old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”}} Some versions translate “creature” as “creation”. To change a sinful man from a reprobate, lost child of Satan’s realm into a child of the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings, is NOT a matter of clicking a switch as power on and off. It requires a brand new creation that we know as being born again from on high.

The Lord’s teaching on that is clear - {{John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, UNLESS ONE IS BORN AGAIN HE CANNOT SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD.” John 3:7 “Do not marvel that I said to you, YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN.”}}

Peter’s teaching on the same matter is very clear – {{1 Peter 1:3-4 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us TO BE BORN AGAIN to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you.”}} {{1 Peter 1:23 “for YOU HAVE BEEN BORN AGAIN not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and abiding word of God.”}}

What a travesty it is that in some churches you never hear the necessity of the new birth, but you hear a lot about keeping traditions and rituals and creeds and living for Christ (with born again missing).

It is faith not works. A man is born again through faith and not through works, for works can save no one. It was that message Paul had to drum into the Galatians again, and also reinforce to the Romans. The Law of Moses had finished; the blood of the new covenant ended it all. Now salvation is by believing faith not according to the merits man might think he has or can do.

Like the leper Naaman, he had to abolish thoughts of greatness or self-worth and and take God at His word. As Naaman stepped into the water, so too a sinner must step out in confession and repentance to be born again into a new life in Jesus Christ.