GALATIANS 6: 11-18
MARKED BY FREEDOM
[2 Corinthians 11:18-33]
The Holy Spirit inspired Paul to add these closing words to give one more contrast between the legalists & the Spirit-led Christians. The Spirit-led live for the glory of Christ, not the praise of man. Motive is what is dealt with, and the church today needs to examine the motive for our ministries. We know what we are doing, but do we know why we are doing it? Many a good work is ruined before God because of a bad motive.
Paul approaches this subject in an interesting way. The legalists want to initiate people into their way of ritual through the rite of circumcision. Paul says people will do anything in the flesh so that they do not have to die to the flesh by the power of the cross. Paul understood the reasons for avoidance because of the suffering this crucified life led him to endure. But he also knew the peace and mercy of God that came from living in the Spirit.
I. RELIGION IN THE FLESH, 11-14.
II. THE NEW CREATION OF THE CROSS, 15-16.
III. THE MARKS OF CHRIST, 17-18.
Wanting to give added emphases to His conclusion Paul calls the epistle’s readers to see the boldness of His letters. See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand
It was probably Paul’s custom to dictate his letters and then to take the pen and write his own farewell. Paul did this to validate that the letter was genuine. Here he writes in large letters for emphasis so as to say don’t miss this, this is important.
In verse 12 the motivation for legalists [Judaizers] is pointed out. 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.
A way to escape persecution is to preach legalism or external standards and work that can be done by the power of the flesh instead of dying to self by the power of the cross of Christ. Paul was persecuted because he preached the way of the cross and the grace of God as the means of salvation. Paul identified himself with this instrument of death to life in the power of the flesh and was persecuted.
WHEN DO GOODS DEEDS WORK AGAINST the GOOD THAT GOD WANTS US TO DO? When we are more concerned about pleasing ourselves than pleasing God. The Judaizers, for example, wanted to avoid persecution. By downplaying the cross of Christ and what He accomplished through His death and resurrection, and by emphasizing Jewish tradition and ceremony, these Judaizers tried to avoid persecution from the Jews, but at the expense of the truth about the cross. Instead of teaching how Christ fulfilled the Mosaic covenant and established a new covenant, they compromised the truth and took away much of the "newness" of Christianity. They were only trying to save their own necks.
We do the same thing today when we refuse to confront legalistic ideas because we would rather preserve our own sense of well-being. Instead of promoting truth, we become more concerned about preserving our way, or we become more concerned about our temporary security or position, than the eternal condition of others.
When do good deeds become showy? They become displays of egotism when they are done to call-attention to ourselves. Jesus warned about self-serving, phony goodness that was done for show. If you read through the gospel of Matthew, you will find these examples of what Jesus thought about being self-serving:
Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven (6:1).
And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men (6:5).
Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward" (6:16).
But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, "Rabbi, Rabbi" (23:5-7).
Obviously Jesus did not think too highly of religious people whose life was lived for show instead of for the glory of God.
The legalists wanted to boast about these new converts becoming part of their legalistic subgroup as verse 13 indicates. 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.
Some of the legalists were emphasizing circumcision as proof of their holiness, righteousness, or devotion, but they were ignoring other weightier portions of the law. People often chose a certain principle or prohibition and make it the measuring stick of the faith. So Paul condemns them for their dishonesty. They had no intention of keeping the whole law, even if they could, which no man can. Their seeming reverence for the law was only there because it helped them obtain their real goal, more converts to their cause. They wanted to brag about how many they had won over to their system. Legalists want things that can be done in or by the power of the flesh to be the mark or standards of true religion.
In verse 14 Paul refocus all of us on the central thought of eternal life. "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."
Paul comes back to the cross again because it is central to theology and life. Why does Paul boast in the Cross? He highlights two thoughts concerning the Cross. First, we should only boast in the Cross of Christ because of the person of the cross. Jesus Christ is mentioned 45 times in this letter. One third of the verses contain some reference to Him. Jesus Christ captivated Paul and caused him to glory in the cross because of the person of the cross.
The second reason he boasted was because of the power of the cross. For Paul the cross meant deliverance, liberty and victory. By the Cross of Christ Paul had been crucified to the world and the world had been crucified to him. There is no power in the law, or the world to give man power over the flesh. But through applying the power of the crucifixion (Gal. 2:20; 5:24) and the resurrection God puts to death the flesh and releases believers to live in daily victory. The same power that brought Christ back from the dead is operative within those who are Christ’s. The Resurrection is ongoing. [Leon Morris]
Crucifixion is not an instantaneous death, but a very slow and painful death. Just so, the death of a Christian believer to sin does not take place in a moment of special blessing, but-as in physical crucifixion-is painful and slow. Nevertheless, it is basic if we are to walk in the Spirit and live a truly effective Christian life. For only by identifying our self with Christ’s crucifixion can we die to the fleshly thinking and worldly living that seeks to dominate our earthly life.
The world is full of enticements. Daily we are confronted with subtle cultural pressures and overt propaganda. The only way to escape these destructive influences is to ask God to help crucify our interest in them, just as Paul did. How much do the interests of this world matter to you?
II. THE NEW CREATIONS OF THE CROSS, 15-16.
Verse 15 tells us the purpose of the cross is to make us a new creation. For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.
The purpose of the cross of Jesus Christ is to bring about "a new creation." The law was the preparation, for the coming of Christ (Gal. 4:1-7) to show the way, to teach them how far short of the glory of God they fell. The cross was to bring about a new creation, a new people, a new nation, to bring into being the Church of Jesus, the Redeemed of the Lord.
The old creation is that which the people of Adam, head of the first mankind and the law are a part. The new creation of God is brought into being by the death and new life of Jesus, the new Adam, and the Holy Spirit’s power. As 2 Cor. 5:17 says "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, old things passed away, behold new things have come." God has done a new thing in the work of Christ and makes things new for those who live and service in His power for His glory.
Those who walk in the resurrection power of the new creation will be bless with peace and mercy as verse 16 states. "And those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, even upon the Israel of God.
According to the context "this rule" (kan n -from the Hebrew word g neh where English word cane is derived. It means norm or standard, as in Cannon of Scripture). It is the principle which should regulate the believer’s life. The rule is that salvation is by grace through faith and that the saved will live the crucified life. Those that live by grace through faith in Jesus alone have the great blessings of peace and mercy given to or pronounced upon them.
"Peace" is the serenity of heart and mind that is the portion of those who have been justified by faith (Rom 5:1) and walk in the Spirit. In the midst of the storms of life they are safe because they have taken refuge in Christ, in the cleft of the Eternal Rock of God. Even in the day of desolation God hides those who take refuge in Him (Zeph. 1:2ff, 2:3; 3: 12). This peace is spiritual wholeness and prosperity.
Peace and mercy are inseparable. Without God’s mercy being shown, there could be no peace, for what we deserve is wrath, not peace. God’s mercy opens the door for His grace and love to be shown to man.
The thought concludes with "the Israel of God." The blessing seem to be a continued pronouncement upon all those, Jews or Gentiles, who truly glory in the Cross. The creation of this new Israel does not disintegrate the Jewish nation of Israel but it does say that only those who glory in the cross are being blessed and they make up a new nation of God ruled ones.
III. THE MARKS OF CHRIST, 17-18.
With a final warning in verse 17 to those who have been causing strife and agitation Paul concludes the letter. From now on let no one cause trouble for me, for I bear on my body the brand-marks of Jesus.
Paul has fully answered the legalists and replied to all the trouble they were causing. The issue should now be settled and he expects the Galatians to end their participation in legalism and to remove it from the church.
He says let there be no doubt about his commitment to Jesus for he bears His "brand-marks." Brand marks is the plural of the Greek word from which we derive our word stigma, which means a mark of shame or dishonor in English. Brand-marks carries the idea of our practice of branding cattle. In that day slaves and even some soldiers were branded so to show to whom they belonged.
Paul too bore marks as to his ownership. These were not marks of dishonor but of honor. He is referring to his scars resulting from stoning, beatings and probably from manacles and leg irons. They were the marks of his faithful service in the face of extreme difficulty (2 Cor. 6:4-6; 11:23-30). These marks speak more forcefully of Paul’s commitment than any words he could utter.
In this age of easy Christianity, it is difficult for us to identify with Paul. Some may bear inward scars resulting from scorn, intimidation, and even being ignored in their witness for Christ. But Paul’s scars stood out for all to see, and bore personal witness to his loyalty to Christ. God will honor those who have so honored Him.
When Julius CAESAR DEFEATED POMPEY in battle Pompey fled to Egypt for safety, and Caesar followed him there. Thinking to please Caesar, the Egyptian ruler beheaded Pompey and had his head presented on a platter to the Roman. When Caesar saw it, he viewed not his fallen foe but his vanquished kinsman. So he declared war on Egypt.
Not anticipating trouble, he had led only a small contingent of troops to Egypt. As a result he might have lost the war, except for the help of Antipater, the father of Herod the Great, who organized an army of Jews from Alexandria, and helped Caesar win the war.
After the war, Antigonus, the rival of Antipater for power in Judea, appeared before Caesar and warned him not to trust Antipater, who, he said, "was personally ambitious and loyal to no one but himself." Hearing these charges, Julius Caesar asked Antipater for his reply to the charges. Slowly Antipater loosened his waistcoat and drew it back, revealing a mass of scars on his body. Then he said, "These scars were gained fighting the battles of Caesar." He said no more. Nor did he need to. The scars spoke more clearly than words.
This is something of the meaning of Paul’s statement. It was his crowning reply to his adversaries.
In verse 18 Paul closes with a brief parting word to his friends. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.
Paul’s closing blessing is not that the law of Moses be with their spirits but the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul’s desires that the marvelous grave, love to the undeserving, of the Lord Jesus be theirs.
As the letter begins so the letter closes. Throughout the letter there has been the contrast of the marvelous grace of God and human effort. He is called Lord because He owns, governs, and protects us. He is called Jesus because He alone is our Savior, and Christ because He is our anointed Mediator, our Prophet, our High Priest, and the Eternal King (Acts 2:36). The Galatians may be erring, they may be misguided, and even following false doctrine, but in closing Paul calls them brethren.
CONCLUSION
It is easy to get caught up with externals. Beware of those who emphasize actions that we should or shouldn’t do, with little concern for the inward condition of the heart. Living a good life without an inward change leads to a shallow or empty spiritual walk. What matters to God is that we be completely changed from the inside out.
Paul’s letter to the Galatians boldly declares the freedom of the Christian. Doubtless these early Christians in Galatia wanted to grow in the Christian life, but they were being misled by those who said this could be done only by keeping certain Jewish laws.
How strange it would be for a prisoner who had been set free to walk back into his or her cell and refuse to leave! How strange for an animal, released from a trap, to go back inside it! How sad for a believer to be freed from the bondage of sin, only to return to rigid conformity to a set of rules and regulation given to restrict the flesh. Life in Christ is life in the Spirit.
If you believe in Jesus Christ, you have been set free. Instead of going back into some form of slavery, whether to legalism or to sin, use your freedom to live for Christ and serve Him as He desires and deserves.
