Introduction:
A. Today is Father’s Day, and we want to wish all of the fathers among us a Happy Father’s Day, and we pray that God will bless you with the wisdom, love, and strength needed for blessing your children.
B. Let me ask you a question: Have you ever found yourself bragging about something?
1. Children can sometimes be found bragging about their fathers, right?
2. The story is told of three girls who were bragging one day in the cafeteria at school:
a. One girl said: My dad’s so smart he can talk for one hour on any subject.
b. The second girl said: My dad’s so smart he can talk for two hours on any subject.
c. The third girl said: Oh yeah, well, my dad’s so smart he can talk for three hours and doesn’t even need a subject.
3. One day three boys in the schoolyard were bragging about how great their fathers were.
a. The first one said: Well, my father runs so fast that he can shoot an arrow, and start to run, and get there before the arrow.
b. The second one said: Ha! You think that's fast! My father is a hunter. He can shoot his gun and be there before the bullet.
c. The third one listened to the other two and shook his head and said: You two know nothing about fast. My father works for the government and he is so fast that he gets off work at 5 and is home before 4!
C. Let’s tell one more bragging story that is on a different subject than fathers.
1. The story is told of a strong young man at a construction site who was bragging that he could outdo anyone in any feat of strength.
2. The young man made a special case of making fun of one of the older workmen and he taunted him.
3. After several minutes, the older worker had had enough. He said to the young boaster, “Why don't you put your money where your mouth is? I will bet a week's wages that I can haul something in a wheelbarrow over to that building that you won't be able to wheel back.”
4. “You're on, old man,” the young guy replied.
5. The old man grabbed a wheelbarrow by the handles, then he turned to the young man and said, “Alright. Get in.”
D. Boasting can get us in all kinds of trouble.
1. That is especially true if we are boasting about spiritual things.
2. As Paul finished up the letter to the Galatians, he pointed their attention to what he boasted about.
3. When it came to Paul’s salvation, there was only one thing he thought ought to be boasted about and that is the cross.
4. We will have more to say about this in a few minutes, but for now let’s begin working through the final section of Paul’s letter to the Galatians.
E. When many readers of the Bible come to the end of Paul’s letters, they are tempted to skim the conclusion because they think they have read all the important stuff already.
1. They think that the conclusions of Paul’s letters are just conventional – why give much attention to the “sincerely yours” at the end?
2. Although Paul’s letters follow customary forms in the introduction and conclusion, both are important for understanding the content of his letters.
3. In Paul’s introductions and conclusions, he often emphasizes the main points of the letter.
4. That is certainly the case in the letter to the Galatians.
I. The Final Paragraph of Galatians
A. The first thing we notice in this final section is Paul’s Signature (6:11).
1. Verse 11: See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand.
2. Ordinarily Paul dictated his letters to a scribe, and then added his signature at the end.
3. But in the Galatian letter he did more – he seized the pen from his scribe and from verse 11 on to verse 18, all the verses were written in his own hand writing.
4. Why did Paul use such “large letters?” There are at least three possibilities.
a. First, Paul may have had bad eyesight that made it difficult for him to write, except with large letters.
1. This may have been Paul’s thorn in the flesh.
2. Remember that back in chapter 4, verse 15, Paul had mentioned that the Galatians would have gouged out their eyes and given them to him, if that were possible.
b. A second possibility was that because Paul was a tentmaker, he never learned to write well.
1. This is unlikely, since he was also so highly educated.
c. A third possibility was that he wrote with large letters for emphasis.
1. Paul’s large letters may have been the ancient style of our “boldfacing” or “italicizing”
2. This may have been his way of saying: “Important: Read This!”
5. Whatever the purpose was, it gave this letter Paul’s special and unique touch.
B. The second thing we notice in this final section is Paul’s Enemies (6:12-13).
1. Galatians 6 continues: 12 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. 13 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.
2. Here we have Paul’s final, blistering attack on the Judaizers who were seducing the Galatians.
3. Paul made four accusations against them:
a. The first accusation: they were braggarts - They “want to make a good showing” (vs. 12) and “they may boast in your flesh” (vs. 13).
b. The second accusation: they were bullies – They “force you to be circumcised” (vs. 12).
c. The third accusation: they were cowards – “in order that they may not be persecuted” (vs. 12).
d. The fourth accusation: they were hypocrites – they “do not themselves keep the law” (vs. 13).
4. It is no wonder why Paul was so concerned for the Galatians that he wrote this letter.
5. Paul had nothing good to say about those false teachers whose true purpose was spiritual seduction for selfish purposes.
C. In contrast to Paul’s enemies, Paul declared His Boast (6:14-15).
1. Galatians 6 continues: 14 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. 15 For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.
2. Ultimately, Paul says that the heart of your religion is what you boast in.
3. So, let me ask you, what is your greatest boast?
a. Is it your money? Your education? Your family pedigree? Your winsome personality? Your good looks? Your ability to get things done? Your good grades? Your personal achievements? Your marriage and children? The list is endless!
4. Paul learned to boast about only one thing – the cross of Christ.
a. For Paul only that one thing mattered – the cross.
5. When we really understand the Gospel, then we learn to boast exclusively in the cross.
a. When we embrace the Gospel, then we learn to tie our identity, significance and self-image to the cross of Christ.
b. We learn that we are saved solely and wholly because of Christ’s work, not our work.
c. We can take no credit for our standing with God – we are saved by grace because of the cross.
6. And if I truly boast in Christ alone, then there is a stunning turnaround in my life.
a. Paul says that the world becomes dead to us.
b. The world is no longer our boast, nor our draw, nor the thing that controls us.
7. Then Paul restates what he said back in 5:6 that neither circumcision, nor uncircumcision mean anything – what counts is the new creation.
a. All that matters is that, through Christ crucified, we are made a new creation.
D. In the next verse, we notice Paul’s Blessing (6:16)
1. Galatians 6:16: And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.
2. Here he calls living by the Gospel a “rule” – it is a way of life, a foundation for everything.
3. Anyone who sets the Gospel of Christ as their “rule,” he says, will find “peace and mercy.”
4. And they will be members of “the Israel of God.”
5. As we have learned in this letter, Christians are Abraham’s real children, and therefore are heirs to God’s promises to him – we, Christians, are now the Israel of God.
E. Next, we notice that Paul pointed to His Suffering (6:17)
1. Galatians 6:17: From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.
2. What are the marks of Jesus? Paul is probably referring to the literal scars he had from all his difficult travels, imprisonments and beatings that he had received for the sake of Christ.
3. In essence, Paul was saying, you Judaizers like to make marks on the body and call yourself holy, well here are the real marks of faithfulness to God.
4. Paul was the true minister and apostle, and he had the marks of Jesus to prove it.
F. Finally, we notice Paul’s Benediction (6:18)
1. Galatians 6:18: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.
2. To the very last verse Paul continued to hammer home his main theme – the grace of Jesus.
3. We must begin with grace, and continue by grace.
4. Paul signed off with a personal word – brothers.
5. Paul reminded them that they are a precious family to him.
G. And so we come to the end of Galatians, a journey we started back at the beginning of March.
1. Paul had said all he can say.
2. What would the Galatians do? Would they continue to follow the false teachers or would they return to Paul and the true Gospel?
3. As Paul wrote those final words, even he did not know the answers to those questions.
II. The Enduring Lessons of Galatians
A. As we end our study of this book, I want us to take a moment to review some of the major lessons we have learned.
1. We introduced many of these lessons in the first sermon in this series, and then we highlighted them again and again as they came up in the text.
B. First, we learn that even well-taught Christians may be led astray.
1. In this letter we saw that Paul’s converts in Galatia had been seduced and deceived, and that even the apostle Peter and the great missionary Barnabas had to be confronted because of their hypocrisy.
2. So, If that could happen to them, then it can certainly happen to us.
3. Therefore, each one of us must be careful and take heed.
4. Satan disguises himself as an angel of light in order to deceive and lead people astray.
5. Paul warned the Ephesian elders saying, “Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard” (Acts 20:30-31).
C. Second, we learn that we have to stand for the truth and expose error when great issues are at stake.
1. Not every issue is a great issue.
2. There are some things that we might differ about that are a matter of opinion or personal preference, and we should not fight for or over these kinds of things.
3. But there are some “great issues” that are at the heart of our Christian faith and salvation, and none are more important than Jesus and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
4. When anyone attempts to deny or change these kinds of things, then we must stand for the truth and expose the error.
5. That’s what Paul did, and that’s what we must also do.
D. Third, we learn that we must believe the Gospel, obey the Gospel, and stay true to the Gospel to be saved.
1. Like Paul we must be able to say: 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” (Rom. 1:16-17)
2. Also, Paul wrote to the Corinthians: “Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.” (1 Cor. 15:1-2)
3. Staying true to the real gospel is so important that after the customary beginning of his letter to the Galatians, Paul forcefully wrote: 6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. (Gal. 1:6-9)
4. There is only one Gospel and we must stick with it!
E. Fourth, we learn that salvation is by grace, not by works.
1. Paul said it well in Eph. 2:8-9, “8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.”
2. Everything God does for us is on the basis of grace.
3. Our salvation is all of grace, all the time.
4. We cannot save ourselves, nor do we contribute anything to our own salvation.
5. Salvation isn’t 90% by grace and 10% by works.
6. That’s why our only boast and only claim to salvation is the cross of Christ.
7. Praise God that our salvation is based on what Jesus did for us, rather than on what we do for Jesus.
8. That makes the Gospel of Jesus is not only good news, but great news and a wonderful gift.
9. The cross is what makes salvation by grace possible and it is what we must glory in and boast about.
F. Finally, we learn the surpassing value of Christian liberty.
1. This is the main theme of the letter – we have been set free!
2. Galatians 5:1 says: For freedom Christ has set us free.
3. Having been set free, we must stand in that freedom.
4. And what have we been set free from?
a. We are free from the guilt of sin, the power of sin, and the penalty of sin.
b. We are also free from the power of the Law to condemn us.
5. Our freedom is a spiritual freedom that opens up a new and everlasting relationship with God.
6. But Paul was quick to point out that our Gospel freedom can be abused.
a. We, humans are prone to extremes.
b. On one extreme is legalism – a bondage to the Law.
c. Once we are set free from legalism, the pendulum has the tendency to swing in the opposite direction and we end up in the extreme of license.
7. So having explained our calling to freedom, Paul issued a warning: “Don’t allow your liberty to degenerate into license.”
a. Our freedom in Christ is not a freedom to do anything we want and to sin any way we want.
b. Paul said, “Do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another” (5:13).
8. So, Paul’s caution is a valid one – Christian liberty is not a license to sin, but an opportunity to serve.
a. And here is the great irony: we are set free from our slavery to sin so that we can become slaves to one another in love for Christ’s sake.
Conclusion:
A. I want to end with an illustration from Les Miserables. How many of you have seen the movie or the musical?
1. The movies and musicals called Les Miserables are based on the 1862 French novel with the same name by Victor Hugo.
2. Les Miserables is a story of an ex-convict named Jean Valjean, who was imprisoned for stealing a loaf of bread to feed his family, and after serving his time was forced to carry around a yellow ticket for everyone to see that he’s an ex-convict.
3. With that ticket displayed, he tried to get a room at an inn, even offering to sleep in the barn.
a. But the innkeeper throws him out, telling him that they are law-abiding, Godly people.
4. In despair, Valjean sits outside a house and laments:
And now I know how freedom feels
The jailer always at your heels
It is the law!
This piece of paper in my hand
That makes me cursed throughout the land
It is the law!
Like a curse
I walk the street
The dirt beneath my feet.
5. Just then the bishop steps out of his house, sees Valjean, and invites him inside for food, drink, and rest, offering him a bed sleep in, and shelter from the cold outside.
6. So Valjean accepts the Bishop’s offer, eats a hearty meal, and then during the night steals the silverware and runs away.
7. When the police catch him, he tries to tell them that the bishop gave him the silverware as a present. So the police bring him back to the bishop’s house to prove he’s lying.
8. When they arrive at the house, the bishop comes running out the door holding two silver candlesticks, which he gives to Valjean, telling the police that Valjean forgot to take the candlesticks that he gave him along with the rest of the silverware.
9. So the police release Valjean and they walk away.
10. Valjean is now puzzled about why the Bishop has saved him from going back to prison, and why he has even give him more silver.
11. At that point the Bishop turns to Valjean and says:
But remember this, my brother
See in this some higher plan
You must use this precious silver
To become an honest man
By the witness of the martyrs
By the Passion and the Blood
God has raised you out of darkness
I have bought your soul for God!
B. Think about it: that’s just what Jesus did for us.
1. We were imprisoned by the law, sentenced to eternal death for our sins against God, but while we were still sinners, Jesus rescued us and set us free.
2. We are set free not for selfish purposes, but that we might serve the Lord.
3. Jesus has redeemed us from our slavery to sin and the Law, and has bought our soul for God.
I. Have you received God’s gift of grace and freedom?
1. Are you using your freedom to be a servant of God?
2. We have been bought with the precious blood of Christ that we might become honest, godly men and women living lives that glorify God.
3. Our greatest boast is the grace of God and love of God given to us through the cross of Christ.
Resources:
Galatians, The NIV Application Commentary by Scot McKnight, Zondervan, 1995
Galatians For You, Timothy Keller, The Good Book Company, 2013.
Galatians, Maxie Dunnam, The Communicator’s Commentary, Word, 1982.
The Letters to the Galatians and Ephesians, William Barclay, The Daily Study Bible Series,
Westminster Press, 1976.
Be Free – Galatians, Warren Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, Victor Books, 1989.
Branded for Christ: A Solemn Call to Glory in the Cross, Sermon by Ray Pritchard, keepbelieving.com
