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.
Here again is the same thought – {{1 Corinthians 7:18-19 “Was any man called already circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Has anyone been called in uncircumcision? Let him not be circumcised. Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is the keeping of the commandments of God.”}}
Circumcision is of significance under the Law and certainly to Israelites, as the covenant with Abraham, but has no bearing now in the matter of salvation.
Earlier in Galatians the same thought was expressed, and it is at the end he emphasises what he wrote earlier – {{Galatians 5:5-7 “We, by faith, through the Spirit, are waiting for the hope of righteousness, for in Christ Jesus NEITHER CIRCUMCISION NOR UNCIRCUMCISION MEANS ANYTHING, but faith working through love. You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?”}}
In that passage “by faith” is stated because the contrast is “By the Law”, and the Law concerns circumcision, but here Paul says circumcision and uncircumcision mean nothing at all (he is speaking of salvation and relationship) BUT it has to be by faith. Faith is the ONLY link that connects us with God. He asked these Christians in error who put an obstacle in their way in running the race.
[C]. THE CONDITION FOR PEACE AND MERCY
{{Galatians 6:16 “and those who will walk by this rule, PEACE AND MERCY be upon them, and upon THE ISRAEL OF GOD.”}}
This is conditional and applies only to those who “walk by this rule.” The revisionary question is, “What is this rule?” It goes back to verse 15 where it speaks of circumcision and uncircumcision. The answer to the question is that the application is to those who realise the unimportance of circumcision for salvation and that it all comes down to faith alone, and not the works of the Law, or as another says, “Here ‘this rule’ is the principle of justification through faith in the Atoning Blood, and the renewal of man’s nature by the Holy Ghost.”
[[The Greek word for “rule” is the same one that afterwards received a special application in the phrase, “Canon of Scripture.” It meant originally a carpenter’s rule, or the line that a carpenter works by - hence, a rule or standard; and, from that, the list of books coming up to a certain standard - not (as might be thought) which themselves supplied a standard.]] (Ellicott)
It was that error the Galatians had succumbed to, being entrapped by silver-mouthed fanatics no doubt. These orator types do much damage and convince unthinking people which, I am convinced, form the large majority of people. That is why Hitler could hold sway, and some of the world politicians. Those with the ability in speech and are sincere Christians are a blessing to the Church. Spurgeon was notable here.
Do you recall what Paul said about all this? Here it is – {{2 Corinthians 10:9-10 “for I do not wish to seem as if I would terrify you by my letters, for they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his personal presence is unimpressive, AND HIS SPEECH CONTEMPTIBLE.”}}
Paul was not an orator but he had what 99.9% of orators do not have, and that is, the power of the Holy Spirit in speaking the oracles of God. {{“Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit,” says the Lord.}} (Zechariah 4:6).
In that 2 Corinthians 10 verse, at face value, it was not a pleasing description of Paul but I believe it to be the case. Paul was probably very ordinary looking at the best and could have had that appearance (possible disfigurement) because of the thorn in the flesh. God does not want His servants looking like angels for the message would become distracted. God is wise and always knows best.
Speaking about Paul and his appearance and speech, how did the Lord look when people saw Him? I think it is pathetic that so many of the Renaissance artists made Jesus to be an expressionless, insipid, effeminate looking person. He was not that at all. In fact this is how Jesus looked – {{Isaiah 53:2-3 “He grew up before Him like a tender shoot and like a root out of parched ground. He has no stately form or majesty that we should look upon Him, NOR APPEARANCE THAT WE SHOULD BE ATTRACTED TO HIM. He was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief, and like one from whom men hide their face, He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.”}}
I heard someone say once that Jesus is not recorded as smiling or laughing, but that is beside the point. The Gospel writers had a lot more on their minds that to get into that. It says often Jesus had compassion and that He wept and I am sure concern and the travesty of sin was etched on His face.
Anyway, getting back to Galatians 6:16, the blessings for those who walk aright are PEACE and MERCY. Paul closes his letter in verse 18 with GRACE. These three words in capital letters are the three outstanding words from Paul in all his greetings in every letter. Paul sees these as the three main graces that the child of God has received from God. How absolutely thankful ought we to be that our God is a God who bring PEACE to the warring party (us) to share His presence with us so we are no longer enemies. Also let us be thankful for His MERCY because no one shows us everlasting mercy like God; no one is so kind. Then we have GRACE, that great towering word that is Paul’s absolute favourite because grace was extended to him the chief of sinners. The undeserved favour of God has been freely made available to us.
To close verse 16 we look at the final wording here, “upon the Israel of God.” There is some variation among Commentators with most wanting to suggest it means those who are saved and have come into blessing. I reject the term “spiritual Israel” as it adopts the Covenant Theology position of Israel being written out of God’s plan, and all Old Testament prophecies now belong to the Church, they call “Spiritual Israel”.
Nevertheless I can see there could be an application in Christians being what God required for Israel. God has not discarded Israel. Just to be sure of that he inserts “and upon the Israel of God.” Peace and mercy are upon Israel because the LORD has not abandoned nor negated His people. They are the nation of promise and will come into their own once the times of the Gentiles have finished. The welfare and restoration of Paul’s beloved earthly people was never far from his thinking and prayers.
[D]. WHAT ARE THESE STIGMATA PAUL BORE ON HIS BODY?
{{Galatians 6:17 “From now on LET NO ONE CAUSE TROUBLE FOR ME, for I bear on my body THE BRAND-MARKS OF JESUS.”}}
I will let Ellicott begin this new section. Here is what he wrote – [[“The Apostle has done. He will not dally with these vexatious attacks upon himself and his authority any more. He dismisses them with an appeal which ought to be final. He points to the scars of wounds which he had received in his Master’s service. The branding-irons of Christ, he says, have imprinted these upon me. They show that I, like the slaves of a heathen temple, am devoted and consecrated to His service. They are my credentials, and I shall produce no others. My assailants must leave me in peace.
The marks - The stigmata, or marks inflicted with branding-irons, such as those which show that a slave is attached to a particular temple or to the service of some particular deity. Branding was applied in some other cases, but especially to temple slaves. Those with which the Galatians were most familiar would be engaged in the worship of Cybele.”]]
Branding was common in the Roman world both for ownership and Temple service in heathen shrines; and also as a punishment for miscreants and runaway slaves. The st??µata (st??µa) signifies marks branded or etched in, which, usually consisting of letters (Leviticus 19:28), were put on the body (especially on the forehead and hands) in the case of slaves, as the device of their masters; of soldiers, as the badge of their general; of criminals, as a sign of their offence; and among some oriental nations also, as a token of the divinity which they worshipped.
Paul carried the scars of persecution that impressed or etched themselves in his body, somewhat similar to what the Lord Jesus bore in His body – the nails, the spear, the crown of thorns, the whipping/scourging. {{Isaiah 53:5 “but He was pierced through for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed.”}}
Just consider for a while what Paul endured and examine yourself if you are prepared to go through this for your Saviour – {{2 Corinthians 11:23-25 “Are they servants of Christ? (I speak as if insane). I more so - in far more labours, in far more imprisonments, BEATEN TIMES WITHOUT NUMBER, often in danger of death. FIVE TIMES I RECEIVED FROM THE JEWS THIRTY-NINE LASHES. THREE TIMES I WAS BEATEN WITH RODS. Once I WAS STONED, three times I was shipwrecked. A night and a day I have spent in the deep.”}}
Many of God’s saints through the ages have suffered cruelly for their faith. France has been an epicenter of some of the worst torture and suffering from both the Romans and The Roman Catholic Church. It is all written in history and I do not invent it. Great judgement is coming to France for 1800 years of the worst persecution of God’s own. The following except is taken from history. It can be found in many church history accounts.
[E]. THE GLOWING TESTIMONY OF BLANDINA
[[It was the year 177 in Lyons, Gaul (modern France). Christianity had first come to Lyons over 25 years earlier when Polycarp of Smyrna (in modern Turkey) had sent Pothinus as a missionary to Gaul.
After enduring torture, some of the Christians were taken to the amphitheater where wild beasts would devour them to "entertain" the crowd. Among the group was the slave girl Blandina, who had already endured every imaginable torture and cruelty. Blandina was suspended on a stake and exposed to the wild beasts. Because she appeared to be hanging on a cross and because of her intense prayers, she inspired the other Christians. When they looked at her they were reminded of Christ who was crucified for them and that everyone who suffered for the glory of Christ would enjoy eternal fellowship with the living God. None of the beasts touched Blandina at the time, and she was taken down from the stake and cast into prison. The Christians believed God had preserved her for other contests so her victory over the evil spiritual forces might be the greater.
What an Amazing Young Woman!
On the last day of the contests in the amphitheater, Blandina was again brought in with Ponticus, a boy of about 15. Every day they had been brought to witness the sufferings of others and pressed to deny their faith and swear by idols. Ponticus died first, and Blandina remained the last. She had encouraged many others and saw them go on before her to Jesus. Now she was ready to hasten after them. She faced her death rejoicing as if being called to a marriage feast rather than wild beasts. The report stated: After the scourging, after the wild beasts, after the roasting seat, she was finally enclosed in a net, and thrown before a bull. And having been tossed about by the animal, but feeling none of the things which were happening to her, on account of her hope and firm hold upon what had been entrusted to her, and her communion with Christ, she also was sacrificed.”]] END OF QUOTE
When I first read the account of Blandina two decades ago it had a deep and lasting impression on me. What I gave is a shortened version. The torture went on for days. This beautiful saint of the Lord bore in her body the stigmata of satanic hate and is in eternal rest and joy today.
[F]. THE LETTER IS ABOUT TO CLOSE AND DOES SO WITH GRACE
{{Galatians 6:18 “The GRACE of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.”}}
We come to the final verse of the book and what better way to end than with Paul’s choicest word and that is GRACE. In almost every one of his letters you will find this word used frequently. Grace is what saved the chief of sinners, and grace upheld Paul throughout his ministry.
In every letter “grace and peace” is found in the introduction in the greeting. Two of the greatest words in the Christian language are here. The unmerited favour of God redeemed us and peace continues with us.
In the opening to Galatians the same combination is there – {{Galatians 1:3 “GRACE to you and PEACE from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ .”}} Our Christian lives, like this letter, began with grace and will end with grace. In eternity, grace holds us together in the Bride for grace is paramount. If God’s grace was ever withdrawn, or went out of favour, we would be doomed, but that is impossible. How wonderfully blessed we are.
I am not sure if we know the outcome of this communication to the Galatians. I suppose you will have, as always, some who are opposed to sound doctrine. The Spirit led Paul to write to the Galatians, and the Spirit I believe would have pulled them into line.
Are we any different? Often we need to be pulled into line. God’s communication to us does that – His inspired, precious word in conviction and instruction.
Amen. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you forever!
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