Galatians 6:11-18 – Parting Admonitions
The six chapters of this epistle are divided into three main sections of Paul’s teaching.
Chapters 1 & 2 are personal in nature and deal with Paul’s authority.
Chapters 3 & 4 are doctrinal in nature and deal with justification by faith.
Chapters 5 & 6, are practical in nature and deal with the application of the doctrine of justification.
In the last passage of the great book of Galatians, we find a very personal parting from the Apostle Paul.
See with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand!
We know that Paul dictated most of his writing through a scribe or secretary. Usually he would simply sign his name. (Rom. 16:20-22; 1 Cor. 16:21; Col. 4:12-18; 2 Thess. 2:1-2, 3:17; Gal. 6:11).
But, he almost always ended them with his own signature.
The only exception to this was the book of Hebrews, leading some to believe that Paul did not write the book (Heb. 13:20-25). However, the salutation sounds very Pauline.
It is believed that Paul omitted his name to the epistle to the Hebrews for one of two reasons...
1. Because he felt the Hebrew church needed no authentication of his work, being one of his own, and well known of them.
2. Because he felt the religious Hebrews would more likely receive this epistle if Paul’s name was not added to it.
Paul calls attention to the size of his signature... See with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand!
This is also believed to have two possible meanings:
1. He signs with a large signature to assure authentication.
> Let no one doubt that this is from me.
> He spent TWO CHAPTERS of this small epistle giving us his credentials. He now gives a large signature.
2. He writes with large letters because of his week eyesight.
> He is making reference to his failing eyesight, but still wants them to know that this is from himself.
In either case, Paul adds emphasis to his signature. He wants to authenticate this epistle.
And, we use his close statements to present Paul’s Parting Admonitions.
To many lawyers, your closing statements are among the most important words in a trial case. What you say here will either make or break your entire case...
Paul makes some remarkable statements as he closes his arguments on the subject of Justification by Faith.
I. One Last Warning Against Legalism (v.12-13).
A. After the last 8-10 weeks of studying Galatians you might think you have heard enough about legalism.
1. Paul doesn’t think so.
> He’s not about to end this letter without a final reminder against the false doctrine that constantly plagues the church.
2. This is the most important theme of this epistle.
> Salvation by grace apart from work.
B. Legalism is SHOWY (v.12a).
1. (v.12) Paul refers to those who "desire to make a a fair show in the flesh".
> The legalists, the Judaizers in Galatia were more interested in externals than internal.
> They were more concerned with symbols than substance.
2. They would not see that genuine Christianity is an inward transformation not an outward ceremony.
> Paul has dealt with this again and again throughout Galatians.
> Paul’s point is that no physical operation on the body can change the soul.
> (v. 15) "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation."
> In their view, the blood of Christ is insufficient.
C. Legalism is COWARDLY (v.12b).
1. They would "make a good showing in the flesh" and would also "compel you to be circumcised" at least in part "that they might not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ."
> Legalism is more interested in how you look before men, than how you look before God.
2. Paul himself, before he was converted was a violent persecutor of believers.
> In the first century, anyone who preached that salvation was by grace through faith alone in the work of Christ on the cross was subject to persecution.
> (Gal. 5:11) There is an offence in the cross. And, a legalist is really a coward.
3. Paul suffered physically for his faith (v. 17).
> These were physical scars representing his sufferings for his stand for Christ.
> Paul’s point is that these legalists emphasized circumcision because they were afraid of the "persecution" they would face from the Jews.
> They were cowards motivated by fear.
4. Cowardly legalism is alive and well today.
> Pastors and churches still cower under traditionalism and denominationalism for fear of what others may say or think.
> I determined some time ago, that I would preach what I believe based up on my own study of the Word not someone else’s tradition.
> I determined that I would lead this church as long as God will let me to try to conform as closely to the NT as possible, not some denominational dogma.
> No one can deny that we are quite a unique church in many ways.
D. Legalism is HYPOCRITICAL (v.13a).
1. "For not even those who are circumcised keep the law."
> Legalists always have a set of rules and regulations that they want everyone else to follow, but they don’t even follow.
> They try to intimidate and pressure others to conform to standards they don’t hold to themselves.
> Jesus accused the Pharisees of binding burdens upon men, that they would not lift themselves (Mtt.23:1-4).
2. Legalists are still hypocritical.
> I like this definition of hypocrisy, "A hypocrite is someone who complains there is too much sex and violence on his VCR."
> Legalism wants everyone to conform to a standard they are not willing to hold to.
> Remember, Paul is talking about legalism as it applies to justification by faith.
E. Legalism is EGOTISTICAL (v.13b).
1. "That they may glory in your flesh..."
> They wanted to brag and boast about how many Gentile converts had been "circumcised" by their ministries.
2. We want more and more people to come to our church...
> But, not so we can count people but because people count!
> However, our motivation is not bragging rights but helping them become fully devoted followers of Jesus.
One Last Warning Against Legalism.
II. One Last Affirmation of the Cross (v.14-15).
A. Our Boast is not in the Flesh but in the Cross (v.14a).
1. Paul says, "But God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ."
> The legalists wanted to "boast" in the number of converts they could win but Paul would only "glory in the cross."
> Nothing in history cuts us down to size like the cross. It is the up-rooter of pride and self-righteousness.
> At the foot of the cross we all shrink to our true size.
2. Men resent the humiliation of the cross.
> The cross forces men to see themselves as God sees them and as they really are.
> Most prefer their delusions, and fraudulent lifestyle.
> They construct a Christianity without the cross, which relies for salvation by their works.
> They do not object to Christianity so long as it is not the faith of a crucified Christ.
> And, if preachers preach Christ crucified, they are opposed, ridiculed, and persecuted.
3. To glory only in the cross means we do not glory in ourselves.
> Apart from the work of God in our lives there is nothing good, loving or worthwhile within us.
> We are selfish, egotistical, arrogant, hypocritical, indulgent, filthy, lewd, hateful, jealous, envious, heretical beings apart from His grace.
B. In the Cross We are Crucified to the World (v.14b).
1. "The world has been crucified to me, and I to the world."
> Just as we cannot glory in ourselves and in the cross at same time, we cannot live for the cross and the world at the same time.
> Co-Worker couldn’t get a bolt off of a laptop computer screen. It seemed like the harder he turned the harder the blot resisted.
> I came to see how it was going, and tried going the other way, and the bolt came right off. "It’s a left handed thread," I told him...
> Because of the cross, we have parted company with the world. We are threaded in a different direction.
> Christianity denies the authority of the world.
> The more pressure they apply to unscrew us from the cross, the more tightly we cling.
2. This is something the world doesn’t realize, and separates religion from true Christianity.
> Persecution and trials make real Christians STRONGER, and false religions show their true colors.
> The cross is an offense to the lost, but it is our Battle Cry!
> It makes them hate the things of God, and makes us love Him more!
C. What Matters Most is a New Creation (v.15).
1. "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature."
> Being circumcised won’t get you into heaven and being uncircumcised won’t keep you out.
> The only thing that will save you is to become a new creature (a new creation – born again)."
2. Circumcision, baptism, keeping the law… none of those things matter when it comes to your salvation.
> The only thing that matters is that you are a "new creation." (2 Cor.5:17) "If any man be in Christ... new creature..."
III. One Last Encouragement for the Church (v. 16).
A. The Church is the Israel of God.
1. The phrase "Israel of God" is unique.
> It may have special reference to saved Jews but I believe it is synonymous with the company of all the redeemed, the "household of faith," the bride, the body, the "church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven" (Heb.12:23).
> Clearly "as many as walk according to this rule" and "the Israel of God" are not two groups but one.
2. By faith we are all His sons and daughters, and therefore brothers and sisters.
> In that sense we see a direct continuity from God’s people of the O.T. era, to today’s N.T. Christian.
> We who belong to Christ today are the true "circumcision" (Phil.3:3) and "Abraham’s seed… heirs according to the promise" (Gal.3:28-29).
> Some would have you to believe that the O.T. saint, and the N.T. believer are saved differently.
> That the O.T. believers were saved by works, and N.T. by faith, but that is not a bit Scriptural.
B. The Church has a Measuring Stick.
1. Look closely at the word "rule." It comes from the Greek word kanon, which means "a ruler, a measuring stick or rod."
> The word was also used to describe a carpenter’s rule or surveyor’s line.
> It is where we get our English work canon, which means accepted. The books of our Bible are known as "the canon of Scripture" or the accepted texts.
> The word literally means "measuring rule": Canon law is the law of the church, the rules it sets up to govern its activities.
> The canon of scripture is the list of books accepted as divinely inspired and making up the Bible.
2. The church has a "rule" or measuring stick by which to measure itself.
> We must measure ourselves by the yardstick of the Bible, and specifically by "THIS rule" which is Justificatio by Faith apart from works.
> Those who measure themselves by other standards, traditions, denominationalism, rituals etc, will find themselves in false doctrine and heresy.
IV. One Last Testimony from the Apostle (v. 17).
A. Paul’s Scars Indicated He Belonged To Christ By Choice.
1. A rancher brands his cattle to know which ones are his.
> God marks His to see which ones are his.
2. Paul is now saying, "Back off, stop bother me... I belong to Christ..."
> I am wearing His brand. I bear in my body "his marks."
B. Are You Willing to be Branded a Christian?
1. Would you be willing to suffer persecution?
> What will happen if you have to suffer for Christ sake?
> Will you be willing to bear the marks?
2. Our Scars Come Not So Much By Physical Scars As By Inner Scars.
> If you serve God in the way that you should you will be persecuted.
> At the job you will be talked about. You will get the short end of the stick at times. You will get pushed around a bit.
C. Paul’s Scars Speak of Surrender and Service.
1. Scars come from actual combat with the enemy.
> Most have very little combat experience.
> Most have had very few battles.
2. Some Christians are not even aware that a war is going on.
> Many say, "I never am bothered by the devil."
> Those that the devil is not bothering are not bothering the devil either.
3. You will get some scars if you serve God.
> Many bear in their body the marks of a rough life.
> Some have football scars; Others have battle scars from being in our Nation’s wars.
> Some have emotional scars that have yet to heal.
> But, few can say like Paul, I bear the marks of the Lord Jesus Christ.
V. One Last Blessing for Believers (v.18).
A. Paul began this letter with a salutation of "grace" and he ends it in the same matter.
1. He began chapter 6 with "brethren" and concludes in the same way.
> This is a word of blessing.
2. In the same way, we ought to bless one another.
> We ought to reach out a hand, look into some other brother or sisters life and say "May the Lord bless you" or "Grace to you."
B. He ends his message with a blessing.
1. This is very standard for Paul.
> Read all the closing words of Paul, and this is very indicative of his closing statements.
> "The grace of the Lord be with you..."
2. How little it costs us to be a blessing, and how much a blessing is worth...
> Not long ago I read about a fellow who rode to work on the "elevated" train in Chicago. This mass transit train comes into downtown on a high track.
> This young man was riding that train day after day as a commuter. And as the train slowed up for the station where he got off, he could look through an open curtain into a room of a building and see a woman lying in a bed.
> She was there day after day, for a long time, obviously quite ill. He began to get interested in her since he saw her every day.
> Finally he determined to find out her name. He discovered her address, and he wrote her a card, assuring her that he was praying for her recovery. He signed it: "The young man on the elevated."
> A few weeks later, he pulled into the station, and he looked through that window and the bed was empty. Instead there was a great huge sign: GOD BLESS YOU, MY FRIEND ON THE ELEVATED!
> If Paul could reach across time and bless us through Scripture...
> If Jesus can reach down from the cross to bless us through His death and subsequent Resurrection...
> We ought to bless others...
