Culver Community Church

Pastor Chris Sweeney

Sermon Notes

December 01, 2019

Galatians 6:11 - 18 Final Thoughts

{vs 11} There are two main camps of thought regarding Paul’s use of ‘large letters.’  One group believes that this is Paul’s way of emphasizing the final section – making an old-world highlighting or bolding of the closing statements so that they would stay with the readers.  While I can see some reason in their argument, it seems unreasonable that Paul would only want to emphasize the final thought in this letter filled with powerful truth!  There are also those who believe that Paul wrote the entire letter in ‘large letters’, using a differing understanding of this verse.  Since the original manuscript is lost to us we will never definitively know if that is the case.  However, most believe that Paul suffered from poor eyesight (remember, he spoke of the Galatian’s love by their willingness to trade their eyes for his, if they could), which leads us to the second line of thought - - - that Paul could not read or write small text.  Thus, the large (possibly sloppy) writing would be a further identifying of Paul’s own hand.

Whatever you choose to believe, Paul’s custom, which was typical in the ancient world, was to dictate his letters to a scribe or secretary.  However, he would often personally write a short address at the end of his letters.  We know that he had a standard signoff – “I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand, which is the distinguishing mark in all my letters. This is how I write. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.” (2 Thessalonians 3:17-18 NIV)  While this signoff may have been tweaked depending on the subject of the letter, this habit served to both authenticate the letter and to add a personal touch.  This is hard to really understand in the age of computer typed e-mails and impersonal text messages.  We might equate this to receiving a personally signed picture and note from a celebrity as opposed to the ‘standard, mass produced headshot’ handed out at events.  Imagine if you will how much more it would mean receiving a letter directly from the Apostle Paul, your spiritual father and mentor who is separated from you by such great distances!  This is not just a letter that he impersonally dictated, but one that he, at great difficulty (in spite of potentially poor eyesight) – yes, it is one that he took the time to personally finish and sign!  This means he cares, it makes a personal, dramatic connection between the author and readers.  Today, we too can be assured of its authenticity because they, knowing Paul received and accepted it as being from him (inspired by the Holy Spirit) to them!

{vs 12-13} Now in his final section, Paul gives one parting shot … to disprove these false teachers.  Here he and the Holy Spirit directly address their motivations for teaching these heresies –

· They want to impress people – Paul tells the believers they want to use you as one of their works!  By keeping count, these false teachers are adding you to the list of their followers.  This is so that they can say ‘look at me, how impressive am I? I have blank number of converts!’  We see this thinking today in ministries who revel in the number of members or in count of altar calls, baptisms, etc.  However, there are no golden arches with fill-in-the-blank million served in God’s Kingdom!  Beyond that, so many who claim to have seen the light may just be fooling themselves and those keeping count!  Only God knows the condition of a person’s heart!  We as believers should be working to impress only one – the One who came to give His life for us!

· Historically, those early believers who came from Jerusalem, out of the Jewish faith had a hard time letting go of their culturally taught Judaism.  In their minds, Jesus was the Jewish Messiah (right so far!), He came not to abolish the Law but to complete it (ok …), and so we can just be good Jews, who also believe in Jesus (Fatal error! Danger Will Robinson! Danger!)  They wanted to make Jesus acceptable to those still under the Law of Moses.  One of those chief signs or works for those under the Law of course was circumcision! So if I get these gentile believers to be circumcised, teach them to follow the Law and the Jewish traditions – suddenly, I am part of another acceptable sect of Judaism - - - and not something brand new!  They may have wanted to follow Jesus, but at a safe distance – without having to pay the social, financial and other prices that came with committing their lives to Him.  Some of these early Christ-followers were kicked out of the temple, their synagogues and yes, their communities and even families!  Life would be so much easier if they and everyone who named the name of Christ could ‘fit in’ with everyday Jews.

However, that old system, no religious system ever works!  The Law was never given to make men righteous but rather as a standard – one that we cannot live up to!  As this letter argued and proved at length – no one can obey the Law (not even the circumcised) and so no one can be saved by it!  As the prophet Isaiah declares – “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way;” (Isaiah 53:6a).  Not one of us can be justified by the Law – not even Moses or Abraham!  They weren’t perfect but God made a way – Abraham was credited righteousness because of his faith.  So stop trying to follow the letter of the Law and rely on God.  God has made a way - “the LORD has laid on Him [Jesus, the Messiah] the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6b).  This is what all of scripture has been saying – progressively revealing the truth that God in grace, sent Jesus to take away our sins!

It has been said that misery loves company – these false teachers, simply wanted a greater crowd to be in the same boat as they were.  With such numbers, I can find reasons to feel good about myself. (Look at that guy! – He wore shorts and a t-shirt to church – I’m definitely holier than him or what about her? – This is her third marriage, God must be more impressed with me!)  I tell you, Jesus looked as lovingly at the woman at the well and at Mary Magdalene, who was possessed by seven spirits as He does with anyone else who longs for God’s help and will receive this gift by faith.  God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34b)!  All of this comparing and boasting in ourselves, our works and yes, even someone else’s flesh (their commitment to follow God - because of me, of course) is worthless!

{vs 14-15} Paul reminds them that all of it is worthless – only what Jesus has done at the cross has any value!  Only by the death, the precious blood of Jesus can you and I be forgiven and redeemed from this wicked world!  I have been crucified with Christ!  Crucified to the flesh (old sin nature) and crucified to the lusts and desires of this world.  We have been freed from the Law and the consequences of our sin and all of it is because of Christ!  May this and this alone be my pride, my joy – Jesus has rescued me!  His love for me is worth boasting about!

It is not that we as believers boast in the shape of the cross (like those bobbles we wear around our necks), not even the story, symbolism, thought or concept - - - we give God the glory for what He did in the cross!  This is my salvation, and it is not of/from myself but from God, the Father who sent His only Son, who was lovingly faithful to the very death on that cross so that we might be reunited with God, united by the Holy Spirit who dwells within us until that wonderful day when He brings us into His presence!  He has made me new by the cross of Christ!  I am nothing, works and religion counts for nothing – the cross is everything!  God is everything!!!  And, I will give Him all of my praise and thank Him for all eternity!

{vs 16} He is talking to two groups.  First, they who are in the gentile churches but also to the Israel of God – not just those born of Abraham (Not all Israel is Israel – Romans 9:6), not those who hold to that Law and circumcision but to those born of Abraham who have seen the truth in the Old Testament and who truly belong to God!  Those who have received the message and grace sent in the Messiah, God’s only Son.  What rule is that? This is the rule he has outlined in this letter.  Those who stand firm in the faith (their freedom in Christ), they that walk by the Spirit, who are crucified with Christ (and to sin and this world) and who are a new creation!  Those true believers (the church both at Galatia and everywhere) who have received the spiritual life, the rule that Paul has given to fend off the lies of these false teachers!  May they be settled in God’s peace and His mercy.

{vs 17} The word translated ‘marks’ here by the NIV is used as we would use the word ‘brand.’ Branding, like an animal that is permanently identified as belonging to a ranch or owner.  What Paul is saying in this parting shot to the false teachers is that I have been permanently identified as belonging to Christ because of what I have suffered, the scars that I have received because of my allegiance to this gospel message!  Those teachers are not willing to suffer even social discomfort because of Jesus – they are not committed, nor are they convinced that Jesus is sufficient!  It is not my life but Christ’s and I bear the marks, similar to His own, to prove it!

Following Jesus, crucifying the flesh and being crucified to this world – carries a cost, higher for some than others - - - but there is always a cost!  Paul unlike these wimpy wannabees has committed his entire life to His Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!  No matter what the cost and where He leads – Paul is ready to follow and in the end, we will see him follow faithfully right up to his death!

{vs 18} The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.  What a fitting way to end this letter on grace – with the traditional sign off ‘May God’s grace be with you all’.  In His grace we have abundance, peace, joy and all that we need!  Let us give thanks and hold to that grace and the cross by which it comes to us!  A-men!!