Christ Conversation Sunday, May 29, 2016 Galatians 6:11-18, Outside? Come On In! Galatians 6:11 - Large letter to reinforce large ideas. See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. It was highly common for a letter to be dictated to a secretary then finished with the Writer taking pen and closing the letter out. Paul does this very thing. With his own writing he sums up the key points, issues the key directives and gives a benediction. This authenticates the preceding contents and lets people know these are his words. Galatians 6:12-13 – Outside Focused Teachers 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. 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. The Apostle Paul takes on the false teachers at the level of their real motivation and the external, outside focus of their doctrine. 1. They want to make a good “showing in the flesh.” The external sign of circumcision would give the teachers bragging rights about how doctrinally correct and zealous for the Law they were. Unlike Paul – they were the ones who were honoring the Law of Moses. 2. They are seeking to avoid persecution, castigation, and shame. The cross of Christ is a scandal. a. Deuteronomy 21:22-23 addresses the curse of one hung on a tree. That man is cursed by God and defiles the land. The Apostle understood the ‘tree’ to speak of the cross (Galatians 3:13). b. Rome used crucifixion as a means of crime control. i. Some criminals were killed, then placed on a cross as a deterrent. The cross was not high, as you often see in movies. The criminal’s feet were often only a few inches above the ground – anyone passing by could look right in the face of the criminal.
ii. Some criminals who were political prisoners or those who committed especially heinous acts, would be crucified alive. Again, because the criminal could be looked at face-to-face, the mockery and derision given to the criminal was all the more impacting. iii. It is likely Jesus was crucified on a “patriarchal cross,” due to the plaque that bore the inscriptions of His crime and placed above His head: “King of the Jews.” (Matthew 27:37) iv. The cross, then, was a curse and a shame. How could anyone think that the Redeemer, the Righteous One could be hung on a cross? Society would mock you and the Religionists would curse you. The very nature of crucifixion as a deterrent screamed out: “Do not do what this man did! Do not follow in his path.” 3. They are not concerned in inner transformation – but with outward expression. They already know that, they being circumcised, could not—did not—keep the law. Yet they insist on continuing a ritual that is nonproductive and shown to be inadequate for redemption. In what ways do Christians elevate external rites, practices and rituals as the ‘proof’ of showing how righteous they are? How about you? What is often used by ministries, churches and individual Believers to show their zeal for evangelism and ‘souls saved?” How about you? _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________
Galatians 6:14 – Boasting in the Cross 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. The Apostle will not boast in his trophies or his righteousness. He embraces the shame of the cross upon which his Lord Jesus Christ hung. It is through the cross the Apostle was able to overcome being formed by the expectations of the culture or the Temple. And he [Jesus] said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” - Luke 9:23 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 1 Corinthians 1:22-24 What does it mean that the world was crucified to Paul and he to the world? How has this been true in your life? _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ Galatians 6:15 – It’s All About What’s Inside For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. Perhaps the Judaizers misunderstood Paul. Maybe they thought he was only focused on ending circumcision. NO! What Paul has been getting at from the beginning is that circumcision could not produce righteousness. Not being circumcised would accomplish that either. Only being a new creation could bring about real righteousness. This new creation is brought about by the Spirit, not the Law or circumcision. It is the Spirit we have a relationship with God, our Abba, Father (Galatians 4:6). It is by the Spirit we are one in Christ (Galatians 3:28). Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17 This is the Inside of Christianity. In Christ. Crucified in Christ (Galatians 2:20). In Him we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28).
How does the separate Christianity from being an ethical lifestyle? _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ Galatians 6:16 – The Rule And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. This rule is the Gospel of Christ. This rule is the Law of Love. This rule is Christ. Those who embrace the sacrifice of Jesus as the means of salvation will experience the peace of God that flows to us because of His mercy. Those who walk in this rule, not simply give vocal acquiescence, are the Israel of God. See Galatians 3:6-29; 4:21-31; Romans 2:29 How do you walk in this rule? Galatians 6:17-18 – The Stigmata From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen. While the Judaizers demanded the bodily mark of circumcision, Paul declares he bears in his body the marks of Jesus: 2 Corinthians 11:22-29 The false teachers made sure their teaching would bring them no remorse before people, no punishment exacted by their peers. Like his Savior, Paul took beatings and prison. Like his Savior, Paul remained faithful to God’s calling and mission. These are the real marks of Christ. Paul ends with the good word that the grace of Jesus would be with your spirit. This last comment reinforces that it is the work of the Holy Spirit in our spirit that brings us into this magnificent relationship with God, our Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.