Galatians 6:11-18

Teacher: Rusty Kennedy
​Series: Galatians (Acts)

Rusty's Notes

CONCLUDING EXHORTATION
Galatians 6:11-18
11 Look at what large letters I use as I write to you in my own handwriting.

• Amanuensis – Paid scribe or secretary
• The large letters were either because
• 1) Paul had issue with his eyes and it was easier for him to see himself or
• 2) Paul was making an emphasis on his final statement.
• DON’T MISS THIS
• It’s not a matter of 2 different doctrines… It’s a matter of 2 different “ways of life.”
• Bondage or Liberty
• Legalism or Freedom
• Walking by the Flesh or Walking by the Spirit
• Living for self or Living for others
• Now Paul adds to this list:
• Receiving praise from men or giving glory to God
• He is dealing with motive, and there is no greater need in our churches today than for an examination of the motives for our ministries.
• We know what we are doing, but do we know why we are doing it?
• A good work is spoiled by a bad motive.[1]
• In this paragraph Paul presents three “marked men”
  1) The legalist (Gal. 6:12–13)
  2) The Lord Jesus Christ (Gal. 6:14–16), and
  3) The Apostle Paul himself (Gal. 6:17–18).[2]

12 Those who want to make a good impression in the flesh are the ones who would compel you to be circumcised—but only to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ.

• Salesman vs Ambassador
• Politicians vs Sincerity
• Campaign vs Missions
• What were the tactics of the salesmen (Judaizers)?
• Their argument might have run something like this: “Yes, of course, Jesus died on the cross, and that is a great example of God’s love.
• But if you want to be saved and really belong to the true Israel, then you must do something more than merely rely on that past event.
• Yes, Jesus was the Messiah, and he did a lot for us.
• But now it is up to you to complete what he began.”[3]

13 For even the circumcised don’t keep the law themselves, and yet they want you to be circumcised in order to boast about your flesh.

• He is condemning them for their dishonesty.
• They had no intention of keeping the Law, even if they could.
• Their reverence for the Law was only a mask to cover their real goal: winning more converts to their cause.
• They wanted to report more statistics and get more glory.[4]
• 1 Samuel – David wanted to marry Saul’s daughter Michael. The price was 100 Philistine (gentile) foreskins. (1 Samuel 18:27)
• David brought 200 foreskins to Saul.
• Paul’s opponents were doing the same thing David and his soldiers had done of old: presenting Gentile “foreskins” as a mark of their own success and ingenuity as representatives of the Jewish Christian establishment.[5]
• Paul describes the Judaizers as:
• 1) Braggarts
• 2) Compromisers
• 3) Persuaders
• 4) Hypocrites

14 But as for me, I will never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. The world has been crucified to me through the cross, and I to the world.

• I “hate” the question, “How many people attend your church?”
• Jesus mentioned 45 times in Galatians.
• That is 1/3 of the passages in Galatians contain a reference to Jesus.
• Wounds of circumcision vs wounds of the cross.
• Cross as a symbol of Paul’s faith.
• We wear crosses and collect crosses.
• It was a way of death.
• Actually the Latin word crux was regarded as an expression so crude no polite Roman would utter it in public.
• In order to get around this difficulty, the Romans devised another expression, “Hang him on the unlucky tree” (arbori infelici suspendito).[6]
• But what the world regards as too shameful to whisper in polite company, a detestable object used for the brutal execution of the bottom of society, Paul declared to be the proper basis for exultation.[7]
• Why would Paul put glory in the cross?
• Because the cross is empty…
• Christ defeated the cross.
• Not only was Jesus crucified… but the world was crucified…
• The earth groaned… the god of this cosmos is the evil one… notice had been served.
• We have been crucified… even we are aliens to this world system.
• It’s not supposed to make sense to us.
• Don’t get so worked up… stay focused on your calling.

15 For both circumcision and uncircumcision mean nothing; what matters instead is a new creation.

• If you are going to be a marked man… be marked as a new creation!
• “The new creation implies a new nature with a new system of desires, affections, and habits, all wrought through the supernatural ministry of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer.
• No spiritual gymnastics, no twelve-step program on the deeper life, no quick-fix “How-to-Be-a-Better-Christian” seminar can produce this kind of transformation.
• Paul’s emphasis was on the act of God in effecting a new thing.
• This is the result of faith working by love leading to holiness culminating in a life filled with the Spirit.”[8]
• You take circumcision… Paul took the cross.
• I prefer the empty tomb… Leavener Logo

16 May peace come to all those who follow this standard, and mercy even to the Israel of God!

• Paul: “I know I get a little worked up talking about this stuff… but really… I only am passionate about you and Christ in you. I want you to have peace.”
• Paul knew the Church stood in great conflict with society.
• Not much has changed today.
• We will always be in conflict.

17 From now on, let no one cause me trouble, because I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.

• Ricky Gervais – Golden Globes (1/5/20) – “So if you do win an award tonight, don't use it as a platform to make a political speech. You're in no position to lecture the public about anything. You know nothing about the real world. Most of you spent less time in school than Greta Thunberg.

So if you win, come up, accept your little award, thank your agent, and your God and take (f*%#) off, OK? It's already three hours long. Right, let's do the first award.”

• “If your religious celebrities have any scars to show for the glory of Christ, then let them be shown. Otherwise—stop bothering me!”[9]

18 Brothers and sisters, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.[10]

• Band of Brothers
• GRACE! Not “the Law of Moses,” but THE GRACE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST!

No more need be said, because that says it all.[11]

[1] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 725). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[2] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 725). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[3] George, T. (1994). Galatians (Vol. 30, pp. 436–437). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[4] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 726). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[5] George, T. (1994). Galatians (Vol. 30, p. 434). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[6] George, T. (1994). Galatians (Vol. 30, p. 436). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[7] George, T. (1994). Galatians (Vol. 30, p. 436). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[8] George, T. (1994). Galatians (Vol. 30, p. 438). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[9] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 727). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[10] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ga 6:11–18). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[11] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 728). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.