Mar. 17, 2024

“THE ROAD TO FREEDOM”

“THE MARKS OF FREEDOM”

GALATIANS 6:11-18

Paul’s final word in Galatians is the same as his first word, it is the word “grace.”

Galatians 1:3 “Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Galatians 6:18 “Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.”

“See with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand!” vs.11

Why did Paul write this last section of the book? Why did he write in such large letters? 

As he wrote in large letters for emphasis; “DON’T MISS THIS!”

Know Paul addresses who are you living for, the praise of men or for the glory of God?

The legalists wanted to subject the Galatians believers to circumcision, so Paul takes this up and relates it to the work of Christ on the cross, and also to his own ministry. Paul talks about three men:

1.   The Legalist- Galatians 6:11-13

Galatians 6:11-13 “See with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand! 12As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh, these would compel you to be circumcised, only that they may not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. 13For not even those who are circumcised keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.”

Paul doesn’t have anything good to say about the legalist. He describes them in four ways:

*They are proud- “As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh” vs.12, “…that they may boast in your flesh.” vs.13.

*They were compromisers- “…these would compel you to be circumcised,” vs.12.

Galatians 5:11 “And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased.”

When Paul trusted Christ, he identified himself with the cross and took the consequences. To the Jews the cross was a stumbling block, and to the Gentile it was foolishness. (1 Cor. 1:18-31)

*They were persuaders- “… these would compel you..” The word “compel” carries with it the idea of strong persuasion and even force, constrain is used in some versions.

*They are hypocrites- “For not even those who are circumcised keep the law…” The legalists belonged to the same group as the Pharisees about whom Jesus said:

Matthew 23:3 “Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do.”

2.   Jesus Christ- Galatians 6:14-16

Galatians 6:14-16 “But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation. 16And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.”

We are to glory only in the cross.

Paul keeps coming back to the cross. (2:20-21, 3:13, 4:5, 5:11,24, 6:12) “If righteousness comes by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” 2:21. 

Why would Paul glory in the cross?

*Because He knew the Person of the cross.

*He knew the Power of the cross.

For Paul the cross meant liberty;

For self- Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

The flesh- Galatians 5:24 “And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”

The World- Galatians 6:14 “But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”

*He knew the Purpose of the cross. It was to bring into the world a new “people of God.” 

One purpose of the cross was to bring in a “new creation” vs.15.

Another purpose of the cross was to create a new nation, “the Israel of God” vs.16.

Matthew 21:43 “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it.”

Peter identifies the nation as a family of God:

1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

3.   The Apostle Paul- Galatians 6:17-18

Galatians 6:17-18 “From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus. 18Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.”

There was a time Paul was proud of his mark of circumcision:

Philippians 3:4-6 “though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: 5circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; 6concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.”

But after he became a believer, he became a “ a marked man” in a different way. He now glorified in the scars he had received and in the suffering he had endured in the service of Jesus Christ. 

For in many ways and in many places Paul suffered physically for Christ.

Philippians 3:10-11 “That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.”

So, Paul comes to the end of his letter, and he closes just the way he began, “GRACE! Not the law of Moses, but “The Grace Of Our Lord Jesus Christ!” No more need be said, because that says it all.

Let me suggest some practical principles to apply:

*No One Is Immune To The Temptation Of Drifting.

*Some Things Are Worth Fighting For.

*We All Begin At The Same Place, Which Puts Us All On The Same Level.

Once for all set self-help aside and embrace the truth that grace, not the law, is both the way to life, and the way of life. Let’s all walk in the Spirit.