Galatians Lesson 14 - Fairhaven Baptist Church

Galatians

Lesson 14

Text: Galatians 6:11-18

Intro:this is our last lesson on the book of Galatians, and we are looking at Paul’s final words.

The Motivation for Writing,
1. The Marks of Freedom, or of Bondage?
  1. Emphasis the Salutation,
    1. Paul points out how big of a letter he has written, and with his own hand.
      - Paul uses this ending to point out once again the difference between the legalistic and the true Christians.
        
        Let me say, You can be a legalistic and saved, but there is a huge difference between the lifestyle of both.
        
        Even if they live in closely the same manner.
        
        Remember that Timothy in Acts 16 allowed himself to be circumcised for the sake of the gospel.
        
        But one of them is doing it because they want to advance the gospel, and the other tries to make it part of the gospel.
    2. Tell them what you are going to tell them, tell them, and then tell them what you said.
      - Galatians 1:6&7 “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.”
        
        so in the opening of the letter he said:
        
        there is a difference between grace and legalism,
      - then through the letter,
      - now at the end of the letter.
        
        Paul emphasis this is important.
        
        Once again lets look at the difference:
2. The Legalistic,
  1. They are Boasters,
    1. their main purpose is not the winning of souls, but a play to the flesh Vs.12&13
      - vs.12 “make a fair show in the flesh” Vs.13 “that they may glory in your flesh”
        
        remember this is one of the arguments Paul made about it, who does the glory go to?
  2. They are Compromises,
    1. as a gift to the flesh, they pervert it.
      - Compromise does not always mean easier, (they were adding to)
    2. but they also compromised in order to avoid persecution because of circumcision,
  3. They are Persuaders,
    1. as a persuader, they appeal to the flesh,
      - James 1:13&14 “ Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. ”
  4. They are Hypocrites
    1. a hypocrite is simply a play mask, pretending to be something they are not.
    2. They wanted to place the burden of the law on others, but were not willing to live under it themselves.
      - Paul made the statement “For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.” Galatians 5:3
3. True Christians,
  1. Know the Person of the Cross
    1. Paul constantly went back to the cross, and Jesus Christ,
      - He actually makes reference to Jesus 45 times in this book,
        
        that is about 1/3 of the verses are about Jesus.
      - In the early life of Paul, as a member of Jewish, Paul was very proud of who he was,
        
        but now his glory is in the cross, not himself.
    2. As Christians, we should constantly be aware that it is about Jesus not us.
  2. Know the Power of the Cross
    1. Paul also knew the power of the cross,
      - Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
      - for the Jew’s the cross was foolishness,
      - But for Paul it was everything.4
        
        this is why he so longed to make sure there was nothing added to it.
  3. Know the Purpose of the Cross,
    1. the purpose of the cross was death,
    2. Paul makes the double point here:
      - vs.14, the world is crucified (dead) to me,
      - and I am crucified (dead) to the world.
    3. We no longer have any allegiance to one another.
  4. Paul’s Marks,
    1. Paul closes this letter vs.15 almost as if saying, you want a rule,
      - it’s not about being circumcised or un-circumcised, but about being a “new creation”
      - and if you will live according to that rule: Peace and Mercy be upon you (vs.16)
    2. Let no man trouble me,
      - you want to be marked with circumcision? I have marks in my body as well:
        
        beaten, stoned, shipwrecked, out cast…..

Points for home:

It comes down to our motive for why we do or do not something,
- two people can do the exact same thing, one be wrong, and the other not.
- The question we must ask, is it for the Glory of God or the flesh?
Legalism make a very persuasive argument, because it appeals to the flesh.
- However they are asking something that they cannot possibly keep in their own lives.
For the child of God who delights in the Glory of God, it comes down to this:
- we are a new creation because of Jesus Christ and the Cross.