Personal Commitment
In a passionate and personal argument, Paul summarises the difference between true and false teachers and the power and beauty of the One True Gospel of Jesus Christ. It leaves us with a clear way of avoiding false teachers, but also of living out an authentic and committed faith In Jesus Christ.
Scripture Reading
Galatians 6:11-18 ESV See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. [12] 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. [13] 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. [14] 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. [15] For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. [16] And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. [17] From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. [18] The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.
Bible Study Questions
True ministers are personal and persistent
It appears Paul would always add a short blessing in his own handwriting to the end of the letters that scribes wrote on his behalf. Here though, he writes the whole closing summary in large letters in his own hand. What does this tell us about his personal commitment to the Church in Galatia, and the importance of this final summary? What is the core message of this summary?
Galatians 6:11-18 ESV See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand.
1 Corinthians 16:21 ESV I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand.
Colossians 4:18 ESV I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.
False teachers are persuasive compromisers
False teachers use persuasion and manipulation to gain followers. They must compromise with the world and its values in order to do this, and this compromises protects them from being rejected and persecuted by the world. Which teachers are we following, why are we following them, do their teachings lead to persecution or are they compromising with the world?
Galatians 6::12 ESV 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.
1 Corinthians 1:23 ESV but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,
2 Corinthians 11:12-13 ESV And what I am doing I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do. [13] For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.
1 Corinthians 2:1-5 ESV And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. [2] For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. [3] And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, [4] and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, [5] so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
False teachers are hypocritical and boastful
False teachers teach one thing - but live another. They do this so that they will build a reputation for themselves so that people will follow them and think highly of them. They seek power, influence, fame and wealth. What do the teachers that we follow promote?
Galatians 6:13 ESV 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.
Matthew 7:4-5 ESV Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? [5] You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.
1 Timothy 6:3-5 ESV If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, [4] he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, [5] and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.
True ministers glorify Jesus and His Gospel
Unlike false teachers, Paul isn’t interested in what people think of him. He’s not trying to get a following to be famous or well thought of. He wants people to disregard him and his achievements so that they can focus on Jesus and what He’s done for us, even if it causes him rejection and persecution. Paul mentions Jesus at least 45 times in this short letter, how focused are our teachers on Jesus?
Galatians 6:14 ESV 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.
Philippians 3:3-8 ESV For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— [4] though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: [5] circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; [6] as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. [7] But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. [8] Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ
True ministers focus on the power of the cross
The cross of Jesus is the power of God to free us ourselves, evil and death. The law can restrain us but cannot change us, it can’t make us desire God’s Glory and His will or make us reliant on Him. What does it mean that the cross can make us a new creation?
Galatians 6:15 ESV For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.
Romans 1:16 ESV For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
Galatians 2:20 ESV I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
True ministers focus on the purpose of the cross
The cross made it possible for people of every tribe and nation to become a people of God. God chose Israel as “priests” to reveal Him to the world. The legalists who were trying to make the believers “Jewish” threatened that unless they were circumcised they would be excluded from God’s people. Paul shows that it is those who walk by faith that are truly God’s people. This doesn’t nullify the promises of God to Israel, it;s part of His plan to bring them back to Him.
Galatians 6:16 ESV And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.
1 Peter 2:9 ESV But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
Romans 2:28-29 ESV For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. [29] But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.
Isaiah 60:11-12 ESV Your gates shall be open continually; day and night they shall not be shut, that people may bring to you the wealth of the nations, with their kings led in procession. [12] For the nation and kingdom that will not serve you shall perish; those nations shall be utterly laid waste.
Exodus 19:6 ESV and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”
The ultimate difference between true and false teachers
In summary, false teachers try to put painful marks on people in order to make themselves look and feel good. True ministers of the Gospel like Paul, took painful marks on his own body in order to show the goodness and glory of Jesus Christ. What are we doing to show the glory of Jesus Christ and His cross?
Galatians 6:17-18 ESV From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. [18] The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.