Galatians Chapter 6__The Final Lesson
INTROUDCTION: The great Apostle to the Gentiles, tries to make one last effort to prove that his motives in preaching Christ are pure, contrast the object of his glory and that of the Judaizers thus exposing the latter as hyper-critical exploiters of unsuspecting Gentiles.
I. THE ENTIRE EPISTLE WRITTEN WITH HIS OWN HAND, 11.
Alford states, “I do not see how it is possible to avoid the inference that these words apply to the whole epistle.” His argumentation from the original language is that Paul actually says , “I have written to you, etc.” Also, the marginal reading carries this idea. What is the force of the argument? The large letters to which Paul referred were the large Greek characters called uncials. They were all capitals. Perhaps the only way in which Paul could see to write a letter. Study Gal. 4: 12-15, in relation to Paul's eye sight. Usually Paul wrote by another to whom he dictated. See Rom. 16:22. He would then pen the salutary close as in 2 Thess. 3: 17. Thus in this letter Paul struggled not only in spirit but also wit the body that he might covey to his children in the faith his true and pure sympathetic motives for their sakes.
II. THE JUDAIZERS GLORY MOTIVE: BOASTING THE NUMBER OF GENTILES CIRCUIMSISED. 12-13.
These Judaizers, while supposedly Christians, were ashamed of the cross of Christ – the real heart of Christianity. They tried to hide their shame from their Jewish brethren by converting Gentile Christians to their own legalism and sealing their victories with circumcision. They could thus give an actual count of the number of Gentiles “converted.” (According to Oriental customs women were not considered in the count). In this way they could escape the persecution which came form those who rejected Christ and His cross. Here were their true motives: pride, fear, and shame.
III. PAUL'S GLORY MOTIVE: THE CROSS OF CHRIST, 14-16.
The cross was a symbol of shame in Paul's day. Only the worst criminals were thus executed. It carried the stench of the gas chamber and the hangman's noose of today. But Paul knew that on that cross, Christ died that we might live. Paul believed that the cross of Christ brought life, eternal life. His conviction led him to believe that all men were dead in sin and him alive form the dead in sin. This mere circumcision in the flesh could not accomplish. Even if one were left uncircumcised he would be no worse for it (v. 15). But if one is crucified with Christ (leaves the world of sin for the life of a Christian), then Christ Himself recreates him, saves him to refashion him (Eph. 2:10; Col. 2:11-12; also 2 Cor. 5:17).
This is the “rule” of a new creation by which if one walks he will receive mercy from God and his peace. Hence, walking by the Spirit is taking up our cross and following Jesus.
IV. THE CHURCH OF CHRIST: THE ISRAEL OF GOD, 16. At the cross of Christ makes men free from sin they are added to the church (Acts 2:4, KJV). This is the Israel of God today; His new creation. The new Israel is created out of men once dead. The Christian is the true Jew: Rom. 2:28-29; 9: 6-8; Phil. 3:3. Spiritual circumcision is at baptism (Col. 2:11-12). Hence, the church is the true Israel of God. This fulfills all OT Messianic prophecy concerning Israel.
Lane