Paul emphasizes that the authenticity and special affection in the Epistle to the Galatians is evident through his own handwriting, possibly indicating either the letter's length or his personal commitment despite imperfect Greek. He criticizes those advocating for circumcision not out of genuine faith but to avoid persecution, highlighting that true justification comes through faith in Jesus Christ, not adherence to the Law.
The teaching emphasizes that Paul criticizes those who promote adherence to the Mosaic law, particularly circumcision, as a means to escape Jewish persecution, highlighting that none can fully keep the law but Christ. Instead, Paul underscores the importance of glorying solely in the cross of Jesus Christ, contrasting himself with Judaizers to show his dedication and urging believers to focus on the transformative power of Christ’s crucifixion over worldly pressures.
Emphasizing the message of Paul, the teaching highlights that the true basis for boasting should only be the cross of Jesus Christ, contrasting with worldly and religious accolades, as it is through Christ's sacrifice on the cross that a person becomes a "new creature." This transformation, symbolized by the "new creature" in Christ, surpasses any religious or worldly achievements and is the ultimate purpose and joy for believers, encouraging a complete renewal and faith-based change within individuals.
Shawn teaches that believers are transformed into new creations in Christ, emphasizing that old ways have passed and should not be retained. He highlights that relying solely on canonical scriptures like in the Old Testament leads to legalism, while the Spirit guides believers into living out the fruits of love, joy, and peace in their renewed identity.
Shawn teaches that the true church of God, described by Paul as the "Israel of God," consists of genuine worshippers who follow God from the heart rather than by lineage, emphasizing that in the New Covenant, both the Spirit and the written Word are essential tools to cultivate the fruits of the Spirit. Using a metaphor, he explains that while the ultimate Christian goal is to produce the fruits of the Spirit (bluefin tuna), both the scriptures (the boat) and the Holy Spirit (the sonar) are vital in achieving this purpose effectively.
Christianity today emphasizes living out faith through love, a dynamic and active expression manifested in daily life that transcends debates and doctrinal practices of the past. By embodying love in our actions and interactions, believers are called to exhibit selflessness, care, forgiveness, and kindness, thus becoming pillars of society and fulfilling their mission wherever they are situated.
Study of Galatians 6:11-End
Welcome Prayer Song Silence
Okay we left off at verse 10 last week and we have now come to the last part of Galatians which we will finish today. Next week we will begin our study of Ephesians – woop! Woop! So after talking all about the application of the faith to love and not faith to flesh Paul adds (beginning at verse 11):
END OF GALATIANS
11 Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand. 12 As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. 13 For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. 14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. 15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. 16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. 17 From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus. 18 Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. <<To [the Galatians written from Rome.]>>
Paul's Intentions
Okay back to verse 11 where Paul adds: Galatians 6:11 Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand.
Tindale adds, Behold, to this passage which does not make the comment much different as Paul seems to direct their attention to the special proof of his love, which he had manifested in writing such a letter.
However, what does Paul mean when he writes, “see how large a letter I have written to you with mine own hand!” The Greek for large is payleekos and it means great or large especially relative to quantity. So long might be the way we would interpret it. But some have believed that Paul is referring to the size of the actual letters from his hand which is generally a view that supports the notion that Paul had vision problems and like old people with the same write BIG.
Both views are permissible since the translation best means, “so great” and can therefore mean either. But a number of early scholars are pretty sure that Paul was referring to the size of the letters because his Greek grammar was rudimentary, and like a child writes BIG before honing his letters down to be small.
If this interpretation is true then what he seems to be saying is this epistle is evidence that:
(1) the epistle was genuine, as it bore the marks of his own handwriting; and
(2) it showed special affection for them that he was willing to undergo this labor on their account even though he was not skilled in their native tongue in writing.
However, the most obvious interpretation is the one that says he is referring to the quantity or length of the Epistle which would serve as proof of special interest to them because usually Paul employed an amanuensis to which he would add his name (something we see in Romans 16 and 1st Corinthians 16. Why he departed from this custom we don’t know. At this point Paul returns to the main import of the Epistle, which is first, Justification by Faith alone and he says:
Justification by Faith Alone
12 As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.
In other words, “those who are walking about and wanting to present themselves to the world around them through the flesh (as in through being circumcised) these are the ones who are trying to get you who have been saved by Grace to do the same.”
This has been the subject we have addressed over and over again but here Paul returns to the fact that those who were pushing the believers to turn to the Law and to embrace conformity to “constrain them” to circumcision as requisite to salvation (and then he adds:)
“Only lest they should suffer persecution.”
In other words, it was not from any true love for the cause of Christ that they desired others to embrace elements of the Law – it was in the name of religion – of being seen and known by others.
The Power of the Cross of Christ
Their external SPECIFICALLY so that they would NOT suffer persecution from the Jews. This was the motive behind Peter not eating with Gentiles and it was their motive too and of course in the thick of this we can see that the pressure and persecution from the Jews was intense, which gives me such a personal appreciation for Jesus and Paul and the others.
See, it wasn’t just persecution. It was for the CROSS of CHRIST, which Paul brings up again as a means to show that IT stands outside the elements of the Mosaic law. Paul’s point – which I suggest ought to be our point – is that the CROSS of CHRIST was an offence to the Jews – and for the Jew’s wrath and the fear of such – would should never be the reason to turn from its power which in essence is the power of the blood shed thereon and the life given. Paul continues (verse 13) saying:
13 For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.
It’s a bit awkward of a sentence at first glance because it appears that these Jewish teachers or converts who were telling the believers at Galatia to get circumcised were doing it as a means to get them to fully embrace the Mosaic Law because that is what they were following. Paul says, not so: For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.
The Hypocrisy of Circumcision
Paul can say this for a few possible reasons. First, perhaps he knew that they were acting or living outside the law by choice, or perhaps he is speaking of them not being able to keep the law because nobody could keep the law – it was impossible but for Christ. In other words they brought themselves (and others) under the law by practicing circumcision (which was the outward sign that they tacitly said, “We live the Law” but Paul reminds them that
(1.) Nobody but Christ perfectly observes the whole law of God.
(2.) The Jewish nation, as such, were very far from doing it.
But it seems to me that Paul is speaking of converts to Christ who were preaching circumcision and perhaps other elements of the Law like Sabbath day but were avoiding other elements of the law like sacrifice. Whatever it was this line has Paul showing the hypocrisy present in their teachings. And then he adds why they wanted them to be circumcised:
“That they may glory in your flesh.” It’s like the glory other religious men and women have when a convert embraces the outward trappings of their particular brand of faith – garments, white shirts and ties, prairie dresses, cassocks, robes and the like. In persuading the Gaul’s to be circumcised, which was the glory that these Judaisers would have in their flesh, they would claim a victory of sorts AND they would escape the persecution of the Jews. So, after saying that these people were taking glory in the fleshly works of the Law, Paul adds:
14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.
Boasting Only in the Cross
At this point Paul does something that he will resort to as a means to be the example to the believers in His day – he places himself in direct contrast with the Judaizing teachers who opposed him as a means to show his determination to focus on nothing but the cross of Jesus. Remember, Paul had all of the advantages of being a faithful Jew and toward everything pertaining to the flesh and the Law and with all of it he had the zeal to go with it.
We might allow ourselves to think that this must have been, to some extent or another, known to the Galatians and by placing his own conduct in strong contrast with that of the Judaizing teachers he seems to be attempting of having been there done that, to try and teach the believers that he knows what he is talking about in the hopes that they would follow him.
So, he says: “But God forbid that I should glory (or Boast), save (or except) in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.”
The Centrality of the Cross in Christian Boasting
Note Paul’s emphasis on the cross again here. Not on anything else – in particular the Garden. The Cross.
God forbid that I should GLORY except in THE CROSS of our Lord Jesus Christ. Not in our works (lest any man should boast) – but in the Cross of Christ. The Jews were known to glory in their conformity to the laws of Moses and their zeal, in their talents, wealth, tribe, learning, accomplishments, and the like. The Mormons are known to boast in their genealogy, their pre-existent state, their education, church leadership – the Catholics and other forms of Orthodoxy boast in their traditions, and robes and rites and rituals, the Protestants in their intellectual acumen and degrees – but Paul boasts in nothing but the cross of Christ. Which we might liken to the crucified Messiah.
In other words, He is the subject of rejoicing and glorying because in Him through the cross we have a Savior. So, while the world looked upon him with contempt and as foolishness and the Jews see the cross as a great stumbling-block, to Paul – again by contrast – the Lord’s Work on the cross was the only thing of which he would boast. It was a glorious Savior that died; it was glorious love that led him to die; it was a glorious object to redeem a world; and it is unspeakable glory of all that it accomplished.
Compared with all of this, the law and other religious trifles cannot compare. It is finished! In Him. In His birth, in life, on the Cross and through the Resurrection!
The World Crucified to Believers
But then Paul adds, “By whom the world is crucified unto me,” This statement, which is interesting, is in the “perfect passive indicative of stauroô,” and is simply saying that by Christ, Paul “stands crucified,” to the world. This is a common theme that Paul brings out in his writings and I think that even though Paul uses the word, Kosmos, which means the world, I suggest that he is speaking of all that is in the world and perhaps all that is in the old world of His Jewish descent, which he summarizes in
Philippians 3:3, saying:
“For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.”
Verse 15 he adds:
15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, (We understand these words clearly – but then Paul adds that, “the Only thing that avails anything in Christ is) “a new creature.”
Becoming a New Creature in Christ
Again – my soapbox – my focus – THIS IS THE PURPOSE AND POINT IN CHRIST FOR ALL PEOPLE ON EARTH – That they become a new creature. Again – there is a lot of focus on the fact that Christ has saved us. But in the context of the scripture, Christ has saved the world from sinMissing the mark of faith and love—no punishment, just lost growth or peace.. This work has not been diminished by the fact that it is universally applied – the joy is even greater – but by and through Him doing so, NOT all have become new creatures – not even close. That is a principle of faith in Christ, and allowing His spirit to abide and provide the characteristics that forge in the New Creature.
We hearken back to 2nd Corinthians 5:17 to discover the meaning of becoming a new creature where Paul wrote:
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
The fact that a man is created “anew” as Paul writes (given a new heart from above) constitutes the real difference between him and all others who have not received Him by faith. This is the true distinction of what Christ avails to the world in my estimation. Not the willingness to follow his example, not admitting that He was special, not even in looking to the fact that He saved us – the purpose is pointed on the fact that in Christ all have the call to become New Creatures.
It is not by conformity to certain rites and customs that a man is to be accepted; it is not by elevated rank, or by wealth, or beauty, or blood; it is not by the color of the complexion or the gender but the grand inquiry remains is:
Has a person been born from above and does that person allow Christ by the Spirit to make them a new creature where…
Old things are passed…
New Creation in Christ
away, and all things are new. That last line is better understood as all things stay new rather than are new, indicating all things remain that are new and of the Spirit. I would prefer to either read this passage like this and explain it like this:
Old things are passed away for Good and all things remain that are New in Him and do not ever leave OR Old things are in the process of passing away and all things are becoming new and never leave. One is a stated past tense fact and the latter is a process. I think either approach is fitting with scripture and can be taught but looking to the Greek the first line really does say: “Old things did pass by, and all things have become new and remained.”
Paul's Rule for Peace
This being said, the approach in teaching this passage is to say, “Look. It is all done. You ARE a new Creature as everything about you and your former person is gone and the only thing that remains is new – so start seeing yourselves that way! And stop trying to earn or create the New woman or New Man – He has already been provided in full! Paul adds:
16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. What rule is Paul talking about when he says, And as many as walk according to THIS rule? The rule above that says:
“Old things did pass by, and all things have become new and remained.”
This was especially to the church at Galatia who were being tempted to embrace the Law according to the influence of the Jews within or without their ranks – who were being tempted to embrace the Old Covenant and not, in Christ, to allow “all things to become new.”
Old Covenant vs. New Creation
So Paul says, “And as many as walk,” appealing to the terms often used to describe the path of any discipline, “According to this rule.” The Greek term translated rule here is best thought of as related to a ruler because the word is, Kanon – where we get the idea of canonization of scripture. The meaning of the word is a straight kane used for walking, (kane/cannon) or line or rod, using in taking measurements or defining an area.
In the Old Testament, the written word of God, canonized as being the rule by which the Nation walked, the borders of behavior, we seen as the means to keep the people in line and on what we would call the straight and narrow. This was considered a means to be at peace as Psalm 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
Psalm 125:5 says: “As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the LORD shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity: but peace shall be upon Israel.”
Speaking of the coming Messiah Isaiah said that: Isaiah 40:4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: While these terms were absolutely applicable to the Nation in that day, and His word (or canonized word) helps keep believers today on paths made straight, we note what Paul says here and cannot forget it “Old things did pass by, and all things have become new and remained.”
Since the canonized Law WAS the means by which the Jews stayed on the straight and narrow, and since ALL things have become NEW, we must remember – must – that we are not appealing to the canonized scripture in the same way that the forefathers of the faith did under the law in their day! If we do, we are not allowing “All things to become new, but are, like the Galatians, weeking to retain things from the Law, and remain lawyers, scribes, pharisees – and therefore killers of the Spirit and of love.
The Spirit in us, which allows ALL things to become new, is our guide, because the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, gentleness, longsuffering and the rest. This idea cause Paul to write in Romans 7:6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. The Word is secondary, which is an entirely new concept (compared to the former age and day) and it is used as a spiritual word-map to
Understanding the New Covenant
Help true Israel to learn about and understand God and His Son. Remember now what Paul says here and I repeat it for emphasis: He has said that “Old things did pass by, and all things have become new and remained.”
16 And as many as walk according to this rule (This canon that all things have become new), peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. Peace and mercy upon those whom Paul calls, “the Israel of God” which is the true church of God; all who are his true worshippers. No longer is it literal material Israel but it is true Israel, meaning those who are God’s from the heart and not just by lineage or name.
The True Nature of Israel
This is why we read in Romans 2:28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
This is Paul wrote in 2nd Corinthians 3:6 Speaking of God: 6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. 7 But if the ministration of deathSeparation from God—now overcome. Physical death remains, but it no longer separates us from life with God., written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: 8 How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?
This is why we read in Romans 9:6 “For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel.”
Because in THIS day God has written His law (his canon upon our hearts and minds).
Written Word and the Spirit
Now here’s the tricky irony about all of this – without the written word we would NOT know any of this. And so we are left hanging in a bit of a lurch because we have and use the written word to our advantage and good as a means to see that IT is not the end all but the Spirit and Laws written on our hearts!
So we do not exclude one from the other – we use both. Perhaps we could see it this way (excuse the manly illustration) but let’s say that our Christian goal in this life is to catch bluefin tuna – which represents the fruit of the Spirit – the more we catch the more love we possess.
That is the goal – catching producing bluefin tuna – but there are some issues to catching them – bluefin tuna run far off shore in deep waters. And they are powerful swimmers and fight like mad when caught. And so we need a boat with a motor that is big enough to get us out to where the tuna are and is capable of bringing these beasts on deck.
The bluefin tuna is the Christian goal, the boat is the written Word – we need it and use it to get to the tuna themselves and to catch them. But the boat is not enough. To catch the tuna in this day and age we need a fish-finder, which signals us when the Tuna are passing by. We might liken this sonar tool to the Holy Spirit, which tells us: This is a fruit, that is a fruit, catch this, catch that!
So while the GOAL is catching the fish, the Boat and the Sonar are extremely important to the activity – and without the written word of God and the Spirit human beings will struggle to bring the fruits home.
God knew this – and so He has equipped us with both. And this is just a general reality. I have people on the extremes argue that the written word is not essential or that the Spirit is all that is necessary, or that the Word is all we need. That is like admitting that we ought to seek to land bluefin tuna without a boat or without sonar! It’s possible! Yes! God CAN and could bring a bluefin tuna to the shore – but generally speaking, this is what we have.
And so while in the New Covenant age, where all things have become new, and we are no longer tied to the written word as Law, we use it hand in hand with the Spirit to bring home the fruit of Christian love. Now
The Age Governed by Love
In this Age, where God has taken care of sin for the world and has wrapped the former age up entirely, we are living in an age governed by His Spirit whose fruit is LOVE. Love. Love. Which is a verb, verb, verb.
It is an age where no man, says God, needs to say, “Know the Lord, Know the Lord! For all will know me!” He writes HIS laws on our hearts and minds! So now we take our Christianity, and we walk NOT according to the FORMER ways, but to the new ways, like His new Commandment – which is to love. And so, Christianity is not about debates and doctrines and denominationalism and practices – that is all former stuff. It is about love which is a verb – to all people, but especially them that believe.
Manifestation of Christian Love
And how is this love exercised, shown, tested, amplified, exhibited, articulated – in a vacuum? In a hole in a rock somewhere or sitting in a church where everyone is expected to love and/or pretends it because they are being watched. The point is we live our faith OUT through love today. In all that we do. Our mission and ministry as individuals is where we are planted by God in this life. The woman who is loving in her neighborhood is as mighty a missionary as a woman who moves to India for a few months on a missions trip.
Christian love is manifested in EVERY way, shape, and form, and it brings with it the power to heal and change lives. It is shown in what we say and how we say it, in what we do and how we do it, in who we are and how we are it. It is a love that can only exist here and now in the flesh, on this earth, toward each other. When the flesh is gone that is another realm. But we are in THIS realm, and so this is the realm where we learn to genuinely love all people.
Responsibilities of Christians
This is the place, now is the time. Christians OUGHT to be the pillars of society in terms of selfless love, care for others, kindness, forgiveness, longsuffering, and care for this earth. Instead we are often seen as disregarding the earth, self-centered, argumentative, angry, unforgiving, and lashing out.
(beat)
At this point Paul ends this epistle with a wrap-up, saying:
17 From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.
That first line seems to be saying, “For the remaining time, meaning during the remainder of my life do not bother me about this issue. I have taken the time to explain to you the score – now choose you this day whom you will serve. And he adds a curious line to it all, saying:
“For I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.”
The “for” ties the therefore don’t trouble me any more to, “For I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.” The word here translated to "marks" is the Greek word “stigmata” which means, “marks or brands which are pricked or burnt in upon the body.” This branding was common anciently among slaves and or temple pagans as a means to outwardly identify themselves to the rest of the world. Some suppose that Paul speaks to the deep devotion he had to Christ others suppose that he speaks of the scars and welts he bore on his body due to persecution for the faith as he had, like the Lord, been scourged.
The tie to the line, “now leave me alone” to him saying, “I have proven my allegiance to him and have the marks in my body to prove it – so let me be.”
And we end our verse by verseTGNN’s Bible teaching series—book-by-book, through the lens of fulfillment and spiritual liberty. study through Galatians with
18 Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
This is the exact closing he gives in Philemon and we note, that while he has used some harsh tones with the believers at Galatia, he still calls them, brethren.
Comments/Questions/PRAYER
Nancy and Dave Bontempo
