Galatians 6:11-18
11: See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand.
12: Those who desire to make a good showing in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised, simply so that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.
13: For those who are circumcised do not even keep the Law themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh.
14: But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
15: For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.
16: And those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.
17: From now on let no one cause trouble for me, for I bear on my body the brand-marks of Jesus.
18: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.
Paul closed his letter to the Galatians commenting that he had written this letter himself. Normally he would dictate his letters. Whether he wanted to assure them it was really him or show them how much he cared for them by writing it himself we don’t know for sure. Either way, his last statement is to reiterate that those who are compelling them to be circumcised are only doing it for show, to avoid persecution by the Jews.
Paul said these Jewish Christians who wanted them to be circumcised didn’t even keep the Law themselves. Yet, they wanted them to be circumcised so they could boast about how many converts they had and avoid being persecuted for preaching Christ alone for salvation. Paul contrasted himself from those Jewish believers (even though a Jew himself) by saying he wouldn’t ever boast about anything except in the cross of Christ. Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision matter, only being a new creation in Christ.
The ones urging the Galatians to get circumcised were compromising their faith and the power of the blood of Jesus, in order to avoid conflict and persecution from the Jews. These were Christian Jews who said they believed in Christ, yet still looked to circumcision as a means of righteousness, or at least they were telling others that was the case. They were really looking for the easy way out. They didn’t want to be excluded. They didn’t want conflict. There is a price to pay for following the Lord.
There may be times we need to make tough choices and leave old acquaintances behind. We may need to let go of past traditions and habits to fully trust in Christ for salvation. Our thinking must be changed—renewed—to think like Him. As new creatures—a new creation in Him—we must pursue the study of the Word of God and time in prayer allowing the Lord to reveal His truths to us. Paul prayed for peace on those who walked by this rule.
As a bond-slave was branded to show who he belonged to, Paul closed by saying the marks he bore in his body (from the beatings and troubles he experienced while preaching Jesus) branded him for the Lord so no one should further challenge his authority and apostleship in Christ.
12: Those who desire to make a good showing in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised, simply so that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.
13: For those who are circumcised do not even keep the Law themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh.
14: But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
15: For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.
16: And those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.
17: From now on let no one cause trouble for me, for I bear on my body the brand-marks of Jesus.
18: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.
***
Paul closed his letter to the Galatians commenting that he had written this letter himself. Normally he would dictate his letters. Whether he wanted to assure them it was really him or show them how much he cared for them by writing it himself we don’t know for sure. Either way, his last statement is to reiterate that those who are compelling them to be circumcised are only doing it for show, to avoid persecution by the Jews.
Paul said these Jewish Christians who wanted them to be circumcised didn’t even keep the Law themselves. Yet, they wanted them to be circumcised so they could boast about how many converts they had and avoid being persecuted for preaching Christ alone for salvation. Paul contrasted himself from those Jewish believers (even though a Jew himself) by saying he wouldn’t ever boast about anything except in the cross of Christ. Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision matter, only being a new creation in Christ.
The ones urging the Galatians to get circumcised were compromising their faith and the power of the blood of Jesus, in order to avoid conflict and persecution from the Jews. These were Christian Jews who said they believed in Christ, yet still looked to circumcision as a means of righteousness, or at least they were telling others that was the case. They were really looking for the easy way out. They didn’t want to be excluded. They didn’t want conflict. There is a price to pay for following the Lord.
There may be times we need to make tough choices and leave old acquaintances behind. We may need to let go of past traditions and habits to fully trust in Christ for salvation. Our thinking must be changed—renewed—to think like Him. As new creatures—a new creation in Him—we must pursue the study of the Word of God and time in prayer allowing the Lord to reveal His truths to us. Paul prayed for peace on those who walked by this rule.
As a bond-slave was branded to show who he belonged to, Paul closed by saying the marks he bore in his body (from the beatings and troubles he experienced while preaching Jesus) branded him for the Lord so no one should further challenge his authority and apostleship in Christ.
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