Galatians 6: 11-18
See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand.
Here we are at the conclusion of this Epistle to the Galatians. Paul is winding up this letter with a summary of the main issue facing these new Christians. And he is not using a secretary for this last part, but writing it himself, and using very large letters, as though his eyesight is not what it used to be. Here is another indication (as we saw in 4:15) that Paul's "thorn in the flesh" may have had something to do with his eyes.
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.
These men from Jerusalem are a real problem for these believers, and Paul has spent this whole letter refuting them. He says here that they are only teaching this to save their own skins from persecution. This is selfish, not loving.
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.
They want you to be bound to obeying the whole Law, but they haven't even been able to do this themselves! They only want to assert power over you to elevate themselves.
But may it never be that I would boast, except in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Paul focuses only on the Cross of Christ, the pivot of his life, and the nexus of human civilization. Never will he ever boast over people who responded to the Gospel under his ministry.
through which the World has been crucified to me, and I to the World.
Since Paul considered himself to be crucified with Christ, as Jesus took his death in execution, then he is dead to the World, and the World is dead to him, it holds no power of attraction for him at all.
For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.
Circumcision is done in the flesh body, and our flesh will be overtaken by spirit when mortality is swallowed up by immortality, and corruptibility is overtaken by the incorruptible. Nothing material or flesh will make any difference then, we will be made completely new.
And those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.
All those who live their lives according to the Gospel that Jesus has finished and completed all the work of Salvation for us, will receive God's peace and mercy, who are the spiritual Israel of God, rather than the Israel of Abraham in the flesh.
From now on let no one cause trouble for me, for I bear on my body the brand-marks of Jesus.
The "brand-marks" are the scars he received in his service to the Lord. This is a word that also means the identification mark of a slave as belonging to his owner. Paul considered Christ his Master.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.
And Paul concludes this letter with the blessing of Christ, as members in one family of God.
This whole letter was written because Paul had heard about these false teachers coming to them in order to corrupt their faith. He delineates several lines of reasoning to show that Jesus did all the work of Redemption, because we cannot do anything to get God's favor. We already have it, as shown by the Father sending the Son to be our Savior.
The issue of that day and time was circumcision, but the principle applies to anything we think we might have to do before we can become Christians.
God loves us just as we are, where we are, right now. There is nothing we need to do to get ready to be saved, other than seeking God with our whole heart. Even if we don't realize that it is God we're looking for.
I didn't know that I was seeking God when I was looking for the Truth. I didn't realize that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life; but when God honored my searching and came to me that day, that's when I knew that Jesus is the Truth I had been looking for.
And I have never looked back. I know that there is nothing I can do to make God love me less or more--He just Loves me! No one ever Loved me like God does, and I love Him back. And that makes me want to love who He Loves, other people.
All the things of this World are only temporary, and will one day burn up with the Earth. They are only tools, good for using to promote His Kingdom by growing up His children, and sharing with others so they can come to Him, too.
O my Father, I pray that all of Your children will understand that there is nothing we can do in our flesh that is not corrupted by the sinfulness of our human nature. Teach us to depend on Your Spirit who You have placed in our spirits for the power and ability to accomplish all the things You have planned for us to do to bring glory to Your Name.
Show us how to listen to Your quiet voice deep in our spirit telling us, "This is the path, walk here," every step we take each day. Lead, guide and direct us, as we live our lives every day, each moment another step on that narrow path You have placed our feet on. You have lifted our feet out of the mire onto that Rock of our Salvation, for stability and confidence in You and Your ways.
Keep us all true to Your Truth, Father; don't let us succumb to any other teaching that would add to or subtract from the simplicity of the Gospel of Christ. And help us to always do everything we do in the power of Your Spirit, not relying on our own flesh at all.
And send us out into Your fields. Send us out to find Your lost sheep. Send us out as Your Light into the darkness of this World, to shine Your Light into the darkness, bringing light to those who sit in deep darkness.
And fill Your great house, Father, fill every place at Your grand Banquet Table, to feast with You joyfully through all eternity.
And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue will proclaim that Jesus is our Christ, our Lord God Almighty, King of Creation, to the eternal glory of Almighty God the Father, for ever and ever. Amen.
Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!
