The Most Important Rule

Galatians 6:11-18 Paul finishes off the letter with his own hand to show the great importance of what he has been teaching the disciples in Galatia

After Paul has told the Galatians that we are free from the law and saved by grace he ends his letter with peace and mercy unto those who keep this new rule- In Christ Jesus we are a new creature and nothing else matters

This group of new creatures is the Israel of God in the church age

They are the true Israel because they have had faith in the one sent from God (Galatians 3:7)

To choose Christ is to reject religion (12-13)

These Judaizers wanted to claim Christ but were afraid of suffering persecution from the leaders of the synagogues

Others like Paul who was sent by the high priest to bind and persecute any that be of the Way (Acts 9:1-2)

They did not want to accept the cross that came with being a disciple of Christ (Matthew 16:24)

They did not want to give up the pride they had in the works of their religion

Even though noone ever keeps their religion perfectly they do enough to boast in their religious works

They love to glory in their flesh and the promotion of their rules on others

To choose Christ is to reject the world (14)

We have no other glory then our relationship with Jesus Christ and the cross of our salvation

This sounds like foolishness to the world (1 Corinthians 1:23-31)

Jesus is our Lord who we follow and obey

The cross has severed our relationship with the world and given us new life in Christ

We are baptized into his death and raised in newness of life (Romans 6:1-6)

We are no longer in relationship to the world but separated from it in all aspects (John 15:18-19)

To choose Christ is to reject the flesh

In Christ we have a new identity as we become a new nation of called out people

We are no longer Jew or Gentile but the Israel of God (Galatians 3:26-29)

I am christian first and American second, you are christian first and Nepali second

The only marks that matter are what we bare for the sake of Christ

These false teachers wanted to make the Galatians Jews first through circumcision but Paul said he has a greater mark than circumcision

Paul’s marks were not a national indicator but the evidence of his loyalty to Christ

What a fitting way to end a letter about true salvation in Christ Jesus than a true description of what a relationship with Christ must look like

One rule of faith- you must choose Christ over all else

In marriage there are no rules but one- you must remain true to your spouse

The Lord’s Supper reminds us of the exclusivity of Christ.

1 Corinthians 11:23-29 Examine Yourself

John 6:51-56 Except ye eat

Have you chosen Christ?

Will you choose Christ?

We must reject

All Religion

The World

Our Flesh