Where is Your Boast?
Notes
Transcript
A Misplaced Boast (vv. 11-13)
A Misplaced Boast (vv. 11-13)
See with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand! As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh, these would compel you to be circumcised, only that they may not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. For not even those who are circumcised keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.
In VERSE 11 Paul mentions that he wrote with LARGE LETTERS. Why do people today typically write with large letters?
They usually do it for emphasis. Most likely that was one of the reasons Paul did this. However, it may also allude to his bad eyesight. Regardless, he makes a point to mention this to the Galatians which causes me to learn more toward the emphasis he was trying to make.
In VERSE 12 Paul moves back to the Judaizers and the problems they were causing. He mentions the fact that they “desire to make a good showing in the flesh.”
Paul adamantly states that the Judaizers wanted to “LOOK GOOD ON THE OUTSIDE.” They wanted to impress others who had similar views.
They were trying to COMPEL (PERSISTENTLY & CONTINUALLY URGING) the Galatians into being circumcised. They wanted others to see their “zeal” in making “converts.”
At the end of verse 12 Paul mentions the fact that those who were compelling them to be circumcised also had an ulterior motive. It would decrease their own persecution. They were attempting to shield themselves from Jewish hostility because they were convincing these Gentile Christians to follow the Jewish Law. False teachers always have ulterior motives.
Paul makes a stinging accusation in VERSE 13. The Judaizers are so focused on making sure everyone else keeps the Law, but Paul reminds the Galatians that not even they are keeping the Law.
Paul indicates that the Judaizers are being selective in which of the Jewish laws they are keeping and which ones they are emphasizing to these believers.
Not only that, NO ONE IS ABLE TO KEEP ALL THE LAW...that’s why we need GRACE! PEACE WILL NEVER COME THROUGH PERFECT OBEDIENCE.
While Paul calls out the Judaizers for boasting in the wrong things, he points out what we should be boasting in...
An Appropriate Boast (vv. 14-15)
An Appropriate Boast (vv. 14-15)
But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.
Paul says the only thing he has to boast in is the CROSS of our Lord Jesus Christ!
I think it would be appropriate to now go to Philippians 3:2-11 and be reminded of what Paul used to boast about in contrast to what he boasts about now...
Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation! For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
When Paul speaks of “dogs, evil workers, and mutilation” he is speaking of the very same type of people that the Galatian churches were dealing with. But in verse 3, Paul reminds this church that although they are “the circumcision” (the Jews) they aren’t the Jews that have continued to place their confidence in their “Jewishness” but have now placed their full confidence in Christ and His righteousness!
Paul then begins to list his “pedigree” in verses 4-6. Notice what he does with this “pedigree” in verse 8. He says I count it as RUBBISH, DUNG, GARBAGE. He says he had to “flush” his pedigree and instead EMBRACE Jesus!
He basically repeats the same thing in a condensed version here in
But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.
Paul’s pedigree, Paul’s circumcision AVAILS NOTHING! Paul has put to death his worldly desires and ambitions in order to KNOW and SERVE Christ.
He’s no longer boasting in all they things he’s done, he’s no longer boasting in how he was raised, he’s no longer boasting in his Jewishness, He is BOASTING IN CHRIST and His cross ALONE!
For anyone to be saved they have to recognize their righteousness as FILTHY RAGS...
These filthy rags would be repugnant. Our best without Christ’s righteousness is a repugnant stench in the nostrils of God. It is waste, trash, dung...we have to fall down before Christ as a wretch and receive His righteousness and He and He alone will cleanse us and make us whole!
Now Paul closes this letter in vv. 16-18...
Closing Thoughts (vv. 16-18)
Closing Thoughts (vv. 16-18)
And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus. Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
He asks a blessing upon all those who teach salvation by grace through faith. He invites God’s peace and mercy to be abundantly upon them.
He also invites this same “peace and rule” upon what he calls “the Israel of God.” While I do not believe the church has replaced Israel, I do believe that Paul was using this phrase to refer to ALL believers who are now children of Abraham, regardless of whether or not they are Jew or Gentile.
For those who continue to trouble him...he makes a powerful command...LEAVE ME ALONE. Paul doesn’t just bear in his body the marks of circumcision, but he bears in his body the marks of persecution and punishment as a result of following Christ, preaching Christ, and battling with those who wanted him dead.
His final conclusion is asking God’s blessings upon the churches in Galatia, inviting the grace of the Lord Jesus to be upon them all...AMEN
