Staying True to the Gospel

Galatians 6:11-18 Staying True to the Gospel Introduction: As Paul closes this letter he still is so passionate to see these Christians walk in the fulness of the Gospel and not be cheated out on the grace of God. Paul at this point takes up the pen himself, and with his own hand writes a final exhortation. It was common in those days to write letters through a scribe and this was often Paul’s, as well as the other apostle’s, practice. To show true authenticity, the author would sign his own name. But Paul, still so passionate at this point, cannot just sign his name and send a few greetings or a closing benediction, but with the pen in his hand writes a last warning and exhortation to the Galatians about abiding in the truth of the Gospel. 1. The Final Warning (The insincerity of the Judaizer’s) 1. “See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.” 1. Here in his closing words, Paul finally calls out the Judaizer’s for their true motivation in keeping the law, and pushing circumcision. It has all been to please those who would persecute them because of the cross of Christ. Their motivation has been to please those who find the cross offensive. The opinion, sway, praise of the world (friends, coworkers, family, etc) has the ultimate sway over their lives and not the Gospel, and the Lord Jesus Christ. 1. The philosopher Soren Kierkegaard said: “Sin is the despairing refusal to find your deepest identity in your relationship and service to God. Sin is seeking to become oneself, to get an identity, apart from God.” We were made for God, to center our entire life on him and find our sense of worth and purpose in him. Anything other than that is sin. Tim Keller summarizes Kierkegaard’s point this way: “Sin is not just the doing of bad things, but the making of good things into ultimate things. It is seeking to establish a sense of self by making something else more central to your significance, purpose, and happiness than your relationship with God.” 2. Paul has already made it clear that the Gospel is terribly offensive to human hearts. We are so wicked and depraved that God himself had to give his own life to save us, and yet we are so loved by him that he was willing to do it. The Gospel is offensive to liberal minded people, who charge the gospel with intolerance, because it states that the only way to be saved is through the cross. The Gospel is offensive to conservative minded people, because it states that, without the cross, “good” people are in as much trouble as “bad” people. Ultimately, the gospel is offensive because the cross stands against all schemes of self-salvation. The world appreciates “religion” and morality” in general. Morals are seen as good for society. But the world is offended by the cross because it strips us of any boasting in our own goodness, charisma, power, and beauty. 1. God alone has made us, and purchased us with the precious blood of Christ, his son. Therefore nothing, and no one, deserves our boast except for him. 2. The Final Blessing (Peace and Mercy upon the Israel of God) 1. “But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.” 1. The Judaizer’s or agitators boasted in the flesh. Paul boasts only in the thing that has put the flesh to death and has offered him a new life in the new creation - The cross of Christ. 2. What does Paul mean that he has been crucified to the world and the world to him? It meant that Paul personally no longer lived for the praise, values, opinions, pleasures, goals of the world. He was dead to it and it to him. It no longer had a reigning influence on his life. - He was free. 2. How did Paul get this freedom? 1. I think it was as, Thomas Chalmers calls it, an expulsive power of a new affection. 2. “The best way of casting out an impure affection is to admit a pure one... It is only when, as in the Gospel, acceptance is bestowed as a present, without money and without price, that the security which man feels in God is placed beyond the reach of disturbance. Only then can he repose in Him as one friend reposes in another... The only way to dispossess the heart of an old affection is by the expulsive power of a new one.”.. Paul had seen and experienced “the light and the knowledge of the Glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ!!” 1. If nothing in the world is where I locate my righteousness or salvation, if there is nothing in the world that I boast in, then there is nothing in the world that controls me - nothing I must have. 2. "The Gospel changes what I fundamentally boast in - it changes the whole basis for my identity. Nothing in the world has any power over me - I am free at last to enjoy the world, for I do not need the world. I feel neither inferior to anyone nor superior to anyone, and I am being made all over into someone and something entirely new.” -Tim Keller 3. This means then, that we don’t disdain the world (meaning material things, pleasures, friendship and relationships) but in fact that we can actually enjoy it, because we no longer fear it or worship it. 3. Positively, it means that we are alive to God and Christ- We are a new creation. Remember Christ death and resurrection was that divine rescue by God. A redemptive historical event that has brought me into the New Creation. Through it I have been given: 1. Purpose - true purpose for life; now I know the creator God personally and have been aligned with his redemptive action. 2. Identity -Sons of God - I know the one who created me, knows, loves and accepts me, who’s love and acceptance I can never earn and never lose. I am secure. 3. A Glorious Future - I know where everything is headed - new creation; and I am guaranteed access and life in the new heaven and new earth. The gospel changes my future, giving me a place in Christ’s perfected re-creation. 4. Hopeful present: the gospel changes my present, giving me a whole new self image and whole new way of relating to everyone- to bear the burden’s of others, to owe no one anything except to love them. 4. Through the Cross of Christ I’ve been freed from the meaningless trajectory of the flesh and the world - meaninglessness, futility, and death. 1. “Christians are definitely freed from the baneful influence of the world, and they no longer owe the world their allegiance. Christ’s crucifixion is, “the transformative event that ended the old order of things." -Moo 2. Therefore, all ‘simply Human’ factors become meaningless in the face of God’s world-transforming work in his Son Jesus Christ. The old state of affairs is ended. How then could we boast in the flesh, or seek approval from the world? 1. How could we think that any thing we do with our flesh could justify us before God? This is why, as Paul says, circumcision doesn’t matter and neither does uncircumcision. The only act that ultimately matters is the action of what has brought us into the New Creation and that is the Cross of Christ. 2. Isaac Watts beautifully describes the right heart and response - 1. “When I survey the wondrous cross On which the Prince of glory died, My richest gain I count but loss, And pour contempt on all my pride. 2. Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, Save in the death of Christ my God! All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to His blood. 3. See from His head, His hands, His feet, Sorrow and love flow mingled down! Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,Or thorns compose so rich a crown? 4. His dying crimson, like a robe, Spreads o’er His body on the tree; Then I am dead to all the globe, And all the globe is dead to me. 5. Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were a present far too small; Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all. 6. To Christ, who won for sinners grace By bitter grief and anguish sore, Be praise from all the ransomed race Forever and forevermore.” - Isaac Watts 3. Are we Ashamed of the Cross? Or rather what do we boast in? 1. Paul is saying that the heart of your religion, what you really trust in, is what you boast in. So what is the reason that you think you are in God’s favor or in right relationship with him? 2. If the cross is just a help, but you have to complete your salvation with good works, it is really your works that make the difference between your being headed to heaven or not headed to heaven. You are boasting about your flesh, your own efforts. “But if you really understand the Gospel, you “boast” exclusively and only in the cross. Our identity, our self image, is based on what gives us a sense of dignity and significance-what we boast in. Religion leads us to boast in something about us. The gospel leads us to boast in the cross of Jesus. That means our identity in Jesus is confident and secure -we do “boast”! yet humbly, based on a profound sense of our flaws and neediness.” - TK 1. Paul is saying if you’ve grasped this as a Christian, hold on to it, say in step with it. For the living out this gospel of grace, this new creation, this life in the Spirit, is the true mark of the Israel of God (the people of God). Peace and Mercy upon all who walk in it. Conclusion: “May every reader of this letter acknowledge the grace of Christ, the freedom of the gospel and the power of the Spirit. And may all of us attend the circumstances in which God has placed us, so that our faith will indeed work through love in the lives of those around us.” - Moisés Silva