Sermon Tone Analysis
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We now reach the end of the letter to the Galatians.
So far Paul has been dictating to a companion, but now, as his custom was, he takes the pen from his secretary’s hand, in order to add a personal postscript.
Usually this was a guarantee against forgery, or a final exhortation or benediction, but on this occasion, he writes several sentences in his personal handwriting.
(v.11) – “Look at what large letters I use as I write to you in my own handwriting.”
Various suggestions have been made about these “large letters.”
· Perhaps he was referring to the untidy letters of an amateur (he wasn’t a scribe).
· Perhaps his letters were large due to his poor eyesight.
· MOST commentators consider that he used large letters for EMPHASIS!
Q: “WHAT DOES PAUL EMPHASIZE?”
A: The PRINCIPAL THEMES of the CHRISTIAN GOSPEL!
In these final sentences, Paul contrasts himself with the Judaizers, and the two religious systems they represent!
As he does so, he pinpoints two vital issues to the Christian faith that have been debated throughout Church history!
TWO QUESTIONS for our consideration this morning:
I.
Is the Essence of the Christian Faith OUTWARD or INWARD?
– (6:12-13, 15)
Is the essence of the Christian faith outward or inward?
In other words, is Christianity fundamentally a religion of external ceremonies, or is it something inward and spiritual?
The Judaizers of Paul’s day concentrated on the external—namely on circumcision!
Their battle cry can be found in (Acts 15:1)
NOTICE their motives as described in (vv.12-13):
1.
They “…want to make a good impression in the flesh” – (v.12a)
2. They did so “…only to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ” – (v.12b)
3.
They desire to “…boast about your flesh.”
– (v.13b)
They were keeping an ‘ecclesiastical score book’!
“How many have you circumcised?”
While circumcision was given to Abraham as a SIGN of their covenant, it never (in and of itself) had any spiritual power!
While not optional, (Genesis 17:10-14), it was the SIGN or SYMBOL, and not the SUBSTANCE!
The Judaizers equated circumcision with being salvation and insisted that no Gentile could be saved apart from being circumcision!
Paul’s SUMMATION is found in (v.15)!
He would later expand on this simple statement in both (2 Corinthians 5:17) and (Romans 2:28-29)!
Circumcision and baptism are outward and visible ceremonies performed by men, but the new creation is the inward new birth performed by God!
This is not to say that the bodily and the external have no place!
What is in the heart needs to be expressed through the mouth!
What is inward and spiritual needs to have outward expression!
But the ESSENCE is in the INWARD!
Outward forms are valueless if inward reality is lacking!
II.
Is the Essence of the Christian Faith HUMAN or DIVINE?
– (6:13-16)
Is Christianity a matter of what we do for God, or of what He has done for us?
In their concentration on circumcision the Judaizers made obedience to the Law the requirement for salvation!
Paul CHALLENGES this teaching by pointing out their true motives (vv.12-13), and calling their bluff – (v.14)!
(cf.
5:11) – “Why is the cross so offensive?
Why does the cross make people so angry?”
The CROSS tells us very unpleasant truths about ourselves, namely that we are sinners under the righteous curse of God’s law and that we cannot save ourselves!
(Galatians 2:21; 3:13)
The TRUTH IS, we cannot boast in ourselves and in the Cross at the same time!
If we boast in ourselves and our ability to save ourselves, we will never boast in the cross and in the ability of Christ to save us!
CONCLUSION: (6:16-18)
(v.16) – “May peace to all those who follow this standard, and mercy even to the Israel of God!”
Legalists have neither peace, nor mercy!
WHY? – They have no peace because deep down in their hearts they know they themselves not able to keep all the standards they impose on others.
And because they know they are faking it, they assume no one else will make it either!
They have no mercy because they themselves have not experienced the mercy of God!
(v.17) – Paul is saying, “I know the price you’ll pay for standing up to the Judaizers.
I know that not everyone will be pleased with your message!
There is a price for standing up for the Gospel”
(2 Corinthians 4:7-18) (Matthew 5:10-12) (2 Timothy 3:12)
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