Galatians Day 5
Galatians 6:11 – 18 | Paul Sums Up His Case
January 8, 2021
Paul is serious about the Gospel. In this epistle, Paul has been warning the Galatian gentiles to not mix works with faith — even God-ordained rituals — to obtain God’s favor and salvation. This reminds me of what the writer to the Hebrews wrote: “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him” (Hebrews 11:6). It is seeking God that pleases Him, not seeking a completed religious checklist for your own honor.
In these final verses, Paul stuffs together the various points that support his main theme into one compact package: his authority, persecution, phony evangelists, the cross, the true Israel, flesh versus spirit, the true wounds of Christ’s ownership, and the only source of grace.
Paul essentially puts his signature to his letter in Verse 11 by writing in his distinctive large letters. Anonymity is no friend of truth. I sometimes write columns that cause controversy, and on occasion, honest reviews of products that bug me, but I sign my name because I believe in what I say. Paul was emphasizing his approval of what he was writing. “My name is Paul, and I approved this message.”
False teachers were motivated by the fear of persecution, as well as the fame of making their own disciples (Verses 12, 13). The Gospel incited persecution from unbelieving Jewish people, so the false teachers wanted to please them and be like them and not offend them. They boasted about a physical sign of discipleship I’d rather not think about.
Paul did not care about what others thought about him or Jesus (Verse 14). Of course, he wanted people to get saved and love Jesus Christ, but he didn’t hide his belief in Christ just to please people.
Religious rites mean nothing if meant to gain acceptance with God; one must be born again (Verses 15, 16; John 3:3; 2 Corinthians 5:17). Paul also assures that not all Jewish people are phonies; many are believers.
Paul identifies fully with Christ to the point of suffering for and with Christ for the gospel (Verse 17). He had physical scars of a different kind than the Judaizers.
Paul’s closing benediction reminded the Galatians about the grace of knowing Christ, the only source of the grace we need to be saved (Verse 18). The grace is given in the spirit by the Spirit, and is a spiritual blessing with no regard for the flesh.
Paul’s letter to the Galatians was a forceful defense of the Gospel against all perversions of the way of true way of faith. Are we that dedicated to Christ?
Alan Allegra