Hello
Friends!
During
this week’s gathering, we’ll conclude our diligent studies in the
book written to the Galatians as
we consider the ONE and
ONLY saving “salvation” message of “Jesus Christ” as decreed throughout this excellent
Epistle – “Only ONE Gospel!”
Galatians: Only ONE Gospel! (Chapter 6:11-18)
11 Ye see how large a letter I have
written unto you with mine own hand. 12 As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh,
they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution
for the cross of Christ. 13 For
neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have
you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. 14 But God forbid that I
should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is
crucified unto me, and I unto the world. 15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth
any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. 16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be
on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. 17 From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in
my body the marks of the Lord Jesus. 18 Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with
your spirit. Amen – Galatians 6:11-18
OPENING POINTS TO PONDER: It has ALWAYS been
true,
especially during the “Apostle Paul's”
amazing “ministry” mandate: There is
a SERIOUS spiritual
CONFLICT between
the TWO types of “salvation”
found throughout the “world”
at large…
ONE:
The soul SAVING grand God-designed right “relationship” of Divine
Accomplishment from the Lord – Biblical
Christianity!
TWO:
The soul DAMNING maniacal man-made rank “religion” of Human Achievement
from the Devil – Humanism!
And
each respective worldview produces completely DIFFERENT outcomes! HOW?
There is the FALSE slippery sense of “salvation” attained BY the waning “works”
of “fallen” man leading to HELL.
Conversely, there is the TRUE sound security of sweet “salvation” received as a free “gift” given FROM God apart from “works”
righteousness, PAID IN FULL by His “Only Begotten Son” our “Lord Jesus Christ” leading to HEAVEN.
One depends
on what man DOES and the other depends on what God DID.
One says “DO!” and
the other says “DONE!”
However… Which ONE Saves?
Human Achievement?
As
he begins to draw his excellent “epistle”
to a conclusion,
Paul approaches this SERIOUS
issue of the “soul” in brilliant
fashion. To begin with, let's consider the rank “religion”
of man-centered – Human
Achievement…
Ye see how large a letter I have
written unto you with mine own hand – Galatians 6:11
QUIZZING QUESTIONS: WHAT in the world does this
point have to do with the “doctrinal”
issue being addressed in this “letter”
and WHY does Paul
call attention to “how large a letter” in that
which he is writing? Good questions!
The fact of the matter is that Paul generally dictated his
earnest “epistles” unto a secretary
that would “write” down what the “Spirit of God” prompted “Paul” to say, documenting ALL that
was said accurately…
The salutation
of me Paul with mine own hand… – 1 Corinthians 16:21
Paul
would then authenticate the lauded “letter”
via personal signature from his “own hand”
as having been “written” by him. WHY? To vividly validate the “salutation” that was
spoken – Signed, Sealed & Delivered!
POIGNANT POINT: Similarly, in the “letters”
to the Thessalonians we are informed that “someone” in the first century was
circulating a fickle FORGERY of
which was supposedly hand “written”
by “Paul” as a lying “letter as from us” that was
treacherously “teaching” a horrible HERESY of sorts. WHAT? It had WRONGLY asserted that the “coming
of our Lord Jesus Christ” and the “gathering together” of the “church”
via the “day of Christ” known as the RAPTURE had
already
taken place…
Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in
mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us,
as that the day of Christ is at hand – 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2
Similarly, perhaps the ENTIRE loving “letter” sent to
the Galatian brethren had been personally “written” by the “Apostle
Paul” with his “own hand” itself.
And because of the SERIOUS nature of
the “sinful” situation, his sorrow and zeal
for the “churches” abroad was ensuing. Either way, Paul was very
CONCERNED about the necessity to
actually AUTHENTICATE his excellent “epistles” by
soundly SIGNING them with his “own” name. WHY? So that
these “believers” would KNOW they
rightly represented the pure “truth of God” unabashed
– Revealed Revelation!
Misery LOVES Company!
Next,
Paul goes on to address the “many”
who deeply “desire” only what something appears
on the OUTSIDE through their “religion”
of the “flesh” itself. WHY? Because ALL these “certain men”
ever greatly “glory” in is their own EXTERNAL appearances:
As many as desire to make a fair
shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should
suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. For neither they themselves who are
circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may
glory in your flesh – Galatians 6:12-13
To
begin with, these “religious” rabble dauntingly
“desire” to put on a “fair”
outward “shew” up front. HOW? By meagerly MASKING
their own “sin” and “unrighteousness” within a thin VENEER of
rank “righteousness” through their
“flesh” concealing a vain CORRUPTION of
carnality. Therefore, ANY rouge “religious”
system that is willfully UNWILLING to accept “Jesus Christ”
as the ONLY eternal, ALL-SUFFICIENT
Sovereign “Savior” and “Lord” is nothing less than INDULGENCE of
fickle “fallen” folly built upon
damning – Spiritual PRIDE!
BIBLICAL BACKGROUND: Similarly, these “foolish”
folks also AVOID possible PERSECUTION of absolutely ANY
kind. WHY? Because NO flavor of “false
religion” willingly WANTS
to suffer.
Incidentally, PERSECUTION will
eventually DESTROY such fashionable
faddish “religious” rhetoric itself.
And joining ALONGSIDE these fickle “factions” could ultimately COST them their licentious lives!
And to WHOM is Paul, Peter and James referring
here in these OTHER poignant passages?
But we preach
Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks
foolishness – 1 Corinthians 1:23
As it is
written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever
believeth on him shall not be ashamed – Romans 9:33
If you
really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well; but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are
convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever shall keep
the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. For He who
said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.”
Now if you do not commit
adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law – James 2:8-11
And a stone of
stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being
disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed – 1 Peter 2:8
The
“Apostles” of “Jesus
Christ” all adamantly address the “circumcised” cynics of whom did NOT want
to be IDENTIFIED with the prophetic “cross
of Christ” itself. WHY?
Because it was an obvious OFFENSE to these “Jews”
by the mandated FACT that their PROMISED
mighty “Messiah” had dutifully “died” on a “cross”
of Roman “crucifixion” and was to “them” very – OFFENSIVE!
And
these jaundice “Judaizers” followed a human WORKS system
of “self-righteousness” assembled to HIDE their
own “sin” sickness. In fact, as they “zealously” sought to “constrain”
others to “keep the law” rightly, “they themselves” did NOT! They were indeed “circumcised”
in their “flesh” but NOT of their hypocritical “heart” condition – Religious
COVER-UP!
CONTEXTUAL COMMENTS: And “Jesus
Christ” Himself further noted that in order
to COVER-UP their
willful WRETCHEDNESS of a heinous “heart”
hierarchy, these “scribes and Pharisees”
were indeed “hypocrites”
in an outwardly good and aggressively pious approach
in their spiritually BLIND rote “religious”
efforts to manically “make”
ultimate unsuspecting carless “converts”
as such…
All therefore whatsoever they bid
you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they
say, and do not. For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay
them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of
their fingers… But woe unto you, scribes and
Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye
neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. Woe
unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and
for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater
damnation. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea
and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more
the child of hell than yourselves… Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees,
hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but
within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse
first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be
clean also. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like
unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within
full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly
appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity…
And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been
partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. Wherefore ye be witnesses
unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.
Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. Ye serpents, ye generation of
vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? Verily I say unto you, All
these things shall come upon this generation. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that
killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often
would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her
chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you
desolate. For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall
say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord – Matthew
23:3-4, 13-15, 25-28, 30-33 & 36-39
They
brashly “bind heavy burdens” of their
self-imposed
rank “religion” in keeping up with
the PIOUS padding “pretense”
by scouring “land” and “sea” to make ONE pragmatic “proselyte”
of the same ilk – They GLORY
in THEIR converts!
Biblical Christianity!
Paul then turns his ATTENTION to the grand God-designed
right “relationship” received
directly FROM the “Lord” Himself – Divine Accomplishment…
But God forbid that I should
glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is
crucified unto me, and I unto the world. For in Christ Jesus neither
circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature – Galatians
6:14-15
THEOLOGICAL THOUGHTS: Paul’s statement “God
forbid” found throughout his excellent “epistles”
is a very
strong NEGATIVE term in the Greek mē genoito meaning “May it NEVER
be!” And Paul once found himself to “glory”
alone in himself through boastful arrogance. However,
Paul NOW desires to NEVER gauntly “glory”
in ANYTHING he
had personally “achieved” or assumingly “accomplished” through his fallen “fleshly” nature...
Beware of dogs, beware of evil
workers, beware of the concision. For we are the circumcision, which worship
God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the
flesh. Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man
thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Circumcised
the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of
the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the
church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what
things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I
count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus
my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but
dung, that I may win Christ – Philippians 3:2-8
The
caring “cross of Christ” is the most
IMPORTANT event
that took place in REDEMPTIVE human history! WHY?
Because it is the ONLY wonderful “Way”
that lost “man” can be made RIGHT with
“God the Father” Himself:
Jesus saith unto
him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but
by me – John 14:6
Therefore,
you can NOT correctly “cometh
unto the Father” through any heinous human achievement. You
can NOT rightly
“come to God” through works righteousness.
You can NOT everlastingly “come to God”
through religious ceremony and certainly “neither”
through “circumcision” nor “uncircumcision” of the fallen “flesh” itself. It is ONLY given
“unto” the “new creature”
placed IN our sweet “Savior” Himself. Thus Paul POWERFULLY proclaims this terrific TRUTH concerning “Jesus Christ” our crassly “crucified” loving Lord:
For I determined
not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified – 1 Corinthians 2:2
Therefore if any
man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all
things are become new – 2
Corinthians 5:17
The
ONLY wonderful
“Way” to the “Father”
in “Heaven” is to have your “sin” Biblically ATONED for on the “cross of Christ”
to FULLY pay
the PENALTY for
YOUR serious
“sin” disease. This tangible TRUTH itself ALONE opens the eternal – Only WAY
to God!
The
“Apostle Paul” is set very STRONGLY against
these “Judaizers” to be sure.
However, lest “anyone” consider Paul to be
a bit anti-Semitic in attitude, it is
here where we find his “heart”
felt cry “concerning” the “Israel of God” itself. WHY? Because this statement refers to the TRUE spiritual
“Jews” of whom were inwardly redeemed
through their EMBRACE of our “Lord Jesus
Christ” sent THROUGH the chosen “Jewish”
people from the chosen “nation”
of “God” Himself:
And as many as walk according to
this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God – Galatians
6:16
Thus,
ANYONE who
chooses
to willingly “walk” in willful OBEDIENCE unto
“God” be they “Jew”
OR “Gentile” within the “church”
body itself will favorably FIND His marvelous BLESSINGS abound. Therefore, Paul proclaims that God’s “peace” and “mercy”
are ON all of
“them” who “walk
according” to the righteous “rule”
of the CROSS of “Jesus Christ”
Himself. YES… Even the bountiful
beloved – BELIEVING Jews!
A CARING Conclusion!
And
now for Paul’s caring closing comments in CONCLUSION of this excellent “epistle”
letter…
From henceforth let no man
trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus – Galatians
6:17
Perhaps
Paul is addressing the many IMMATURE and brandish “bewitched”
brood of “Gentile” followers in “Jesus Christ” here. In other words, “Don't add any more trouble to me. The fact that you listened
to the voices of these “Judaisers” grieves me greatly and breaks my heart!”
Or perhaps he meant this mandate for BOTH groups of “saved”
people, as that is certainly possible as well. However, it is more likely
in keeping with the CONTEXT of this looming “letter”
where we FIRMLY find Paul elsewhere audaciously
addressing the fanatic UNBELIEVING fickle “Jewish”
folks…
For as the
sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ – 2 Corinthians 1:5
Always bearing
about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus
might be made manifest in our body – 2 Corinthians 4:10
Who now rejoice
in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions
of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church – Colossians 1:24
In
other words, Paul addresses these maniacal men: “You're
big on marks? I've got marks. And you're big on physical scars? I've got them
too!” Paul indeed BORE the many “marks”
of our “Lord Jesus Christ” Himself,
not just simply “circumcision” of a “religious” rite in his “flesh” alone. Therefore, Paul STRONGLY states:
“Don't question my authority or loyalty unto God, as I have
the MARKS of Jesus Christ to PROVE it!” Thus, the
great “Apostle Paul” had HUMBLY manifested
– The MARKS of Christ!
Brethren, the grace of our Lord
Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen – Galatians
6:18
Therefore
“Brethren,” anytime this wicked “world” purposefully PERSECUTES the true “Christian”
faithful, they are ACTUALLY pointedly “persecuting”
our precious “Lord Jesus Christ” in kind!
And when “we” take a BLOW for HIS precious
“Name’s sake” it is REALLY meant FOR Him. And it is by His grand “grace”
that our own “spirit” will POWERFULLY prevail – AMEN!
In closing:
The
Roman “cross” was a SEVERE instrument
of torture.
And the insignia of the TRUE
caring “Christian” family of “faith” is NOT two carved “tablets of stone”
replicating the Ten Commandments. It is NOT one
of a sword,
an angel
nor a lamb. Rather, it IS the cruel “cross of Christ”
as such. WHY? Because His final SACRIFICE on
the “cross” is what sets the BIBLICAL mandate
of “Christianity” completely APART from everything else “religious” in nature. Therefore, ALL of “fallen” mankind is frightfully faced
with the REALITY that one can NOT rightly approach our great “God” by ANY kind of – Human Achievement!
And
“our” ancient ENEMY of the “soul”
is “Satan” and he licentiously LIES concerning
this TRUTH from
“God” and that's the reason there are
so many
rank “religions” under a plethora
of NAMES as
such. However, they are ALL the SAME in nature and in the END they dreadfully
represent – Damning DOOM!
Thankfully,
it was “God the Father's” beautiful ONE and “Only Begotten Son” of Whom dutifully DIED and
rightly ROSE again from the “grave”
to fully “reconcile” the “believing” lost “sinner”
unto Himself – Divine
Accomplishment!
REAL REFLECTIONS: Beloved, may God give US the courage and boldness
to “contend earnestly for the faith”
that was signed, sealed and delivered
some – 2000 years ago…
Beloved,
when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was
needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly
contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints – Jude 3
Praise the Lord Jesus Christ!
With
these thoughts in consideration towards your own personal studies, please read
through verses 11-18 in the sixth chapter of
the excellent book to the Galatians.
We are not guaranteed tomorrow – tomorrow may be too late! If you haven't yet made that most important decision of your life, won't you make Jesus Christ your personal Lord and Savior today - before it's too late? Today is the day of Salvation!
If you have been blessed by this message or have a specific question, prayer request or testimony, please send me a note to: encouragingconcepts@live.com
I love hearing from you. Keep reading Encouraging Concepts!
Blessings!
Shane K. Morin <><
Encouraging Concepts
Truth for Today
"Living Life From a Biblical Worldview"
