Concluding the Book of Galatians

Galatians 6:11-18

C:\JAMMc2011\Gal6-6TAB.USE.wpd Aug. 21, 2011

Introduction

The government of Polish Prime Minister Jaruzelski had ordered crucifixes removed from classroom walls, just as they had been banned in factories, hospitals, and other public institutions. Catholic bishops attacked the ban that had stirred waves of anger and resentment all across Poland. Ultimately the government relented, insisting that the law remain on the books, but agreeing not to press for removal of the crucifixes, particularly in the schoolrooms.

But one zealous Communist school administrator in Garwolin decided that the law was the law. So one evening he had seven large crucifixes removed from lecture halls where they had hung since the school’s founding in the twenties. Days later, a group of parents entered the school and hung more crosses. The administrator promptly had these taken down as well.

The next day two-thirds of the school’s six hundred students staged a sit-in. When heavily armed riot police arrived, the students were forced into the streets. Then they marched, crucifixes held high, to a nearby church where they were joined by twenty-five hundred other students from nearby schools for a morning of prayer in support of the protest. Soldiers surrounded the church. But the pictures from inside of students holding crosses high above their heads flashed around the world. So did the words of the priest who delivered the message to the weeping congregation that morning. "There is no Poland without a cross." (Chuck Colson, Kingdoms in Conflict, pp. 202-3.)

In Galatians you do not handle the Cross like the Judaizers

1.   Concluding We Note Paul’s . . ENDORSEMENT OF THE LETTER. 6:11

       A.   The . . Characteristics     of Paul’s Endorsement. 6:11a

11 See with what large letters I have written to you . . . “

       B.   The . . Concreteness of Paul’s Endorsement. 6:11b

              “. . . with my own hand!”

Illustration

            WHY WERE THE LETTERS LARGE?

1.         Some claimed that Paul used large letters because he had poor penmanship.

2.         This is highly unlikely due to Paul’s scholarship and familiarity with the Greek language.

3.         Some suggest Paul used large letters for EMPHASIS!

4.         We do that today on Emails.

5.          Some have claimed that Paul used large letters because of poor eyesight.

6.         I think Gal. 4:15 gives support to this idea: Gal 4:15 What then was the blessing you enjoyed? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me. NKJV

Application

Paul certainly endorsed this letter.

2        Concluding We Note Paul’s . . Exposing Of the Letter. 6:12-13

            1.         Paul Exposes the Phoney . . Reason for the Circumcision.6:12

12 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.

            2.         Paul Exposes the Phoney . . Requirement for the Circumcision.6:13

13 For not even those who are circumcised keep the law, but they desire to have

            you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.

Illustration    The appeal of legalism and can be summed up this way: Borrowed for Sermon Central

Legalism

1. I can do it

2. I’m better than you

3. You need to measure up to our way of doing things

4. We must work our way.

5. Faith in Christ is not enough

Grace

1. I can’t do it - but Christ did it for me

2. I’m just the same as you, so let me encourage you

3. We all belong to Christ and follow Him

4. We need to let the Spirit rule, serving one another in love

5. Any additions to faith in Christ results in death, not life.

Application

Paul Exposed the Judaizers in this book.

3.       Concluding We Note Paul’s . . Exaltations Of the Letter. 6:14-15

A.        The Exaltation of the . . Cross. 6:14

14 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.

Illustration    Borrowed for Sermon Central

Paul was picking up his son at daycare, and he got into a conversation with a group of parents. One woman bragged that her son sat up alone at four months, crawled at six months and was walking long before his first birthday. She said, at, 16 months he now was talking in full sentences. Turning to Paul she asked, “Is your 16-month-old talking yet?”

"No, Andy doesn’t say much," Paul replied. "He mainly writes things down for us."

Well, there is no doubt, when it comes to our children, we like to brag.

B.        The Exaltation of the New . . Creation. 6:15

15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.

Illustration    You may remember the story of Elijah and his servant Elisha. Elisha requested a double anointing of what Elijah had from God, and Elijah told him that if Elisha were around when Elijah was taken from him, he would have his request. Then a chariot and horses of fire appeared and took Elijah, and Elijah's mantle fell to the ground - 2 Kings 2:12-13. Notice this: In order to put on the new, Elisha had to take off the old. That's why the Bible says to "put off … the old man … and put on the new man". (Eph 4:22-24)

Application

Paul Exalted Christ and the Cross.

4.       Concluding We Note Paul’s . . Exclusiveness Of the Letter. 6:16-17

            A.        Exclusiveness of the . . Walk. 6:16

                        16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel  of God.

            B.        Exclusiveness of the . . Witness. 6:17

17 From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.

Illustration    We notice the marks that people wear.

                         1.         A red nose, red eyes, jaundiced skin, slurred speech are marks of alcoholism.

                         2.         Track marks, saggy skin, dark eyes, and memory loss are the marks of continued drug use.

                         3.         But, Paul had a different set of marks. Paul had a very rare kind of marks.

2 Cor 11:22-27 23 Are they ministers of Christ?--I speak as a fool--I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. 24 From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness– NKJV

Application

 Paul Noted What He was excluding his walk and witness

5.       Concluding We Note Paul’s . . Endearment Of the Letter. 6:18

            A.        The . . Pronouncement of Grace. 6:18 a

18 Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ

            B.        The . . Placement of Grace. 6:18 b

“. . . be with your spirit. Amen.”

Illustration

In the cartoon, Dennis the Menace, Dennis and his little friend, Joey, are leaving Mrs. Wilson’s house with their hands full of cookies. As you may remember, Dennis is not always very considerate toward the Wilsons who are his next-door neighbors (especially Mr. Wilson). But Joey says, "I wonder what we did to deserve this?" Dennis answered, "Look, Joey, Mrs. Wilson gives us cookies not because we’re nice, but because she’s nice."

Application

Paul Emphasized his Endearment Of the Letter. 6:18