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The Marks of Freedom. Galatians 6: 11-18 Chapter 12. “The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you” (II Thess 5:28, II Thess 3:17-18) “Look at the large letters I write with my own hands” Reason for large font; to show the contrast between legalists and Spirit-led believers
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The Marks of Freedom Galatians 6: 11-18 Chapter 12
“The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you” (II Thess 5:28, II Thess 3:17-18) • “Look at the large letters I write with my own hands” • Reason for large font; to show the contrast between legalists and Spirit-led believers • Eye problem? Paul’s thorn in the flesh (II Cor 12: 7-10) • 4th contrast: Living for the praise of men or the glory of God • Dealing with motives – the why even though we know what we are doing
Marked men • The Legalist • They are braggarts (12a, 13b) • Main purpose: to win more converts so they can brag rather than winning them to Christ or helping the believers to grow • They are compromisers (12b) • They preached and practiced circumcision to escape persecution by legalists for the identification with the cross and its effect on the law • Legalists emphasized circumcision rather than crucifixion • Popular religion for it avoided the shame of the cross • They are persuaders (12a) • “Constrain”
Paul was an ambassador, not politician • 2:14 to compel or force • Sales talk • Paul in sincerity and truth; no oratorical trick • They are hypocrites (13) • They submit to the law, but they themselves do not obey the laws like Pharisees • “They say and do not” Matt 23:3 • Jesus Christ • Marked man due to wounds • Judaizers boasted in circumcision, but Paul boasted in the cross and a crucified & risen Savior. • He knew the Person of the cross • Jesus Christ – 45 times in book of Galatians; 1/3
He knew the power of the cross • Cursed cross means weakness & shame • Saul experienced the power of the cross and became the apostle Paul • Cross mean liberty from self (2:20), flesh (5:24), & the world (6:14) • Christ lives in and through us • No power in the law over self, flesh, & world • Law appeals to the human ego & encourage the flesh to work • The world approves religion apart from the gospel • He knew the purpose of the cross • Main purpose: New people of God & new creation (6:15) • Doctrines of two Adams: Adam & Christ (Rom 5:12-21; I Cor 15: 45) • Another purpose: new nation of God (v16)
Family of God: “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation” I Peter 2: 9 • Church is the family of God • Believers: Abraham’s seed by faith in Jesus Christ (Gal 4:28-29) • Circumcision of heart more effective than physical circumcision (Rom 2:29; Phil 3:3;Col 2:11) • Apostle Paul (6:17-18) • Marked man • He gloried in scars & sufferings he endured in serving Jesus Christ • Paul not claiming that he bore the wounds, but affirming he had suffered that legalists didn’t & had scars to prove it • He suffered repeatedly to become a marked man for Christ permanently
Sin brands a person: his mind, personality, & his body • “Fellowship of his (Christ’s) sufferings” Phil 3:10 • Paul closed the letter “the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ”, not the law of Moses