Galatians 6:18. “Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.”
Paul’s final word to the Galatians was grace. His benediction over them was grace. His hope and prayer for them was that grace would be with their spirit.
Grace. It’s all, always, about God’s grace.
Galatians 6:17. “From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.”
The judaizers had certainly left their mark on Christianity. They had many people believing that without the mark of circumcision they were not truly born again. Paul seems to be weary of the argument here, as he states quite clearly that he has plenty of marks on his body to witness his love for and service to God.
He bore the scars of the stoning outside of Lystra; he was beaten three times with 39 stripes. He was shipwrecked, snakebitten, and imprisioned for the cause of Christ. He says here that no further bodily scars will make his Christianity any more clear than the ones he already bears.
Galatians 6:16. “And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.”
This rulewas a reference to the standard Paul defended in all of his writing; Salvation by grace through faith, and not my works or rituals. It refers back to the previous verse which stated that salvation depends on neither circumcision nor uncircumcision. He emphasized the importance of his teaching by saying salvation is by grace through faith even (and, including, not excluding) the Israel of God. Jews had access to salvation in the same way as the Gentiles. They no longer had to follow the Old Testament Law, which had been completely fulfilled by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
It didn’t matter any more whether they were circumcised or uncircumcised. All, even Isarel, come to salvation by grace through faith. The price was paid at Calvary.
It was finished.
Galatians 6:15. “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.”
God no longer looks at whether or not we keep the law. He looks at the heart, to see if it has been made new. What matters to Him is that the caterpillar is transformed into a butterfly, free to spread its wings and fly as it enjoys the grace of being unlocked from its cocoon, and its landlocked body becomes renewed and set free.
I know a young man who accepted Christ as is Savior when he was a pre-teen. He never really grew. He lacked a father, and there were no mentors who came in and discipled him. He knew he was saved, but it hasn’t been until recently, after he fell into terrible sin, that he’s been broken-hearted and willing to completely surrender to the Lord. He’s growing by leaps and bounds now, soaking up scripture as if it were his lifeblood.
This is his transformation. He’s been a caterpillar for years, figuring he could make everything perfect by his own efforts. Only now is he willing to accept not only salvation, but the wonderful grace of Jesus that has the power to heal and restore.
It’s wonderful to watch him become a butterfly.
Galatians 6:14. “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by wwhom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.”
I love this beautiful verse, so simple and clear. I cannot and must not glory in myself. The only cause I have to boast is in the cross of the Lord Jesus. It represents that I, as a believer, should have been crucified to the things of this world, and the world must be crucified to me.
Galatians 6: 12-13.” 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.”
Making a show in the flesh refers to circumcision and to the outward rituals of Judaism which any unsaved man could keep without being restricted otherwise. Weak Christians were tempted to go back to Judaism because they could escapte persecution and more easily conform to the outward appearance of righteousness without really commiting themselves to anything.
The Judaizers desired that Christianity become just another Jewish sect, reflecting on all the outward working of keeping the Law, and bringing glory (they thought) to Judaism itself.
Galatians 6:10-11. “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand.”
Paul wrote this letter from prison. He had very little freedom of movement, and apparently he did not have his usual access to an amanuensis, or scribe. Most of his epistles were dictated. This one, he wrote with his own hand, and it must have been difficult. We know his eyesight was failing. The idea that his comment refers to the extremely large size of the actual letters is not founded on anything in the manuscripts or in any scripture text. He was simply pointing out that what he had to say was so important that he decided to go ahead and write the letter himself, without his usual secretarial help.
He also admonished the Philippian believers to be sure, whenever they had the opportunity, to treat all people well, and especially fellow believers. Be generous, he said. Be liberal in giving and helping. Uphold each other in word and deed.
Love one another.
Galatians 6:9. “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”
My job may seem like a walk in the park to some people. I don’t work hard physically. I have a nice office, comfortable and attractive. I work with pleasant people, other therapists who have the same heart that I do.
So then, why do I come home on Tuesday nights completely drained and ready to fall apart?
Because I am physically, emotionally, spiritually and mentally weary. Listening all day to people who are grappling with giants in their lives is exhausting. The work I do makes me keenly aware of how we’ve turned away from God’s Word, from purity and morality and just decency. There are times when I really don’t think I can get up on Wednesday morning and go do it all over again.
And then there is a victory. Or one of my coworkers has a heartwarming success. Or one of my clients sends me a note thanking me for all the help I’ve given them. So I go on.
I go on because at some point I get to reap the rewards of pouring my heart and soul into someone who is suffering, offering that person God’s promises and His love. Now and then I get to lead someone to the Lord.
If we don’t quit, don’t give up, keep on pressing toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, we will reap the reward of our labors.
Galatians 6:8. “For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”
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Following up in the simple principle of sowing and reaping, Paul teaches that those who never come to Christ, who continue to please their flesh and never come to repentance, will reap the destruction of the flesh. They will not spend eternity in heaven with God.
But those who, having come to Christ for salvation and begin to walk in the Spirit, desiring to please God, have been truly born again and will reap eternal life. It’s simple, really.
Ecclesiastes 12: 13-14.
13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
Galatians 6:7. “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”
Such a simple priniciple. If you plant carrots, you’re not going to get tomatoes!
If you plant rebellion, anger, and bitterness, you’re not going to get sweetness and contentment.
If you plant a critical, negative, self-righteous spirit, you’re not going to reap love and respect.
If you live in the flesh, you’re going to reap spiritual corruption and the fleshy results of living in the flesh.
If you eat tons of fat and sugar, you’re going to reap morbid obesity and diabetes. There’s just no way around it.
If you live in the Spirit, your’e going to reap love, peace, joy, and all the other fruit of the Spirit.
One of the things I say to so many of my clients is this: When you choose the behavior, you choose the consequence. There is no avoiding it. Even when you sincerely repent and turn away from sin, you will still bear the natural consequences of your behavior. That doesn’t mean you aren’t forgiven. It just means that there are unavoidable results of the behaviors we choose.
Linda's Bible Study 