Dead to the World
Book of Galatians Chapter 6 Verse 11 through 18
We have spent this entire Winter quarter in the Book of Galatians. This book is one of the best in the New Testament and clearly explains that salvation is by God's " Grace."
We know the letter's purpose to the Galatians was to defend the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Gospel of Grace.
Some Judaizers had infiltrated the Church claiming to be Jewish Christians and were teaching a double error.
1) They taught that a person is saved partly by faith and partly by works.
2) They also taught that a person grew in Christ partly by faith and partly by his own effort.
Both of these things are wrong!
They taught that a person had to believe in Christ, but he also had to submit to the rituals of religion which was circumcision.
We could compare this today to what some require for church membership, baptism, and other requirements today.
No one has to observe all the ceremonies and rituals of religion to be saved!
Paul taught that we are saved by our faith in Christ and Christ alone, which is the absolute truth.
What Paul did not say.
Paul never says it is wrong for Jews to be circumcised because it is not.
Paul never said it was wrong for them to keep the Law or to observe special festivals because it is not.
What Paul said is that these things have nothing to do with salvation and they do not!
Customs and practices may differ, but salvation by faith never differs!
There is only one way to be saved, and it is by the "Grace" of God!
It is the Book of Galatians that stirred up Martin Luther and the Reformation.
It is the Book of Galatians that gave John Wesley peace of heart that he knew the truth of salvation.
The Book of Galatians has moved many great men of God to a better understanding of the Gospel, and it still works today in the Bible Believing Church.
The Churches in Galatia were at the point of deserting God, but Paul's letter to these churches made them steadfast in the Grace of God.
*****Gal 6:11 Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand.
In most cases, the Apostle Paul would dictate his epistles to a scribe who would write down the words that Paul had said.
It is possible that Paul would dictate to someone who was more familiar with the Greek language than he was.
It seems here that Paul took the pen from the scribe and wrote it himself.
1) Paul wanted to boldly emphasize the points he was making. Many of us today use capital letters to do the same.
2) Some believe that Paul could not write very well, but Paul was a well-educated man and this is unlikely.
3) Many believe that Paul had some problem with his eyes some kind of blurred vision.
It could be one of these or none of these reasons Paul wrote this epistle himself.
We know that Paul wanted to emphasize this message of Grace and to verify that he was the Author of this letter.
Paul wanted those Judaizers to know it was he who called out their hypocrisy!
Why Paul wrote in large letters is unknown except we know he was led by the Holy Spirit.
We all need to pay attention to what is written in the Book of Galatians.
This is the first of the Epistles of the Apostle Paul to the Church.
If Paul wrote the Book of Hebrews which I believe he did, he would have written fourteen of the Books of the New Testament.
*****Gal 6:12 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.
Gal 6:13 For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.
If you see false teachers on the TV most of them are well dressed and they make a good impression.
It was no different for these Judaizers many of them were Pharisees.
We all want to make a good impression!
If we take a look at those who have a false message today, we will see that they seek worldly popularity, and they brag about the riches they say God has provided when in fact they have stolen from the poor and the vulnerable of this world.
The Apostle Paul unmasked those who taught a false message to Christians.
The Lord Jesus was really blunt at such people: Mat 13:11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
Mat 13:12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
Mat 13:13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
Mat 13:14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
Mat 13:15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
Any man of God who begins to seek worldly popularity will change the message of the truth of Jesus Christ and twist the Scriptures to gain a following.
They will not take a stand on the truth of God.
These false teachers were afraid to teach the truth because of persecution that would come from their fellow Jews.
As many found out during that time, persecution caused the Gospel to spread even more and it does the same today.
We should understand that these men were men of the Church and a great example for us today that we all must stand against the message of false teacher and false preachers and not be afraid.
The truth will always be the truth, and no false teacher can change that.
Many of the earliest preachers or priests were men who saw Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world. However, they accepted Him only as an addition to the Law and they were wrong.
Today many false teachers just say that God can make mistakes, and they are more wrong than these Judaizers were.
Even today it is unpopular in many places to proclaim that Christ alone is the way to God and God's New Heaven.
These people need to realize that God will not be mocked, and His Word is the greatest truth in this world!
In the day of Paul, those who preached the Cross of Christ were said to be destroying established religion and this is God's intention.
Religion cannot save anyone!
It took real courage for the Apostles and other great men of God to stand up for the truth of our Savior and most of them were murdered or locked in jails.
Remember Paul who was beheaded and John who was placed on a deserted island, but the truth of God just keeps moving along at God's pace and God's will.
How many today go along with false religion? Billions of unknowing people are shielded from the truth of Christ.
How many in the Church are afraid to preach the whole truth because it might affect their pocketbook and their bank account?
The Bible is specific there was only one person in the history of Judaism who morally fulfilled the Law and it was Jesus Christ!
Why? Since the time of Adam, we have inherited his fallen nature.
1Co_15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
These false teachers just like those of today wanted recognition through the appearance of a growing ministry.
I have said it before the truth of a growing ministry is not in numbers but is in growing closer to Christ Jesus.
Those who grow close to Christ will reach out into this lost world with the truth.
We are not to strive to be accepted by the people, we are to strive to get closer in our relationship with Jesus Christ.
False teachers do not impress God at all, in fact they will suffer the wrath of God!
*****Gal 6:14 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.
God forbid that we should boast of anything but the Cross of Jesus Christ.
There is no other approach to God accept by His Son Jesus!
God accepts us only, if we come by the Cross.
It is at Calvary's Cross where my sin was washed away by the blood of Jesus Christ!
There is no other way to be acceptable to God!
1Co_1:23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
When people cannot see the truth, it does not mean it is not right in front of them.
It is the Cross of Jesus Christ that destroys all self-righteousness and boasting!
It is in deepest humiliation we have to admit that the Lord Jesus had to die in our place.
We have to reach that place in life when we realize we are guilty of death, but the Cross of Christ saved us by the Grace of God that we are so unworthy of.
Until you realize that Christ died in your place you will not meet our wonderful Savior!
Jesus Christ was crucified for our sins, and He was raised for our justification, and by this, we can have a changed life and be "Born Again" into a new life that has not death.
It is this truth that saves lives!
The Cross was an instrument of Christ's crucifixion, and my flesh was crucified with Him.
We can now say that the world has lost all its worldly charm and attraction and we as Christians have lost our appetite for this world.
Nothing in this world will last very long and will soon fade away.
Something new is only new for a few days then it is old.
There is nothing upon this earth that is eternal!
We now know of a place that is full of the glory of God, and this is where our home is located.
Our Lord Jesus came to this earth to die in our place.
The Law offers nothing but death!
The Cross offers nothing but life everlasting.
What really is in this world?
1Jn_2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
We cannot brag about any of these things because they are worthless, and the Holy Spirit will remind us of this daily.
These are the diseases of this world that have no remedy, but that Jesus Christ came to heal!
Jesus Christ came to make us new creations!
*****Gal 6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.
Paul has already taught us: Gal 5:6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
So, faith worketh by love and this same faith and love makes us new creations of God by His Son.
Paul also wrote: 1Co 7:19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.
These commandments are not of the Law but the commandments of Jesus Christ.
Mat 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Mat 22:38 This is the first and great commandment.
Mat 22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Mat 22:40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
This new creation is the change produced in our soul by the operation of the Holy Spirit!
We leave the state of nature of this world and into a state of "Grace".
Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Those not created in Jesus Christ cannot enter into God's New Heaven.
Again, nothing makes a person acceptable to God except God's very own Son!
How does using the name of Jesus make us live forever?
First God knows who is sincere and who is not. God cannot be deceived!
When we are sincere in our faith, God will give us a new Spirit.
God actually places His Divine Nature, the presence of His Own Spirit, into our life.
We are then "Born Again Spiritually".
2Pe 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
2Pe 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
*****Gal 6:16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
This is how we receive the peace of God that no one else understands.
Php_4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
This is how we can walk in this life understanding the true mercy of God.
When we walk by the rule of the Cross we will seek to live as a New Creation of God because, we are a new Creation of God.
Eph 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Eph 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
Now Paul says the true Church is the Israel of God.
It is through the Church that God will fulfill His promises.
Rom 2:28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
Rom 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
Rom 9:6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:
Rom 9:7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
Rom 9:8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.
Hos 1:10 Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.
Hos 1:11 Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land: for great shall be the day of Jezreel.
Over and over again we see it is those whose faith is in the promises of God who are the true Israel.
We should be steadfast in the Gospel because it is the truth of God!
*****Gal 6:17 From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.
Then Paul asserts that through the power given to him as a duly commissioned Apostle of Jesus Christ and a tried and tested servant of His Heavenly Master, he had fully discussed the matter of the Law and Grace that he had nothing else to say about it.
I know if you study this great writing of the Apostle Paul, you should be clear that we are saved by Grace through faith, and there is no law above this.
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Some things we know that the world ignores are:
1) The creation of the world is designed to reveal the glory of God.
Psa 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
2) The vastness of Heaven and the beauty of the earth reflect the glory of God.
3) God's sovereign act whereby He predestined all believers to salvation is to the praise and the Glory of His Grace.
Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
Eph 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Eph 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Eph 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
Eph 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
God is glorified in the display of His unconditional "Grace"!
Rom 9:23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
Rev 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
When the Lord Jesus said we must be "Born Again", He was speaking of the creating power of our God.
In fact, the regenerated Christian is probably the only thing that God has created since Chapter 1 in the Book of Genesis.
Our Lord Jesus died and raised again on the third day because of the predetermined plan and the foreknowledge of God even though a wicked world was responsible for His death.
Act 2:23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
Act 2:24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
Even though God has decreed these things, we are still responsible for all our sins, and it is by Grace through faith that we can be forgiven.
Grace is still the unmerited favor of God!
Psa 145:8 The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.
Psa 145:9 The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.
*****Gal 6:18 Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
In conclusion Paul said he will have no more attacks on his ministry nor the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
These churches in Galatia and their people needed to repent and get rid of those false teachers.
It is still the same for every church today.
We cannot ignore the Gospel of Jesus Christ and be saved.
We cannot ignore the Grace of God and be saved.
We cannot ignore our faith in the truth of God and be saved.
Amen
