Royal Life
Word & Prayer
November 6, 2020
May the Grace of Christ Be with Your Spirit
Yes, Gleanings from the Book of Galatians.
We saw in our last discussion, how Paul encouraged the the Galatians to consider his weighty letter and how he revealed that they which teach the law only desire to make a show of the flesh.
Then we hear the apostle continue;
For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. Galatians 6:13
Look closely at this statement “For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law”
This is it, circumcision itself became a preaching in those days as it was one of the major articles of the covenant, but Paul here sentenced everyone who attempts the keeping of the law and those who are of the preaching of the law as not actually keeping the law.
The apostle does not just make this statement but it was through their experience and the testimony of the fathers that he made this conclusion;
Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. Acts 15:10-11
To teach the observation of the law is to rather tempt the almighty God. Moses the giver of the law could not make it to the promised land. He broke the same law he gave to Israel and God declared his disobedience had disqualified him from entering the promised land.
The apostle knew this and by their experience with the law knew better that they Could not keep the law, hence, there was no hypocrisy in them but to look to Jesus to be justified and saved by the grace of God.
Wherefore, Paul conclusively declares everyone pretending to be observing the works of the law as living in hypocrisy.
Observe again this statement “but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.”
This is with circumcision even as it is with the other laws. These false teachers would have you engage in the keeping of the law to which they know you cannot keep. When you attempt and fail, you turn and look up to them as those who are perfect under God’s law.
Hence, they now have received the occasion to glory in your flesh, to boast over you with their false achievements.
But look at what the apostle says was his own stand;
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. Galatians 6:14
What an attitude to learn from. The apostle’s only place of glorying was not in his works but in the cross of Christ. In what the Lord has done to save the chief of sinners, the least of all saints.
Then we hear “by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world”
He counted the entire world and all the glories it can offer a thing of disdain. He deemed the world to be totally repugnant unto him when compared with the treasure of knowing Christ.
He saw himself totally dead to the desires of the world. O’ may this be our portion.
He counted all his works, all his achievements as dung. The world crucified unto him. But why?
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. Galatians 6:15
Here everything else is vain, circumcision and uncircumcision counts not. The keeping of the law or rejecting the keeping of the law matters nothing but a creature, to be born of God.
What matters is if a man be in Christ, he is a new creation, old things are passed away. He is regenerated, filled with God.
Here God comes down to take his abode in the quarters of his heart. Here God dwells in him, walks in him, and works in him both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Then we hear;
And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. Galatians 6:16
This is the standard of life for the Christian. The apostle concludes his discussion with a blessing on all those who walk after the new nature. Those who walk after the rule of the new creation have the peace and mercy of God resting upon them, for they are the true Israel of God.
Then we hear;
From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus. Galatians 6:17
This is is a profound declaration, the apostle having exhaustively declared to the Galatia Churches the doctrine of justification by faith in Christ alone, concludes here that”henceforth let no man trouble me”
What he has shared in this letter is enough to give everyman all the light he needs as it pertains to the doctrine of justification by faith.
Hence, no more troubling the apostle.
Then we hear”for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus”
For the cause of the cross of Christ he had face scourging, reproaches, sufferings and general persecutions, thus he was the more qualified to teach them and now wishes to be left alone untroubled.
Finally;
Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. Galatians 6:18
He still calls them brethren, an assurance of his love and affection for them all, and then he finally prays for them, that the grace of God be with their spirit so they can be filled with the revelations of the grace and love of God in preaching the Gospel of The Grace of God.
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with the spirit of my reader. May you grow in the revelation of Jesus, may you understand the breadth, length, height and the depth of God’s love and may he do exceedingly, abundantly, above all you ask or even think according to the power at work in you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ’ Amen!