Christ Conversation Sunday, May 29, 2016 Galatians 6:11-18, Outside? Come On In! Galatians 6:11 - Large letter to reinforce large ideas. See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. It was highly common for a letter to be dictated to a secretary then finished with the Writer taking pen and closing the letter out. Paul does this very thing. With his own writing he sums up the key points, issues the key directives and gives a benediction. This authenticates the preceding contents and lets people know these are his words. Galatians 6:12-13 – Outside Focused Teachers It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. The Apostle Paul takes on the false teachers at the level of their real motivation and the external, outside focus of their doctrine. 1. They want to make a good “showing in the flesh.” The external sign of circumcision would give the teachers bragging rights about how doctrinally correct and zealous for the Law they were. Unlike Paul – they were the ones who were honoring the Law of Moses. 2. They are seeking to avoid persecution, castigation, and shame. The cross of Christ is a scandal. a. Deuteronomy 21:22-23 addresses the curse of one hung on a tree. That man is cursed by God and defiles the land. The Apostle understood the ‘tree’ to speak of the cross (Galatians 3:13). b. Rome used crucifixion as a means of crime control. i. Some criminals were killed, then placed on a cross as a deterrent. The cross was not high, as you often see in movies. The criminal’s feet were often only a few inches above the ground – anyone passing by could look right in the face of the criminal.
ii. Some criminals who were political prisoners or those who committed especially heinous acts, would be crucified alive. Again, because the criminal could be looked at face-to-face, the mockery and derision given to the criminal was all the more impacting. iii. It is likely Jesus was crucified on a “patriarchal cross,” due to the plaque that bore the inscriptions of His crime and placed above His head: “King of the Jews.” (Matthew 27:37) iv. The cross, then, was a curse and a shame. How could anyone think that the Redeemer, the Righteous One could be hung on a cross? Society would mock you and the Religionists would curse you. The very nature of crucifixion as a deterrent screamed out: “Do not do what this man did! Do not follow in his path.” 3. They are not concerned in inner transformation – but with outward expression. They already know that, they being circumcised, could not—did not—keep the law. Yet they insist on continuing a ritual that is nonproductive and shown to be inadequate for redemption. In what ways do Christians elevate external rites, practices and rituals as the ‘proof’ of showing how righteous they are? How about you? What is often used by ministries, churches and individual Believers to show their zeal for evangelism and ‘souls saved?” How about you? _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________