BIG IDEA:
BOAST ONLY IN THE CROSS OF CHRIST AND THE CORRESPONDING SCARS OF IDENTIFICATION WITH THE CROSS
(:11) Aside: Authenticity and Importance of the Epistle
“See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand.”
Guthrie: “At this point the apostle may have taken the pen from the amanuensis and have added the concluding remarks in his own handwriting. If so, he felt it to be necessary to draw special attention to this, no doubt because the change of script would have been noticed only by the reader when the epistle was read aloud, and even he might well have overlooked the significance of the change.”
I. (:12-13) LEGALISTS SHUN THE PERSECUTION ASSOCIATED WITH THE CROSS OF CHRIST
A. Concerned with Their Worldly/Religious Reputation = Man-pleasers
“Those who desire to make a good showing in the flesh”
B. Conformed to the Accepted Legalistic Rites of the Culture = Compromisers
“try to compel you to be circumcised”
C. Concealed from Persecution for the Cross of Christ = Cowards
“simply that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ”
Gromacki: “If the Judaizers had disavowed the necessity of circumcision, they would have been ostracized by the Jewish communities. They would have been excommunicated from the synagogues, exploited financially, and probably harmed physically. The Judaizers knew that, thus they were afraid to take a stand for justification by faith alone. They were more closely identified with the Pharisees and the priests than they were with the apostles.”
D. Confused about Their Own Obedience to the Law = Hypocrites
“For those who are circumcised do not even keep the Law themselves”
E. Conceited because They Have Been Successful in Attracting a Following = Selfishly Ambitious
“but they desire to have you circumcised, that they may boast in your flesh”
Gromacki: “The Judaizers were a bossy bunch. They attempted to impose legalism on the Galatians. They wanted to make converts.”
II. (:14-16) TRUE ISRAEL BOASTS ONLY IN THE CROSS OF CHRIST AND FOCUSES ONLY ON THE NEW CREATION =THE ONLY 2 THINGS THAT REALLY MATTER
A. (:14) The Cross of Christ Means Everything = Objective Focal Point
1. It is the only source for boasting
“But may it never be that I should boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ”
2. It has served as the Instrument of Death to the World in my life
“through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world”
B. (:15) New Life — Not Dead Flesh – Should be the Subjective Focal Point
“For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.”
C. (:16) The Blessing of God Falls Upon All Who Boast Only in the Cross
“And those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.”
(:17) Validation of the Apostle’s Spirituality = The Scars of Persecution
(from Identification with the Cross of Christ)
“From now on let no one cause trouble for me, for I bear on my body the brand- marks of Jesus”
(:18) CLOSING BENEDICTION
“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.”