This is Galatians 6. uh verse 11 through the end of the chapter. See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. It is those who want to make good in 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. Be it far from me to boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision. but a new creation.
And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them and upon the Israel of God. From now on. Let no one cause me trouble. For I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Be with your spirit, brothers. Amen. Thank you, Russ.
Well Today we conclude Galatians. It's been good. And we conclude on a very appropriate topic. The title of today's message is New Creation. That's That's the main point.
that Paul is bringing out. in his letter to the Galatian churches. Don't go back to the letter of the law. You are new creations in Christ.
So live by that. As I've said many times through this study, if your walk of faith is relegated to merely keeping a moral code, you have missed the point and the power of the gospel. God is about doing a work of transformation in the lives of his people.
So much so. that a moral code is not necessary. Because if you are Walking with Christ. If you're following him. abiding in him.
If you're drawing near to God. And you're Walking by the Spirit, keeping in step with the Spirit, and if His Word is dwelling in you richly. And if you are loving one another as Christ has loved us. You don't need a moral code. Because you are reflecting Christ.
in your character. In fact, it would be to your detriment and the detriment of others. If you simply make your walk of faith A moral code. Paul concludes his letter beginning in verse 11. And I'm calling it Paul's signature.
It's a form of authentication, that this is, in fact, the Apostle Paul writing this letter. It's a personal touch at the end of the letter so that they know, in fact. This is from the Apostle. He says, verse 11, See with what large letters I'm writing to you with my own hand.
So from verse 11 to the end of this letter is Paul writing himself. In other words, yes, a lot of Paul's letters were written through a scribe. And we're introduced to at least one of them. Um Paul says something very similar to this in 1 Corinthians 16, verse 21. Where he says, see, I'm writing it myself.
To let you know, this is definitely from me. But he introduces us personally to one in Romans chapter 16, verse 22, where actually the scribe writes a personal greeting to the Roman church. I, Tertius, who wrote this letter.
So, Tertius was the scribe.
So, you can see what happened here through all this. Paul has been dictating this letter, and Tertius has been at the desk. Diligently writing away the words that Paul has spoken in a letter to the churches at Galatia. And then all of a sudden, Paul says, Tertius. Give me the quill.
I want to write the rest of this in my own letters. And he says, see with what large letters, why would he be writing in large letters? possibly because he had eye trouble. It was hard for him to see. As clearly as most others.
It's very possible that could be the thorn in the flesh that he spoke of, 2 Corinthians. If you look back in Galatians chapter 4 and verse 15, he says of the Galatians, you are willing even to gouge out your eyes and give them to me. Right. Um because of that He's writing with large letters so that he can actually see what he writes. Large print.
Okay. But these are parting words of the apostles. These are his last words. They're memorable. And so we need to make sure that we remember them well too.
And in fact, what he covers in these parting words are. A summary of the themes that he has covered in this whole letter to the Galatian churches. There's a reason why this letter was written. Paul planted many of these churches, or he led people to Christ. And they have gone on and they've planted churches, and as he's planted these churches and he's discipled them in the gospel of grace.
The gospel of grace in Jesus Christ. And then all of a sudden, these other teachers come in or they rise up among them and they say, you know, if you're genuinely a follower of Christ, you need to keep the Mosaic law. Paul said no. That's not true. That's not accurate.
That is behavior that is contrary to the gospel of grace. And it was such an important matter. That he even gave an example of where the Apostle Paul had to confront the Apostle Peter. Because He was Intimidated by the legalists. And he said, if they came in and saw Peter.
eating at the same table with Gentiles. He said, I don't want to endure their wrath, so I'm going to get up and I'm going to go over there and eat with the Jews.
So that they won't see me eating with the Gentiles.
Now, Paul doesn't get all hot under the collar and get in his face and point his finger at him. Yeah. speaks to him. Because he noticed that what Peter did was not in line with the gospel of grace. It was behavior not in line with the gospel.
Listen to me. Racism is partiality. Yes. The most impartial people on the face of this earth ought to be Christians. You with me on that?
Paul calls Peter out, and that's when he quotes this verse that we know so well, Galatians 2.20. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. And you know what, Peter?
That is true of every person who is in Christ. And if you are in Christ and I'm in Christ, we belong at the table together. It doesn't matter what you look like. We belong together. That's why he's writing this letter.
Because if you come to faith in Christ and then all of a sudden you feel like to become mature in the faith, you have to go back to keeping the law, he says you've got it all backwards. They are preaching to you another gospel when, in fact, there is no other gospel. There's but one gospel, and it's the gospel of grace. in Jesus Christ. And they are perverting the gospel.
And when you pervert the gospel, you rip its power away from it.
So, a summary of themes here. First of all, is powerless legalism And as I say that this morning, if you've here, you've not been through this whole series of Galatians, we're not sitting here talking about other churches. Because every one of us is naturally A legalist. If we are not intentional Purposeful. in our pursuit of God.
We will slide into the rut of legalism. Thinking it's all about our performance, whether or not God is happy with me. That's legalism. Our freedom in Christ is that we have been rescued from that. And what do the legalists do?
Here's three things that describe legalism. Beginning at verse 12, it is those Who want to make a good showing in the flesh, who would force you to be circumcised only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross. 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. First of all, legalism is keeping up appearances. It's all about our effort of keeping up appearances.
It's very important to the legalist that other people see them. as spiritual. It doesn't matter whether you're spiritual or not. What matters is that other people see you. and spiritual.
That's why the Pharisees, who were rotting at the core, would go out and say their prayers in public. and make sure everyone saw how much they gave in the offering. Right, because they were putting on a show. And that's what legalism does. And a church that is steeped in legalism, you will have a congregation that comes in that's preoccupied with.
how other people perceive you. There's no genuineness in that kind of a system. Because it's all about keeping up appearances. He says, they want to make a good showing, he says here in the context. It's not about true godliness.
It's simply a focus on what others think. And they want to force you, he says, to force you in verse 12, who would force you to be circumcised only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.
So forcing you, they use guilt and spiritual manipulation.
so that you are keeping up the appearances that they expect and demand. That's what a legalistic system does. It's not only about keeping up appearances, but secondly, it's about self-focus. He says that they may not be persecuted. There is an inherent self-focus in a legalistic religious system.
And it's all about me. It's all about me.
Now, why would he say this? Because he's saying that they may not be persecuted. And I think it'll Russ referred to The book of Hebrews. This is one reason why the book of Hebrews was written. Because the Jews, and particularly the Jewish converts of that day, were starting to experience pushback against the gospel, persecution for being Christians.
You're a follower of Christ, get out of here. We don't like you. You're weird. you're considered a threat to the state. Did you know that?
That the church of the first century was considered a threat to Roman peace. because they could not be controlled. And that has been true of Christians throughout the centuries. Christians, true followers of Christ, are the least. controlled people.
On the earth. That's why dictators are scared to death of them, which is why dictators seek to wipe them out. That they may not be persecuted. He says Judaism was it was normal and it was a normal and accepted religion. And the other religions and the Roman leaders, they were willing to tolerate and forbear Judaism.
They had a temple. They had their rituals. They had their laws, they had their customs, it was all visible and it was controllable. But Christianity was just frankly bizarre. And it threatened the established order.
Why?
Well, Christians. They don't have a temple. They don't have any icons. They have no priests. They have no God representations that they worship.
We can't figure out who their God is. And then they say they talk about their God being an indwelling spirit in them. That's just spooky. I'm not making this up.
Okay. This is how the first century Roman culture viewed Christians. They talk about God, this indwelling spirit, and then All they talk about is love. And that leads to some pretty curious behaviors and values. They have these clandestine meetings.
The church worshiping? Because they didn't have Church houses that they went to, they met in homes.
So they were considered clandestine meetings, and in those meetings they do things like they say, eat his body and drink his blood. And they were freaked out by that.
So Christianity was bizarre. And because of that, it was misunderstood. And it was misunderstood. Not only was it misunderstood, but they were unable to control the Christians. And if they're not able to control us.
they will become hostile to us. The legalists According to what Paul says here, We're interested in keeping things normal and under control. And that's what you want, isn't it? Say mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
We want to keep things normal and under control. And all this stuff that we sang about this morning, and the persecuted believers who have to literally take their lives in their hands just because they follow Jesus. Listen. Pastoral moment here. It's easy for us to sing about this and to sing about it with great passion.
But see Jesus looking at you and saying, If you're going to follow me, you have to take up your cross. Daily. And follow me. That's uncomfortable. And it's meant to be.
When the one who is talking to you is the very point to your existence.
So it's not about being comfortable. It's not about keeping things under control. Because those who would say that, that's how they slide into legalism, because they're saying, we just need to follow the rules. Let's not stir the boat. Let's not rock the cart.
Turn over the apple basket. Nope. We just let's Keep things under control and keep them normal. And God would look at those people And he would say, But your hearts are far from me. Your hearts are far from me.
Folks, listen, this is the very point of Paul's letter to the Galatian churches. What's going on in your heart? What's going on in your heart? Not only is it about keeping up appearances. Not only is it about self-focus, but there is an inherent Hypocrisy.
in legalism. Hypocrisy and legalism, but he says even they don't keep the law. They're coming to you and demanding that you keep the moral code, and they themselves who are making this demand don't even keep it themselves. This is why you talk about us, every one of us, being natural legalists. Even if it's whatever list you make up for yourself.
Even you can't even keep your own list that you make up for yourself. And it becomes oppressive, doesn't it? Yes, it does. That's no way to live. That's not the gospel of grace.
So, in their hypocrisy against the Galatians. Not only is it heartless worship, in other words, heartless, by heartless, I mean. They're keeping up appearances. And they're checking all the boxes. But their hearts are far from God.
Not only is it heartless like that, But To them, it's a matter of selective obedience. I'll follow the rules I like. or that are comfortable for me to follow. Or they don't get me in trouble. And all of this Is nothing less than outward conformity, which is why.
Paul says That God is not mocked. God is not mocked. We might think we're doing all the right things and checking all the boxes, doing what a Christian is supposed to do. And other people might think we are the picture of strong spirituality. But God is not mocked.
Because he sees the heart. That's right. And it's his opinion that counts. And these are the ones who might boast in their flesh. And by speaking that, he said, look how good these people are.
Look what good religious people they are, because they are following the rules. And to the on-looking world, that can be impressive. And so, because things are normal and under control, we're just going to leave them alone because they're being good moral people. But then God says, Your hearts are far from me. God's not mocked by that at all.
He's not impressed. Listen, please. God is not impressed. by outward conformity. That's not the gospel of grace.
At all. For those who would boast in the flesh, for them spiritual success is by quantifiable outcomes. Hey, we're Keeping up the mission here. And there's many today who are using that same terminology. It's not, it's all about the gospel.
And the gospel, you know, we need to count how many people are coming to Christ, how many people are baptized, and yada, yada, yada, yada. And success is measured by quantifiable outcomes. Listen to me. That is not according to the economy of God's kingdom.
Sorry, I got to preaching there. God is looking at your heart. What's going on there? He's looking at your mind, your attitudes, what's going on there. Are you reflecting Christ?
in your thoughts. In your Affections. Do you love what Jesus loves? Do you hate what Jesus hates? That's what he's looking at.
And this is why Paul. necessarily had to confront Peter. in his moment of hypocrisy, that even led others astray, including Barnabas. Paul confronted him and said, This conduct is not in step with the truth of the gospel. This is the point that Paul makes very, very clearly.
Romans 7:6. Romans 7:6. But now. We are released from the law. I want you to read this with me now, okay?
All together. Romans 7:6. But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive.
so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code. That is your Declaration of Independence. from legalism. Uh from your faith being nothing but a moral code. But it's not just your independence from something, it is your freedom to walk in the new way of the Spirit.
Listen to me, loved ones. From God's self-disclosure, it is on you to know what that means. Because God has revealed it. And there is no excuse for our ignorance of what it means and what it looks like to walk by the Spirit. Because God has revealed it.
And we've taught a whole series of sermons on it.
So go back and listen to them. You are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive. See, this is powerless legalism, but we have to confess, every one of us does, every morning we wake up, we must admit that we will have at least a tendency to slide back into the rut of legalism. What do I have to do to make God happy with me today? Listen to me.
You are free from that. There is nothing you can do to make God love you more. There's nothing you can do to make God love you less. Hallelujah. Because you are two words.
in Christ. Thank you, Lord. And when he looks at you, he sees Christ. No, they but this is true. That's your position.
Now he's going to summarize powerful grace. He summarized the powerless legalism now from which we are freed. And now he's going to summarize powerful grace. Powerful grace. Verses 14 through 16, far be it from me to boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world.
For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision but a new creation. A new creation. And as for those, and as for all who walk by this rule, isn't that funny that he would say that, who walk by this rule? It's not the word for law. Right.
We'll get there in a moment. I'm getting ahead of myself. As for those who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them and upon the Israel of God. There's a lot packed into that. statement those three verses right there.
There's a lot in there. Here's the point that he makes. We cannot achieve righteousness by keeping a moral code. Know that. We, you, and I, cannot achieve the righteousness that God requires by keeping a moral code.
I don't care how spotless that code is, I don't care how hard you try. You cannot achieve the righteousness that God requires. We receive the righteousness. By surrendered trust in Jesus Christ, and it's based on. and reconciling sacrifice.
Okay. We cannot achieve it. but we can receive it. And we must. if we are to have eternal life.
And enjoy him forever. That's the point of your existence.
So, three points about powerful grace. Number one is our position. Our position. Our positional reality. This is the reality.
This is reality. This is who I am. This is my identity in Christ. It is my plea before a holy Christ, before a holy God. May Christ be all and I be what?
Nothing. I contribute nothing to my righteousness before God. I cannot. It's all Jesus Christ. That's my identity in him, which is why crucified with Christ.
Paul says I am crucified with Christ. Meaning I have received forgiveness. and reconciliation. I am forgiven and reconciled. Christians, that is your position.
And you should wake up every morning repeating that to yourself. I am forgiven and reconciled. It's not about what I've achieved, it's about what Christ has done. And therefore, I am no longer of this world. I don't belong here.
Is why he says, the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Listen, I march to a different drumbeat than the world. I have a different master. I have a different citizenship. I have a different nature.
Know these things, loved ones. Because if we lose sight of them, We will become legalists again.
So that's my position. Secondly, he talks about transformation. He says, Counts for anything? Nor uncircumcision, but new creation. Look back chapter 5.
Look at chapter 5. Look at verse 6 with me there for a minute. Chapter 5, verse 6: For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.
So faith working through love and New creation. are synonymous concepts. for the Apostle Paul. You want to manifest a new creation? Here's what it looks like.
Faith working through love. That's what it looks like. New creation is the reality, it's the transformation. And when he uses circumcision here, so it might be a curious thing, because he uses it numerous times in this letter, because what is circumcision here? He's using a figure of a part of speech.
It's called a synecdoche. And who were Take for example Jeff Combs drives in with his brand new Honda G. on the truck. He showed it to me. I got in it like, ooh, ah.
Really nice. And then I get out and I say, Jeff, that's a nice set of wheels. Am I just talking about the wheels? I'm referring to the whole vehicle. I like it.
I'm impressed with this vehicle. But I say it's a nice set of wheels. That's a synecye. That's what that means.
So when Paul is using the term circumcision, he's using it that way. That one word encompasses you becoming Jewish and having to keep the whole law. A legalist. Keeping the law.
Okay. is meaningless. is what he says here.
Okay. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision. He says it's not the point. That's not the point. What is the point?
New creation is the point. about who you are in Christ. Know that. Become familiarized with that. The Lord said something very, very strong in Jeremiah, the prophet.
And Jeremiah is the one who introduced to us the new covenant. And as the Lord is writing to the people of Judah, Who are about to be taken into captivity because. They just simply are not following God. They are not keeping his law. And they're about to be taken.
And the Lord says to them, the day comes when I will punish those who are circumcised merely in the flesh. That's powerful. And that's so true for us today. In other words, hear the Lord saying to you: if your walk of faith is just simply checking the boxes and keeping up appearances. The Lord says, I am utterly unimpressed with that.
It's not the gospel of grace. And if that's what you're counting on, you've missed the gospel. And I don't know you. That's powerful stuff. The Faith Life Study Bible says here: Is it Paul?
Paul puts keeping a moral code in its proper place, it cannot define the status of the believer, nor can it transform the believer. The law in Scripture cannot define you and it cannot transform you, the law of the Old Testament. What matters for Paul is the new creation work of God through Christ's death and resurrection and the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. If it's not a moral code that counts for anything, what is it that counts? It's new creation.
And that new creation practically follows our positional reality. Remember I just talked about our positional reality. You are forgiven and reconciled. You have been granted the righteousness of Jesus Christ. That is a reality for you in Christ.
Okay. And if that's true, then what logically follows that is new creation. In other words, Christian, listen to me. You are transformed at the core of your being. Transformed at the core of your being.
And it's language that follows throughout the New Testament. John, the Apostle John, writes about this, and he talks about being born of God. You see, that's something that an unbeliever, an unregenerate person is not. They're not born of God. But in Christ you are, you are born of God.
Peter says we become partakers of the divine nature. Can't be true of an unregenerate person. Jesus talked about being born again or born from above. This is what he's referring to. And Paul, in other places, refers to the new man and walking in newness of life.
Because of our position in Christ and the new creation, that transformation that that brings. In other words, again, I march to a different drum beat. I'm dancing to a different tune. Then the world. And instead of living for self, My nature leads me to live outwardly.
Because that's what we have in Christ, is the mind of Christ. is to consider others more important than yourself.
So powerful grace. is about our positional reality, powerful grace is about our transformation. The new creation that exists within the new creations that we are in Christ. It's also about perseverance. It's also about perseverance.
So, what he says: and as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them and upon the Israel of God. By perseverance, I mean empowered faithfulness. Notice the words there, empowered faithfulness. Walking by the Spirit. In other words, it's not all up to you simply trying harder to be better.
It's empowered faithfulness. That's why God's given you His Spirit. Key difference between us and the general population of God's people in the Old Testament. Key difference.
So be careful how you go back to the Old Testament and use them as examples of Christians who failed. Can you fail? Yes, you can. There's times when you cannot be walking in the Spirit, where you're not abiding in Christ. You're not drawing near to God, and His Word is not dwelling in you richly.
And you're going to slide, you're going to drift away from Christ. You're going to slide into a rut of legalism, or you're going to start living for yourself. But you don't have to. because you have all the resources in Christ, in the grace of Christ, you have all the resources available to you to keep you from doing. Empowered faithfulness.
That's what he means when he says, walk by this rule. All those who walk by this rule. That word rule is the word canon. It's a principle. The word canon.
It's not he's not law it's not law Notice he did not say those who walk by this law.
Okay. And what does he say? And what is this principle?
Well, it's what Rich Powell calls dawdling faith. Yeah. Dawdling faith. Dawdling faith is The habits of regeneration. I just went through them.
It's all the verbs of the habits of regeneration. Say them with me. D stands for. Draw near to God. A stands for abide in Christ.
W stands for walk by the Spirit. D, the next D stands for it's the verb, let the word of Christ. dwell in you richly. And then the L stands for Love is I have loved you. Keep the standard in there.
The bar is high. Love as I have loved you. Because it takes us back to remembering the gospel.
So the way I love others is an outflow of how Christ has loved me. You gotta keep that there. Peace and mercy be to those who walk according to this rule. In other words, peace and mercy means you're not condemned. New daily mercies and compassion of God.
It is the tranquility that you can have walking according to this. The rule law. a dawdling faith. It's freedom from judgment. This is so beautiful.
This peace and mercy, as he's wishing upon the people who do this, who walk by the Spirit. You are rescued from the insecurity of having to measure up. Hallelujah. Isn't that awesome? Rescued from the insecurity of having to measure up.
You're in Christ. That's not your concern. Abide in Christ. Follow him. And he says unto the Israel of God.
What is he talking about there, the Israel of God? He could be talking about believing Jews. Look at Romans chapter 2, verses 28 and 29. For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical, but a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart. By the Spirit, not by the letter.
His praise is not from man, but from God. I think that's what Paul's talking about here, the Israel of God. He's talking about the circumcision of the heart. In other words, at the core of your being, at the level of your affections and your attitudes, are you bent towards God? If you are, peace and mercy is upon you.
People of faith, in other words, what he's talking about. We are the object of God's loving concern. Let me bring this to a conclusion. I'm going long. I'm sorry.
The service has gone long, but it's been good. It's been good. And I have wept numerous times this morning. Let's talk about the Jesus brand. Yeah.
From now on, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen. What does he say? From now on, let no one cause me trouble.
If you want to know the trouble that Paul endured, read 2 Corinthians chapter 11.
Okay. Before when when he encountered Christ The Lord said to him, I will show him all the things that he must suffer for my name.
So Paul was destined to suffer. That didn't hold him back. And so it's like Paul is saying to the Galatians. On this matter, of following the law. Rich Powell translation.
Enough already. Let's be done with this. This matter is settled. And why does he say that? Because this is not my truth that I'm presenting to you.
I'm not. elaborating on my opinion. This is a divine calling. That you are in Christ and you are free from that which held you captive, namely, the law.
So walk in newness of life. Let this be a settled matter, he says. But there's a reason why. He said, look at this. He says, For I bear in my body the marks of Jesus.
That word marks. Interesting word. It's the word from which we get wor our word, stigma. I am a walking. Stigma.
Isn't that awesome? And you might think, no, Rich, I just I don't. The Jesus brand. Jesus bread. It's the fellowship of his sufferings.
Paul was outwardly a noticeable, noticeably. It was outwardly noticeable that Paul was a follower of Jesus Christ. Versus a closet Christian.
Now that's not about keeping up appearances. He lived in the outflow. Paul wore the scars of suffering as a mark of identity and a badge of honor. And he said, Here, finally, verse 18: the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.
Spirit settled? The brand of Jesus means the truth is settled. We are walking stigmas of Jesus. And then spirit, grace and transformation at the level of affection and attitude, your spirit. Grace and transformation at the level of your attitudes and your affections.
You are, listen to me, you are defined by the grace of God. It is who you are at the core.
So let's live that. Let's be the church. Let's live that. Let us not reduce our walk of faith to a moral code. But let's live in the newness of life that God has made a reality for us in a very powerful way.
Let's stand together and read Galatians 2.20 in conclusion this morning.
Okay. Let's read this together. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live. But Christ who lives in me.
And the life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me. Thanks be to God.
Alright, very good.
