Month: June 2016 (Page 3 of 3)

Grabs the stylus from his scribe.  No dictation now.  With his own hand, he climaxes his letter, even though his eye trouble (Galatians 4:13,15) makes the words ungainly large.  See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand! (6:11). Better, perhaps, to rivet home his final message.

Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ (6:12).  The Judaizers (professed Christian Jews troubling the Gentile Galatians preaching faith in Christ plus Jewish circumcision for justification to the end)  are pressuring them.  Paul warns they have impure motives.   They want to put the (circumcised) Gentiles on display, so Jewish unbelievers won’t persecute them.  Cover up the objectionable cross with honorable circumcision.

A crucified Messiah?  Shameful!  The gold cross draped about my neck is a badge of faith, a sign of to Whom I belong and how.  To the Jew, the cross symbolized utter weakness and criminality and worthless rejection.  Like an African-American proudly wearing a noose around his neck.  Disallowed!

Circumcision, on the other hand, was a badge of honor.  A sign (albeit generally covered!) that this man descended from Abraham, the one through whom Yahweh would make a great nation to bless all the (inferior) nations.  Cover the cross with circumcision.  Jewish law-devotion would show them superior.

Sadly, we’ve “cleaned up” the cross.  Or at least allowed the world to.  It’s jewelry or art.  To the world at worst it represents execution.  But a punishment empty of meaning.  “Jesus died for my sins”— a vacuous slogan.  But the cross declares, “My Messiah was rejected and executed in utter weakness and abysmal defeat in my place for my sins.  He was, in the world’s eyes, an embarrassing loser.”

Not even those who are circumcised obey the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your flesh.  May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world (6:13,14).  Prosecuting, Paul points at the circumcised and roars, “Even they don’t obey God’s law.  The only reason they want you Gentiles to be circumcised is to proudly carve more notches on their “we got-’em-circumcised-belt.”

Paul’s only boast was that the Lord Jesus Christ outrageously, despicably died on a cross for him.  It forever redefined Paul’s estimation of the world.  It “has been crucified to me and I to the world.”  In other words, “Its values don’t govern me.  Its successes don’t beckon me.  I don’t evaluate my life by its measure.  I don’t care what it thinks of me.  Christ’s cross has freed me from the world’s lure.  My crucified Messiah is my treasure.”

Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation. Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule, even to the Israel of God (6:15,16).  The literal Greek here is, “Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything”;  the translator supplies “means.”  Again the translator supplies “counts”, because the Greek says, “Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything . . . ”  They’re trying to capture Paul’s intent.

More significant is how Paul defines the nature of the Christian life.  It’s not a matter of outward religious symbolism, like forehead-ashes for Lent or Bible-carrying  or cross-wearing.  The Christian is “a new creation.”  Startling statement.  Circumcision can’t affect that.  Only the gift of the Spirit can.  As Paul would later write to the Corinthians . . .

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.
The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
(2 Corinthians 5:17)

“And we all with unveiled face,
beholding the glory of the Lord,
are being transformed into the same image
from one degree of glory to another.
For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”
(2 Corinthians 3:18).

Far more than mere personal transformation!  This means the new eternal, righteous creation has burst back into this present age and has already been birthed in us who believe!

Such Christianity isn’t a meritorious faith.  It’s a grace faith by which God the Holy Spirit applies the crucifixion (and resurrection) of Christ in us to create a new righteousness out of our old moral corruption.  This, not circumcised Jews naturally descended from Abraham, is “the Israel of God”—Jew and Gentile one new people through faith in Christ, alive with his life by the Spirit.

Finally, 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 (6:17,18).  Paul wants no more messes from these Judaizers, who may even want to turn Paul to their cross-less ways.  He is committed to Jesus.  And his body bears the scars (Greek, stigmata) from following his crucified Lord through a proud and hostile world.

* * * * *

The Cross vs. Prosperity.  Christianity that draws the crowds plays down the cross’ rejection and shame.  It promises “your best life now.”  It trumpets how to be a winner.  It (subconsciously ?) seeks ways to succeed in the world without being “worldly” (not possible).  It’s gloriously true that Christ didn’t remain on the cross.  But we don’t get resurrection without the cross–Christ’s and ours.  May the world be crucified to us and us to the world!

A New Creation.  I look in the mirror and don’t see one.  I know my sins; they are ever before me.  I look at the church and see no difference from what I see at the office or supermarket or ball game.  Where is the power of Christ to transform our lives by means of the Holy Spirit, so people catch glimpses of a new creation in us?

Two responses come to mind. First, the familiar slogan, “Be patient; God’s not finished with me yet!”    And, second, “walk by the Spirit, follow the Spirit, keep in step with the Spirit.”  Do in living the desires he’s working in us.  We’ve got to risk stepping to learn to walk!

Audacious are the Gospel’s claims.  No more so than in Galatians 5:19-26.  Paul has been correcting confused new Christ-believers that having begun by faith in the Spirit’s regenerating work, they must not presume to defeat their still-present sin-nature desires by scrupulous law-keeping (Galatians 3:3).

But I say, walk by the Spirit,
and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit,
and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh,
for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing what you want to do.
But, if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
(Galatians 5:16-18).

Mess in the Flesh.

“Flesh” is human nature apart from Christ.  Fallen from grace.  Sinful before the holy God.  “Flesh” has cravings it seeks to satisfy.  And, when it does, Paul warns, this is what it produces . . .

Now the works of the flesh are evident:
sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery,
enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions,
divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies and things like that.
(Galatians 5:19-21a).

By “things like that” Paul makes his list representative, not exhaustive.  “Flesh” (human nature apart from Christ) produces this kind of mess.  Not every human is this “messed.”  But “messes” like these corrupt every one who is without Christ.  More seriously . . .

I warn you, as I warned you before,
that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
(Galatians 5:21b).

Paul now is thinking eschatalogically—that is, of the consummation of the new eternal creation.  Then, God will reign in unopposed righteousness and perfection.  Sin, decay and death will be no more.  Therefore, those whose lives are marked by corruptible vices will not inherit God’s kingdom.

What Paul writes here should rattle every systematic theologian whose doctrines all fit like a huge jig-saw puzzle:   the apostle Paul is writing to Christians.  They have begun the Christian life.  But if they live it “by the flesh”—whether by trying to keep God’s holy, good and righteous law or by abusing Christ’s liberty with license—they will not inherit God’s kingdom.  Legalism and licentiousness both end with the kingdom door closed and the inheritance lost.

But I say, walk by the Spirit,
and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
(Galatians 5:16).

Miracle in the Spirit.

Look what God has graciously done!  What we could not!

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son,
born of woman, born under the law,
to redeem those who were under the law,
so that we might receive adoption as sons,
And because you are sons,
God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying “Abba! Father!”
So you are no longer a slave
(neither to sin nor law)
but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.
(Galatians 4:4-7).

And the Spirit,  in the Son-followers produces “fruit”, a “harvest” of Christ-like virtues.   These virtues, though personal, aren’t private.  That is, Paul wants us (as he did the Galatians) to understand these virtues in the context of Christian community, the church.  This is the “fruit” the Spirit (not us) grows . . .

Love:  wanting the best for others and sacrificing ourselves so they might have it.
Joy:  rejoicing in the fullness of grace with which God has blessed us and spreading that joy to the downcast.
Peace:  an inner wholeness and well-being before God, a harmony we sow among God’s people.
Patience:  a heart quiet under stress, enduring  the pain others inflict.
Kindness:  a gracious heart toward sinners shown by our attitude and actions toward them.
Goodness:  a generous attitude toward others that transcends mere justice.
Faithfulness:  trustworthiness expressed in devotion and allegiance, especially in adversity.
Gentleness:  consideration for others, especially the weak.
Self-Control:  the ability to keep one’s desires and passions under restraint, so we don’t indulge ourselves at others’ expense.

March in the Rhythm.

Years ago when I preached this passage, trying to emphasize the work of the Spirit and not ours, I would close my eyes, scrunch my face, pull my whole body tight ’til I quivered, then ask the people, “Is this how a tree grows fruit?” “No, it grows by the creative work of God.”  Ah, now years later, I realize my analogy falters.  We are not trees.  Truly the Spirit grows “miracle fruit” in us.  We are to “keep in step” . . .

If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.
Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
(Galatians 5:25,26)

The Spirit sets the rhythm and enables us to follow.  The apostle charges us to keep in step with the Spirit’s beat.

We don’t, at least, not always.  A different image comes to mind.  I’m leading worship.  The congregation is singing and clapping.  I notice a man on the left and a woman in the center whose clapping only occasionally and accidentally hits the beat.  They simply can’t clap with the rhythm.  What shall I do?  Stop and reprimand them?  Prohibit their clapping?  No.  Eventually, if the Spirit indwells them, they’ll get it.  So I let them clap along slightly off for now.  As the Lord does me.  One day, he’ll see to it that we all get it . . .