BRUCE C WEARNE tackles a passage in Galatians 6 that’s all about emphasing what’s gone before…
YOU CAN SEE IN WHAT LARGE LETTERS I HAVE WRITTEN WITH MY OWN HAND. IT IS THOSE WHO WANT TO MAKE A SUCCESS IN THE FLESH THAT WOULD COMPEL YOU TO BE CIRCUMCISED, AND ONLY BECAUSE THEY DO NOT WANT TO BE PERSECUTED FOR THE CROSS OF CHRIST. FOR EVEN THOSE WHO ARE CIRCUMCISED DO NOT ACTUALLY KEEP THE LAW, BUT THEY WANT TO BOAST ABOUT [THE WAY YOU CONDUCT YOURSELF IN] THE FLESH. BUT MAY I NEVER BOAST IN ANYTHING EXCEPT IN THE CROSS OF OUR LORD, JESUS CHRIST, THROUGH WHOM THE WORLD HAS BEEN CRUCIFIED TO ME AND I TO THE WORLD. FOR NEITHER CIRCUMCISION NOT UNCIRCUMCISION IS OF ANY POINT; WHAT IS THE POINT IS A NEW CREATION. AND MAY PEACE AND MERCY BE UPON AS MANY WHO WILL WALK IN STEP WITH THIS RULE, AND UPON THE ISRAEL OF GOD. – Galatians 6:11-16/transliteration by Bruce C Wearne
A “piercing light” is shed upon those bound by the law. PICTURE: Victoria Quirk/Unsplash
IN A NUTSHELL
Paul concludes his letter by way of a summary which states it all in succinct form.
Paul concludes his letter. He has written all that he wanted to say. He has issued a stern rebuke. He has also laid done a practical agenda for pastoral concern among the community of believers.
It is as if he concludes by giving a final summary which gains in emphasis – “SEE HOW I WRITE THIS IN CAPITALS” – like we might do with bold and italics and then with underlining – “HELLO! DO YOU GET MY POINT?”
Here, as he has emphasised elsewhere, the cross of Christ is a stumbling-block to the Jews and foolishness to the Greeks, “but to those who believe, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God” (I Corinthians 1:23-24).
From this confession Paul wants to locate his personal identity. The Lord Almighty has provided him with the way by which life finds fulfilment – the only way. And by that way God’s promises come to fulfilment in the cross of Jesus Christ. God in His Son has taken upon Himself the curse and indignity of human sin “and with His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).
This same cross sheds a piercing light upon the folly of those who would bind themselves by circumcision. Instead of that, the new creation inaugurated by Jesus Christ, the Messiah, is the path of peace and mercy. All are called to participate in this ongoing work in which God fulfils His purposes for His creation. As He does so He keeps His promises.
OPEN BOOK – PAUL’S GALATIAN LETTER: ONCE MORE WITH EMPHASIS
BRUCE C WEARNE tackles a passage in Galatians 6 that’s all about emphasing what’s gone before…
YOU CAN SEE IN WHAT LARGE LETTERS I HAVE WRITTEN WITH MY OWN HAND. IT IS THOSE WHO WANT TO MAKE A SUCCESS IN THE FLESH THAT WOULD COMPEL YOU TO BE CIRCUMCISED, AND ONLY BECAUSE THEY DO NOT WANT TO BE PERSECUTED FOR THE CROSS OF CHRIST. FOR EVEN THOSE WHO ARE CIRCUMCISED DO NOT ACTUALLY KEEP THE LAW, BUT THEY WANT TO BOAST ABOUT [THE WAY YOU CONDUCT YOURSELF IN] THE FLESH. BUT MAY I NEVER BOAST IN ANYTHING EXCEPT IN THE CROSS OF OUR LORD, JESUS CHRIST, THROUGH WHOM THE WORLD HAS BEEN CRUCIFIED TO ME AND I TO THE WORLD. FOR NEITHER CIRCUMCISION NOT UNCIRCUMCISION IS OF ANY POINT; WHAT IS THE POINT IS A NEW CREATION. AND MAY PEACE AND MERCY BE UPON AS MANY WHO WILL WALK IN STEP WITH THIS RULE, AND UPON THE ISRAEL OF GOD. – Galatians 6:11-16/transliteration by Bruce C Wearne
A “piercing light” is shed upon those bound by the law. PICTURE: Victoria Quirk/Unsplash
IN A NUTSHELL
Paul concludes his letter by way of a summary which states it all in succinct form.
Paul concludes his letter. He has written all that he wanted to say. He has issued a stern rebuke. He has also laid done a practical agenda for pastoral concern among the community of believers.
It is as if he concludes by giving a final summary which gains in emphasis – “SEE HOW I WRITE THIS IN CAPITALS” – like we might do with bold and italics and then with underlining – “HELLO! DO YOU GET MY POINT?”
Here, as he has emphasised elsewhere, the cross of Christ is a stumbling-block to the Jews and foolishness to the Greeks, “but to those who believe, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God” (I Corinthians 1:23-24).
From this confession Paul wants to locate his personal identity. The Lord Almighty has provided him with the way by which life finds fulfilment – the only way. And by that way God’s promises come to fulfilment in the cross of Jesus Christ. God in His Son has taken upon Himself the curse and indignity of human sin “and with His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).
This same cross sheds a piercing light upon the folly of those who would bind themselves by circumcision. Instead of that, the new creation inaugurated by Jesus Christ, the Messiah, is the path of peace and mercy. All are called to participate in this ongoing work in which God fulfils His purposes for His creation. As He does so He keeps His promises.
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