11 See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. 12 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. 13 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.
14 But 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. 15 For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. 16 And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. 17 From now on, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen. (Galatians 6:11–18, ESV)
Paul started Galatians with his melodic line when he stated he was astonished that some in Galatia were turning so quickly from the grace of Christ to a different, therefore false, gospel (Gal. 1:6-7). He said that if anyone, even an angel, added to the gospel of Christ in any way, they should be accursed (Gal. 1:8-9). Paul’s custom was to dictate his letters to a scribe and conclude his letters in his own handwriting as trademark evidence that they were from him (2 Thes. 3:17). Here, Paul took the pen and wrote his conclusion in large letters, probably as a way to capture the attention of his readers (11). It was his ALL CAPS section. One last time, he emphasized that adding anything to the gospel is a distortion of the gospel. In these closing sentences, he returned to his central theme and contrasted legalism with the gospel one last time.
Legalism Is Ineffective (12-13)
First, Paul reminded his readers that legalism is ineffective because it is only for show. He peered into the motives of the false teachers when he said to the Galatians, “It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised” (12). It seems the legalizers wanted to look good to the religious Jewish community because they lived near and among it. If they had been living in Rome, they might have offered up a different brand of legalism, something similar to our current culture, where you are considered a pariah if you don’t celebrate the new societal norms. But the motivation was clear—legalism driven by show, a performance for others.
But why did they want to make such a good showing? Because they didn’t want to be persecuted for the cross of Christ (12). These legalists didn’t want to deny Jesus entirely, but they knew they could avoid some persecution from their fellow Jewish countrymen if they were seen promoting Jewish customs and religious laws to non-Jewish converts.
The reality is that the pure and unadulterated gospel is offensive to every type of human heart because it says we are too weak, broken, and sinful to help ourselves out of our condition. The gospel is offensive to those who think it’s intolerant because the only way to be saved is through Christ’s cross. The gospel is offensive to those who are morally good because it says that both “good” and “bad” people are condemned before God and in need of the cross. It is not a mere religion that offers some version of moral goodness to our world but news that announces the exclusive solution to our brokenness. And because this is what the gospel is, those who believe and preach it are often marginalized or persecuted. [1]
Notice the motivation of the legalists—they wanted to be similar enough not to stand out. They wanted to water down the cross until everyone would leave them alone. They weren’t prepared to be ostracized by society and live as exiles and pilgrims in a foreign land, so they distorted the gospel in an attempt to fit in. It is here that we have a tremendous opportunity. We can return to our roots as people called out of the world and into God’s church. We don’t have to fit in. We won’t ever fit in. The gospel makes us dual citizens, but our truest citizenship is in God’s kingdom. Paul also reminded his readers that legalism is ineffective because it does not produce actual change. He wrote, “even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law” (13). True transformation comes only from the Spirit as we walk with God. The Galatians might’ve thought adopting all the rules and regulations made them holier or more spiritual. It might’ve looked that way, but nothing changed them from within. Authentic change comes when the gospel touches you and sets you free, and you continue walking in the Spirit so that he can continue transforming your life.
The Cross Is Powerful (14-16)
After Paul reminded the Galatians of the weakness of legalism, he celebrated the power of the cross. First, Paul reminded his readers that the cross is powerful because it sets us free. He wrote that it was by the cross that the world had been crucified to him, and him to the world (14). When Paul mentioned “the world,” he was not talking about people or the planet—both are objects of God’s love. Instead, Paul was talking about a system entirely opposed to God, insidious and pervasive. Sometimes, it stands in obvious contrast to God, but often, it acts like an incrementally slow conveyor belt carrying you away from God and his ways.
In past centuries and even decades, the church has railed hard against the world so that everything in culture received the label “worldly.” Soon, movies, dancing, art, entertainment, sports—pretty much anything—were called worldly. And when that happened, generations of Christians stopped talking about the world because being connected to such extra-biblical teaching was embarrassing. But when we stopped talking about it, we began falling prey to it, and pretty soon, many of our lives became indiscernible from the world; its network of relationships, educational systems, entertainment agendas, consumeristic economics, and polarizing news cycles massaged many of us into a way of life that was worldly. We should get back to engaging with the world, not as legalistic hacks who berate anything in the culture to get a following of their own, but as people seeking to live as pilgrims for our Lord.
Paul knew that the cross set him free of the world. He no longer needed man’s praise, and he no longer feared man’s persecution. When Jesus died on the cross, it was as if the world died with him to Paul, and Paul died with him to the world. And if you are a believer in Jesus, the same thing has happened to you.
Second, Paul reminded his readers that the cross is powerful because it makes us new. He said, “Neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation” (15). Legalism cannot change us, but the cross can. Through belief in Jesus, we become brand new, receiving a new nature as we become new creatures in God’s sight.
A friend of mine from India came to the States for college. Far from his home, friends shared the gospel with him, but he was uninterested. One night, however, he had a vision of Jesus and began to believe. And he was radically changed. Tendencies he could not master under his old religion soon came under the power of Christ. He was different because he was a new creation.
The cross gives us a brand new identity. We are free from the world and its pressures to be transformed by the Spirit. And, as Paul said, “For all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God” (16). The path to true peace and God’s favor is only found on the cross. It is not found in our works.
This letter should jolt us into an understanding that the gospel is more important than life itself. Without it—or if it is distorted—we are lost. But with it, we have life. As Paul said, “Far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” (14). Legalism, dead religion, leads us to boast in ourselves. But true Christians know their boast is only in what Christ has done. Paul said, “From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus” (17). This aging apostle had been beaten and scarred for standing up for the gospel. And he had stood up for that same gospel again here in Galatians. He defended his preaching of the gospel, showed the biblical reasons the gospel is true, and explained the radically good life the gospel will generate. And now he is done. He gave them one last prayer that the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ would overcome their spirits, suffocating legalism in the process, before ending with “amen” (18).
[1] Keller, Timothy. 2013. Galatians For You. New Malden, England: Good Book Company.
