Paul is (in our Text today) speaking of the “Cross,” that cruel means of execution devised by the ancients to torture a person to death, and that by the most humiliating/shameful way possible.

But not just any Cross … “the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.” The very means God has ordained for the salvation of lost souls! Via the shed Blood of our Lord!

Then the great Apostle adds, concerning that “old rugged” Cross … “by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” Galatians 6:14, the second half of the verse.

That’s why I have labeled the Text … “the Cross and me.” I could have as easily said, brothers and sisters in Christ, “the Cross and you.”

Let’s this morning personalize this great Truth of genuine Christianity!

Let’s talk about the “practicality” of Jesus’ Cross, two thousand years after the Fact, in 2018 (soon to be 2019, the Lord willing).

Here Paul makes (in a way) the Cross of Jesus into the Cross of “Paul!” (As shameful as that Cross was, in Greek/Roman society.) He still applies its mighty power to himself, not power in the sense of mere enjoyment, but power for spiritual growth!

Starkly, for “death” in certain areas of Paul’s life!

Here’s what I mean … “Jesus Death on the Cross” procures Paul’s “death” to the world! The world as the seat of Satan, the center of darkness. “By Whom the world is crucified unto me.” 

Jesus died that Day to the world, for sure. In fact, after Calvary He (our Lord) only stayed here another 40 days! Then He was ascended to Heaven, where yet today He sits and reigns and intercedes!

And by that same Cross … somehow I can die to the world as well!

Paul did.

To the point he could testify … “I die daily.” 1 Corinthians 15:51

The world, via Calvary and the One Who gave Himself there, had lost its power to allure the Apostle!

Other things had assumed more (attracting, magnetizing, drawing) Power! Well, another Thing! JESUS and His Death!

“But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me …”

Amen!

The Cross has brought about for Paul “a whole new world, a new creation!” Old things have passed away! Including what used to matter to Paul … ” If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more. Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were GAIN to me, those I counted loss for Christ.” He crucified his worldly life!

Wow, because of Jesus!!

He continues: “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but LOSS for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do COUNT THEM BUT DUNG, that I may win (better know) Christ.” Philippians 3:3-6

The world is now dead to Paul!

Then tomorrow (the Lord willing), we shall look at the final phrase of Galatians 6:14. Where Paul declares: “and I unto the world.” 

More fully: “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, AND I UNTO THE WORLD.”

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

“But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” Galatians 6:14

Paul the Apostle is NOT a man much given to “glorying,” a Greek verb (“kauchaomai”) meaning “to boast, to brag” and 5 times in the New Testament “to rejoice” in something.

Now this does NOT mean Paul was a *dour, sad man either! His Letter to the Philippians uses the words “joy” or “rejoice” nearly 20 times. I just counted! It is called by some Preachers “the Joy Book” of the Bible! (* In Latin “durus” means “hard!”)

Still, Paul was not a braggart.

A few times in his life he was (he felt) forced into defending the very authenticity of his ministry. This apologetic move he called “boasting” or “glorying” a time or two. Still, this great man was not a self-centered Christian, an oxymoron really.

So he writes in today’s Text, today’s Verse: “But God forbid that I should glory …” (Again, Galatians 6:14, but only its first clause, using the aforementioned “kauchaomai.”)

In the previous verse (our last lesson) Paul had described some false teachers who constantly bragged on themselves, their “good works” in following the Law of Moses, especially in being their being “circumcised.” And in how many others (Gentiles, Galatians) they had persuaded to be circumcised as well.

Not Paul! “I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius. Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.” 1 Corinthians 1:14-16, no heedless “numbering/bragging” here! Nothing mattered to him as much as salvation by Grace!

But our Text today adds another line … “But God forbid that I should glory, save (except) in the CROSS of our Lord Jesus Christ …” What a statement!

Paul will not brag about circumcisions, or baptisms or converts or successes (of any kind) … not normally. But HE WILL UNASHAMEDLY BOAST in the things of the Cross of Calvary! Where Jesus died to save us old, lost sinners!

And Oh, did Paul consistently follow that conviction in his writing!

Dozens of times!

In Romans 5:10 … “We were reconciled to God by the death of his Son.” Soul Salvation through the old rugged Cross!

In 1 Corinthians 1:17 he mentions the “power” (literally the “fulness”) of the Cross of Christ! “Lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.” (Be made “empty!”)

Here’s one of Paul’s homiletics lessons: “But we preach Christ crucified ….” 1 Corinthians 1:23, always his main Theme!

Elsewhere in the Pauline Corpus: “For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.”

Paul will rather be a “friend” of the Cross, not an enemy! “Of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ.” Philippians 3:18

Paul bragged about the miraculous Peace we enjoy, because of the Cross! “Having made peace through the blood of his cross.” Colossians 1:20

Look at what Paul says Jesus did to our sins, the whole lot of them! “Blotting out (erasing) the handwriting of ordinances (debts, sins) that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.” Colossians again, 2:14 this time.

How’s this for glorying in the Cross? “Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2

Over and over again … Paul is a preacher of the Cross!

And all I can write is HALLELUJAH!

Glory to God!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

No wonder we sing and rejoice about Calvary like we do!  Think of you favorite Cross Song today … and hum it throughout the morning!

 

That’s (the lesson title today) what Paul thinks about the disciples of Moses (as opposed to the disciples of Jesus) who have tried to ruin the little Churches in Galatia, “braggarts!” 

Today’s Study Verse: “For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.” Galatians 6:13

The “circumcision” (Paul’s name for these men who can only emphasize that surgical rite, to the detriment of the saving Grace of God), that entire group, cannot itself even obey the Law they are so eagerly promoting.  The verb “keep” (in Greek “phulasso” meaning “to guard, observe”) means just that, “to obey.” To plan one’s life “in toto” by its guidelines.

These men themselves do not wholly keep the law, but they sure do want Paul’s new believers to be circumcised, a first step in a life of centering on that law! Of being a slave to that law!

The verb “desire” is “thelo,” they “wish/will” it so! It is the longing of their heart! Their chief aim!

To this crowd … it’s (godly living) not about being saved via the Blood of Jesus, but rather submitting to the Rabbi’s knife! 

Then Paul once again (as he did in the last verse) broaches the subject of motive. And Paul indeed well knows these men, if not personally, at least the type/ilk they represent. After all, as Saul of Tarsus he followed that (preparatory) Old Testament lifestyle for years and years! I suspect Paul had all 613 Mosaic laws by memory. Yes, there are that many!

That motive?  ” … that they may GLORY in your flesh.” The verb “glory” here simply means “to brag!” Or to boast, to rejoice!

Some Preachers counted souls saved.

Other counted baptisms, maybe.

But not these boys!

They counted foreskins!

They boasted in the number of Gentiles they had forced (converted) into “circumcised” practicing Jews!

Wow!

Talk about insincerity!

Talk about hypocrisy!

They are not following through and obeying the whole Law of Moses (which was a good thing as designed by God) but … these people apparently obey just their “chosen” little stipulations! 

Maybe the things that are more outward, more easily seen, more physical? (Not so much the inward things of the heart!)

Oh yes, that’s legalism, all right.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Now in our next Lesson we shall see, the Lord willing, something in which Paul glories, brags, boasts, rejoices! And it is NOT circumcision!

 

As Paul closes his magisterial Letter to the Galatian Christians … he takes one more “jab” at the legalizers! At these invaders who have nearly ruined the Churches Paul recently established (in the Roman Province of Galatia). These enemies of God’s “totally capable” Grace … teaching (wrongly) that the Law of Moses aids in the salvation of a sinner.

And this Pauline “attack” begins with verse 12 of Galatians chapter 6. “As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.”

The motives of these “false teachers” (called “false brethren” by Paul in Galatians 2:4) are suspect. And the Apostle in today’s Verse gives us at least one of their incentives. “They desire to make a fair show in the flesh!” Literally, to “put on a good face, a self-aggrandizing front!” To look good to the spiritual “bosses” still back in Jerusalem!

It was all for “show!”

For popularity!

Oh how sad, what a shame!

Then watch the “forcefulness” they used, in coercing the Galatians (who were Gentiles, mind you) to submit to this surgery (circumcision) in order to be saved!

“They CONSTRAIN you,” Paul reported! The Greek is “anagkazo,” meaning “to compel.” To necessitate! The Greek root word gives us the English verb “to ache!” To force one to do something, even to the point of “paining/hurting” them!

But then there may be an even deeper motive … though still selfish … “Lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.”

Lest they be “mocked” by their cohorts (fellow cultists) who believe like they do … disciples of Moses, rather than followers of Jesus!

Lest they be ostracized.

Lest they be embarrassed.

Maybe even, les they be beaten!

Here’s the “heart” of Paul sentence today. “My Galatian friends, these people do not love you … they are using you! They only have their ‘best interests’ at heart.” Do not fall for their tricks!

Wow!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

I wonder if there are still “users” in the Church of God? In the local Churches we attend?

Question asked.

Question answered.

No doubt!

 

Today’s Text …

“Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand.” This is Paul, Galatians 6:11, and certainly a personal note!

The verb “to see” means to see “mentally, intellectually, with understanding or perception.” It is “eido,” not “blepo” in Greek.

And the adjective “large” is a word generally denoting geometrical magnitude, not numerical plentitude. BIG LETTERS IN SIZE, but not necessary a lot of letters. In fact, the Epistle of Galatians is not all that voluminous. It’s one of Paul’s shorter works. (Nothing like Romans or the Corinthian Correspondence!)

“Letter” in Greek is “gramma.” (Note: it is plural in the Greek, though singular in the King James Version.) It can refer to a whole body of literature or the alphabet that comprises that body of literature. Paul’s Greek characters (his ABC’s, we’d say) here are rather BIG, in size.

Of course, if Paul wrote the whole Epistle by his own hand … the thing would look huge, that is if he penned it in GREAT BIG ALPHABET LETTERS! 

Paul is saying (“with mine own hand”) that he used no secretary! No amanuensis! He did not simply dictate Galatians to a stenographer, as he did some of the other Epistles.

(Romans 16:22 proves Paul used a secretary in writing that great Book, Romans. “I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord.” Wow, “Tertius,” apparently a professional scribe!)

So … I have called this lesson, based on Galatians 6:11, a “personal” touch. 

This might be a hint that Paul had some kind of eye trouble, too. Not able to see clearly, thus demanding that he wrote large letters! Look back at Galatians 4:15 … “For I (Paul) bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye (the Galatians Christians) would have plucked out YOUR OWN EYES, and have given them to me.” Eye trouble, seems to me a distinct possibility.

Alternately, the verse could indicate that Paul’s hands, so swollen and calloused form working hard as a tent-maker, were no longer easily controlled. His writing ability hampered. Thus … the big letters!

Wow!

Then again, one scholar thinks that Paul is just writing BIG WORDS now at the end of the Book, the Epistle, to emphasize certain encapsulating truths!

This is a possibility, too.

No matter how one views this phenomenon … it is intensely interesting. Again, a “personal” touch from the life of the great Apostle Paul!

I love it, the Bible. What a Book, incomparable!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell