[0:00] Galatians chapter 6. We are almost done. One more week. Next week will be the last week of Galatians.!
[0:30] Galatians chapter 6. We have been talking. Verse 1. He said, look, those that are spiritual, restore.
[0:41] If you are going to be spiritual, you need to restore people. Then he says in verse 2, be a blessing. Be ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Then we talked about verse 7.
[0:54] For whatsoever man soweth, that shall he also reap. Then, last week, we talked about verse 9. And let us not be weary in well-doing. Today, we're going to start at verse 11.
[1:09] Follow along with me. Verse 11 through 15. It says, ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand. As many as desire to make a show in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised, only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law, but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. For 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. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. All throughout this gospel or this epistle of Galatians, Paul has been trying to emphasize to them, works cannot be added to salvation. Your works amount to nothing. If you're circumcised or not circumcised, who cares? What Jesus Christ did for you on the cross is the important thing. How Jesus Christ provided your salvation, took your sins upon himself when he went to the cross is the important thing. And he says, look, this is so important to me that you understand this. Look at verse 11. Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand.
[2:39] Why is that so important? Look back to chapter 4, verse 15. For it is, where is then the blessedness ye spake of? For I bear you record that if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me. Paul had a problem with his eyesight.
[3:03] Paul had trouble seeing. And so he's mentioned this a couple of times in talking to them. He says, look, in verse 11, he says, look at how large a letter I have written unto you. I'm writing it with my own hand. I cannot see well. So he's making big letters and things as he's writing to them.
[3:23] And they're getting to read. He said, this is so important. I want you to see that I consider it important. I considered it enough that I wrote this with my own hand. Even though it's tough for me to do this, it's a long letter. It's hard on my eyes. I'm taking the time out to do this because I am so concerned that you understand this. So let's have a word of prayer and see what else he says to them after that. Dear Heavenly Father, help us this morning to understand the word that you have given to us, to understand the importance of realizing that Jesus Christ did everything necessary for salvation. Jesus Christ did everything that we need to know so that we can have an eternal life with you in heaven. So that we can have a life here on earth with your help and your spirit within us to help us navigate this life and the things that take place in it. Lord, I pray that you would help us this morning to know Christ and know him well. We pray this in Jesus name. Amen. First thing I want you to see this morning, they're going through some trials. We've been talking about this since the beginning. There's a group called the Judaizers and they are there. And he wants them to understand the trials that they are going through, the realm of the trials that they are going through. The first thing is they're facing these Judaizers. And these Judaizers, they say you have to be circumcised in order to be saved. You have to have that done. You have to believe in Christ, but you also have to do these works. Why were they so intent on that? First of all, because they were shunning persecution.
[5:08] Did you catch that? In verse 12? Look at verse 12 again. For many as desire to make a fair show in the flesh, this constraint you to be circumcised, lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.
[5:27] They were trying to avoid persecution. That phrase he uses there, they're trying to get recognition before men. They want men to see and men to understand that yes, we believe in Christ, but we also understand the importance of what you're doing. We understand the importance of the rituals and the traditions and things that you have. And they're trying to avoid persecution is what they're trying to do.
[5:52] And notice that phrase, make a fair show. Sounds pretty reasonable. You know, it means they want to make a fair show. They want to please others. They want others to be impressed. That's what he's saying. You want others to be impressed with what you're doing.
[6:10] You want them to see that you are doing, making a good impression on them. You're doing what they want. And Paul says that's not how it works. That's not the way it goes. He says you're trying for pride's sake.
[6:23] You're trying to show that you have a preeminence. You have a way of pleasing all men. John, the apostle John, faced the same thing.
[6:35] In 3 John, verses 9 and 10, he wrote this, I write unto the church, but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.
[6:49] Why? Because if I come, wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, pratting against us with malicious words, and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.
[7:12] He says this guy, Diotrephes, he wants to be in charge. He wants to control everything. He wants to call the shots. He wants to say what it means to be a Christian in his church. Paul's like, no.
[7:25] John is like, no, that's not how it works. You're only saved one way. That is through Jesus Christ. And that's what Paul's trying to point out here to the Galatians. See, they wanted to please men, and they did not want to be associated with the cross.
[7:43] The cross, you know what the cross was like. You know the stigma that went with the cross and everything? No, we're not part of that group. We believe in Jesus, but we also do everything, the rituals and everything that you guys do.
[7:58] Different commentators I looked at. Albert Barnes. It is not for any true love for the cause of religion. It is that they may avoid persecution from the Jews.
[8:09] That's what they were trying to do. He says, when you take verse 12 and you look at it, that's the whole purpose behind it. They're trying to avoid persecution. Another commentary, Jameson, Fawcett, and Brown, an old-time commentary.
[8:22] They escaped the Jews' bitterness against Christianity and the offense of Christ's cross by making the Mosaic law a necessary preliminary. In fact, making Christian converts into Jewish proselytes.
[8:38] He says, they took people who were being saved, Gentiles who were being saved, and said, now you've got to follow these Jewish traditions. And he says, no, that's not the way it works. When you accept Christ, you accept Christ and Christ alone.
[8:52] Christ does everything that is necessary. See, these Judaizers were also seeking self-glory. They were trying to say, look how good we are. Look at what we've done.
[9:03] How do I relate that to today? You have to accept Jesus Christ and you have to be baptized. You have to accept Jesus Christ and you have to be able to speak in tongues.
[9:15] You have to accept Jesus Christ and... See, anytime we add the and, we're negating what Jesus did for us. Jesus did everything necessary for us to have salvation.
[9:28] Jesus did everything necessary for us to go to heaven. All we have to do is trust in him and the work that he did at the cross. See, keeping the law is a vain goal.
[9:40] Why is it a vain goal? Look at verse 13. He says, for neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law, but desire to have you circumcised that they may glory in your flesh.
[9:54] He says, they're saying you've got to keep the law. They can't do it themselves. The Jewish scribes, Pharisees, and all of them, they took the Ten Commandments and they took the laws that were given in Leviticus and different places, and then they added 636 different laws.
[10:16] These are things you have to do in order to be a good Jew. And now, these people who are Christians, saying they're Christians, are trying to add all those things to.
[10:28] It's like today. You can be a Christian. You can continue living just like you've always lived. You can continue doing everything you've always done.
[10:40] Just add Jesus. See, we never add anything either way. Jesus Christ says, I am the way, the truth, and the life.
[10:53] No man cometh unto the Father but by me. Jesus, alone. And so, keeping these laws was a vain goal because nobody could do it. That's why Jesus came is because they couldn't keep the law.
[11:07] The outward glory that they're looking for is a vain goal. See, we try to do things outwardly to show people that we're good people, that we're Christians, that we're saved.
[11:18] I got saved the other day and that's why I'm wearing this gold chain with a cross on it. So, you know that I'm a Christian. No. I got saved and you know what, I want people to know that so I'm going to get a tattoo that says I've got a cross on it and stuff.
[11:34] And think, no. How do people know you're a Christian? They know it because you have a changed life. See, it's not I continue living the same life and add Jesus to it.
[11:49] It's I have been changed by Jesus Christ. He has made a difference in my life. So, I can't go around and say, look at me, look at what I did, look at the things I've done that made me a Christian.
[12:06] No. 1 Corinthians 131, that according as it is written, he that glorieth let him glory in the Lord.
[12:17] Because Jesus came into my life, Jesus has changed me, I have been saved and I am a different person. 2 Corinthians 10, 17 and 18, but he that glorieth let him glory in the Lord.
[12:31] For not he that commendeth himself is approved by whom the Lord commended. He says, you don't get to commend yourself, you don't say, look at what I did, look at the things, look at this, look at that, look at the other thing.
[12:44] He says, no, no, no, no. It's what Jesus did. And when Jesus comes into life, he's going to change it. It's going to be different. He says, look, if you're going to glory, glory in the Lord.
[12:58] Here's the reason for our praise. Here's the reason for our praise. Why do we praise the way we do? Look at verse 14. 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.
[13:15] Look at the first part again. But God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. We glory in the cross.
[13:27] When Jesus Christ went to that cross, it made all the difference in the world. When Jesus Christ went to that cross, what did he do? He took all of our sin on him.
[13:40] He took the sin of the whole world on himself that day. He had the weight of all the world's sin on his shoulders as he went to that cross.
[13:52] We honor glory, glory in the cross and what Jesus Christ did there and how he changed all of our futures. How he changed the way that we can come to God.
[14:05] He changed it all. We just have to come through him. We have victory in the cross. We have victory in the cross.
[14:16] What do I mean by that? When you think of the cross, you usually think death, torture, all of those kinds of things, right? You think cross, the cross has become a symbol of victory.
[14:30] We all know John 3, 16, for God so loved the world. The two verses before that, John 3, 14 and 15, and as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
[14:53] He says the Son of Man needs to be lifted up. The Son of Man needs to go up on that cross. The Son of Man needs to go up there and take the sins of the world so that we can look and see him, so we can look and understand what he did, so we can look and have that forgiveness of sins when we trust in him.
[15:12] He says, as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, for those of you who don't know the story, there was a time when children of Israel were leaving Egypt and going to the promised land, and they were in a situation where they had all kinds of snakes show up.
[15:28] And Moses made a brass serpent on a pole and lifted it up because God told him to and lifted it up and said, if you get bit by the snake, look to that brass serpent on the pole and you'll be healed.
[15:44] Now, was there any real power in that brass serpent on the pole? No. But the faith of doing what God told them to do healed them.
[15:59] Jesus says here, and as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up. Jesus had to be lifted up. Why? That whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have eternal life.
[16:14] He says, you look to the cross. You look at what I did there. You look at the payment that was paid for your sin. You look and you believe that that payment paid for your sin and you can have eternal life.
[16:30] John 8, 28. Then said Jesus unto them, when ye have lifted up the Son of Man, then shall ye know that I am He and that I do nothing of myself but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.
[16:44] He says, when the Son of Man has been lifted up, you'll understand. When the disciples, Jesus told them again and again and again what things that were going to happen, they didn't get it.
[16:56] When Jesus went up on that cross, they got it. Especially when they saw Him the third day afterwards. They got it.
[17:07] they understood. They understood. Jesus was crucified in the past so the demands of God could be met.
[17:18] God's holiness could be met by the shedding of His blood. the cross is a reminder to us of the payment that was made.
[17:31] But the cross is also an instrument of separation. An instrument of separation. Look at verse 14 again. 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.
[17:53] He says when I go up on that cross He says the world is crucified unto me and I unto the world. The claim of salvation says look there has to be a separation between us and the world.
[18:08] We're different. It is not me living in the world adding Jesus to it. It is me giving myself to Jesus Christ wholeheartedly.
[18:21] I believe Jesus Christ paid the debt. I believe Jesus Christ gave His life for me. I believe that Jesus Christ by doing that made a way for me to have eternal life in heaven with Him.
[18:37] Spurgeon said there are no crown wearers in heaven who were not cross bearers here below. if you're going to wear a crown in heaven you have to understand the importance of the cross here below.
[18:56] Believers crucified with Christ not only for salvation but also for the present. That crucifixion helped us today. By Jesus going to that cross it helps us to know that we can live without sin.
[19:09] we can have sin forgiven even today. Galatians we've looked at before Galatians 2 20 I am crucified with Christ nevertheless I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me in the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.
[19:33] I don't know Greek all that well I'm assuming most of you don't either but in that sentence when he says I am crucified it's called a perfect tense in the Greek and in the perfect tense in the Greek it means that something that has already happened in the past still applies today.
[19:55] Something that happened in the past is still effective today. When Jesus Christ gave his life on that cross he took our sins and paid for it it still works today.
[20:06] Do you still sin today? That cross still pays for the sin that you did today. Jesus Christ gave us everything we need for salvation.
[20:20] We don't need to do anything else except trust him. Third thing what's the result of that salvation? Well first thing we learn look at verse 15 for in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything nor uncircumcision but a new creature.
[20:40] He says look salvation is not evidenced by some mandated work. You have to be saved plus being baptized. You have to be saved plus speaking in times. Yes no this is no added works going with this.
[20:56] Whether you're circumcised or not does not matter. that word availeth to be strong to have power to be a force in Jesus Christ nothing else is a force towards salvation only Jesus himself following the law living without the law if I follow the law you have an advantage.
[21:31] No you don't. Well if I don't follow the law then I'm at a disadvantage. No you're not. Jesus Christ did it all. See the sinner is born again by Jesus Christ nothing else.
[21:49] The Judaizers were teaching otherwise. They were teaching oh no you need to do this you need to the other thing. No. Their message was one of legalism. We hear that word a lot about today oh that's legalistic that's legalism.
[22:03] Strictly defined legalism is adding a work to salvation. That's legalism. Adding a work to salvation. Trying to mix our human works with God's grace.
[22:17] That doesn't work. We become legalistic when we think we have to perform in some way to do something that has salvation attached to it.
[22:30] Jesus warned about this. He talked to the disciples and he talked to others about man-made rules.
[22:42] I'm just going to give you the reference because it's a long passage. But Matthew chapter 15 verses 1 through 8. then came Jesus to Jesus scribes and Pharisees which were of Jerusalem saying why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders?
[23:00] Oh the tradition of the elders. You had to do that in order to be saved. You had to keep those traditions and things. Why do they transgress the tradition of the elders?
[23:11] Can you imagine? They didn't wash their hands before they eat bread.
[23:22] I know we teach little kids wash your hands before you eat. But sometimes the disciples were on the road. They were walking with Jesus and they got hungry.
[23:34] Take some bread. Break it off. Chew on it while you're walking down the road. Why do they eat without washing their hands? But he answered and said unto them why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?
[23:53] For God commanded saying honor thy father and thy mother and he that curseth father or mother let him die. But he say whosoever shall say to his father or mother it is a gift by whatsoever ye might be profited by me and honor not father and mother he shall be free thus shall ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.
[24:21] What does all that mean? They had added a law and in that law they added the fact that look if a child refuses to take care of their parents you know even today take care of your parents especially as they get older I've told you my mother is 89 years old I talk to her every day of the week except Wednesday because I'm here on Wednesday and I get home late and every day of the week I talk to my mother sometime during the day I honor her by doing that I help her by doing that he says honor your parents but he said you got people here are they say you know what I don't have to take care of my parents I don't have to bring them into my home I don't have to help them financially why because everything I have belongs to God doesn't that sound spiritual everything
[25:24] I have belongs to God so I cannot help my parents because it all belongs to God okay they say that's fine okay we understand that only one problem!
[25:38] they could say you know I lent it to God for a time but now I need it back and so I can take it back and they found a way around honoring your mother and your father and Jesus says okay how can you do this but you are worried about my disciples whether they washed their hands or not he goes on ye hypocrites well did Isaiah prophesy prophesy of you me with their lips but their heart is from far from me he says you can say I do this and I do that and I do this other thing and I done all these things he says yeah but where's your heart is your heart there Matthew 23 4 for they bind heavy burdens!
[26:25] and grievous to be born and they lay them on men's shoulders but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers he says you put all these things on but you're not doing them yourselves he says look salvation is evidenced by a changed life what does the last part of verse 15 say about a new creature you're a new creature you all know the verse 2nd Corinthians 5 17 therefore if any man be in Christ he's a new creature behold all things become new behold all things have passed away behold all things have become new you know it's a warning don't think that you are doing anything special don't think that you are bragging about the outward conformities that you've made don't think that I've done this and I've done that and I've done the other thing he says what they really need to see what God wants to see is a changed life have you brought your life in conformity to
[27:31] God and Jesus Christ are you living according to his word and what he wants one more section of scripture Ephesians 1 6 through 8 notice the words here listen to them glory of his grace.
[27:49] We're going to glory in the cross. We're going to glory in his grace. Wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved, in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace, wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence.
[28:10] Glory in his grace, glory in the riches of his grace, glory in the fact that he's made us accepted in the beloved, that he has redeemed us, that he has forgiven us of our sins. Nothing there about me and what I do.
[28:25] It's all him. It's all him. You know, when Christ went to Calvary, he carried the weight of our sin.
[28:38] He bared it on himself. He took it on his shoulders. He was the perfect sacrifice. And we have forgiveness of sin through him.
[28:50] And we have eternal life through him. Our works can't even come close to comparing to what he did for us.
[29:04] Do we really think that a perfect God who did a perfect work on the cross can be helped by our works? Are we going to make his perfect work any more perfect?
[29:22] No. He did it all. We're not the glory in ourselves. We're not the glory in our works. We're the glory in the cross.
[29:33] If you're here this morning and you've never asked the Lord Jesus Christ to be your savior, can I point out to you, Jesus did everything you need to be saved for all eternity.
[29:47] All you have to do is trust what he did. You don't have to do any work. You don't have to do any changing of yourself. You don't have to do anything. God will do the changing when he comes in.
[30:00] God will change your heart. God will change your life. God will change your life. Just accept what Jesus did for you on that cross. When Jesus went to that cross, he paid it all.
[30:16] He did it all. He gave everything for you. Page 355. Let's stand. If you're here this morning, you're not saying,