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Outline:

This morning marks the final study in our “Outlaw Church” series through Galatians. And while in most of our studies I’ve attempted to establish a big idea before we approach the text, we’re going to reverse that order. Let’s work through the text and then unpack an idea.

Galatians 6:10, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.”

Admittedly the way this verse is translated would be easy to see Paul as setting up a concluding exhortation based upon all that he’s written; and yet, this is not exactly the case. The verse would be better translated, “As we have therefore opportunity (“due measure”), let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” Paul’s exhortation is for every believer, in proximity to the measure of grace he’s received, to reciprocate that grace “to all” in the form of “doing good” (believer and unbeliever alike).

Paul is once again hammering home the inescapable reality that grace received will manifest in a grace that is demonstrated. Note: “To all” is Paul going out of his way to combat the legalist by making sure we all understand the reciprocation initiated by grace is not limited only to those we perceive to be deserving.

Galatians 6:11, “See with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand!”

There are three ways you can view this particular statement:

First, it may be that Paul is apologizing for the large letters in which this entire letter to the Galatians had been written on account of his poor eyesight.

Secondly, this notation may have been Paul’s way of letting these Galatians know that, while the letter had been largely dictated by an assistant, these final thoughts were being communicated by his own hand (as if Paul is ending his letter with a postscript).

Finally (and I gravitate to this position), the change at this point in font size was designed to add greater emphasis to what he’s about to say. Example: Caps or changing the font to bold… Kind of like saying, “YOU NEED TO HEAR WHAT I’M ABOUT TO SAY!” Pastor Matt Chandler commented as to the importance of this reality when he said, “To think you’re right about eternal matters only to be wrong is a scary thing.”

Galatians 6:12-13, “As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh, these would compel you to be circumcised, only that they may not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. For not even those who are circumcised keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.”

Don’t forget why Paul felt compelled to write this letter in the first place… In his conclusion Paul is wanting to pull back the veal concerning the motivations of these false teachers. How would Paul know the motives of the legalist? He had been a legalist!

In explaining why these false teachers were seeking to “compel the Gentiles to be circumcised” Paul first points out that they “desire to make a good showing in the flesh” so that they might be able to “boast in your flesh.” Because their activities were the way in which they measured Godliness, the number of these Galatians they were able to convince to be circumcised only served to add to their own sense of self-accomplishment. “How many Gentiles can I get circumcised.”

Before you see this as being ridiculous, we see the same warped mentality permeate the church today in our approach to evangelism. Instead of inviting people to church or sharing your faith as a natural manifestation of God’s grace, we so often present both as a duty or worse yet a competition. It’s the gold-sticker, merit-badge mentality.

Read the Rest at: http://www.c316.tv/sermons/183