The Apostle Paul is wrapping up his letter to the Galatians. He most likely used a scribe for most of the letter, but in he adds a personal closing note. We can consider this a personal message from God, through Paul, to us as well.
“See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand” (v. 11).
Returning to the theme throughout this letter—the Judaizers who are trying to make the believers follow the Jewish law—Paul says they have impure motives. We may not have people trying to force circumcision on us, but we have plenty of people who are trying to influence us. Consider all the sources of information you encounter each week: all kinds of media, friends, family, coworkers, church leaders, etc. Can you tell the difference between good influences and bad influences? It may not always be clear, in fact, even Christians may have the wrong motives. Paul gives a few clues we can look for.
Watch Out for Showy Christians
“It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised” (v. 12a ESV).
Are their actions all for show, to look good before others or even before God? We live in a culture that has deified the self. Many try to curate the perfect online persona with just the right pictures and posts. We must use discernment in who we listen to and follow. Don’t listen to showy people.
Watch Out for Hedging Christians
“Only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ” (v. 12b).
Do they avoid persecution for the cross of Christ? Do they try to hold onto Jesus but without any trouble? Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). And yet some Christians don’t want to take a stand for Christ for fear of being persecuted. Exclusivity in regard to salvation will lead to persecution. Those who wish to avoid persecution are likely not to be living in obedience to Christ. Paul said, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Rom. 1:16a).
Watch Out for Selective Christians
“For even those who are circumcised to not themselves keep the law” (v. 13a).
Are they selective in what parts of the law they want to enforce? Those in Galatia were trying to enforce circumcision, but were not following all the rest of the law. Russell Moore in one of his podcasts gave the example of a man who chose to ignore Hebrews 10:25, “not neglecting meeting together,” because he couldn’t find a church that interpreted the Bible literally enough. That’s a selective standard.
Many of us have probably encountered people who say the Bible is all about love and acceptance, so their gospel is reduced to tolerating anything that others may want to believe rather than leading people to the Savior. Christians should be the humblest of people, because we realize that righteousness must be perfect and comprehensive, and because we know we can’t do it. Only in Christ can we receive the righteousness we need to be made right with God.
Watch Out for Manipulative Christians
“They desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh” (v. 13b).
Are they using you? They seek followers and fans, viewers and listeners, users and supporters. Some megachurch pastors have been more interested in attracting great numbers to their churches than in bringing people to saving faith in Christ. They are looking for trophies of converts to their particular brand of faith.
Youth ministry gurus used to say, “Attract the football captain and the head cheerleader and you’ll get everyone else.” But Jesus sought out the weak, the vulnerable, and the nobodies to build His church, because it is about following Him and bringing glory to Him, not the popular people. We should look for those who are servants, not influencers.
Look for Humble Christians
“But far be it from me to boast” (v. 14a).
Do they rarely boast about themselves or draw attention to their accomplishments? Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Cor. 12:9b). Self-forgetful, servant-minded, humble Christians point others to the power and work of Christ.
Look for Cross-Centered Christians
“…except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (v. 14b).
The cross was not originally an attractive emblem made into jewelry. It was an appalling, shameful method of torturing people unto death. But Christ transformed it by going to the cross willingly for the sake of all who would believe in Him. Jesus turned the world’s values upside down.
“For neither circumcision counts for anything, not uncircumcision, but a new creation” (v. 15).
Christians are new creations, with new values and new ethics. Our self-righteous efforts are worthless. “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6a NIV). Followers of Jesus recognize that it’s Jesus who is awesome, not us. All that is good about us is because of Him. We don’t pursue self-promotion but self-abandonment. We don’t create a platform for ourselves but for Jesus and the gospel. As new creations, we live for Him so that His likeness may be seen in us.
Farewell
“And as for all who walk by this rule [as new creations], peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen” (vv. 16-18).
Along with a curious note in verse 17 that may indicate Paul’s exasperation with the Judaizers, he concludes with words of peace, mercy, and grace. These blessings are not available to the self-righteous, but to those who have received the righteousness of Christ. Jesus has accomplished everything that is needed to free us from entanglement to sin and enable us to live as His followers.
Let us seek to follow the true gospel of salvation by faith alone in Christ alone, not creating a list of rules, not relying on our own self-righteousness, but living as new creations filled with the Spirit and growing in faithfulness and fruitfulness by God’s grace and mercy.
