1. The Marks of Freedom
Galatians 6: 11-18
Chapter 12

2. “Look at the large letters I write with my own hands”
“The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you” (II Thess 5:28, II Thess 3:17-18)
“Look at the large letters I write with my own hands”
Reason for large font; to show the contrast between legalists and Spirit-led believers
Eye problem? Paul’s thorn in the flesh
(II Cor 12: 7-10)
4th contrast: Living for the praise of men or the glory of God
Dealing with motives – the why even though we know what we are doing

3. Marked men The Legalist They are braggarts (12a, 13b)
Main purpose: to win more converts so they can brag rather than winning them to Christ or helping the believers to grow
They are compromisers (12b)
They preached and practiced circumcision to escape persecution by legalists for the identification with the cross and its effect on the law
Legalists emphasized circumcision rather than crucifixion
Popular religion for it avoided the shame of the cross
They are persuaders (12a)
“Constrain”

4. Jesus Christ They are hypocrites (13) Marked man due to wounds
Paul was an ambassador, not politician
2:14 to compel or force
Sales talk
Paul in sincerity and truth; no oratorical trick
They are hypocrites (13)
They submit to the law, but they themselves do not obey the laws like Pharisees
“They say and do not” Matt 23:3
Jesus Christ
Marked man due to wounds
Judaizers boasted in circumcision, but Paul boasted in the cross and a crucified & risen Savior.
He knew the Person of the cross
Jesus Christ – 45 times in book of Galatians; 1/3

5. He knew the power of the cross
Cursed cross means weakness & shame
Saul experienced the power of the cross and became the apostle Paul
Cross mean liberty from self (2:20), flesh (5:24), & the world (6:14)
Christ lives in and through us
No power in the law over self, flesh, & world
Law appeals to the human ego & encourage the flesh to work
The world approves religion apart from the gospel
He knew the purpose of the cross
Main purpose: New people of God & new creation (6:15)
Doctrines of two Adams: Adam & Christ (Rom 5:12-21; I Cor 15: 45)
Another purpose: new nation of God (v16)

6. Apostle Paul (6:17-18) Marked man
Family of God: “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation” I Peter 2: 9
Church is the family of God
Believers: Abraham’s seed by faith in Jesus Christ (Gal 4:28-29)
Circumcision of heart more effective than physical circumcision (Rom 2:29; Phil 3:3;Col 2:11)
Apostle Paul (6:17-18)
Marked man
He gloried in scars & sufferings he endured in serving Jesus Christ
Paul not claiming that he bore the wounds, but affirming he had suffered that legalists didn’t & had scars to prove it
He suffered repeatedly to become a marked man for Christ permanently

7. Sin brands a person: his mind, personality, & his body
“Fellowship of his (Christ’s) sufferings” Phil 3:10
Paul closed the letter “the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ”, not the law of Moses