1. Final Closing: Galatians 6:11-18 Peter Fitch, St. Croix Vineyard Sunday, May 26, 2013

2. Galatians 6:11-18 11 See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. 12 Those who desire to make a good showing in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised, simply so that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 For those who are circumcised do not even keep the Law themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh.

3. Galatians 6:11-18 14 But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.

4. Galatians 6:11-18 16 And those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. 17 From now on let no one cause trouble for me, for I bear on my body the brand-marks of Jesus. 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.

5. Question #1 See v. 13—what does it mean? Very much like something Paul said to Peter in Gal. 2—“If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?”

6. Question #2 See v. 15—what does it mean? New creation could be the idea from 2 Cor. 5:17: “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”

7. Question #2 But, it could also be speaking cosmically as Paul does in Romans 5:18: “So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men.” And Pope Francis’ recent comments go in this direction...

8. Question #3 See v. 16—who is the Israel of God? – The Church – Or is it Jewish believers – Or is it Jewish believers plus Gentiles who follow Jewish laws – Or is it everyone who wants to believe in Jesus no matter where they are coming from or how they live

9. Big Ideas Paul has been given a special mission from God to non-Jewish peoples The Galatians should listen to him in the midst of the current controversy about how Jews and Gentiles mix He is approved by the apostles but independent of them at the same time

10. Big Ideas When he was a pastor at Antioch he faced this issue with Peter (who got it wrong) We don’t get welcomed into God’s Presence because we are good enough or live in a certain way; rather we believe that He loves us and wants to help This is how we grow, too

11. Big Ideas The Law has some good purposes, but it doesn’t save us; rather it shows us what right and wrong are, keeps us from falling too far into wrong, and prepares us for a relationship with God based on faith Some people think that Paul is dispensing with law and that he will ruin the world with this teaching; Paul disagrees because real growth comes as a gift of the Holy Spirit

12. Big Ideas In the final analysis, all we need is Love (and the faith to accept it and let it grow its fruit in our lives) We need to all get along... (even if we have radically different ideas about the right and wrong way to live)