Living in the Grace of God: What Matters Most

May 3, 2015

Living in the Grace of God

What Matters Most

Galatians 6:11-18

(Advance Slide #1)

Introduction

“Not everything that counts can be counted. Not everything that can be counted counts.” - unknown

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What is most important to you?

Before you answer be sure you hear these words, “What is the most important in your life?”

• The number one, supreme position, nothing else tops it...what is that?
• Is it your family, your job, your retirement account, your political party…

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• The cross of Christ?

Paul begins the text this morning with these words:

• “See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hands.”

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• DON’T MISS THIS!
• What I’m about to say to is important.
• Everything else has been important...now I’m going to drive this home!
• You won’t be able to miss it!

Paul brings this powerful letter to a close with focusing on what matters most to him.

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• He lives in it, loves it, revels in it, boast in it, proclaims it!

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Text

15 For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. 16 And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. Galatians 6:15-16

Paul declares his perspective on nationalism.

• Once again, neither belonging to the Jewish nation nor being a Gentile mattered.
• What mattered was that God had formed a new people, the church, and that this new people was an entirely “new creation.”

(Advance Slide #7)

• This new creation includes both Jews and Gentiles, slaves and free people, males and females.
• The new creation comes through:

1. Faith in the crucified Christ (2:15–21)
2. Accompanied by the fruits of the Spirit (5:16–26)
3. Ends the curse of the law (3:13, 19–25) as well as the life in the flesh (5:19–21).

As Paul had cursed those who preached a different gospel at the beginning of his letter.

(Advance Slide #8)

• Now he blesses with peace those who embrace this view: “peace and mercy to all who follow this rule.”
• What “rule”? What “standard of measurement”?
• The rule of a sovereign God.
• The standard of His grace.
• The ones who consider a person in light of Christ and his cross are the “Israel of God.”

Lesson

As Paul brings this letter to a close with his own hands he restates the central focus of this letter:

• He even uses his own hand to write about this…

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• The cross of Christ!

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One Reason to be Ashamed - vs. 12-13

If you remember the false teacher were called ‘Judaizers.’

• They believed that the Galatian believers also needed to keep external requirements of the law to have salvation.
• The work of Christ on the cross was not sufficient.
• The reality was that it was sufficient...more than circumcision, diet or dress code.

They were doing these things to build up their own pride.

• They were actually doing these things to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ.

The cross was a real problem...the cross was embarrassing.

• It was not the religious symbol we consider it to be today.
• They would not have worn it on necklaces or t-shirts.
• It was actually an instrument of torture and execution!

“The figure of the Crucified invalidates all thought which takes success for its standard” - D. Bonhoeffer

(Advance Slide #11)

One Reason to Boast - vs. 14

Paul now does another contrast.

• This time it is the boasting of the work of the Judaizers in their work...’work of the flesh.’
• With his only reason to boast...the ‘cross of Christ.’

In Philippians Paul shares how he could boast of his heritage.

• He could have boasted about his ministry.
• He could have boast about his status as an apostle.
• But he only boasted in the cross of Christ!

Paul, as we should, knew that the cross was nothing to be ashamed about.

• It was the power of ‘God for salvation’ - Romans 1:16
• The cross may look like defeat, but it’s really victory...over sin and death!

For Paul he doesn’t just accept this message.

• He lives with it; revels in it; boasts in it; it is the centerpiece in his life!
• It is the place where justice met grace...where his life was transformed.
• The blood stained instrument of torture became precious to him.

(Advance Slide #12)

One Thing that Counts - vs. 15-16

“What does this have to do with the cross?”

• The cross is the source of the transformation that Paul calls, “a new creation.”
• Once again there is a contrast:
• The way of faith vs. the way of the law.
• Paul says, “It doesn’t matter if you’re circumcised or not, what matters most if that you’ve been transformed on the inside.”

The new life that God wishes for us will be marked by a new way of living.

• It will require a cooperation on part in bearing the fruits of grace and the Spirit.
• This transformation is a response to his new creation...not a replacement for it!

Conclusion

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There is one things that really matters most in our life.

• It was one event that has divided the history of the world.
• It was the one sacrifice that truly covered the sin of the world.
• It is the cross of Christ.

This is the cross:

1. That causes those who are concerned about appearance to stumble.
2. Which the redeemed can boast as the only source of salvation.
3. That transforms lives and hearts.

(Advance Slide #14)

The cross of a NEW CREATION!