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Thursday, May 30, 2013

Marks of Jesus


Galatians 6:1-18 NIV

Doing Good to All

1Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. 4Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, 5for each one should carry their own load. 6Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.

7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 

9Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.


Not Circumcision but the New Creation

11 See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand!

12Those who want to impress people by means of the flesh are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13Not even those who are circumcised keep the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your circumcision in the flesh. 14May I never boast except in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whicha the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 

15 Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation. 

16 Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule—tob the Israel of God.

17From now on, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.

18The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.





This chapter is composed entirely of affectionate exhortation, and the expression of the apostle's earnest concern on behalf of the Christians in Galatia. He exhorts them Galatians 6:1 to bring back to the ways of virtue anyone who through the strength of strong temptation had been led astray. He entreats them Galatians 6:2 to bear one another's burdens, and thus to show that they were true friends of Christ, and governed by his laws. He entreats them not to be lifted up with pride, and not to overestimate anything that they possessed, assuring them that their true estimate was to be based on their own works; Galatians 6:3-5. He exhorts them to minister to the needs of the preachers of the gospel; Galatians 6:6. In Galatians 6:7-10, he reminds them of the solemn day of judgment, when all will be tried; assures them that people will be judged and rewarded according to their works; and entreats them not to be weary in doing good, but to labor on patiently with the assurance that they should reap in due season.

In Galatians 6:11, he shows them the interest which he felt in them by his having done what perhaps he had never done in any other instance - writing an entire letter in his own hand. He then states the true reason why others wished them to be circumcised. It was the dread of persecution, and not any real love to the cause of religion. They did not themselves keep the Law, and they only desired to glory in the number of converts to their views; Galatians 6:12-13.

But Paul says that he would glory in nothing but in the Cross of Christ. By that he had been crucified to the world, and the world had been crucified to him Galatians 6:14; and he repeats the solemn assurance that in the Christian religion neither circumcision nor uncircumcision was of any importance whatsoever; Galatians 6:15.


This was the true rule of life, and on as many as walked according to this principle, he invokes the blessing of God; Galatians 6:16. He closes the Epistle by entreating them to give him no more trouble. He bore in his body already the marks or sufferings which he had received in the cause of the Lord Jesus. His trials already were sufficient; and he entreats them to spare him from future agony Galatians 6:17, and closes with the benediction; Galatians 6:18.

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