True or False

3 March 2013 AM – Galatians 6:11-18 – Scott Childs

Introduction: Many people in our world today believe in relativism. Relativism is the believe that rejects absolutes, particularly in morals and religion. In other words, there is no right and wrong, no true or false. Everything is a matter of opinion. You can think whatever you want and still be right.

In Maths 2 + 2 = 4. In science, if you drop a stone gravity always causes it to fall not to float. In Horticulture, if you pull out a plant and lay it in the sun, it will die. In health, if you drink deadly poison and do not get help, you will die.

If these facts of life are not relative, how can people say that morals and religion are relative? Relativism is a false idea. Right and wrong, true and false do exist.

Transition: Paul began this book by contrasting true and false beliefs. He now ends the letter in the same manner.

I. True or False Motives Ga 6:10-13

A. Paul’s motives were true.

1. The word translated “letter” is plural. This epistle was not a large letter but the letters he penned were large.

a) Some suspect he wrote with large letters because his eyesight was poor.

b) Others suspect he wrote with large letters for emphasis. Normally small letters were used, but he may have used larger block letters to stress his points.

2. No matter what the reason for the large letters, Paul wrote this letter with is own hand. He did not dictate the letter as he often did, so the words he penned were what he intended to pen.

3. Paul had a personal burden for the churches in Galatia and he wanted them to sense that.

B. Motives of false teachers were wrong.

1. The false teachers insisted on circumcism. Paul points out two reasons for their demand.

a) It made a fair show in the flesh. In other words it was a religious act in which they could boast and it also pleased the religious Jews. They wanted to make a good appearance.

b) By doing so, they would avoid persecution. We should never change our theology to avoide persecution.

2. This was wrong. Those circumcised did not keep the law. No person can keep the whole law. Remember what James said?

James 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

3. The false teachers demanded circumcism so they could glory in the flesh. They claimed that works of the flesh saved not the blood of Christ alone.

II. True or False Message Ga 6:14-15

A. All glorying ought to be in the cross of Christ.

1. The phrase “God forbid” is a strong negative which literally reads “may it never be”. He is saying, “May it never be that I should glory except in the cross of Christ.” No Christian has any right to glory in any good deed he has done. Isaiah said,

Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

2. Praise God for the cross of Christ.

a) On the cross Jesus became our propitiation – he satisfied all the wrath of God against our sin.

1 John 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

b) On the cross Jesus paid the debt of our sin then raised again for our justification.

Romans 4:25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

c) On the cross Christ purchased our redemption.

Ephesians 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

d) On the cross Jesus he enabled our regeneration, reconciliation, sanctification, and adoption.

1 Corinthians 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

3. If you have trusted Christ, you are richly blessed. Your sins are forgiven. You will never go to hell. You have eternal life and a home in heaven. You can talke to God in prayer. You can live victoriously over sin. You can enjoy the peace of God that passes understanding.

4. The hymn writer expressed it well when he wrote, Jesus paid it all, All to Him I owe; Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow. ^{Elvina M. Hall}

Whenever you are tempted to think you are doing a great job for God and that he really got a gem when he saved you, remember this verse. Galatians 6:14

5. With Paul, we ought to say, because of Christ the world is now dead to me. It has no appeal to me. And I am dead to the world. The world rejects my faith. I am no longer one of them. Remember, life is not about us. It is about Christ. It is not about what people think. It is about pleasing God.

B. True salvation is inward not outward.

1. Circumcism is only outward. It does nothing for the heart. Like any religious deed, whether baptism, catechism, confirmation, communion, church membership, or keeping the commandments, outward acts do nothing to change the heart.

2. Salvation is all about becoming a new creature in Christ. Only Christ can cleanse the heart and make a person new from the inside out.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

III. True or False Messenger Ga 6:16-18

A. Paul bore the marks of persecution for Christ (17)

1. It was in the regions of Galatia that Paul was stoned at Lystra. Many of the local people saw his wounds and scars.

2. His willingness to suffer for Christ supported his credibility. He was willing to die for the truth he preached. False teachers avoided persecution by pleasing the religious crowd.

3. In this letter he presented a clear and inspired case for salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone. For this he had endured persecution. Because of this, he asked that from now on no one trouble him.

B. Paul blessed those who were new creatures in Christ (16, 18)

1. All who rejected outward religion and became new creatures through the blood of Christ; on them Paul wish both God’s peace and mercy.

2. He also wished on them the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Conclusion: Why do you believe what you believe? Is it because you learned it from your parents, or in a catechism class, or just picked it up along the way? Do you have clear Bible support for what you believe? Religion is often wrong. The Bible is always right. If you are trusting in baby baptism or confirmation or good deeds to get you to heaven, you have no Bible verse to support your faith. Baby baptism is never mentioned in the Bible. Confirming that you believe a creed is only mental ascent not the personal repentance and faith required for salvation. Good works can never pay the debt of any sin.

The only thing we can glory in is the cross of Christ. Jesus paid it all, but you must receive his payment.

If you are not sure you have received God’s gift of salvation, will you receive it this morning? If you have received Christ’s gift, take time to thank him for the cross.

Song: Just As I Am – 249 or Glory to His Name – 489

Sermons

True or False – Galatians 6:11-18

I. True or False Motives Ga 6:10-13

A. Paul’s motives were true.

1. The word translated “letter” is plural. This epistle was not a large letter but the letters he penned were large.

a) Some suspect he wrote with large letters because his eyesight was poor.

b) Others suspect he wrote with large letters for emphasis. Normally small letters were used, but he may have used larger block letters to stress his points.

2. No matter what the reason for the large letters, Paul wrote this letter with is own hand. He did not dictate the letter as he often did, so the words he penned were what he intended to pen.

3. Paul had a personal burden for the churches in Galatia and he wanted them to sense that.

B. Motives of false teachers were wrong.

1. The false teachers insisted on circumcism. Paul points out two reasons for their demand.

a) It made a fair show in the flesh. In other words it was a religious act in which they could boast and it also pleased the religious Jews. They wanted to make a good appearance.

b) By doing so, they would avoid persecution. We should never change our theology to avoide persecution.

2. This was wrong. Those circumcised did not keep the law. No person can keep the whole law. Remember what James said?

3. The false teachers demanded circumcism so they could glory in the flesh. They claimed that works of the flesh saved not the blood of Christ alone.

II. True or False Message Ga 6:14-15

A. All glorying ought to be in the cross of Christ.

1. The phrase “God forbid” is a strong negative which literally reads “may it never be”. He is saying, “May it never be that I should glory except in the cross of Christ.” No Christian has any right to glory in any good deed he has done. Isaiah said,

2. Praise God for the cross of Christ.

a) On the cross Jesus became our propitiation – he satisfied all the wrath of God against our sin.

b) On the cross Jesus paid the debt of our sin then raised again for our justification.

c) On the cross Christ purchased our redemption.

d) On the cross Jesus he enabled our regeneration, reconciliation, sanctification, and adoption.

3. If you have trusted Christ, you are richly blessed. Your sins are forgiven. You will never go to hell. You have eternal life and a home in heaven. You can talke to God in prayer. You can live victoriously over sin. You can enjoy the peace of God that passes understanding.

4. The hymn writer expressed it well when he wrote, Jesus paid it all, All to Him I owe; Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow. ^{Elvina M. Hall}

5. With Paul, we ought to say, because of Christ the world is now dead to me. It has no appeal to me. And I am dead to the world. The world rejects my faith. I am no longer one of them. Remember, life is not about us. It is about Christ. It is not about what people think. It is about pleasing God.

B. True salvation is inward not outward.

1. Circumcism is only outward. It does nothing for the heart. Like any religious deed, whether baptism, catechism, confirmation, communion, church membership, or keeping the commandments, outward acts do nothing to change the heart.

2. Salvation is all about becoming a new creature in Christ. Only Christ can cleanse the heart and make a person new from the inside out.

III. True or False Messenger Ga 6:16-18

A. Paul bore the marks of persecution for Christ (17)

1. It was in the regions of Galatia that Paul was stoned at Lystra. Many of the local people saw his wounds and scars.

2. His willingness to suffer for Christ supported his credibility. He was willing to die for the truth he preached. False teachers avoided persecution by pleasing the religious crowd.

3. In this letter he presented a clear and inspired case for salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone. For this he had endured persecution. Because of this, he asked that from now on no one trouble him.

B. Paul blessed those who were new creatures in Christ (16, 18)

1. All who rejected outward religion and became new creatures through the blood of Christ; on them Paul wish both God’s peace and mercy.

2. He also wished on them the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I. True or False Motives Ga 6:10-13

A. Paul’s motives were true.

1. The word translated “letter” is plural. This epistle was not a large letter but the letters he penned were large.

a) Some suspect he wrote with large letters because his eyesight was poor.

b) Others suspect he wrote with large letters for emphasis. Normally small letters were used, but he may have used larger block letters to stress his points.

2. No matter what the reason for the large letters, Paul wrote this letter with is own hand. He did not dictate the letter as he often did, so the words he penned were what he intended to pen.

3. Paul had a personal burden for the churches in Galatia and he wanted them to sense that.

B. Motives of false teachers were wrong.

1. The false teachers insisted on circumcism. Paul points out two reasons for their demand.

a) It made a fair show in the flesh. In other words it was a religious act in which they could boast and it also pleased the religious Jews. They wanted to make a good appearance.

b) By doing so, they would avoid persecution. We should never change our theology to avoide persecution.

2. This was wrong. Those circumcised did not keep the law. No person can keep the whole law. Remember what James said?

3. The false teachers demanded circumcism so they could glory in the flesh. They claimed that works of the flesh saved not the blood of Christ alone.

II. True or False Message Ga 6:14-15

A. All glorying ought to be in the cross of Christ.

1. The phrase “God forbid” is a strong negative which literally reads “may it never be”. He is saying, “May it never be that I should glory except in the cross of Christ.” No Christian has any right to glory in any good deed he has done. Isaiah said,

2. Praise God for the cross of Christ.

a) On the cross Jesus became our propitiation – he satisfied all the wrath of God against our sin.

b) On the cross Jesus paid the debt of our sin then raised again for our justification.

c) On the cross Christ purchased our redemption.

d) On the cross Jesus he enabled our regeneration, reconciliation, sanctification, and adoption.

3. If you have trusted Christ, you are richly blessed. Your sins are forgiven. You will never go to hell. You have eternal life and a home in heaven. You can talke to God in prayer. You can live victoriously over sin. You can enjoy the peace of God that passes understanding.

4. The hymn writer expressed it well when he wrote, Jesus paid it all, All to Him I owe; Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow. Elvina M. Hall

5. With Paul, we ought to say, because of Christ the world is now dead to me. It has no appeal to me. And I am dead to the world. The world rejects my faith. I am no longer one of them. Remember, life is not about us. It is about Christ. It is not about what people think. It is about pleasing God.

B. True salvation is inward not outward.

1. Circumcism is only outward. It does nothing for the heart. Like any religious deed, whether baptism, catechism, confirmation, communion, church membership, or keeping the commandments, outward acts do nothing to change the heart.

2. Salvation is all about becoming a new creature in Christ. Only Christ can cleanse the heart and make a person new from the inside out.

III. True or False Messenger Ga 6:16-18

A. Paul bore the marks of persecution for Christ (17)

1. It was in the regions of Galatia that Paul was stoned at Lystra. Many of the local people saw his wounds and scars.

2. His willingness to suffer for Christ supported his credibility. He was willing to die for the truth he preached. False teachers avoided persecution by pleasing the religious crowd.

3. In this letter he presented a clear and inspired case for salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone. For this he had endured persecution. Because of this, he asked that from now on no one trouble him.

B. Paul blessed those who were new creatures in Christ (16, 18)

1. All who rejected outward religion and became new creatures through the blood of Christ; on them Paul wish both God’s peace and mercy.

2. He also wished on them the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

4. The hymn writer expressed it well when he wrote, Jesus paid it all, All to Him I owe; Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow. ^{Elvina M. Hall}