1. The Shadow of the Cross Galatians 6:11-18
We’ve come to the end of the book of Galatians
I’ll say I’ve been blessed by teachings from Renee, Ron and Kevin; and it’s been a blessing for me to be able to participate in the journey and to have the privilege of sharing with you my exploration of the various segments of the book.
Galatians is an interesting book because in one way it’s a book that seeks to assure, comfort and affirm; but it is also a polemic where Paul is in full battle mode.
In defense of himself … His stance as an apostle, of equal standing with the leaders in Jerusalem
And his attack on what appears to be an organized and forceful group of people who have infiltrated the Galatian church with
In the midst of that he addresses some very important theological and ethical issues along the way
The ultimate aim is the establish the gospel as he preached it to them as the central feature of their faith

2. Happy Mother’s Day!

3. Mothers day makes me think of our experience of parenting and what that’s been like at this stage. Just this week we registered Spencer for school and so we’ve been working with him on developing more independence, helping him with reading and writing. And its been great to see him do really well with some of these things. For those of you who’ve been around him you know he likes books and being read to so it’s great to hear him trying to read for himself. I get surprised by it sometimes I just want to read the book and he’ll chime in by reading out a word.
But then every now and then he reminds you he’s still really young and he does something that you thought you’ve gotten past already…. Like one morning recently he wasn’t paying attention and spilled the milk he was drinking on his clothes. He used to do that a lot when he was 2-3 but you don’t want to really see that a few months away from kindergarten.
So as we read this closing section, Paul is in that mode of … ugh… I thought we were past this. He is sort of the parent. In chapter 4 v 19& 20 he says: “My dear children for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, how I wish could be with you you now…”

4. Look at the large letters I’m making with my own handwriting
Look at the large letters I’m making with my own handwriting! Whoever wants to look good by human standards will try to get you to be circumcised, but only so they won’t be harassed for the cross of Christ. Those who are circumcised don’t observe the Law themselves, but they want you to be circumcised, so they can boast about your physical body. But as for me, God forbid that I should boast about anything except for the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. The world has been crucified to me through him, and I have been crucified to the world.

5. Being circumcised or not being circumcised doesn’t mean anything
Being circumcised or not being circumcised doesn’t mean anything. What matters is a new creation.  May peace and mercy be on whoever follows this rule and on God’s Israel.
From now on, no one should bother me because I bear the marks of Jesus on my body.
Brothers and sisters, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen
Galatians 6:11-18 (CEB)

6. The tone of the end similar to beginning
No small talk or personal greetings
He gets back into the fight
Directly addresses the agitators’ as self serving
Reiterates that circumcision and law observance isn’t complete.
This post script to the letter starts out with Paul speaking of his own handwriting. He is likely to have been working with scribe who is dictating the letter to and takes to pen at this moment to complete the writing himself.
There are a whole host of theories as to what this means…. His eyesight, proof of his literacy, But ultimately I think the purpose of this line is to say PAY ATTENTION.
The end of the letter is very similar to the beginning. Unlike his other epistles, there is no small talk here, no personal greeting, now shout outs or big ups. No update as to where he is or what he’s doing.
He gets right back into the fight after a lengthy section covering spiritual life, ethics and the life of the community. He doesn’t want his readers/listeners to lose sight of the purpose of the letter and he wants to drive his points home.
He again accuses the agitators of having self serving goals.
And gets back to what seems to be the major topic at hand. You don’t need to circumcised to belong to God.

7. I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— which is really no gospel at all. Gal 1:6-7 (NIV)
Paul opened up the letter by making a strong stance on the gospel as he taught it. And what they agitators were teaching was a false gospel.
So from the perspective of a parent. I can see why he’s so mad. We’ve been past this. You should know better.
So what is this gospel that Paul taught? We don’t have an explicit statement of here it is!
But throughout he weaves the message of the gospel he taught them and gospel that puts its faith in what Christ has done and not what we can do. One that calls out to be a new people and not just to
To live an ethical life we submit and not strive
One where our identity is embraced and we are fulfilled in Christ and not devalued
So let us look back at how Paul has woven this together throughout:

8. … the gospel I preached isn’t human in origin
… the gospel I preached isn’t human in origin.  I didn’t receive it or learn it from a human. It came through a revelation from Jesus Christ. Gal 1:11-12
 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. Gal 2:20
…if we become righteous through the Law, then Christ died for no purpose. Gal 2:21
You are all God’s children through faith in Christ Jesus.  All of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. Gal 3:26-27

9. You are all God’s children through faith in Christ Jesus
Gal 3:26
I’m going through labor pains again until Christ is formed in you. Gal 4:19
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the self with its passions and its desires. Gal 5:24
 Being circumcised or not being circumcised doesn’t mean anything. What matters is a new creation. Gal 6:15

10. But as for me, God forbid that I should boast about anything except for the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ
I don’t know how many times Paul uses the word circumcision in Galatians….. But it’s a LOT. And he speaks to it again in at the end of the letter.
This time he contrasts the physical act of circumcision to the pain and suffering of the cross. The suffering of Jesus’ complete work but also the suffering he himself and other endured at the time.
Paul plants the cross at the end of this epistle like a flag standing over everything. The shadow of the cross looms over this entire book as it does over history.
The shadow of the cross is what Paul uses to give a new reading and understanding of Abraham, and the law.
It is in The shadow of the cross that we find our deliverance and freedom.
It was with the shadow of the cross cast in front of him that Jesus the