V. Conclusion: Only the Cross (Galatians 6:11-18)

V. Conclusion: Only the Cross (6:11-18)

6:11 Paul mentions his own handwriting here. It’s possible that he may have used an amanuensis, a secretary, to write his letter (see Rom 16:22), before taking up the pen himself to write these final words. Regardless, Paul calls attention to the large letters he uses here to add emphasis to his argument as he concludes. Sometimes we use bold type, italics, or all capital letters for emphasis. This was the apostle’s way of saying, “Don’t miss what I’m telling you!”

6:12-13 Paul has argued strongly throughout the letter that the law cannot be added to the gospel. To do so results in “a different gospel” (1:6), which is really no gospel at all. The message of the Judaizers was false. Yet not only was their message corrupt, their motives were corrupt too. Paul already said that they wanted the Galatians to honor them (4:17). Now he adds that they pushed circumcision to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ (6:12). They were unwilling to accept the “stumbling block” of the cross (1 Cor 1:23). They knew it would lead to persecution from fellow Jews, so they adopted a false gospel instead. The Judaizers were also motivated by a desire to boast about the Galatians—that is, to boast in the fact that they had convinced them to become circumcised (Gal 6:13). Thus returning them to life under the law and removing them from life under grace.

6:14 Whatever the Judaizers boasted in, Paul wants everyone to know that he will never boast about anything except the cross. The atoning work of Jesus Christ is the only thing the apostle will brag about. Why? Because through the cross, the world has been crucified to Paul. The “world” is part of the “present evil age” from which Christ rescues us (1:4). Because of Jesus’s work on our behalf, the world no longer dictated how Paul lived his life; nor should it dictate to you. Paul also notes that he has been crucified to the world. He has been “crucified with Christ” so that he is united to and fully identified with the Son of God who loves him (2:19-20). Our lives should identify more with our Savior than with the world that is opposed to him. When the cross becomes our claim to fame, we will find ourselves fulfilling the law by the Spirit and not attempting to do so by the works of the flesh.

6:15-16 Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything (6:15). Christianity is not about a set of rules (i.e., legalism) but about a growing dynamic relationship with the living God. As Paul said earlier, “There is no Jew or Greek” (3:28)—not that these distinctions don’t exist but that they don’t matter before God. Being made a new creation is what matters (6:15). “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation” (2 Cor 5:17). Your relationship with Christ is the most important thing about you. Those who recognize this and live according to this standard will experience God’s peace and mercy (6:16) because they will be focusing on that which gets God’s greatest attention.

6:17-18 Before Paul concludes with a blessing of grace (6:18), the theme of this letter, he offers a stern warning: let no one (especially the Judaizers!) cause me trouble, because I bear on my body the marks of Jesus (6:17). These “marks of Jesus” are probably visible wounds and scars that Paul carried with him as a result of his gospel ministry (see Acts 14:19; 16:22-23; 2 Cor 6:4-5; 11:23-25). Though the Judaizers preached a false gospel to avoid persecution (6:12), Paul embraced persecution for the sake of the true gospel.