Marks of Jesus

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

Those 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.  Not 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. May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation. Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule—to the Israel of God.

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

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen. Galatians 6:11-18

“large letters,” probably because of poor vision. His poor vision didn’t prevent Paul from learning, teaching and writing about the gospel of Christ and the Christian way of life. Many of his epistles were dictated to an assistant, as we saw in Romans, and Paul would add a signature greeting to authorize the work.

Paul would not close this epistle without recapping his very serious admonition to the Galatians against the legalism of the Judaizers. He says they do this for show, to avoid persecution themselves, and to boast about having influenced the Gentiles to be circumcised (against the teaching of Paul). Paul says, OK, so they are circumcised and brag about it, claiming points for a bodily scar, but they themselves do not keep the law. It is a power grab, plain and simple, by a people who have always used religion to control others. In this case, they are calling it Christianity, but teaching religion. False doctrine. Wolves dressed as sheep.

Paul had nothing to boast about except the cross of Jesus, through which the world lost all meaning to him. Physical marks don’t count as spiritual production. Through the cross, believers in Christ become a new creation. We are a new species in the earth, and for all eternity. Not Jews, not Gentiles. Church. Children of God. “The Israel of God” are those who were Jews by nationality and became Christians, the spiritual seed of Abraham. They are those who understand that they are new species, and are enjoying the peace and mercy of God.

Paul was dismissive of those who would trouble him about physical marks. He certainly had marks, other than his circumcision. His marks were from torture he had received from Jewish persecution—just as did Jesus Christ Himself, before Paul. “Brand marks,” he called them, of the Lord Jesus.

“Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones…” 2 Corinthians 11:24-25

Note: the same religious Jews who persecuted and crucified Jesus also persecuted Paul, because of Jesus. Paul was in the unique position of having been as they were: a religious Jew who persecuted the Church, and was now and forever Church; himself being persecuted because of the grace he adamantly taught.

He signed off the epistle with God’s grace to his Galatian brethren .

The following is borrowed from J. Vernon McGee’s comments on Galatians:

1. It is a stern, severe, and solemn message (Galatians 1:6-9; 3:1-5). It does not correct conduct, as the Corinthian letters do, but it is corrective — the Galatian believers were in grave peril. Because the foundations were being attacked, everything was threatened. The epistle contains no word of commendation, praise, or thanksgiving.

There is no request for prayer, and there is no mention of their standing in Christ. No one with him is mentioned by name (Galatians1:2). Compare this with the other epistles of Paul.

2. The heart of Paul the apostle is laid bare, there is deep emotion and strong feeling. This is his fighting epistle — he has on his war paint. He has no toleration for legalism. Someone has said that Romans comes from the head of Paul while Galatians comes from the heart of Paul. “Galatians takes up controversially what Romans puts systematically.”

3. It is the declaration of emancipation from legalism of any type. This was Martin Luther’s favorite epistle, and it was on the masthead of the Reformation. It has been called the Magna Charta of the early church, the manifesto of Christian liberty, the impregnable citadel, and a veritable Gibraltar against any attack on the heart of the gospel. “Immortal victory is set upon its brow.”

4. It is the strongest declaration and defense of the doctrine of justification by faith in or out of Scripture. It is God’s polemic on behalf of the most vital truth of the Christian faith against any attack.

Not only is a sinner saved by grace through faith, but the saved sinner lives by grace. Grace is a way to life and a way of life.