Grossly Overstated

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March 29, 2009 - Galatians 6:11-18

Open It

  1. What family traditions are very important to you?

  2. How willing are you to try new things?

Explore It

  1. What kind of letters did Paul inscribe? (6:11)

  2. Why did certain people want the Galatians circumcised? (6:12-13)

  3. How did the legalists practice hypocrisy? (6:13)

  4. Who was being hypocritical? How? (6:13)

  5. What did the legalists boast about? (6:13)

  6. What was Paul's only boast? (6:14)

  7. How did Paul and the legalists view the cross of Christ differently? (6:14)

  8. In terms of salvation, how significant were outward religious symbols? (6:14-15)

  9. What was the only thing that mattered? (6:14-15)

  10. What blessing did Paul pronounce on believing Galatians and on believing Jews? (6:16)

  11. What did Paul want ended? (6:17)

  12. How did Paul show that he belonged to Christ? (6:17)

  13. How would you describe the tone of Paul's benediction to the Galatians? (6:18)

Get It

  1. What motivates you to observe certain religious traditions in your church?

  2. How important is it to make a good impression outwardly?

  3. In what ways should we be "crucified" to the world?

  4. How did Paul show his love for the Galatians?

  5. How do other Christians recognize your love for them?

Apply It

  1. What sacrifices are you willing to make for the cross of Christ this week?

  2. How can you show to the world in the coming weeks that you are becoming a new creation?

NOTES

Galatians 6:11: Up to this point, Paul had probably dictated the letter to a scribe. Here he takes the pen into his own hand to write his final, personal greetings. Paul did this in other letters as well, to add emphasis to his words and to validate that the letter was genuine.

Galatians 6:13: Some of the Judaizers were emphasizing circumcision as proof of holiness-but ignoring the other Jewish laws. People often choose a certain principle or prohibition and make it the measure of faith. Some may abhor drunkenness but ignore gluttony. Others may despise promiscuity but tolerate prejudice. The Bible in its entirety is our rule of faith and practice. We cannot pick and choose the mandates we will follow.

Galatians 6:14: The world is full of enticements. Daily we are confronted with subtle cultural pressures and overt propaganda. The only way to escape these destructive influences is to ask God to help crucify our interest in them, just as Paul did. How much do the interests of this world matter to you? (See Galatians 2:20 and Galatians 5:24 for more on this concept.)

Galatians 6:15: It is easy to get caught up with the externals. Beware of those who emphasize actions that we should or shouldn't do, with no concern for the inward condition of the heart. Living a good life without an inward change leads to a shallow or empty spiritual walk. What matters to God is that we be completely changed from the inside out (2 Cor. 5:17).

Galatians 6:18: Paul's letter to the Galatians boldly declares the freedom of the Christian. Doubtless these early Christians in Galatia wanted to grow in the Christian life, but they were being misled by those who said this could be done only by keeping certain Jewish laws.

How strange it would be for a prisoner who had been set free to walk back into his or her cell and refuse to leave! How strange for an animal, released from a trap, to go back inside it! How sad for a believer to be freed from the bondage of sin, only to return to rigid conformity to a set of rules and regulations!

If you believe in Jesus Christ, you have been set free. Instead of going back into some form of slavery, whether to legalism or to sin, use your freedom to live for Christ and serve him as he desires.

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