Galatians 6: Living Your Best LifeНамуна

In verse 16 Paul calls down from God a blessing of peace and mercy on all those who hold to this ‘rule’ of the centrality and sufficiency of the cross. All who believe the cross to be the only way of salvation are the true people of God, the true Israel of God.

This is a good way of testing not only our own position, but also the belief of others. Is the cross the most important teaching of your church or group? Is it central in all that they believe? Do they glory in the cross? 

Or do they glory in their denomination, or their worship, or their music, or their wonderful organising ability, or their social events, or their BIG congregation, or their BIG income each week, or their eloquent pastor, or... or... or... ? Test it out. You may find that there are very few today who would stand with Paul. The question is, where are you?

With verse 17, Paul has finished his argument. The matter has been dealt with, and there is nothing more to say. From now on, let the ‘trouble-makers' keep their mouths shut! Paul has suffered for the Gospel, which is more than they have! Just read 2 Corinthians 11:23-28, and you will see what he means by the words ‘I bear in my body the marks of Jesus’.

Earlier I said that believing in the cross, and the cross only, will invite persecution. It will invite suffering. If you don’t want to suffer, then don’t believe in the cross! But if you intend to be ‘Christ’s man’, and if you intend to live Spirit- way, then know of a certainty—you will cop it sooner or later! 

The world will hate you. But unless the cross is a reality to you, you will not survive. You will back off, and you will settle for a half-baked, wishy-washy brand of Christianity that isn’t the real thing. (Read the following: John 15:18-21; 2 Corinthians 4:7-10; Philippians 1:29; 2 Timothy 3:12.)

Finally, in verse 18 Paul pronounces a benediction on his dear friends. The whole of this letter has been about God’s grace, and so he asks that the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ may be upon them all, and that they may know it in the depths of their being.

Why not finish this study by thanking God personally for what He has done in bringing salvation to us through Jesus Christ. Galatians 1:4 says 'Jesus gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father.' 

You might use verse 4 by substituting your own name and praying: ‘... who gave Himself for my sins to deliver me from the present evil age’. When you pray, address Him as FATHER. You are His son, His daughter. He loves you.