Truths to Live By

In Galatians 6:11-18, Paul closes the letter to the Galatian believers with four final truths that are important for us as followers of Jesus.

In verse 11, Paul uses large letters in writing himself to these believers.

Galatians 6:12

Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ.

First, don’t try to live to please others so you can avoid persecution.

We live in a fallen world and Jesus tells us in John 16:33 that we will have troubles, but that He has overcome the world. Jesus also tells us in Matthew 5 that those who are persecuted will be blessed.

We don’t glorify or honor God by trying to please others or by trying to blend in with the culture. No one likes persecution, but if the choice is between persecution or denying Jesus, we need to be willing to endure persecution.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is being willing to face anything so that we might honor Jesus.

Galatians 6:13

Not even those who are circumcised obey the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your flesh.

Second, following rituals and traditions doesn’t honor God.

Paul says that even those who are circumcised don’t follow the law. The law was more than circumcision, and those who were insisting that these believers be circumcised were not following the whole law. In the book of James, we are told that if we break just part of the law, we are law breakers.

The grace of Jesus, not the law, brings you into relationship with the Father.

The grace of Jesus brings life and the law brings death.

The grace of Jesus restores and redeems and the law only tells us we are wrong.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is depending on grace for everything.

Galatians 6:14

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.

Third, we only boast in the cross of Jesus.

We are not to boast in:

Our accomplishments

Our wealth

Our ability

Our intelligence

Our anything

We boast in what Jesus did for us on the cross.

It is in the cross that two things have occurred:

The world has been crucified to us

We have been crucified to the world

Crucifixion means death. People did not survive being crucified.

So, another way of expressing what Paul is saying is that the world is dead to us and we are dead to the world.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is seeing the things of the world as having no value to us.

Galatians 6:15

Neither circumcision not uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation.

Fourth, it is about Jesus making you into a new creation.  

In 2 Corinthians 5:17 we are told that anyone who is in Jesus is a new creation, the old is gone and the new has come.

The true test of being a follower of Jesus is not outward, surface things. The test is if we have been transformed by God’s Spirit. Following Jesus means that we have been forgiven of our sin and made into a new creation.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is being transformed into a new creation in Jesus.

Galatians 6:16-18

Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule, even to the Israel of God. Finally, 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. Amen.

Paul desires these Galatian believers to experience the grace and peace of Jesus.

Experiencing the grace of Jesus always leads to experiencing the peace of Jesus. If we don’t experience the peace of Jesus, then we will not have hope. If we don’t have hope, we will give up and we miss the blessings Jesus wants us to experience.

Following Jesus by Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls,

                                         Joe