GALATIANS (39): Boasting in the Cross (Galatians 6:11-15)

Paul generally dictated his letters to a scribe, and then wrote the greeting at the end in his own handwriting, to personalise and authenticate the letter. But in Galatians 6:11-18 he wrote his whole conclusion in his own handwriting, using large letters (v11). He clearly wanted to put great emphasis on these final verses. In them, he contrasts the 2 kinds of religion (the 2 ways of salvation and living) represented by his opponents and himself. On the one hand, the legalists promoted a religion of human accomplishment, emphasising the keeping of externals, focusing on the outward form of godliness, but denying its power, making a good showing in the flesh to gain the praise of man, and to avoid persecution (6:12-13). On the other hand, Paul preached the Gospel of Divine achievement (grace), centred on the Cross of Christ, which is is the power of God unto salvation, able to make us New Creations, and change our hearts with the love and grace of God (6:14-15). These 2 ways oppose each other because legalism encourages self-righteousness, but the Cross declares that everything that a man can produce from himself in his external works and law-keeping is only worthy of judgment, and therefore he cannot save himself, because he continually breaks the law of God in his heart (v13). Therefore, preaching the Cross to the self-righteous often results in persecution, because it bursts their bubble. The true faith is based on the Cross, and true believers embrace and boast in the Cross rather than in themselves and their own achievements (6:14), because they know all their righteousness and salvation comes through the Cross of Christ. We are saved through personally receiving Jesus as our Lord and trusting in His perfect work on the Cross. When we trust in Christ for our salvation, we were put (baptised) into Christ; our old man was crucified with Christ and we are risen with Christ as a New Creation - this is a work of God's grace, independent of our works, or whether or not we are circumcised (6:15). This truth of