So as we come towards the end
of our meditations in this epistle of Paul to the Galatians, I thought
this evening we would just read the three verses 11, 12 and 13,
which read, Ye see how large a letter I have written unto
you with mine own hand, as many as desire to make a fair show
in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised only, lest
they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. For
neither they themselves, who are circumcised, keep the law,
but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. It is significant that the Apostle
here tells us, and as he wrote to the Galatians, informed them
that he'd actually written this letter himself. The general format
was, of course, in those days that they had someone, a scribe,
to actually write out what they dictated. But on this occasion,
the Apostle Paul had written this letter himself. And it would
obviously add considerable weight to the message that he was writing
to them as they realised that this was his own hand and that
he was obviously so concerned because of the way that they
had been walking that he felt it needful that he should write
it. So we should not pass over what
appears to be quite a small little item here. You see how large
a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand. It's obviously noted there to
show us very clearly the importance of the things that he had written
to the Galatians. And indeed, they are important. They were important then and
they are important to us today, to illustrate those things that
we should concentrate on and those things which are less important. And therefore he goes on to speak
to them in this way, and he said, as many as desire to make a fair
show in the flesh. Well, in those days, people were
wanting to make a fair show in the flesh. And it hasn't changed,
has it? People today, you see, want to
make a fair show in the flesh. They want to be thought something
of. They want to appear to be over-righteous,
or very righteous. And yet we're told not to be
righteous over much if we have wrong attitudes. And here these
Galatians are being told as many as desire to make a fair show
in the flesh. They wanted to impress the people. They wanted to impress their
fellow citizens, those of Judah. and to show them really how they
were doing those things which were right and keeping those
things which were right. Although the Apostle had very
clearly spoken to them and told them how many things they had
been doing wrong with a wrong motive and they were trying to
carry out of course the Law and the Gospel together which was
not possible. And of course they could never
keep the Law although they pretended so to do. And then he says they
constrain you to be circumcised. only less, they should suffer
persecution for the cross of Christ. They didn't want to be
separated, they wanted everybody therefore to be circumcised so
that they could all join together and carry on really in the same
way, the way that had been set before them by Moses, and not
to depart from it. lest they should suffer persecution
for the cross of Christ. And then he goes on really confirming
this by saying, For neither they themselves who are circumcised
keep the law, but desire to have you circumcised, that they may
glory in your flesh. How needful it was the Apostle
to bring this statement before the Galatians, those who were
acting in a wrong way. And of course it's right that
you and I should be reminded of the importance of not just
being men-pleasers, not being flesh-pleasers, but doing those
things which are right and concern the blessing of God and those
things which direct us to the Lord Jesus Christ and his great
salvation. And not to be content about just
keeping the law, because as we've already considered, the works
of the law, the works of the flesh, they did not profit but
the fruit of the Spirit did. And therefore how relevant it
is that the Apostle continues to direct us really to this great
truth, to be concerned about the fruit of the Spirit. And
the fruit of the Spirit is to direct us to the life of the
Lord Jesus Christ and what He did when He was on the earth
and how He walked, the blessed example that He set. and not
to therefore rely on the works of the flesh. It's very hard,
clearly, for Galatians to separate themselves, those who are walking
contrary, trying to keep both, and it is so today. We have to
be very careful not to rely upon the works of the flesh, thinking
if we do this and we do that, people will think well of us.
The great question of course is, what does God think of us? And are we doing and saying those
things which are for the honour and glory of our God, and testifying
of his love and mercy and goodness to us, and confessing our sins,
confessing our shortcomings, and pleading unto him for godly
repentance? which does not need to be repented
of. All these things are a great
blessing. But they are not those things
which you and I inherit by nature. They are the gift of God. And
what a blessing it is, if we can trace these things out in
our life, to realise that it is through His grace that we
desire to do those things which are God honouring. and not just
rely on our works, which are of the flesh, which of course
will never truthfully save our souls and will bring us into
bondage because we will be pleased of our efforts and we therefore
will find there is pride rising up in our hearts, which of course
is sinful things. What a blessing it is to be humbled
under the mighty hand of God, and to follow the gracious commands
of the Saviour, and to walk in His ways, and not be left to
do those things which the Apostle speaks against. And so, if we
read these two verses again, as many as desire to make a fair
show in the flesh, They constrain you to be circumcised only lest
they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. For
neither they themselves, who are circumcised, keep the law.
It's impossible. They could never keep the law.
It was righteous and holy. They could never keep it completely.
But desire to have you circumcised that they may glory in your flesh. May God instruct us from his
word. Amen.