Paul the apostle is wrapping
up his final thoughts to the church members in Galatia. We have
learned through his words the importance of caring for one another
and as we do we will sow to the spirit. We have also learned that the
worldly ways and patterns have nothing to do with our salvation, but
the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ is what truly saves. As Paul
continues his conclusion in chapter six and verse fifteen we discover
another reason that he gloried in the cross rather than the rituals,
rules and regiments of the world. He wrote:
For in Christ Jesus
neither circumcision avails any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new
creature.
Paul
includes two ways and a conclusion in this tiny verse. First, he
said, “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision avails
anything,...” Those who have followed the Jewish tradition of
circumcision perhaps think themselves closer to God than anyone else.
Because God told Abraham in the book of Genesis chapter seventeen and
verse ten:
This [is] my covenant,
which you shall keep, between me and you and your seed after you;
Every man child among you shall be circumcised.
Those
who followed this command of God thought themselves obedient to God
and therefore closer to Him. Paul, however, refutes this idea. He
said, “neither circumcision avails any thing.” In other
words, when a person is in Christ Jesus the outward rite of
circumcision does not put a person in a stronger, closer position
with God. There is no closer place with God than when a person is in
Jesus Christ, and Paul gives credit and glory to the cross alone.
The
second way Paul addresses is, “...nor uncircumsion.” When
a person is a Gentile such as the Galatians were and has not gone
through the outward rite of circumcision, they are not in a greater
position either. Sometimes people glory in their freedom from the law
and decide themselves better than those who have had to observe it.
Paul refutes this idea also. Neither Jew nor Greek have a special
position with God, but rather those who believe in, trust in, rely
upon and cling to Jesus and His sacrifice upon the cross. These are
the ones who are advantaged.
Finally
Paul concludes, “but a new creature.” Paul notes that the
advantage comes when a person has given his or her life to Jesus
Christ. The past heritage, upbringing, and spiritual vane is of
lesser importance. Having a relationship with Jesus Christ is
preeminent now. When we receive Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord,
we become a new creation, and the old things are passed away. As Paul
wrote to the Corinthian church in Second Corinthians chapter five and
verse seventeen:
Therefore if any man
[be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away;
behold, all things are become new.
The
rites, traditions and rituals from our lives before receiving Jesus
Christ are in the past, and now the significance of our salvation is
in the cross of Jesus. We are new creations, and our advantage is
that we are in fellowship with Him. We, as well as the church members
in Galatia, could not be in a better position with God than we are
when we are in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Next
time we will see what happens to those who walk by this rule, so read
ahead, and let us join together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look for
the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation
to Generation” in all major
bookstore
sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to
e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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