The Constraints of the Fleshly Galatians 6:12 - Equipped for Battle

As we study Paul the apostle's final words to the church located in Galatia, we have noticed his instructions to them about ways to live with one another – restoring one another, bearing one another's burdens, bearing their own burdens, communicating to those who teach them the word of God, sowing good seed to the Spirit and not to the flesh, and examining their own work. As Paul finishes his words, he makes reference once again to earlier points against the Judaizers who were perverting the gospel of grace and substituting salvation by the law. In chapter six and verse twelve he wrote:

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.

Paul begins, “As many as desire to make a fair show in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised.” Paul reveals the motive of the Judaizers who have been promoting obedience to the law of Moses as a means to salvation which includes being circumcised – they “desire to make a fair show in the flesh.” These false teachers just want to please others by demonstrating fleshly acts of obedience to the law. By coercing, compelling, driving, forcing, threatening, and entreating others to be circumcised, it makes them look good – particularly to the Jewish believers. It is a marvel how fleshly ideas can be wrapped so perfectly in spiritual jargon when in reality the flesh is in control.

Paul continues to expose them, “only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.” Herein lie the real reason the Judaizers were so emphatic. If they were to allow for the doctrine of grace which would mean that circumcision was of the heart and not just the flesh, they would suffer persecution from the Jews who believed everyone should follow the law. The cross of Christ would bring suffering and persecution upon them because Jesus fulfilled the law when He died upon the cross, and to align with that Spiritual thinking would mean they would suffer persecution from others. Their fear of suffering persecution from those to whom they belonged kept them from the truth of the gospel and constrained them to align with the Judaistic thought. Therefore they attempted to persuade others to align with their thinking and to not only be circumcised, but also follow the entire Mosaic law.

Are there any areas of belief which we hang on to that if we think about them they might be categorized as making a “fair show in the flesh”? Do we have certain practices or constraints to others that have nothing to do with the gospel of grace but are rather an outward, fleshly demand that portends to righteousness? Perhaps as we take inventory of ourselves today, Paul's words will be our encouragement to be sure that we align with the gospel of grace and not according to the flesh to make ourselves look good in the sight of others. May the Lord Jesus reveal our true motives to us as we meditate upon His word.

Next time Paul will tell us how those who make these fleshly constraints can't keep them themselves, so read ahead, and let us join together then.

Until tomorrow...there is more...

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