Galatians 6:14-18 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. Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation. Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule—to the Israel of God. From now on, 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 and sisters. Amen.
As we look at the blessings and benedictions Paul gives to the churches, we notice differences. Whereas the Corinthian church (which we looked at yesterday) had a tendency towards immaturity and license, the Galatian church leaned towards legalism and petty rules. God has one main rule: faith in Christ to become a new creation. There are no bragging rights except being able to claim God as our Father, and that is nothing of our own doing. When we live by this rule, we have not only grace, which we have seen before, but peace and mercy - more spiritual seasonings that make the church be what it should be. To hear that the Galatians were living this way would "make Paul's day." Just as the loose living of the Corinthians had caused him grief, the divisive legalism of the Galatians had caused him trouble. He too wanted the peace of knowing they were at peace. May God season us today with grace, peace and mercy.
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