Galatians 6:11-13

Summary retelling of Galatians 6:11-13

Paul throws in an editorial comment about the largeness of His handwriting.  He then begins to close his letter.  He reminds them that no regulations of the Law have been imposed upon the Galatians except by those who believe that the Law is a necessary part of salvation.  Paul adds that the people who believe the Law is a necessary part of salvation cannot even keep the Law if they wanted to do so.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Paul makes an editorial comment about the size of the letters of his printing.  There is something really neat about this statement – even if it isn’t the world’s deepest theological claim.  Paul wrote this letter himself.  He didn’t have someone write it for him.  He didn’t merely put His signature at the bottom of someone else’s letter.  This letter is touched by Paul – and the Spirit working through Paul.  This goes to show the personal relationship that Paul has with his disciples.

Do you think personal relationships with spiritual mentors are all that important?

Second Thought:

Nobody can keep the Law.  Period.  It doesn’t matter how good we are or how good we want to be.  Nobody can keep the Law.  Therefore, the people who seek to mandate obedience to the Law in order to be saved are merely trying to alleviate their own guilty conscience.  They believe that by pointing out how everyone else cannot follow the Law then they are demonstrating that they aren’t so bad.  It’s the age-old tactic of “elevating oneself” but putting down the people around you.

Have you ever felt someone trying to make themselves look good by putting down other people?  Why do you think this tactic is so common among human beings?

Third Thought:

As we come to a close on Galatians, I want to step outside the scope of the text for a moment.  I’ve spent a fair amount of time talking with words that may seem against the Law.  In truth, I am not against the Law at all.  I actually believe that we should strive to keep the Law as much as possible.  God’s ways are always better than our ways! Thus, what I am actually against is the belief that we must keep the Law in order to be saved.  In truth, we should want to be obedient to the Law as a response to God’s gift of salvation.  Our relationship with the Law is born out of grace and gratitude.

Do you think most people see the Law as something for which they should be grateful?  Why or why not?

Passage for Tomorrow: Galatians 6:14-16