Doctrinal issue – justification by faith alone

Situational issue – loving one another  

 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another (Galatians 5:15)

²⁶ Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. (Galatians 5:26)

² Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself (Gal 6:3)

Boasting

Conceited (κενόδοξος) kenodoxos
Things we desire more than God

Things we fear more than God

Things that satisfy us more than God

Things that I boast

Paul’s final words to Galatians  

¹¹ See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. (Ga 6:11)

Reject boasting in the flesh (v12-13)

¹² It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.

¹³ For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law,

but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.

Good showing in the flesh (v12a) => Not to be persecuted for the cross of Christ (v12b)

Do not themselves keep the law (v13a) => Boast in your flesh (v13b)

Do not keep the law?

Keep only what can be seen by others

Keep only what is convenient

Matthew 23:23

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.

Mark 7:9

9 And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition!

Matthew 23:4-5

⁴ They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. ⁵ They do all their deeds to be seen by others.

Christian faith – inward or outward?

Let’s boast in the cross (v14-15)

14 But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

15 For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.

Galatians 2:20

²⁰ I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Philippians 3:7-9

7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—

15 For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.

New status

Galatians 3:13

¹³ Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—

New power

Galatians 3:5

⁵ Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith—

New identity

Galatians 4:6

⁶ And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”

New way of life

Galatians 5:6

⁶ For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.

Christian faith – human or divine?
What does boasting in the Cross look like?

True marks of a believer from the Cross (16-18)

¹⁶ And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.

¹⁷ From now on let no one cause me trouble,

for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.

¹⁸ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.

Acts 14:19

¹⁹ But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead.