Galatians 6:11

Galatians 6:11 says, Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand.  Paul was very concerned about the false teachings that were beginning to come into the church at Galatia.  He wrote the letter himself, not dictating it to someone else to write it down.  I believe that this made it even more personal and ensured that nothing could be misrepresented by someone writing these things down for him.  Verse twelve adds, As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.  Paul said that those who wanted to make themselves right through the flesh, or their own goodness in the keeping of the law, demanded that gentile Christians be circumcised.  When they did this, they were negating salvation by faith in the sacrifice of Christ on the cross as being the only way to and requirement for salvation.  Verse thirteen continues, For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.  Paul said that those who were demanding that believers in Christ be circumcised were unable to keep the law.  They could not be reconciled to God through the law, yet wanted to glory in placing others under the same law that condemned them.  Verse fourteen declares, But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.  Paul declared that his only glory was in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Christ was not his Lord alone but is the Lord of all who believe in Him.  Paul said that through Christ he was crucified to the world and the world was crucified to him.  He no longer lived by the flesh but lived by faith in Christ.  Paul asked God to forbid him from glorying in anything other than the cross, and so should we.  Verse fifteen adds, For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.  This was the point of disagreement in the church.  Paul said that neither being circumcised nor not being circumcised mattered.  We are a new creature through Christ, and nothing that we did or didn't do before matters.  We are simply to live under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  Verse sixteen continues, And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.  Paul prayed for peace to those who believed in salvation by faith in Christ alone, who were the Israel of God.  Verse seventeen states, From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.  Paul asked that no one trouble him by questioning his faith, because he bore the marks of Christ.  This was no particular mark that a believer must have, but the marks that Paul had suffered from being punished for his belief in salvation for all who believed in Christ.  Verse eighteen continues, Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. Unto the Galatians written from Rome.  Paul may have been writing to the Galatians to correct them, but he did so that they might know the peace that comes from having Christ as the Lord of their lives.  We today must also want that same peace for everyone, especially for those who proclaim Christ as their Savior and Lord.  We cannot allow anyone to add to the requirements of the gospel.