Marked

We are concluding the series from the Book of Galatians
entitled THE GOSPEL OF FREEDOM. In the last message entitled YOU WHO
ARE SPIRITUAL ARE RESPONSIBLE, we examined Galatians 6:1-10. In
that message we saw if we examined the responsibilities of those who
are spiritual. Spiritual people are responsible to:
 BEAR BURDENS (Galatians 6:1-5)
 SOW TO THE SPIRIT (Galatians 6:6-8)
 DO GOOD (Galatians 6:9, 10)
Our text today begins with an interesting remark by the Apostle…

11  See with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand!
Galatians 6:11

Paul’s preferred method of letter writing was by dictation. He would
speak, and one of his friends would write it all down. In the last
paragraph of Galatians, Paul himself picks up the pen, if you will,
and writes down his final thoughts. This is so important that he
doesn’t want them to miss the point.

November 8, 2020 AM Galatians Sermon 8

3
Until this point, Paul has effectively explained the distinctions
between the believer living under grace and the one living under law.
They are diametrically opposed. This is not simply a matter of different
doctrinal opinions; it is a matter of two ways of life. What were the
choices presented to the Galatians as they debated Grace and Law?
 Would they choose bondage or freedom (Galatians 5:1-12)?
 Would they choose the flesh or the Spirit (Galatians 5:13-26)?
 Would they live for themselves or would they live for others
(Galatians 6:1-10)?
Our text presents one more idea that Paul wants to present. It is
such an important thought that Paul writes it in his own hand, in large
letters. The thought is this: Will the Galatians live for the praise of
men or for the glory of God (Galatians 6:11-18)? Now Paul is hitting
on the most important part of why we do things: Motive. A good work
can be spoiled by a bad motive. This is a chance for those in Galatia
(and all the church) to check their own hearts.
In verse seventeen, we see Paul declaring that he is a man who
bears in his body the marks of our Lord Jesus Christ. While the word “marks” in Greek is “stigmata” it is not referring to the cultish examples found today in people who seem to bleed from their hands,
feet, and other parts of the body mimicking Christ. He is referring to the scars he gained through intense persecution as a result of preaching Christ and Him crucified.
These final words of Paul to the Galatians present three
groups/people who were MARKED. A mark or a brand will distinguish
you. God placed a mark upon Cain that no one would kill him (see
Genesis 4:15). The antichrist will one day require his followers to take
a mark in order to buy or sell (see Revelation 13:17). But God also sets
a mark upon those who belong to Him (see Ezekiel 9:4-6). Let’s
examine those whom Paul is referring to as being marked.