Becoming a New Creation | What Really Matters as a Christian (Galatians 6:11-18)

Topic: Becoming a New Creation | What Really Matters as a Christian

Reading: Galatians 6:11-18

11 See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. 12 It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that would compel you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 For even those who receive circumcision do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may glory in your flesh. 14 But far be it from me to glory 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. 16 Peace and mercy be upon all who walk by this rule, upon the Israel of God. 17 Henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.

Introduction and Overview

There are many things we can be involved in as Christians. Some go into missionary work. Others attend Bible Colleges. Some go into ministry. Others still do works of charity. But what is it that really matters?

All of these things may have their time and purpose, some for good and others less so. But there is only one thing that really matters. What really matters is clearly pointed out in these scriptures today. It is becoming a new creation.

The Galatians church was being distracted and derailed by seeking the things of Judaism. They were being taught by some Jewish itinerant preachers that they had to be circumcised and follow the laws of Moses to be saved. But Paul was showing them the error in this approach. He showed that the most important thing was becoming a new creation in Jesus Christ.

The whole focus of the New Covenant and the gospel of Jesus Christ is transformation. The gospel gives us salvation by faith in Jesus Christ through His death and resurrection. Then as we walk with Christ, learning to walk in the Spirit and be led by the Spirit, we are becoming a new creation. We are born again, or born from above, as new creations in Jesus Christ. We are no longer bound by sin, condemned by law, and enslaved to the passions of the flesh. As we are becoming a new creation in Jesus Christ, we gain the victory He died to give us, and the power to overcome the desires of the flesh.

This is what is important. Becoming a new creation in Jesus Christ is what it is all about. Paul makes this quite clear showing that neither circumcision, nor uncircumcision is of any importance. And neither are all of those other pursuits mentioned above. Many of those are distractions. Some of them have the effect of leading us away from Christ. And others simply drown out the work of Christ in us because they consume all of our energy, time, and focus.The only thing that is important is becoming a new creation in Jesus Christ.

Key points from reading:

• Following the ordinances of the law, like circumcision, is not important in Christianity since Christ has set us free from the law.
• Distractions that get in the way of becoming a new creation in Christ are destructive to our walk.
• The only thing that is important is be transformed and becoming a new creation in Jesus Christ.

Discussion:

1. Scripture: Galatians 6:11 – An impassioned appeal for common sense
   • Paul is appealing to the Galatians church in these words. He is asking them to look closely at what he is saying. He is telling them clearly and plainly what needs to be done. It is an appeal for the church to see the truth of what is happening and to consider the effect of following the unsound paths they are being taught.
   • Paul only wanted the Galatians to thrive as Christians. He wanted them all to become new creations in Christ Jesus, and not destroy the work of transformation that had begun in them. By seeking a righteousness based upon the law and the paths of circumcision, they were no longer becoming a new creation. Following that path would undo all of the transforming work that had begun by the word of Christ and the working of the Holy Spirit. It would effectively turn them away from Christ as they sought self-righteousness under the law, rather than the free gift of righteousness that comes through faith in Jesus Christ, given by God.
   • And it is no different today. There are a great many Christians being taught by well meaning church ministers that they too must keep the tenets and ordinances of the law. They are told that they are under the law and must keep things like fasting, tithing, eating or abstaining from certain foods, sacrificial offerings, and so on. None of these things will save people today. None of these things work transformation in a person. And none of these will lead anyone into becoming a new creation in Jesus Christ.
   • Such practices are outward. They are things that can be seen by others. Some have the appearance of a rigour of devotion, as Paul indicated in similar passages in Colossians 2:16-23. But they do nothing with respect to becoming a new creation. And becoming a new creation in Jesus Christ is the only thing that matters.
   • Stop and think about this for a moment. Our old selves, like the rest of the people in this world, were corrupt through sin. We followed the paths of evil like many others in the world. But when we came to Christ we sought to leave all of that behind us. We sought the change in our hearts and minds that comes from knowing Christ Jesus. Now, do you think that anyone who is like the old person we were, or anyone still acting and behaving like the rest of the world, filled with jealousy, envy, anger, wrath, malice, slander, and treating people in contemptible ways has any place in the kingdom of God? Of course not! And that is why becoming a new creation is what really matters.
   • God is going to invite us into His home, a new heaven and new earth that is without sin or decay. Would He want anyone who is going to fill it with filth like those of this world have done? If we want to live with Christ and the Father in their eternal kingdom, then becoming a new creation is not just something to aspire to, it will be essential. And that was Paul’s point with the Galatians. He was teaching them about becoming a new creation, and showing them that the path is through faith in Jesus Christ, not following the tenets and ordinances of the law.
2. Scripture: Galatians 6:12-13 – Becoming a new creation apart from the law
   • In these verses we see that those who seek to find the way through the law have taken a wrong turn. Instead of finding the path of salvation in the Spirit, they are seeking to look good in the flesh. When people would look at them and see their behaviour, they would have the appearance of righteousness by following the law, but they would not be changed.
   • Jesus made similar points when He compared the scribes and Pharisees to “white-washed tombs,” saying this in Matthew 23:27-28. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but within you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.”
   • The scribes and Pharisees had the appearance of men of God. They looked righteous and holy by the clothes they wore and the things they preached. But like beautifully adorned tombs, they were full of dead men’s bones and all manner of rank things.
   • And it is interesting the comparison Jesus was making. Jesus was preaching life, salvation, righteousness and the path to becoming a new creation. But in His comparison of the Pharisees to tombs, He was saying that the paths of hypocrisy they were preaching would lead only to death. After all, who goes into a tomb but one who is dead? And recall that the tomb could not hold Jesus as He was raised from the dead.
   • Following the path of circumcision, which is following the path of the law, does not lead to becoming a new creation. Only faith in the resurrection power of God in Jesus Christ, and listening to the teachings of Christ will lead to life.
   • Today there are many who want to do the same as those Pharisees and scribes. They want to force people to do what they want, claiming it will lead to life when it doesn’t, so that they can glory in the things of the flesh. And as Paul points out in these words, they don’t even do the things they claim themselves. For example, how many prosperity gospel preachers give to the point of being unable to having little or nothing left to give like some of their congregations? How many of them live lifestyles that are well above the means of their congregations? They want to keep their congregations bound under the laws of tithing for their own gain. They glory in the flesh, telling people you have to give to receive.
   • And it is a lie. God doesn’t care about money. Money was not and is not made by God, it is the invention of man. God seeks our salvation, not our money. He wants people to be transformed into new creations and to be saved from this world. Money is a distraction and seeking wealth is a ploy of the devil. Prosperity gospel is a lie and it does not lead to becoming a new creation. Reject it.
3. Scripture: Galatians 6:14-15 – Becoming a new creation is the only thing that matters
   • In these few words Paul makes it quite clear. Neither following the law, with the rules of circumcision like the Jews, nor being apart from circumcision like the Gentiles, was of any importance. The only important thing was becoming a new creation. Transformation is the only thing that is important. Being transformed from the image of the people of this world, the image of Adam, into the image of Jesus Christ. That is the only thing that is important. It was the true focus of the New Covenant.
   • Becoming a new creation is the work of the Holy Spirit in us. He is the one who changes us from one degree of glory to another, as we walk in the Spirit and the ways of Jesus Christ. As we listen to the teachings of Christ and apply them in our lives, using the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome the works of the flesh, we are being transformed.
   • Nothing else in this life matters. Nothing else is of any consequence. It is only by becoming a new creation in Jesus Christ that we will see the Father and be received into the eternal habitations. It is not about what we do, but what He is doing in us. And as we listen to Christ and learn to walk in the Spirit, we are becoming new creations. We are being prepared to live into eternity with Christ and the Father.
4. Scripture: Galatians 6:16-18
   • The final two verses in this letter to the Galatians are Paul’s salutation and final words on these matters. He has said and done all that he can to bring about their obedience to the truth. He has pointed out problems associated with the ways that they were seeking under the law, showing them that it does not lead to life. And he was showing them that becoming a new creation through the transformation of the words of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit was all that mattered.
   • Having said all of that he then is basically handing it over to the Galatians church to determine for themselves whether his way is truth or the teachings of circumcision that would lead them away from Christ. He doesn’t treat them like children but leaves it to them to make the right decisions about the way forward.
   • Becoming a new creation is the only true way forward. And we need to consider that today, not seeking the same wrong paths the Galatians were pursuing, and especially not seeking the false paths and false teachings that abound in the church today. Instead, seek the words of Jesus Christ. Read and learn what the scripture says for yourself. Pray and ask God to open the scriptures for your understanding, and know that He will do so. You do not need a theological degree or a Bible college education to understand the scriptures. God will open it to you and He has given the gift of the Holy Spirit to do exactly that. Seek to become a new creation in Christ Jesus and don’t be led astray by false teachings.

Prayer Points:

• Pray and ask the Father to show you the things necessary to becoming a new creation.
• Pray and ask the Lord to teach you how to recognise the errors and distractions that do not lead to becoming a new creation in Jesus Christ, and how to avoid them.
• And finally pray that you can learn the things that lead to transformation so that you can enter the eternal kingdom to live with Jesus Christ and God the Father, and all of their people.