Difference between revisions of "Sermon for July 7th, 2013"
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==Galatians 6:1-16== | ==Galatians 6:1-16== | ||
| − | + | 1My friends, if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Take care that you yourselves are not tempted. 2Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ. 3For if those who are nothing think they are something, they deceive themselves. 4All must test their own work; then that work, rather than their neighbour’s work, will become a cause for pride. 5For all must carry their own loads. 6 Those who are taught the word must share in all good things with their teacher. 7 Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow. 8If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh; but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit. 9So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up. 10So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith. 11 See what large letters I make when I am writing in my own hand! 12It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that try to compel you to be circumcised—only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13Even the circumcised do not themselves obey the law, but they want you to be circumcised so that they may boast about your flesh. 14May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything; but a new creation is everything! 16As for those who will follow this rule—peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. | |
| − | + | ==??== | |
| + | Counting today, we've spent the past six Sundays examining the Apostle Paul and his letter to the Galatians; today we come to the final chapter of this passionate letter, and to the end (for now) of our journey with Paul. You've heard a diversity of preaching on Galatians -- a few sermons from me, one from Drew Cook last month, and another from Aaron Zubia last week. I hope that today we can wrap things up nicely, and summarize some of what Galatians and Paul are all about. | ||
| − | + | I think the best way to do this is to look at Galatians through three lenses: The first is the surface level issue, the context and reason Paul writes to the Galatians. The second is the underlying issue or the deeper philosophical principle that is guiding Paul as he writes. The third (and this is a favorite English teacher thing to analyze!) is the tone--Paul's attitude that comes across in his words, and which sheds some light on the very real, very human side of this towering figure from the New Testament. | |
| − | + | First, the specific context. It's circumcision. That sounds odd to us today, probably because we just don't spend a lot of time thinking about or talking about circumcision. But I promise you, if we made slicing off part of your body a requirement for membership here at First Presbyterian Church, people would at least weigh very carefully the decision of whether or not to join the church. | |
| − | + | Circumcision was the primary outward and visible sign of God's promise and covenant with Ancient Israel (although sometimes I have my doubts about how well that worked as an outward and visible sign). So in the early church, after the message about Jesus begins to spread beyond the Jewish community to other peoples, some Jewish Christians naturally assumed that all these newcomers, these Gentiles, ought to be circumcised too, like them. Like Jesus. (They probably even showed the Gentiles their "What would Jesus do" bracelets when making this argument). When told what they had to do, the gentiles probably said, "Sure! What's circumcision?" Five seconds later, they probably said, "you've got to be kidding!" Could I maybe just follow Jesus without becoming Jewish? | |
| − | + | What was originally meant as a sign, a way to bring together and unite a people with a common practice, had become a litmus test, a way to exclude people and keep them out. It had become legalistic, and Paul says (to those in Galatia who were arguing for circumcision) No! Actually, he says μη γενοιτο, which is more like, "Hell no!" in English. Remember that word when we come to the part about Paul's tone. | |
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Revision as of 09:43, 3 July 2013
Galatians 6:1-16
1My friends, if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Take care that you yourselves are not tempted. 2Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ. 3For if those who are nothing think they are something, they deceive themselves. 4All must test their own work; then that work, rather than their neighbour’s work, will become a cause for pride. 5For all must carry their own loads. 6 Those who are taught the word must share in all good things with their teacher. 7 Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow. 8If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh; but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit. 9So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up. 10So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith. 11 See what large letters I make when I am writing in my own hand! 12It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that try to compel you to be circumcised—only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13Even the circumcised do not themselves obey the law, but they want you to be circumcised so that they may boast about your flesh. 14May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything; but a new creation is everything! 16As for those who will follow this rule—peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
??
Counting today, we've spent the past six Sundays examining the Apostle Paul and his letter to the Galatians; today we come to the final chapter of this passionate letter, and to the end (for now) of our journey with Paul. You've heard a diversity of preaching on Galatians -- a few sermons from me, one from Drew Cook last month, and another from Aaron Zubia last week. I hope that today we can wrap things up nicely, and summarize some of what Galatians and Paul are all about.
I think the best way to do this is to look at Galatians through three lenses: The first is the surface level issue, the context and reason Paul writes to the Galatians. The second is the underlying issue or the deeper philosophical principle that is guiding Paul as he writes. The third (and this is a favorite English teacher thing to analyze!) is the tone--Paul's attitude that comes across in his words, and which sheds some light on the very real, very human side of this towering figure from the New Testament.
First, the specific context. It's circumcision. That sounds odd to us today, probably because we just don't spend a lot of time thinking about or talking about circumcision. But I promise you, if we made slicing off part of your body a requirement for membership here at First Presbyterian Church, people would at least weigh very carefully the decision of whether or not to join the church.
Circumcision was the primary outward and visible sign of God's promise and covenant with Ancient Israel (although sometimes I have my doubts about how well that worked as an outward and visible sign). So in the early church, after the message about Jesus begins to spread beyond the Jewish community to other peoples, some Jewish Christians naturally assumed that all these newcomers, these Gentiles, ought to be circumcised too, like them. Like Jesus. (They probably even showed the Gentiles their "What would Jesus do" bracelets when making this argument). When told what they had to do, the gentiles probably said, "Sure! What's circumcision?" Five seconds later, they probably said, "you've got to be kidding!" Could I maybe just follow Jesus without becoming Jewish?
What was originally meant as a sign, a way to bring together and unite a people with a common practice, had become a litmus test, a way to exclude people and keep them out. It had become legalistic, and Paul says (to those in Galatia who were arguing for circumcision) No! Actually, he says μη γενοιτο, which is more like, "Hell no!" in English. Remember that word when we come to the part about Paul's tone.
1. Specific context (surface issue): Against Circumcision (5:2-12) ---> Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything (6:15)
Galatians 5:2 - Listen! I, Paul, am telling you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you.
2. Underlying principle: Priority of grace over works (5:1) ---> We reap what we so (6:7)
3. Tone: Foolish Galatians ---> Restored in a spirit of gentleness (6:1)
