they will know we are Christians by our...

See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. 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. 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. 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. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. (Galatians 6:11-16 ESV)

All these passages that we've looked at throughout the book of Galatians have been focused on this whole topic of circumcision versus uncircumcision. Paul's bringing the book to a close, and is making a few final points. His emphasis here is that all this really isn't about whether you're circumcised or not.
People who are saying that circumcision is necessary are doing so in order to have an outward sign to prove that they are spiritual. But just because they are circumcised doesn't mean that they actually are spiritual. You can look the part all you want, but you have to actually live it out.
It's not about whether you were circumcised or not, the truth is that once you've accepted Christ, you are a new creation!

Now how does this apply to us? When they are talking about circumcision, it was an additional requirement they were adding onto salvation. Gentiles were believing in Jesus, but then men in the church would tell them that they needed to be circumcised in order to be saved. So this applies to anything that we tack onto salvation. So maybe it's baptism, or maybe it's church attendance or maybe it's doing devos or anything that we force as an additional requirement.

In Ephesians 2:8-9, Paul says it this way, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

God has saved us by grace through faith. Circumcision or baptism or any other works are not necessary!** Being human as we are, we would twist these works into something to brag about. In both passages, Paul makes it clear that the only thing we should be bragging about it Jesus.

(**Side note- there’s nothing wrong with circumcision, baptism or works. They are just not actions that will save you. Jesus got circumcised, baptized and did lots of good works and so I’d recommend following His lead. These are ways we can show Him our love and obedience to Him.)

The last thing Paul talks about here is the reason for all of this. Peace and mercy will be upon us as new creations. We are under grace not the Law. We have the freedom to make choices about how we live. But if we truly love God, we will choose to keep his commandments (see 1 John 5:3). When we are living under grace and loving God, we will experience the peace and mercy Paul is talking about.

Answer This:

1) Is there a time where by grace you been saved through faith? (If your answer is no, find a parent or youth leader that you can talk to about this!)

2) For neither _______________counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new _______________.

3) Do your actions show that you love God? Are you making outward changes to your life, without making them inside? Are you being a hypocrite by acting like you’re a good Christian when your heart is far from the Lord?

4) Take a minute to journal about this passage.

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Written by Amber Carter

guardians of my galaxy

Galatians 3:23-29

23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.

• •    What is this “law” that Paul speaks so much of? It’s the written law that God gave to Moses to give to the Israelites to instruct and teach them. These people were like prisoners to this law, that is one reason why our savior came down to die to set them (us) free. Since their way of faith came, they no longer had to live with the law as their guardian. (Jesus is now our Guardian) The Law of Moses is also called the “Book of the Law”, the “Mosaic Law” and “Book of the Covenant.” In chapter 2 Paul had to instruct the Galatians again that they are not saved by keeping the “Law of Moses” and in chapter 3 he says they are placing themselves back under the curse of the law (Mosaic Law) by trying to observe everything that was written in the Law.  

• •    If we had to live under strict laws and regulations that were our “guardian,” and a savior came to take that away from us so we could be set free; don’t you think you would love that? Well that is exactly what happened; we just live in the time after that happened so we do not know what it was like to live under those laws.

• •     Yes these people still had laws to follow, as we do today, but these laws did not save them or guard them anymore. It was our heavenly Father who now saves and guards us! Through baptism we are united with Christ, by doing this we ALL become one in Him, Praise God for that huge blessing.

 1)  Do you even take time to thank God for the free, eternal gift He blessed us with? (Take some time in prayer right now to do so)

2) Try to picture what it could have been like back then.. How would you feel living under these laws and then being set free?

3) Would you say you have faith in Christ Jesus?

4) Have you been baptized? Why or why not?

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Written by Sarah Davis