Paul closes out the book of Galatians by pointing out the motives of the legalists and contrasting his own. Paul points them over and over again to Jesus and the grace God has shown to sinful men and women.

1. THE MARKS OF FREEDOM
Galatians 6:11-18
Based on Be Free by Warren W. Wiersbe

2. • V.11 causes a bit of speculation. Some scholars think it means that Paul’s “thorn in
the flesh” had something to do with his eyesight.
• That would mean he had to write with “large letters” just to see what he had
written.
• This hand-written appeal to the Galatian church would certainly touch their hearts.
• Paul had already presented three contrasts that demonstrate two different ways of
life.
• Bondage or liberty (Galatians 5:1-12)
• The flesh or the Spirit (Galatians 5:13-26)
• Living for self or living for others (Galatians 6:1-10)

3. IT’S ALL ABOUT MOTIVE
• The fourth contrast is between living for the praise of men or the glory of God
(Galatians 6:11-18).
• We need to know what we are doing in our ministry, but also why we are doing it.
• A good work can be spoiled by a bad motive.
• Paul presents three “marked” men: the legalist (v.12-13), the Lord Jesus Christ
(v.14-16), and Paul himself (v.17-18).

4. THE LEGALIST (V.12-13)
• They are braggarts (v.12a, 13b). Their main purpose wasn’t to win people to Jesus
or help the believer grow in grace, but to win converts so they could brag about it.
• It was all about their own glory.
• Winning people to Christ or to see the work of the Lord increase are good motives.
Wanting these things so someone can pat you on the back and say “good job” is the
wrong motive.
• We have to be careful not to use people to further our own selfish programs for our
own glorification.

5. • They are compromisers (v.12b). Why did they preach and practice circumcision and
obedience to the law? To avoid persecution!
• Paul was persecuted for preaching salvation, faith, and liberty in Christ.
• We get sentimental about crosses, but 1st century Christians didn’t. The cross was a
horrible, humiliating death that was never mentioned.
• Paul identified himself with the cross and took the consequences.
• I Corinthians 1:18-23
• The legalists avoided the shame of the cross and the persecution associated with its
adherents.

6. • They are persuaders (v.12a). “Constrain” carries the idea of strong persuasion,
compulsion, and even force.
• They were using a “sales pitch” to convince people of their point of view. Paul
presented the Gospel with truth and sincerity and refused to use oratorical tricks or
debater’s skills.
• See I Corinthians 2:1-5 and II Corinthians 4:1-5.
• They are hypocrites (v.13). They were dishonest in that they were not following the
Law, but expected others to do so.
• It was all about the numbers; they wanted to report more statistics and get more
glory for themselves.
• The legalist is a marked man; so when you detect him, avoid him.

7. JESUS CHRIST (V.14-16)
• Paul always came back to the Cross. (Galatians 2:20-21; 3:13; 4:5; 5:11, 24; 6:12).
• Jesus was certainly marked by what He went through at Calvary.
• Paul gloried in the cross; not in the brutality or suffering of it, or even the physical
piece of wood.
• Paul knew the Person of the cross. Jesus is mentioned 45 times in Galatians. (1/3 of
the verses in the letter contain some reference to Him!)
• The person of Christ captivated Paul, and made the cross of Christ glorious to him.

8. • Paul knew the power of the Cross. Saul of Tarsus experienced the power of the
Cross and of the risen Savior and became Paul the Apostle.
• The cross meant liberty from self (Galatians 2:20), the flesh (5:24), and the world
(6:14).
• The power of God is released through the cross to give believers deliverance and
victory.
• The world doesn’t care if we are religious as long as we leave the cross out. In fact,
the world approves of any religion apart from the Gospel of Jesus.
• Paul knew the purpose of the Cross. It was to bring about a new creation: the
Church, the body of Christ.
• Christ performed one act of obedience in His death on the cross and paid for all the
sins of the entire world.

9. THE APOSTLE PAUL (V.17-18)
• Paul became a marked man after he became a believer. He gloried in the scars he
had received and the suffering he had endured in the service of Jesus Christ.
• V.17 could be paraphrased to say: “If your religious celebrities have any scars to
show for the glory of Christ, then let them be shown. Otherwise, stop bothering me!”
• Paul had suffered for Christ’s sake and had the scars to prove it. They didn’t.
• II Corinthians 11:18-33 describes what Paul had endured.

10. • It was the practice of the day to brand a slave so that everyone would know who the
owner was. Paul was the slave of Jesus Christ and wore His mark to prove it.
• By the way, sin brands a person. It marks your mind, your personality, and even
your body.
• You will serve someone; Who or what will mark you?
• Paul ends this letter the same way he began – not with the Law of Moses, but with
grace.
• We’ve spent quite a few weeks discussing grace. How are you going to live by grace
in the Spirit?