A New Creation

Galatians 6:15-16 NASB
15 For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.
16 And those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.

What is not anything?
What is anything?
What will be upon those who will walk by this rule?
What will be upon the Israel of God?

Why is Paul talking about circumcision here? (See 6:12-13.)
What did Paul make clear about circumcision in verse 5:3-4?
How is 5:6 similar to 6:15?
Let's see what we can learn by looking at the cross-references for verse 15.

• Romans 2:26, 28 Let's read verses 25-29. What do we learn about circumcision in these verses? What kind of circumcision results in God's praise?
• 1 Corinthians 7:19 What does this verse tell us about circumcision? How is it similar to Galatians 6:15?
• 2 Corinthians 5:17 How does someone become a new creature?
• Ephesians 2:10, 15 Read verses 10-16. What do these verses teach us about Christ and circumcision?
• Ephesians 4:24 What do we learn about this new self?
• Colossians 3:10 Read verses 9-11. What do we learn about the new self? What do we learn about the circumcised and uncircumcised?

What rule do you think Paul is talking about in 6:16? Where else in this letter did he mention a rule and walking? (See Galatians 5:13-16.)
What does Paul mean by "the Israel of God"?
Let's look at the cross-references for Galatians 6:16.

• Romans 9:6 Read 9:6-8 Who are the descendants of God?
• Galatians 3:7 Who are the sons of Abraham?
• Galatians 3:29 If you belong to Christ, what are you?
• Philippians 3:3 Who are those who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh?

If believers wants peace and mercy upon them, what should be important?

Boasting

Galatians 6:14 NASB
But may it never be that I should boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

What contrast word begins this verse?
What is being contrasted with what? (See Galatians 6:13.)
What does Paul mean by "boast"?
When I looked up "boast" in Strong's, there were no listings for "boast," so I looked up these two verses in the KJV, which is the version that Strong's is based on. Here they are:

Galatians 6:13-14 KJV
13 For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.
14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

So, what is meant by "glory"?
The Strong's number for both of these verses is G2744. Paul used the Greek word "kauchaomai," which means to vaunt (in a good or bad sense). What does vaunt mean? Webster's defines it as "to make a vain display of one's own worth or attainments, to call attention to often pridefully and often boastfully."
Who are those who are insisting on circumcision calling attention to?
Who is Paul calling attention to?

What does Paul say that the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ has accomplished?
What does he mean by "crucified"?
The Strong's number is G4717. Paul used the Greek word stauroo, and it means "to impale on the cross; figuratively to extinguish (subdue) passion or selfishness."
So what is Paul saying that the cross of Christ has done to Paul's relationship with the world?
Where in Galatians has Paul previously mentioned himself or believers being crucified?
Read Galatians 2:20 and 5:24.
So, if Paul were to boast, why do you think he would boast about the cross of Christ?
If you were to boast, what should you boast about?

Circumcision Revisited

Galatians 6:12-13 NASB
12 Those who desire to make a good showing in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised, simply that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.
13 For those who are circumcised do not even keep the Law themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised, that they may boast in your flesh.

Who is trying to compel the Galatians to be circumcised?
Why are they trying to compel the Galatians to be circumcised?
In verse 13, what phrase seems synonymous with "make a good showing in the flesh"?
Where else in Galatians have we seen Paul linking the flesh with the Law?
Reread Galatians 3: 2-3, 4:19-31.

In verse 13, what phrase seems synonymous with "compel you to be circumcised"?
What contrast word do you see in verse 13? What is the contrast?
If the Galatians were to be circumcised, what would they be doing in relation to the Law?
What has Paul told them about this in this letter?
Reread Galatians 2.
What example does Paul give in Galatians 2 of a person who did not feel compelled to be circumcised?
Who was opposing Paul and his companions? What was their aim?
Why didn't Paul and his companions yield to their demands?
With whom did Paul have a problem over this issue in the past?
In verse 2:16, what did Paul say about works of the Law?
From the context of this verse, what would one of those works be?

Read Galatians 3:23-26.
If someone is under faith, what isn't he or she under?

Read Galatians 4:1-7.
If you're under the Law, what are you?
What did God do to change that situation?

Read Galatians 6:12-13.
Then read Philippians 3:2-11.
Obviously the Galatians weren't the only ones who were being hounded by those who insisted that Christians needed to be circumcised in order to be right with God.
What does Paul feel compelled to let believers know?

Large Letters

Galatians 6:11 NASB
See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand.

Who is the writer? (See Galatians 1.)
What does he want them to notice about the letters he used in writing this message?
Why do you think he's pointing out the size of the letters?
Read Galatians 4:11-20.
How might his physical condition cause a need for large letters?
How might the urgency of the situation cause a need for large letters?
What does Paul want the Galatians to know without a doubt?
If you're not sure, read aloud Galatians from the beginning until this point. Then write down the main points that Paul makes for the Galatians.

The One Who Sows To The Spirit

Galatians 6:8-10 NASB
8 For the one who sows to his own flesh shall from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit shall from the Spirit reap eternal life.
9 And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary.
10 So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.

What does the one who sows to his own flesh reap?
What did Paul tell us about the deeds of the flesh in chapter 5? (See verses 19-21.)
What does the one who sows to the Spirit reap?
In chapter 5, what did Paul tell us about the character of those who live and walk by the Spirit? (See verses 22-25.)
In verse 9, Paul says "let us not lose heart in doing good," so what is he assuming about the sowing of his readers?
Why shouldn't they lose heart in doing good?
In that verse, what is growing weary synonynous with?
What does Paul promise will happen if they do not grow weary in doing good?
What will they reap?
What words indicate that Paul is about to conclude this section of thought?
To whom does he encourage the Galatians to do good?
To whom should they especially do good?
In these verses, what is there a contrast between?
Has Paul mentioned this contrast before in this letter?
See: Galatians 4:22-31 and 5:16-25.
How is Galatians 6:7-10 related to Paul's discussion of freedom from the Law?
How is Galatians 6:7-10 related to what Paul said in Gal. 6:2 and 5:14?
If you want to reap eternal life, what do you need to do?

Sowing and Reaping

Galatians 6:7 NASB
7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.

What does Paul warn the believers not to be?
What does Paul tell them about God?
"God is not being outwitted and evaded" is the way Wuest translates that portion of verse 7 in his translation.
Why isn't God being outwitted and evaded?
What is a basic principle in God's kingdom?
What does a man reap?

What did Paul mean by "deceived"?
The Strong's number for this word is G4105, and the Greek word is planao. It means to roam (from safety, truth, or virtue).
What had the Galatians believers been roaming from? (See Galatians 1:6-7.)
Where previously in this chapter has Paul mentioned being deceived?
And how did Paul tell them they could avoid this deception?
How is that advice related to what Paul tells them in this verse?
How do you think this verse relates to the previous verse about sharing all good things with those who teach you?
So, according to Paul, what is the responsibility of each believer in his or her harvest?

One of the cross-references for this verse is 2 Corinthians 9:6.
What did Paul tell the Corinthians about sowing and reaping?
How is that similar to what Paul is telling the Galatians in Gal. 6:7?