Galatians 6:14-16 (NASBStr)
But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. And those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.`
How we live our lives before God and the World matters to Giod. The believers in the area of Galatia were tempted, after coming to Christ in faith, to try to complete their righteousness by doing "some parts" of the law; namely circumcision. Paul has spent the entire book trying to correct that belief and let them know that WE DON'T complete the process at all. The process of sanctifying us began in eternity and ends in the glorification of our bodies. There is NO part we play in it. We simply believe by faith that God will perfect us and allow His Spirit to work in us by guiding, correcting, empowering, producing the fruit of the Spirit in our bodies. In the above passage we see what could be the summary statement of the entire book. Paul tells us that our relationship with God and our relationship with the world has nothing to do with what WE DO!! He is writing to believers. He is telling us that if we want genuine peace and mercy in our lives that is for those who walk according the rule of faith. He calls faith a rule as a way of saying this is the only rule we should try to follow .. no rule at all ... simply by faith. They wanted to follow the "rules" of the law. God wanted them, and us, to follow the rule of faith.
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