The Christian: Marks of the gospel

“From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus”, (Gal. 6:17)

The letter of Paul to the Galatians is the charter of Christian freedom. The date of the writing was about A.D 49 from Antioch, prior to the Jerusalem Council (A.D50). In this profound letter, Paul proclaimed the reality of our liberty in Christ: freedom from the law and the power of sin and freedom to serve our living Lord. Paul’s purpose in the letter was to refute the Judaizers, who thought that Gentile believers must obey the Jewish law in order to be saved, and to call Christian’s to faith and freedom in Christ. He had earlier received the original gospel, as Christ personally appeared to him on the road to Damascus.

That experience, more than anything else, transformed him and his perception about the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. He saw that Christ’s death was for the good of the sinful humanity. Therefore, he noted: “for me to live is Christ and to die is gain”, (Phil. 1:21). Further, he noted about the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ: “for I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified”, (1 Corinth. 2:2). In his boldness, Paul, out of his conviction about Jesus Christ and His cross, in which by God’s grace he was a partaker, could say to those who care to listen within the Galatians Church that “From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus”, (Gal. 6:17).

Incontestably, Paul bore the marks and endured the burden of the Cross. He was no longer ashamed to be identified with Christ. The word “marks” is the Greek word stigma, which is a permanent brand. This means Paul was branded like a slave. This was a branding for his service and the Galatians saw this, when he was in Galatia. Christians should carry indelible mark of belonging to Christ. We may begin to ask: how much are we willing to pay for the cause of the gospel? Do we have the scars to prove it? Our Christianity should not be practised out of convenience rather there must be marks and brands identifying us with our Saviour. When we play save in order to attract for ourselves mundane things that are not to God’s glory, we cause the heart of God to bleed endlessly. But should it be so?

However, we may follow Paul to go through his branding: “of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeying often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watching often, in hunger and thirst, in fasting often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches” (2 Corinth 11:24-28).

It was to such a man with this branding that can call upon Galatians Church not to trouble him, for his marks were visible for the cause of Christianity. At least, he had something to show for his faith. And more profound was the fact that he was not ashamed of the gospel, (Rom. 1:16). Unfortunately today, many claim to belong to Christ, but are not willing to surrender themselves to any mark or branding that will prove it so. We may begin to ask: is it possible then to belong to Christ and not to have a cross? If the answer is yes, then our own brand of Christianity is suspect. Remember, Jesus Christ Himself, because of the sin of humanity, bore the agony and endured the shame.

The marks were visible and the Bible could not hide it, as the soldiers pierced His side “blood and water,” gushed out, (John 19:24). If not that He set out to reconcile us with the Father, He could have failed just like the first Adam. Therefore, we call upon all believers to think again and again of the brand of Christianity that they have received and practise. If it is the one that Christ stands for, then we must be willing at all times to show the marks that we bear for the spreading of the gospel.

Yes, is it intimidation, humiliation or deprivation in our places of work or where we live, whatever it is, we must be able to bear those marks to the glory of God. I am afraid that because of the turmoil and economy downturn in our nation and globally, the love of many has gone cold, (Matt. 24:12). However, it is my prayer that God in His infinite mercy once again will strengthen believers to bear present challenges with great equanimity.

Ven. Ernest Onuoha
Rector, Ibru International Ecumenical Centre, Agbarha-Otor, Delta State.
www.ibrucentre.org