You must be in fellowship prior to your Bible study, so that the spiritual information you receive can become a source, of blessing to your soul and produce spiritual growth.
17 From
henceforth [loipou] let [parecho] no man [medeis] trouble [parecho] me [kopos][moi]: for [gar] I [ego] bear [bastazo] in [en] my [mou] body [soma] the marks [stigma] of the Lord [kurios] Jesus [Iesous]. KJV-Interlinear
17 From now
on let no one cause trouble for me, for I bear on my body the brand-marks of
Jesus. NASB
There are a couple of words that are important to understand in this verse, in order to properly understand the entire verse and what Paul is saying.
Henceforth, ‘loipou,’ means never again. It does not mean and therefore, as in a conclusion. It does not mean and finally, as in making a closing argument. It means never again, as in something can never again occur.
Second, Paul states that ‘in’ his body, not on his body, are the marks of Jesus, ‘Iesous,’ meaning God is salvation, and using the word, Lord, ‘kurios,’ meaning the supreme authority.
Therefore, Jesus is God. Jesus is the supreme authority. Jesus is the source and means of salvation.
And, from the previous verses, we know that in Christ, who is Jesus, by the way, we are made a new spiritual species in accordance with the plan and process designed and defined and provided by God.
And on that, no man, no person, no angel, no created being can bring trouble, ‘parecho,’ cannot present it, can’t bring it, can’t offer it, can’t bring it near, can’t keep it, cannot affect or impact the life of a new spiritual being, in whom are the marks and works of Christ.
Marks are not holes in the body, not whip marks across the back, not cuts on the head, lest any fool would try to imitate self-mutilation, which would be nothing more than a poor imitation of mans works.
To imitate Christ, is to create in the soul, the spiritual life that God has designed.
Marks on the body are as worthless as a physical body is worthless when it is left behind after death has claimed the person.
The Judaizers who had been promoting false teachings with regard to works, and because of whom this letter to the Galatians was written, had claimed a marriage with Christ, but by false means.
Salvation in effect marries the believer with God through Christ. And as we have already studied, the body or the essence of the spouses belongs to each other. One cannot claim marriage and then withhold themselves from their spouse, demanding that their spouse abide by the marital vows, while they do not. That is a double standard.
In the spiritual life, the believer belongs to Christ, but cannot claim Christ while refusing to abide by the mandates of the scriptures. God honors his word in you. If it is not in you legitimately, then there is nothing to honor. No honor, no blessings to speak of.
The Judaizers claimed that works were required, while the truth is, that works are not a part of this divine relationship.
And once a person has believed in Christ, in the correct manner, which is by believing in Christ, then no one can remove that. No one can make you do something more, and have any impact on your spiritual life.
The marks of Christ ‘in’ you, are accomplished by doctrine in the soul and the proper application of that doctrine to your life. Salvation is the beginning of that entire and lifelong process.
This is eternal security. You cannot ever lose your salvation.
You can only make your spiritual experience better by complying with Gods mandate for pursuing your spiritual life in the manner that He has designed. Pursuing works or ignoring Gods mandates is nothing more than an insult, by claiming something that is not a part of the relationship, and rejecting something that should be a part of the relationship.
