6:12
Paul then makes a direct attack on the Judaisers, calling them out for what they were. Those advocating circumcision were (i) trying to make a name for themselves; and (ii) trying to avoid persecution (by the Jews). This is so different from the way we treat opponents of the gospel today. We are far too willing to give them credit where none is due. A little more direct confrontation (verbal!) would be in order.
6:13
We have been called to freedom. The obvious danger is that we misuse this freedom, as is the case with all freedoms. We could use it as an excuse to sin without consequence (though we would quickly find that that is not the case, sin always has consequences, and the gospel does not change that). The opposite danger is that in rightly seeking to avoid that misuse of freedom we bind ourselves up with many rules, and churches or groups within churches have done that on many occasions throughout history. That does not work either. The freedom that God gives us is the freedom to live as we should live, to live for God and for each other, as the two greatest commandments say. So we take the focus of ourselves and here we are urged to serve one another.
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