Galatians 6
Randy ®
Theme: Salvation is by grace, not works.
3. Because the Spirit gives victory over sin (5-6)
B. Through the Spirit, we bear the fruit of love (5:13 -
6:18)
1. By restoring brothers who sin (1)
2. By bearing other's burdens (2-5)
3. By doing good to all men (6-10)
Although Christ frees us from the Law and its curse, believers
should use this freedom to serve one another in love, rather
than sin (cf. 5:13). Chapter six continues this theme,
showing ways to serve in love.
1. By restoring brother's who sin (1). The picture, here, is
of a brother running from but overtaken by a faster sin.
Believers who are "spiritual", should try to restore such. The
concept of being "spiritual" seems to denote one who is led by
the Spirit rather than the flesh (cf. 5:16-26). This includes
being meek (1b), lest the one trying to restore also become
tempted. In 1 Corinthians 4:21, Paul contrasts coming to the
Corinthians with an iron rod of correction, with meekness.
Matthew 11:29, Ephesians 4:2, and Colossians 3:12 associate
meekness with being lowly, humble, kind, patient, and self
controlled. 1 Corinthians 2:6-16 also describes a "spiritual"
person as one who appraises "all things" by the wisdom of
God's Word, rather than the wisdom of the world. Those who are
spiritual should restore sinning brothers.
2. By bearing other's burdens (2-5). The word "burden", here,
means a "heavy, crushing load". We should help those who are
carrying more pressures than they can handle. To engage in
this kind of ministry, one first needs to lay aside arrogant
pride. Rather than compare himself to the person under the
heavy burden, and conclude he is better, a burden bearer
should evaluate his own actions independently (3-4). The
"load" everyone must carry for themselves is a different kind
of load than the one which requires help from others. This
load is only the "pack" of a marching soldier, which Christ
promised would be light (Matthew 11:30).
3. By doing good to all men (6-10). To those who teach us the
Word of God, we should share "all good things. This may refer
to giving money or other goods to those who minister in
teaching us God's Word. The phrase, "God is not mocked" means
He is not "snubbed". That is, no one can "turn their nose up"
at God. What one sows, he reaps. If one sows to the sinful
nature, he will reap corruption. If he sows to the Spirit, he
will reap "eternal life". This doesn't mean one can earn
salvation, but that the Spirit, "in due season" (9) will bear
the fruit of Christ's eternal nature in the life of the
believer who yields to Him by faith. The principle of sowing
and reaping seems to refer back to the matter about yielding
to the Spirit rather than the flesh (7-8) (5:16-26), but also
to sharing all good things with those who teach (6), and the
following verses about doing good to all men, but especially
other believers (9-10).
Verses 11-18 give the closing summary, in which Paul again
urges the Galatians to avoid those teachers and gospels which
promote the addition of works to faith as a term of salvation.
The scars Paul bore for preaching salvation by grace, through
faith, apart from works, confirm his confidence was in Christ
alone, and not human merit. He commends us to the grace of
Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
--
Have you heard Christ died for our sins, and God raised Him
from the dead? Did you know God saves you from hell and
gives you eternal life through faith in this finished work alone,
not your merits (Jn. 3:16; 1 Cor. 15:1-3; Eph. 2:8-10; 2 Thess.
1:8-9)? This is so man cannot boast, and God alone gets the
glory (Eph. 2:8-9).
______________________________________________
www.faithguard.org
www.twitter.com/faithguard
www.facebook.com/faithguard
______________________________________________