Galatians 6:1-10: 1: "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2: Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. 3: For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. 4: But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 5: For every man shall bear his own burden. 6: Let him that is taught in the Word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. 7: Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8: For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 9: And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. 10: As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith."In this chapter, the apostle Paul is giving the Christians in Galatia a reminder that they are all brothers in Christ, they are all members of the body of Christ, and they are obligated to have a spirit of Christian charity (love) for one another and to demonstrate that love.
Where a spirit of bitterness and criticism exists, we know that, for the time being at least, the one who manifests that disposition has lost the sense of his debtorship to the grace of God.
Verse 1: "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted."
Paul is giving the people instructions on how a brother who has failed, without intention to sin, should be treated. His advice is directed to those who are spiritual to kindly consider the act and encourage their brother to mend his ways and be restored to fellowship with man and God. He warned them to keep in mind that they, too, might at some later time, be guilty of a fault. It’s easy for those who haven’t faced that particular temptation to find fault with him, particularly if his fault is one that brings discredit on the testimony of the Lord.
If correction is suggested in the spirit of meekness, it can bring about restitution. But, a critical spirit will make it more difficult for the one who failed and may drive him deeper into sin. A loving, tender word and a gracious effort can help him to recover.
Verse 2: "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ." The law of Christ is the law of love, and love seeks to help others in their distress and share the load with them. We are to have a mutual concern for others, that should be the character of every believer.
Verse 3: "for if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself." If anyone thinks that giving such service is beneath his dignity, he is showing how selfish he really is.
Verses 4-5: "But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 5: For every man shall bear his own burden."
Each one should recognize his own individual responsibility to God, and be certain that his work is in accordance with God's revealed mind and according to His Word.
An obedient walk will bring the joy that comes from fellowship with God and doesn’t depend on others for happiness. It’s a Scriptural principle that each man must bear his own responsibility, and this is the meaning of “his own burden” in verse 5.
Verse 6: "Let him that is taught in the Word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things." If God used another believer to help me in the way of life, I should be glad to do what I can to be of help and assistance to someone else. This can mean preachers, missionaries, mentors, Sunday School teachers and anyone else who helps us to follow God’s instructions. We are to support them with our finances, verbal encouragement, physical help, and in any other way we are able. These things are not a sacrifice on our part, they are a privilege.
Verse 7-8: "Be not deceived, God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap. 8: For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting."
This is so self-evident that it needs no emphasis. How often we fail and then hope that in some strange manner our willful sins will be overruled and the fruits of righteousness will come to us instead. But whether it’s an unsaved person or a Christian who is failing, we reap what we sow. It’s very important that we walk carefully before God, not allowing ourselves any license that is unbecoming to one who acknowledges the Lordship of Christ.
When the Lord returns and we meet Him at the judgment-seat of Christ, we’ll reap according to what we sowed. They who live for God now will receive a rich reward then. Those who yielded to the flesh and were occupied with things that didn’t glorify God will suffer loss, but not the loss of their salvation.
Verse 9: "Let us not be weary in well doing. For in due season we shall reap if we faint not." This is a sure promise. That which is of the Spirit will be rewarded at the Judgment Seat of Christ. We are warned that, after having begun in the Spirit, we are not to seek to finish in the flesh as was the case of these Galatians.
Verse 10: "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith." Having been so wondrously dealt with by Christ in the mercy and lovingkindness He has shown toward us, how can we do anything other than seek to do the same to others? This is living on a higher plane than law. It’s the liberty that the Holy Spirit gives to all who recognize the Lordship of Christ.
GLORYING IN THE CROSS GALATIANS 6: 11-18
Galatians 6:11-18 "Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand. 12: As many as desire to make a fair show in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. 13: For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. 14: But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. 15: For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. 16: And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. 17: From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus. 18: Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen."
Ordinarily the apostle dictated his letters to another person. They wrote them and he signed them and sent them on. In this case, he wrote it himself. It is not actually a large letter. When compared with the letter to the Romans this is a very short one. Other scriptures suggest that he may of had some kind of affliction with his eyes and was not able to see well.
Verse 12: "As many as desire to make a fair show in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised." When people take legal ground and tell you that salvation is by human effort, they themselves never live up to their own profession. Did you ever see a man who always did the best he could do? You know you and I have failed over and over again, even in those things we knew were right and in things we knew we should not have done.
To talk about being saved by doing the best you can is absurd. No man has ever done his best, except our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Verse 14:"But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world." When he wrote of "the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ," he was thinking of all that is involved in the crucifixion of the Savior. The cross of Christ is the measure of man's hatred to God. When man did his worst, God did His best. When man said, "Away with Him!" God accepted Him as the substitute for sinners, and the judgment that our sins deserved fell on Him. When Paul says, "I glory in the cross of our Lord Jesus," he means, I glory in the love that sinless Jesus gave when He died for me, a sinner.
Verse 15: "For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature." Here is real circumcision. Circumcision was an ordinance that signified the death of the flesh. The believer, through the cross, has passed out of the old creation, and is now a new creation of which Christ is the glorified Head. God wants us to keep in that state of mind where Christ is owned as Head and Lord.
Verse 16: "As many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, And upon the Israel of God." And then he adds that we, who are a new creation, are to walk (live our lives) accordingly as “ new creatures in Christ Jesus.” We will never attain perfection in this life, but God never forgets His own.
The phrase, "the Israel of God" refers to the true Israel, it includes only those of God's earthly people who accept the testimony of God and have trusted in the Savior God has provided.
"They are not all Israel, which are of Israel" (Romans 9: 6). Being born of the seed of Abraham does not make a man a son of Abraham. And being born of Israel does not make a man an Israelite of God. He must have the faith of Abraham to be blessed with faithful Abraham, and he must receive the Savior who came through Israel if he is going to be a true Israelite of God.
Verse 17: "From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus." What did he mean by that? His very body had been wounded many times in his service for Jesus. He was stoned at Lystra, he was beaten with many stripes on several occasions, he was bitten on the hand by a poisonous snake, all wounds gained in his service for Jesus Christ, but he glories in these things and says, "I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus." Paul could look to Isaiah 53 and find comfort in what our Lord went through for our sins and gratefully bear his own wounds gained while telling others of his wonderful Savior, Jesus Christ. “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him;”
Paul closes this epistle without any salutations. Most of his letters contain greetings to various people, but here he doesn’t send any special message to any individual.
They had been playing fast and loose with the things of God and making a mockery of salvation by faith alone. There would be nothing gained by sending cordial salutations to the brethren in Christ as though nothing had happened to hinder their fellowship. He does, however, ask the Lord to be with their spirit. He knew that, in spite of their present falling away, their salvation could not be lost and the believers in Galatia would some day join him in glory.
Verse 18: "Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen." My prayer for you is that every one who reads this message will come to know Jesus Christ as their Savior and will join all other believers in the enjoyment of the “grace of our Lord Jesus Christ!”
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