Galatians 6

Greeting brother and sisters,

Galatians 6 offers many closing comments and exhortations. Believers in the body of Christ are to keep an eye on each other (and themselves), restore each other, bear each other's burdens, and bear fruit that comes from the Spirit.

The memory passage for chapter 6 is
Galatians 6:1-2, 8-9, 14 (ESV)
¹ Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. ² Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
⁸ For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. ⁹ And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
¹⁴ But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

The outline theme is The Gospel Bears Burdens and Fruit

Verses 1 and 2 offer a succinct outline for dealing with brothers or sisters who are 'caught in' sin. While there is some debate as to the interpretation of 'caught in', the bottom line is clear; sin in the life of a brother or sister has become evident, and the first response of 'those who are spiritual' should be to help restore the person. I get the impression (from those much smarter than me) that this sin would not be in the category of wicked, wanton rebellion and rejection of God and the church. It seems that these sins are the 'lesser sins of weakness' (Luther) that cause us to trip in our walk with the Lord. There are other passages in the Scriptures for exerting church discipline for more egregious offenses.

The following warning belongs in the same breath as the previous exhortation; 'as you're walking with the brother, don't let yourself be tempted in their sin or your own weakness'. This could manifest in pride, arrogance, legalism, or any other vice that lies at the knife-edge of the flesh/Spirit conflict. There are burdens we are not meant to (and cannot) bear alone. We have a ministry and responsibility to 'one another' to obey Christ and work together.

While at a cursory glance the next section may seem to contradict the previous statement, it is clear that it simply clarifies and augments the principles already laid out. Verse 3 is a statement that encourages humility; not a low opinion of one's self, but a right one. Don't compare yourself or your own growth to anyone else. We each have a burden the we MUST bear on our own; the burden of Christ. While He promises that it is light and easy (Matt 11:30), it is still our cross to bear. In our growth to be more like Christ, our's is to walk in the Spirit (Gal 5:16), cast of works of darkness and put on the armor of light (Rom 13:12), deny ourselves and take up our cross daily (Luke 9:23), be submissive as slaves of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God (1 Cor 4:1) and so on. We have a responsibility to faithfulness and obedience for we will each stand before Christ to give an account of our own actions.

While there are some widely-applicable principles in the next few verses, the original purpose appears to be the support of those in full-time ministry. 'Sharing all good things' is described as 'sowing to the Spirit' for eternal reward by blessing and supporting ministers. Selfishness concerning support of 'one who teaches' is condemned as 'sowing to the flesh'. But sowing to the flesh in any context leads to corruption; just as sowing to the Spirit leads to treasures in heaven.

What a simple plea; 'let us not grow weary of doing good'. To all people, and especially to those in the body of Christ, doing good is a good thing. Sowing good blessings to people will also reap eternal reward.

Paul's personal closing begins with another condemnation of the Judaizers. In order to look good in front of others, some people want you to be circumcised. By adding this to the cross, they avoid having to share in the suffering of Christ and can boast to others that they won you.

Verse 14 clears it up; 'But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.' There is nothing to add to the cross, and we can stand on nothing else. The world and its ways are dead to me, and I am dead to its ways. The life I now live on this earth, I live by faith in the Son of God (2:20), for I am a new creation that does not depend on circumcision or anything of the flesh.

How does this affect my worship?
Where we put our boast matters greatly. If we boast, actively or passively, in anything but the LORD, it is empty, worthless and wasted. Let the one who boasts boast in the LORD and His work on the cross that bought us redemption, adoption and glorification. In worship, may my boast be only from Him, through Him, and to Him.

How does this affect my discipleship?
Verses 1-5 describe the essentialness of relationships in discipleship. What better way to enact this restoration than in a network of intertwined disciples. If the body of Christ is active in disciple-making, there will eventually be so many interwoven (knit) relationships in the church that the process of confrontation, admonition, exhortation and restoration will occur more naturally and more effectively. There are burdens we all must bear ourselves (our cross, our obedience, our walk, etc) but there are many we are to bear together in the body of Christ. It's no surprise that a result of obeying His command to make disciples leads to more effective working of the body.

May you walk in obedience to the Greatest Commands and the Great Commission.

Ethan