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

Galatians 5

Grace to you and peace,

In Galatians chapter 5, Paul deals with freedom and fruit; who we are in Christ and how that should (or should not) be reflected in our lives.

The memory passage for chapter 5 is

Galatians 5:1,16,22-24 (ESV)
¹ For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

¹⁶ But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. ²⁴ And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

The outline theme is the Gospel of Freedom and Fruit

One of the main themes is stated in the first sentence, ‘For freedom Christ has set us free’. Free from what? It seems that some of the believers were enslaving themselves back into a form of Judaism or other legalistic practice that was contrary to their freedom in Christ. Paul’s firm rebuke of them included phrases like ‘severed from Christ’ and ‘fallen from grace’. There is no advantage to circumcision (Judaism) or anything else that you try to add to Christ. Only through the Spirit, by faith, do we have access to the true righteousness (5) which works itself out through love.

Even if they were ‘running well’ in their Christian faith, someone was allowed in to derail their growth. While Paul, or anyone else, could not fully punish these false teachers, we are assured that God will.

Verses 11 and 12 are convicting. The offense of the cross of Christ is by nature a stumbling block (GK ‘skandalon’) to unbelievers. It creates a clear line between those who trust and follow Christ and those who do not. It practically invites persecution and opposition, just as Jesus Himself did. Where Paul to mix in some Judaism or anything else (for concession), it might lessen the persecution but would betray Christ. “So, for those of you who think that you can add to the cross by circumcision, wouldn’t it follow naturally that castration would add even more?” I wonder if there were any takers on this line of reason.

The source of our freedom is Christ, but the outlet for our freedom is serving others. Freedom in Christ is not license for the flesh, but the conduit for obedience to the heart of the law; ‘love your neighbor as yourself’.

The second main theme begins in verse 16; ‘walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.’ Paul skillfully contrasts the workings of the Spirit versus the nature of the flesh. They are constantly opposed to each other at the deepest level; one to enslave us in sin, the Other to free us through sanctification.

The following list containing the works of the flesh include sexual, religious, societal, and social sins. Paul covers his list with the blanket of inclusion, ‘and things like these’, to avoid justification for a sin not specifically mentioned. The truth is that the works of the flesh are evident, or obvious. The warning is the same as in 1 Cor 6; ‘those who practice these will not inherit the kingdom of God’.

The next few verses speak for themselves;

Galatians 5:22-25 (ESV)
²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. ²⁴ And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.

How does this affect my worship?

Worship, whether leading or participating, can easily become more about me and less about Him. The desire of the flesh is to draw attention to ourselves; how talented I am, how well I sing, how much I ‘really mean it’, or how I get into it. Works of worship that do not glorify God and God only are works by the flesh, for the flesh. I feel like a CD stuck on repeat (broken record for those of you older than 30 J) but the only true expression of worship MUST come from God. Only walking in the Spirit, yielding to His guidance and relying on His power, can we truly offer a worthy sacrifice of praise.

How does this affect my discipleship?

My form or system must not be ‘added to’ the cross as I disciple others. God may use a form or system as a tool, but that is not the source or the measure of a disciple’s growth. Only He changes a heart, and only He grows us in maturity. Lord, please help me never rely on or hold tightly to a system or form that adds to ‘Christ and Him crucified’.

May you walk more in the Spirit and less in the flesh today,

Ethan