Lesson for November 17, 2021
The Book of Galatians
Paul’s Final Words to Timothy
Galatians 6:1-10
“Brothers and sisters, even if a person is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual are to restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you are not tempted as well. Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the Law of Christ. For if anyone thinks that he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting, but to himself alone, and not to another. For each one will bear his own load. The one who is taught the Word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him. Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a person sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will reap destruction from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. Let’s not become discouraged in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not become weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let’s do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.”
Having established the difference between life under the control of the Holy Spirit and life under the control of the sin nature, Paul encouraged the believers in Galatia, who were living their spiritual lives, to restore those who had been led astray by the Judaizers. Paul also gave them some instructions on how to do this. First, Paul said that those who are spiritual (spiritually mature) are to do the restoring. Second, he said it was to be done in a spirit of gentleness (kindness). Thirdly, Paul said to be careful not to get caught up in their error (not tempted as well). This takes a lot of doctrine in the soul for a person to fulfill the requirements of being “a restorer.”
Brothers and sisters, even if a person is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual are to restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you are not tempted as well.The Greek word for caught is “prolambano” meaning to be overtaken unaware. The Greek word for wrongdoing is “paraptoma” and means a false step, a blunder, or a failure to achieve. Together the phrase even if a person is caught in any wrongdoing means the Judaizers were catching these believers off guard. The only way this could have happened was these believers were neglecting their spiritual lives and were therefore susceptible to being deceived.
The Greek word for restore is “katartizo” and means to repair, to restore to a former good condition, to prepare, to fit out or to equip. The spiritually mature believers were to assist the out- of-fellowship believers in returning to fellowship with God by reminding them how to restore their fellowship and grace orietation, but only if they wanted the help. And it was to be done in a spirit of gentleness by those who were spiritually mature. The Greek word for gentleness is “prautes,” which means kindness toward others.
The final instruction from Paul was to be on their guard against getting caught up in this false doctrine (each one looking to yourself, so that you are not tempted as well). The Greek word for looking is “skopeo” meaning to be attentive, to fix your attention upon or to give heed to. Paul knew full well that even the most spiritually mature believers could be deceived into believing false doctrine and must constantly be on guard.
Bearing one another’s burdens. Paul went on to say that they should be concerned about their fellow believers and want to help them. Helping means to exhibit impersonal love by assisting a fellow believer in returning to a relationship with God, but only if they want the help. The Law of Christ is fulfilled by living by grace and exhibiting unconditional love toward everyone.
For if anyone thinks that he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Paul explained that believers who had the conceited idea that they were superior to these believers who were following the false teachers were deceiving themselves. An attitude of superiority was not what was needed. These out-of-fellowship believers needed impersonal love and kindness from the spiritually mature believers who were going to assist them in restoring their spiritual lives. The right attitude when dealing with another person who needs our spiritual help and/or advice should not be a judgmental or a superior attitude, but one of humility.
But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting, but to himself alone, and not to another. As believers we are all to examine our own spiritual lives and make the proper adjustments when necessary. The Greek word for boast is “katakauchaomai” means to rejoice or to be joyful. If our spiritual lives are healthy, then we have reason to rejoice (boast) to ourselves, but certainly not to others, which would be arrogance. For each one will bear his own load. We are each responsible for knowing the condition of our spiritual lives. We certainly cannot assist another believer in restoring their spiritual life (bearing one another’s burdens) if our spiritual life is not in order.
The one who is taught the Word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him. The Greek word for share is “koinoneo,” which means to have things in common. Paul exhorted these believers who had been taught the Word of God by him (the one who teaches) to have things in common (accurate doctrine) with him and those who had taught them the Word of God accurately. What the Judaizers were teaching was not the truth from the Word of God. Those believers who had followed the false teachings of the Judaizers were sharing in their false teaching.
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a person sows, this he will also reap.For the one who sows to his own flesh will reap destruction from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit.Paul’s assessment was that these believers would reap exactly what they were sowing, by associating with the false teachers. Continual association with the Judaizers would lead to the destruction of their spiritual lives.
The Greek word for destruction is “phthora” and means to bring into an inferior or worse condition. This would describe these believers who were out of fellowship with God and being controlled by their sin nature (flesh). Believers who sow to the Holy Spirit will reap the benefits of eternal life (both now and in eternity). This would describe the believer in fellowship with God and filled with the Holy Spirit.
Let’s not become discouraged in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not become weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let’s do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith. Notice that Paul includes himself when he said not to give up on these believers who were following the false teachers. There was a solution to the problem, which was to encourage them to return to the teaching of grace. Paul recognized the family relationship they had as members of the body of Christ and his desire was for them to be restored to fellowship with God.
Galatians 6:11-18
“See with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand! All who want to make a good showing in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised, simply so that they will not be persecuted for the Cross of Christ. For those who are circumcised do not even keep the Law themselves, but they want to have you circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh. But far be it from me to boast, except in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. And those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. From now on let no one cause trouble for me, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers, and sisters. Amen.”
Paul expressed the urgency of his desire for these out of fellowship believers by telling them that he had personally penned the letter to them. Remember that Paul had major eye problems and normally he dictated his letters to another person.
All who want to make a good showing in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised, simply so that they will not be persecuted for the Cross of Christ. For those who are circumcised do not even keep the Law themselves, but they want to have you circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh.If these false teachers could have persuaded the church to believe their false doctrine, they would be able to boast to the Jewish community of their accomplishment. Paul wanted these believers to recognize the deceitful plot and avoid it. What they should be boasting in was not the keeping of the Law, which had no salvation or spirituality benefits, but the Cross of Christ, which did have salvation and spirituality benefits. If the Judaizers could convince these believers to keep the Law of Moses, they could brag to the Jews and not be persecuted by those who had sent them to the churches to spread their false teaching.
For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. Being a new creation in Christ had nothing to do with keeping the Law of Moses. Once these Galatians believed in Christ, they became members of the family of God, along with believing Jews. It is the creation in Christ that secures eternal life for anyone who believes in Him, not keeping the Law. And after salvation, being a new creation in Christ means a person has the potential for having a spiritual life based entirely on grace and not the Law.
And those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. The Greek word for walk is “stoicheo,” which means to align with or to walk in a straight line. Paul consistently used this concept throughout his epistles as an analogy for the Christian Way of Life. If the true (spiritual) Israel of God (the Church), would align themselves with who they really were as Royal Family of God, they would experience the peace of God and the mercy (grace in action) of God in their daily lives.
From now on let no one cause trouble for me, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. Paul concluded this letter with a plea to the Galatian believers not to add to “the marks” that he already bore in his body for the sake of Christ. Remember that Paul had been stoned, beaten, shipwrecked and much more because of his zeal for the Gospel of Christ. These Galatian believers were adding additional grief to Paul’s life by rejecting the teaching of grace.