One Gospel (Part 6)

Tyler Hayes

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In our Freedom Demonstrate Love

Galatians 6:6-18

Scripture

Galatians 6:6-18

6 Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. 7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 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. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

11 See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. 12 It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. 14 But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which[b] the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. 16 And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.

17 From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.

18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.

Pray

As we wrap up the series help us to be encouraged by Your word

Story 1

This is our sixth and final week in our series on Galatians. This is Paul’s last chapter to the Galatians. This is the most important thing Paul has said yet.

We know that most people retain at least the last thing that we tell them, which is why we “save the best for last.” Paul saved the most important for last. In fact, he meant to leave an impact kind of like—well these guys.

[Play video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyrGuyaxLNU ]

Those guys clearly left a mark! Disclaimer: Do NOT do what they just did, especially to me. But Paul leaves the Galatians with this final chapter in which he gives them a clear call. It is important to reiterate that his clear call is after he has called them out for adding to the gospel.

Then, he gives them a clear understanding of the gospel. And he has explained why the gospel is important, perfect, and complete. Only after that does he leave them with this clear call that we are going to dig into tongiht.

Last week, we talked about the freedom Paul says we have in Christ. This morning, I want to show you what Paul says we are to do with that freedom.

Think about someone who just gets released from prison. They have received freedom. Hopefully, with that freedom they begin to do things differently than before. They don’t change the way they live to be free. They change because they are free.

The same is true with followers of Christ. Paul ends Galatians explaining how we are to live in our freedom in Christ. Let’s jump into Chapter 6.

Application 1

WALK IN CHRIST AND SINCERITY.

Galatians 6:6-8

When we look at these verses, you might think they sound a bit cryptic. But what he is saying is that they way we walk matters. He has spent the past five chapters saying that adherence to the law doesn’t save us, and without this clarification, people may begin to think that this means that the way we live doesn’t matter.

Paul is saying that there is nothing further from the truth. In chapter 5, he started this dialogue in verse 13. Here, in verse 6, he gives this responsibility to all believers, not just the leaders. He points to the motivation and sincerity of the believer. Paul warns about this in his first letter to Timothy.

1 Timothy 1:5-7

5 The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, 7 desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.

He tells us the why again. He says our aim is love, namely to demonstrate and affirm the love of Christ. We do this by walking in Christ with sincerity. Even to Timothy, Paul warns against people like the Judaizers. He says that sincerity in the faith is important, but what is also important to note is that he explains sincerity alone isn’t enough.

I’ve heard people who claim to be believers in Christ say that they don’t talk about Christ because they don’t want to offend anyone. And when pressured with a why, they say they feel if others are sincere in their beliefs, then it is OK, they still may make it to heaven.

This is CRAZY! Paul said that these people were making confident assertions about things they had no clue about. While sincerity is important, it is about more than sincerity.

2) WALK IN THE COMMANDS OF CHRIST.

Galatians 6:9-10

9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Paul says that we should not tire of doing good. When we walk in Christ with sincerity, we get to reap the reward. What reward do we get? Eternal life! Now, Paul uses the phrase “Doing good,” but what does it mean to “do good?”

He means that we walk in the commands of Christ. This should motivate us. This should drive us to walk in the right way. This is what the original church was referred to as, because Christ called Himself the Way, Truth, and Life. We should demonstrate the consistency that Christ did. Take a look at what Paul calls the Corinthians to.

1 CORINTHIANS 15:58

58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

He said they were to be immovable. I don’t know about you guys, but I,more often than not, am all kinds of movable. But is “eternal life” supposed to be our own motivation? My hope is that if it started that way, it won’t always be. If it is it isn’t a leap to see you making the blessings of God your god, which is idolatry. Just sayin”.

Story 2

Supporting Scripture

Application 2

3) RECOGNIZE WHOM YOU ARE/WERE.

Galatians 6:11-14

11 See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. 12 It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. 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.

Up until this point, Paul had been dictating the letter. Now, he takes the pen, and as a way of saying this is IMPORTANT, began to—in today’s terms—write in bold, underlined italics. He defines the differences between a follower of Jesus and those who are slaves to the Law.

He goes on to compare himself. He defines who he is in Christ versus who he was. He was once one of those guys who tried to justify himself in the Law and the flesh, but now he says he is crucified to the world.

1 PETER 2:9-10

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Peter clearly defines this for believers. He defines who we are in Christ and who we were without Him. Through this, we should be motivated to offer the gift of grace to everyone we come in contact with.

4) GRACE IS DEMONSTRATED IN LOVE THROUGH CHRIST.

Galatians 6:15-18

15 For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. 16 And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. 17 From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.

Paul clears things up here in case we are still lost. He makes clear his goal is to reveal that Christ is key. He clarifies that salvation is by grace through faith. In that we are called to demonstrate the grace and love of Christ through our actions. This defines us as the “Israel” of God

Matthew 5:14-16

14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Paul clears things up with a call for the believers to whom he has written to share this message as the light of the world. This is the exact charge Christ gave in the Sermon on the Mount. So, in the freedom we have in Christ, let’s demonstrate the grace of Christ in love.