Liberty Brings Responsibility

Introduction

We have made it all the way through the book of Galatians. We are on the last chapter.

Today we are talking about the responsibilities of freedom that come with the freedoms we have talked about throughout this book.

Galatians 6

Galatians 6 NIV

1 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. 4 Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, 5 for each one should carry their own load. 6 Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor. 7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. 11 See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand! 12 Those who want to impress people by means of the flesh are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 Not even those who are circumcised keep the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your circumcision in the flesh. 14 May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation. 16 Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule—to 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 and sisters. Amen.

Pray

Responsibilities we have but they themselves are a type of freedom. A freedom from Doing it all by yourself.

Freedom from doing it all by yourself.

You are not alone.

At times in our lives we say, “I need some time to myself”. And we do sometimes to think, to rest, to collect ourselves.

But what we don’t mean is I want to be all alone as I walk this road of life. We want, Need, to be with people. The though of actually being alone makes us shiver, as sends fear though us.

The Christian walk is a shared journey. We do not walk alone; others walk with us.

In this section Paul is giving us some guidance for our journey together. He says we are to bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

1 cor 12:26

1 Corinthians 12:26 NIV

26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

The new life we have been born into through Christ is a shared life.

I was reading though my commentaries and I came across this statement in the Preacher’s Commentary Series.

The Greek word used to describe the shared life of the people of God was koinonia. Our best word for it in English is “fellowship,” but this is far too limited to encompass the meaning of the Greek. Koinonia means sharing, all kinds of sharing: sharing in friendship (Acts 2:42), being partners in the gospel (Phil. 1:5), sharing material possessions (2 Cor. 8:4), having fellowship in Christ (1 Cor. 1:9), and sharing life together in the Spirit (2 Cor. 13:14). Above all, koinonia is fellowship with God. “That which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you may have fellowship” (koinonia, 1 John 1:3)—that life we share with the Father and his Son Jesus Christ.

In koinonia we are bound to each other, to Christ, and to God. Our life is a shared life, we bear one another’s burdens.

That is amazing. We are bound to each other. To often we hear share burdens and we turn to of financial need. And sometimes we feel like I got burdens of my own I can’t get out of. How am I to share the burdens with others. It is so much more than just financial.

It is learning to listen. When we hear each other we say you are important.

It is being available to one another. Doesn’t mean you don’t have healthy boundaries. but that we are here for one another, available in love. We are honest, willing to listen and share ourselves.

It’s loving your neighbor as yourself.

Paul doesn’t end there

Freedom from comparing yourself to others

We shouldn’t think more of ourselves, but that doesn’t mean you are a doormat. Christian humility is not a graveling stance. It is a recognition of your weaknesses and limitations, but that also Christ strengthens us. It is also a recognition that you know your strengths as well.

Don’t deceive yourself with a self defeating. but rejoice in yourself.

Do not compare yourself with someone else. You are you, you have your own load to carry, but you are not alone.

It says you cannot mock God, He cannot be hoodwinked. If you are not sharing the burden he will know. but if you are not carrying your own He will know.

So let us not tire of doing what is right.

Freedom to Choose

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 6

For whatever a person sows he will also reap, 8 because the one who sows to his flesh will reap destruction from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirita will reap eternal lifeb from the Spirit. 9 Let us not get tiredc of doing good,d for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us worke for the goodf of all, especially for those who belong to the householdg of faith.h

You are judged by your actions. if you sow flesh you get flesh. if you sew Godly you will get life.

To live is to choose. You have the Choose

You are free to walk in life or walk in the path of distraction. And life is directed by the chooses we make.

Freedom from the law

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 6

11 Look at what large letters I use as I write to you in my own handwriting. 12 Those who want to make a good impression in the fleshi are the ones who would compel you to be circumcisedj—but only to avoid being persecutedk for the crossl of Christ. 13 For even the circumcised don’t keepm the law themselves, and yet they want you to be circumcised in order to boast about your flesh. 14 But as for me, I will never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. The world has been crucified to me through the cross, and I to the world. 15 ForA both circumcision and uncircumcisionn mean nothing; what matters instead is a new creation.o 16 May peace come to all those who follow this standard, and mercy even to the Israelp of God!B

Next Steps

Christ has freed us.

Are you free

ABC

Free from Law

Free from Comparing yourself to other

Free from Rambo syndrome

Are you open

Pray

Bibliography

The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Volume 31: Galatians / Ephesians / Philippians / Colossians / Philemon (Chapter Six: The Shared Life of the People of God)