Galatians (28)

Read: Galatians 6:1-7

Introduction: Around the end of may this year, Emily and I planted our garden. Some of that was done by transplanting small vegetables that had already started growing in a greenhouse. But other vegetable like green beans, zucchini, cucumbers, and beets we planted by seed. And do you know that in the last several weeks we have been harvesting green beans, zucchini, cucumbers, and beets from those seeds we planted. This shouldn’t be an amazing truth for anyone today because it is a principle of nature. When a particular seed is son, that seed will produce fruit in it’s likeness. Whatever a person sows, that he will also reap.

Main Point: There are clear consequences that distinguish a life controlled by the flesh and by the Spirit. The flesh fueled life ends in corruption. The Spirit fueled life enjoys eternity. The normal Christian life is a empowered by the Holy Spirit to do good and enjoy the future inheritance of belonging to Christ.

The true gospel that apostle Paul first preached in Galatia reveals the inevitable reality that the good work of Christ is the source of power the Holy Spirit uses to produce good work in His people. The principle of sowing and reaping as observed in the natural process of planting and harvesting is true of our relationship with God. If we are in fact new creations in Christ Jesus, then the Holy Spirit will fight against our flesh in order to produce goodness in us. Much like the sweet potatoes we planted. When we planted them we did so with the full expectation of having new sweet potatoes this fall. However, along the way there has been need for watering, weeding, and waiting for the plant to grow. In the same way God the Holy Spirit plants Himself in the heart of a believer when that person is changed into a new creation. We are born again by the Holy Sprit who causes life to enter our spiritually dead hearts. However, that is only the beginning work of the Holy Spirit because He continues to fight against our flesh in order to produce God glorifying fruit through lives.

Transition: We see this truth unfold in 6:7-10 through four observations. Principle, Point, Promise, and Perseverance.

Principle

Point

Promise

Perseverance