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Our message this morning addresses the question, “How do I know I’m walking by the Spirit?”
In Galatians 5:16-25, Paul has described both the Christian conflict between the flesh and the Spirit, and the way of victory through crucifying the flesh and living by the Spirit!
Galatians 5:26-6:5 describes PRACTICAL RESULTS of this victory!
It concerns our personal relationships—especially with fellow-believers!
This is plain from the exhortations of (vv.25-26)!
What is CLEAR is this: The first and great evidence of our living by the Spirit is NOT some private mystical experience, but our practical relationships of love with other people!
It’s easy to TALK about “love” in an abstract and general way; it is much harder to consider concrete, particular situations in which we actually demonstrate love for one another.
It is some of these practical situations which Paul now unfolds.
He tells us HOW, if we are living by the Spirit, we SHALL and SHALL NOT behave towards each other!
READ TEXT - Galatians 5:25-6:5
I. How Believers Should NOT Treat One Another - (5:26)
This is a very instructive verse because it shows that our conduct to others is determined by our opinion of ourselves!
It is when we are “conceited” that we provoke and envy one another.
“Conceited” is from κενόδοξοι, which denotes someone who has an opinion of themselves that is empty, vain, or false.
They are cherishing an illusion of themselves!
“A legend in their own minds!”
When we are conceited, our relationships with other people are bound to be poisoned!
For this reason, according to Paul, when we are conceited, we tend to do one of two things:
We PROVOKE one another!
προκαλούμενοι means to “challenge” somebody to a contest.
It implies that we are so sure of our superiority that we want to demonstrate it!
We ENVY one another!
Which is the opposite of provoking!
If we know we are inferior to somebody, we envy their gifting or attainments!
What an accurate description of walking in the flesh!
If we regard ourselves as superior, we challenge them in order to prove our superiority!
If we regard them as superior to us, we envy them!
In BOTH cases our attitude is due to “conceit,” to having such a fantasy opinion of ourselves that we cannot bear rivals!
How very different are the attitudes we exhibit when we live by the Spirit!
The Holy Spirit opens our eyes to see both our own sin and unworthiness, as well as the importance and value of others in the sight of God!
II.
How Believers SHOULD Treat One Another - (6:1-5)
In (vv.1-5), there are THREE imperative verbs (restore, carry, and examine) which provide a clear picture of how we should treat one another!
Remember that imperatives are not suggestions; they are commands!
A. Believers have a responsibility to RESTORE brothers and sisters overtaken in wrongdoing - (v.1)
(v.1a) “Brothers and sisters, if someone is overtaken...”
Someone being “overtaken” in the act of sinning is inevitable.
The best-known instance is the woman caught in adultery (John 8), (which I believe was a set-up because the man somehow evaded accusation).
Paul gives clear instructions for such a situation.
He tells us who is to do it; what to do; and how it is to be done!
WHO is to do it!
- “…you who are spiritual”
Based on our context, a person who is “spiritual” is the one living by, and keeping in step with the Spirit!
WHAT is to be done!
- “…restore such a person”
καταρτίζετε - means to put in order, to restore to its former condition.
It was a medical term for setting a fractured or dislocated bone!
It was used in (Mark 1:19) of the apostles who were mending their nets!
NOTICE how positive this instruction is!
If we find someone doing something wrong, we are not to stand by and do nothing on the pretext that it is none of our business, or that we shouldn’t be involved.
Nor do we despise or condemn them in our hearts, and if they suffer, say, “Serves ‘em right!”
Nor, are we to report him or her to the Pastor, or gossip about them (being a tattle-tale is NOT a spiritual gift)!
We are to RESTORE them!
“What do I do to restore them?” - (Matthew 18:15-17)
HOW it should be done!
- “…with a gentle spirit, watching out for yourselves so that you also won’t be tempted.”
This delicate situation must be approached carefully, cautiously, and humbly!
B. Believers have a responsibility to CARRY ONE ANOTHER’S BURDENS - (vv.2-3)
1.
The PRINCIPLE - (v.2)
Notice the ASSUMPTION behind this command: we ALL have burdens and God does not mean for us to carry them alone!
According to Scripture, we have two burden-bearers:
GOD!
GOD’S FAMILY (the Church)! - (v.2)
(2 Corinthians 7:5–7)
In fact, when we came into Macedonia, we had no rest.
Instead, we were troubled in every way: conflicts on the outside, fears within.
But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the arrival of Titus, and not only by his arrival but also by the comfort he received from you.
He told us about your deep longing, your sorrow, and your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more.
Friendship/fellowship, in which we carry one another’s burdens, is part of the purpose of God for His people!
Both in the sharing and carrying such burdens, we “…fulfill the law of Christ.”
2. The PROBLEM - (v.3)
The implication seems to be that if we DO NOT or WILL NOT carry one another’s burdens, it because we think we are above it!
I think this is the way we are, “deceived.”
(Romans 4:1–2) - “What then will we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found?
If Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about—but not before God.”
NONE of us has anything to boast about before God.
We are all saved by grace!
Fortunately, Paul follows the principle, “No rebuke without a remedy,” so we come to the third IMPERATIVE verb:
C. Believers have a responsibility to EXAMINE THEIR OWN WORK! - (vv.4-5)
In other words, instead of scrutinizing our neighbor and comparing ourselves with them, (v.4) tells us, “Let each person examine himself alone...”
We are responsible to God alone for our work, and must give an account of it to Him!
There is no contradiction between (v.2) and (v.5)!
“Burden” translates baros, meaning a weight, or heavy load—impossible to bear alone!
“Load” translates phortion, being a common term for a man’s pack.
We are to carry one another’s burdens, which are too heavy for a person bear alone, but a person’s “own load” is his or her responsibility to carry!
Your walk with the Spirit—your relationship with Jesus Christ is your “load”—your phortion to carry!
Conclusion
We return to where we started.
Those who live by the Spirit are led into harmonious relationships with one another!
There is no “provoking one another, envying one another;” but rather we, “Carry one another’s burdens.”
Just as Paul argued that our Christian liberty comes from the fact that we are God’s children, so he argues that our Christian conduct comes from the fact that we are brothers and sisters!
This passage is the answer to Cain’s question, “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
And the answer is, “YES!”
I am to care for him in love; to be concerned for his welfare.
I am neither to assert my conceited superiority over him and provoke him; nor resent his superiority over me and envy him.
I am to love and and serve him.
If he is burdened, I am to help him.
If he falls into wrong-doing, I am to restore him; and that gently, begin careful not be tempted with the same sin!
It is by such practical Christian living that the law of Christ is fulfilled!
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