Bear One Another's Burden (2)

Bear One Another’s Burden

We began this series with a heavy emphasis on Paul’s concern for the Galatians to avoid

The Gospel Plus

I told you that

One of the great novels of the nineteenth century is Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities. The letter to the Galatians could be given a similar title: A Tale of Two Gospels. Paul’s ‘tale’, however, is factual, not fictional, and warns us that of the two gospels being heard in Galatia (and still being heard today), only one is true.

We talked about

Judaizers - These people taught that a christian must also be live as a Jew. The law and works were still required. If you have ever read any commentary on the Epistles you have likely seen this word.

We talked about the Jerusalem Council

We talked of the agreement of scripture

Here we find agreement among all the books of the Bible.

James and Paul

Romans 12:2 ESV

2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

James 1:19–27 ESV

19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. 26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Main Point

I told you that the Main point of Galatians was

Galatians 2:16 ESV

16 yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

Faith has fruit, not Faith is fruit

Martin Luther once wrote

The world bears the Gospel a grudge because the Gospel condemns the religious wisdom of the world. Jealous for its own religious views, the world in turn charges the Gospel with being a subversive and licentious doctrine, offensive to God and man, a doctrine to be persecuted as the worst plague on earth.

Luther, Martin. Commentary on Galatians . Digireads.com. Kindle Edition.

We need to be reminded that we are free in Christ.

Free to pursue Him, not free to sin in Him

So, here we are in Chapter 6

The end of the book.

Opening Up Galatians (Chapter 9: What Does It Mean in Practice? (6:1–10))

Paul’s burden has been that we should walk in the Spirit (5:16), that we should keep in step with the Spirit (5:25)—in other words, that we should look to the Spirit for guidance and strength and follow him as he directs us how to live. But what does that mean in practice? In the first half of chapter 6 he gives us an important part of the answer.

Opening Up Galatians (Restoring Those Who Have Fallen (v. 1))

In secular Greek the word translated ‘restore’ was a medical term for the setting of a broken or dislocated bone.

Three types of people in church

The flock

The helper

The heavy

Galatians 6 ESV

1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. 5 For each will have to bear his own load. 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 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.

The Flock

Galatians 6:1 ESV

1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.

That’s the flock. We are going to stumble. the flock will be needy. We are sheep after all. Sheep are needy

Fun fact for you

Sheep have unique rectangular pupils that allow them amazing peripheral vision - it’s estimated that their field of vision is between 270 and 320 degrees! Humans, in comparison, average 155 degrees.

Even sheep can see trouble coming quicker than we do.

We should expect sheep.

The Helper

Galatians 6:2–3 ESV

2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

This is the person who is always trying to help us lift the weight we carry.

We are all supposed to be doing this.

The Hurter

I know it is not good grammar, but it is a good descriptor.

Galatians 6:4–8 ESV

4 But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. 5 For each will have to bear his own load. 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.

The Extorter

Galatians 6:9–18 ESV

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 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.

Which do you think you are?

the flock, the helper, the hurter, or the extorter?

Every lost person in this city needs to meet the flock. They all need to meet the helper.

But none of them want to meet the hurter or the extorter.

When we really understand the simplicity of the Gospel, and the freedom we have in Christ, it should produce in us a heart much more like the flock and the helper.

Galatians 6:15–16 ESV

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.

Galatians 6:18 ESV

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

He has set you free!