How do we deal
with a person (or persons) in the church who behaves in such a
manner? Why, the first step for a “spiritual” person is to pray for
them – bring them and their actions to God. Our next is to reach
out to them. To help them in any way we can. It may be the person
is just ignorant of the trespass they are committing and the effect
they are having on others. And then more prayer, always
understanding we too can fall into sin. As Paul said in 1st
Corinthians 10:13, “Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he
fall.”
Verse 2.
“Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.”
The “law of
Christ” is stated in many places and in a variety of crystal clear
ways. A man came to Jesus and wanted to be told “what are the
greatest commandments in the law”? Jesus replied (in John 13:35)
with a quote from Deuteronomy 6:5, “You
shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your
soul, and with all your mind.” You and I are to love the
Lord with everything we’ve got. Good times and bad, we’re to love
Him.
And then He
continued, “and the second is like unto it
– You shall love your neighbor as yourself”, a quote of
Leviticus 19:18. Just as surely as you love the Lord, you are to
love those He places into your life. Your neighbor, friend,
co-worker, spouse, the family member who doesn’t like you – You are
to love them “as yourself”. Often
this takes the form of bearing “one another’s burdens”. Paint the
fence they don’t have the time for. Comfort them gently with the
Word of God. Visit them when they are sick. Expect nothing in
return but love them, and “thereby fulfill the law of Christ.”
Verse 3.
“For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he
deceives himself.”
People often try
to decide exactly who is important in life. Great and lengthy
articles are written about movie stars, singers, politicians,
historical figures, religious leaders, scientists, and so on. We
measure others by comparing what they look like and what they have
done. We decide one actor is “great” (and another not) because of
the winning of awards and the presence or lack of a popular
following. We rate ourselves in the same manner.
But the real
comparison for us is the Son of God. He was “tempted in all things
as we are” and yet He was “without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). It’s easy
to think I’m OK in life, as long as I’m comparing myself with
someone like John Dillinger or Genghis Khan. Jesus is the only
person who ever lived on this earth that did not sin. And He is the
one “to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:13). If we think we
are “something”, we are in denial. The amazing thing is that we who
are “nothing”, are given EVERYTHING in Christ Jesus, who loves you
and me.
Verse 4.
“But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have
reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to
another.”
The word for
“examine” was a technical term that was used in the testing of
metals to see if they were pure. “Boasting” is to “glory” and Paul
is telling us to not take credit for what someone else is doing, but
instead help them by bearing their burdens as in verse 2. There
were apparently those in Galatia who were taking credit for a lot of
things they did not actually do. Paul led them all to Christ and
then others went in and took them from the grace of God into
legalism. They were pleased with themselves and boasted about it.
We should take a
hard look at who we are and what we are doing. A good time for that
is right before communion. We like to experience communion at least
once a week and take very seriously Paul’s advice: “Let a man
examine himself” and then “eat of the bread and drink of the cup” (1
Corinthians 11:28). He also encouraged us to “examine yourselves to
see if (we) are in the faith” (2 Corinthians 13:5). Our differences
and preferences often are less important than the love we should
have for Him and for one another.
Verse 5.
“For each one will bear his own load.”
This verse is not
in any way, in conflict with verse 2. In that verse, we are taught
to reach out and help others in their need. Jesus’ command (His
“law”) is found in John 13:34-35, where we are taught to “love one
another”. The entire fulfillment of the law is accomplished by the
Holy Spirit of God within us – He moves right in to our hearts (the
center of our being) and brings the love of God with Him.
In this verse,
another aspect of that truth is shown. We are to love others by not
being a burden to them. We don’t have to look to people like some
do. Jesus said, “My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew
11:30). Our “load” will become bearable for a good reason – our
Lord Jesus bears the burden with us. And to make it even lighter,
He has given us His Spirit, Who buoys us up, in heart, mind and
spirit, so that we can live this life and live it “abundantly”.
Verse 6.
“The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the
one who teaches him.”
The “body of
Christ” as we are called in Scripture (1 Corinthians 12:27) or the
“Church” (“called out ones”) in other places, is an integrated
whole. We are one, in and through the love of God which is in
Christ Jesus. We may often not feel or act like we are “one” in Him
but we are. You can see glimpses of this in places like Romans 12:5
– we are “individually members of one another”. All are given gifts
through the Holy Spirit of God, and He has equipped us to help one
another.
To not share what
we have is both illogical and unbiblical. To not give is just as
strange as the hand saying to the mouth, “I will not feed you,
because you are not the hand.” And the mouth might reply, “I will
not eat, because the sustenance goes into the whole body, and
because you are not part of the mouth, I will not sustain you” (1
Corinthians 12:16-17). We have much to share, in the power of God,
and it’s time to respond to His will and give to one another.
Verse 7.
“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows,
this he will also reap.”
Paul has been
presenting different kinds of behavior and attitudes during the
whole letter we call the Book of “Galatians”. Since the middle of
Chapter Five, the discussion has been quite specific about certain
forms of action, which he called the “works of the Spirit” and
conversely the “works of the flesh”. These were shown to be
activities that exclude each other, for if you act in the one way,
you are far less likely to respond in the other.
You don’t need to
be born into an agricultural society in order to understand these
verses. If you plant corn, tend it and wait a certain amount of
time, corn stalks will grow. If for some reason you sow the seeds
of thorny weeds (sinful actions), God will not be surprised by what
you have done, even if you “plant” in the “dark”. YOU may be
surprised at the outcome because of the human tendency toward denial
– but the “works of the flesh” will take root, and grow into
something you won’t like.
Verse 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 "flesh" of this world is dying and the
systems of this earth are passing away. A few years ago, I
addressed groups of Christians, and referred them to Matthew
6:19-20, asking, what ARE the "treasures on
earth" and "treasures in heaven"
that Jesus spoke about? Those words of the Lord Jesus are very
important but surprisingly few have any idea what the Son of God
actually meant by them. It’s important because earthy behavior
brings “corruption” (degeneration - entering a worse state than
before).
Paul is informing us about something very
similar to the “treasures” Jesus spoke about and the question is
asked: Will you understand? He's saying that if we seek to do the
very things that most in the world value, the result will be –
NOTHING that is worth anything! Our human efforts will eventually
bring us ashes (failure and disappointment). We are instead to "sow
to the Spirit" (respond to God) and we will be given - LIFE! –
Wonderful, abundant life, both now and for all eternity.
Verse 9.
“Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap
if we do not grow weary.”
It's easy to get tired. Our activities will
tire us, for we only have a limited amount of strength. Then
unexpected trouble comes, and it leads to discouragement, further
tapping our reserves. "Don't lose heart," Paul is encouraging us,
"keep on doing good," and we are reminded that the reward for
service to our King is very great indeed: We will be with Him.
The key to everything is seen right before this
(in verse 8), where we are reminded to "Sow to the Spirit", or as
Paul said in Galatians 5:16, "Walk in the Spirit." Yes indeed, we
are to exhibit the "fruit of the Spirit" (Galatians 5:22-23), but
not simply in our own strength. The work was done on the cross of
Christ, and is being done "in the Spirit" through those that trust
in Him. Do not lose heart, for He loves you and He will bring you
through.
Verse 10.
“So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people,
and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.”
Considering all that Jesus Christ has done for
you and me, and with the understanding that the Holy Spirit is
actually the One who is doing the hard part of “our” work, we should
be filled with JOY. Most people on this planet are depressed in
spirit, most of the time. The reason is because they choose to not
understand the great Gift we have been given: Jesus Christ died in
our place. He has satisfied the requirements of a holy God. We are
set free in Him! Praise the Lord! And our bonus is the Holy Spirit
of God!
And what should our response be to such
information? Why, as stated, we should be filled with joy! Joyful
people gain in strength. Do you remember Mary Magdalene? She was
filled with JOY because she TRUSTED in the Son of God and was
FORGIVEN. He will give you not only forgiveness, love and courage,
but also the ability to help those who are in need. Do good for
all, especially for those who are in Christ, and He will bless not
only them, but you, as well.
Verse 11.
“See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand.”
Some have taught that Paul had a serious,
disfiguring eye disease. They point to his "thorn in the flesh" of
2 Corinthians 12:7, and another statement in Galatians where he
said, "If possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes and
given them to me" (Galatians 4:15). They also cite this verse,
where he said, "See what large letters I have written to you in my
own hand."
Certainly he had many physical problems.” As
he would say in verse 17, "I bear in my body the marks of the Lord
Jesus. As mentioned elsewhere, Paul was beaten many times because
of his willingness to be an apostle (sent one) of Christ. His eyes
(with whatever vision he had or did not have) were not on this world
and its lures, but on Jesus and the world that is to come. And so
should our eyes be on Him who loves you and me.
Verse 12.
“Those who desire to make a good showing in the flesh try to compel
you to be circumcised, simply so that they will not be persecuted
for the cross of Christ.”
Paul suffered tremendous persecution for his
teaching that salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ and in
no other way. We don't need to go over the various troubles that
came to him, except to say that he was beaten innumerable times.
Details are given toward the end of 2 Corinthians Chapter 11. Note,
by the way that Paul did not seek trouble - it just came to him.
There have been those who injure themselves in the name of
religion. Paul was never like that.
Judaism was a legal religion under Roman Law at
the time of this letter, by the way. If the Christians seemed to be
merely a sect of the Jews, they would likely have avoided
persecution. If they were thought to be a new religion, they faced
tremendous suffering under the Caesars of Rome. The Judaizers, who
knew all that, were avoiding suffering for themselves by teaching
the Gentiles to act like Jews. Paul is telling us that it is
infinitely better to be right with God, than it is to be approved by
men - even if the cost is very high.
Verse 13.
“For those who are circumcised do not even keep the Law themselves,
but they desire to have you circumcised so that they may boast in
your flesh.”
Paul was speaking about a teacher or teachers
that had gone to Galatia and tried to convince the people that they
must keep the whole Law given to the Jews, in order to be saved.
One example was the rite of circumcism. They taught that Gentile
men and boys must be circumcised according to Jewish Law. In
rebuttal, Paul observed that NO ONE, Jews or Gentiles, can keep the
Law. And as James pointed out (James 2:10), to break the Law in one
point, is to be guilty of all. Those who were TEACHING them to keep
the Law, did not keep the Law themselves.
These "teachers" (Judaizers) COULDN’T keep the
Law (no one can), and they wanted to turn the Galatian Christians
into Jewish-appearing people for a very bad reason. They wanted to
bring glory to themselves. If they converted the Galatians to their
way of thinking, they would have felt proud about what they had
done. They were "sowing to the flesh", not to the Spirit (verse 8)
and Paul would stop them at any cost.
Verse 14.
“But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our
Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me,
and I to the world.”
As pointed out by
Joseph Excell, Paul is strongly contrasting his own feelings for the
Galatian Christians and their need for the cross of Jesus Christ,
with those of the Judaizers or “circumcision” party, that he has
been denouncing. The Judaizers de-emphasized the cross of Christ
and promoted the ceremonial law of the Jews. They took the focus
off Christ and what He has done, and placed the spotlight on
themselves. They were boasting; something Paul never did, except in
his Lord.
The flesh of Jesus
Christ was mutilated on the cross. He was injured that you might be
healed. The Judaizers pushed the work of Christ on the cross into
the background, and the flesh they wanted to mutilate was that of
the Galatians – it was incredible that somehow they promoted
circumcision, when Christ has done everything for you and me. We
are dead to the world and the world is dead to us in Him. He has
done it all and because of Him, we are truly now ALIVE in a much
better way.
Verse 15.
“For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new
creation.”
The phrase “a new
creation” was used by those of the Jewish religion for Gentiles that
had become proselytes to Judaism. The were allowed to become
circumcised Jews and had some acceptance within that religion. Paul
used “their” phrase (“a new creation”) in order to continue building
his case against the “Judaizers” who were attempting to take the
Galatians away from the grace of God and place them under Jewish
Law.
Circumcision does
not make someone right with God. And just in case someone used this
verse and tried to build a case against the Jews – NOT being
circumcised doesn’t do anything for you, either. Baptism does not
make you right with God and neither does membership in some church
or another. The only thing that can help you is to become a “new
creation” in Christ Jesus. You must be born anew in Him, and THEN
you have standing with God because of what Jesus has done for you
and me. There is no other way.
Verse 16.
“And those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them,
and
