God has freed us to live in the blessings He intended and that begins with the gift of life through Jesus Christ. Through Christ we are reconciled to God and in Hebrews 4:16 “Therefore let us approach with confidence to the throne of grace, in order that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need”. Even more than that, we are sealed us with the Holy Spirit in Ephesians 1:13–14 (LEB) “in whom also you, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, in whom also when you believed you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory”. There is though, something more for us than just our personal relationship with God and our own spiritual development and that is for us to “love your neighbor as yourself” in Galatians 5:14. Paul tells us in Galatians 6:1 (LEB) “Brothers, even if a person is caught in some trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a person in a spirit of humility, looking out for yourself, lest you also be tempted”.
For Freedom, Christ Has Made Us Free
Who Hindered You?
Galatians 5:7–15
There are many voices in the world and they are often spoken with great conviction. The most dangerous are those that are the traditions of men that replace the true words of God. This is not a new problem and Jesus quoted Isaiah 29:13 when he said in
Mark 7:6–8 (LEB) ‘So he said to them, “Isaiah prophesied correctly about you hypocrites, as it is written, ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far, far away from me. 7 And they worship me in vain, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ 8 Abandoning the commandment of God, you hold fast to the tradition of men.” ‘
Paul now cautions the Galatians that in
Galatians 5:8 (LEB) “This persuasion is not from the one who calls you!”
and that there are those among them that are like leaven which changes the whole loaf when introduced in
Galatians 5:9 (LEB) “A little leaven leavens the whole batch of dough”.
These people were causing division and setting people against each other over circumcision which was a question that had already been settled in Acts 11:17-18. Paul reminds them that they are not to get caught up in these doctrinal, religious disputes but to love each other in
Galatians 5:14–15 (LEB) “For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another”
Live By The Spirit
Galatians 5:16–21
The Fruit of the Spirit
You Who Are Spiritual, Restore
Galatians 6:1–5
Paul has just said “love your neighbor as yourself” in Galatians 5:14 and cautioned then not to “bite and devour one another” in Galatians 5:15. He has told them to “live by the Spirit” in Galatians 5:25 and the message is clear that we each individually have a relationship with the Lord and it is for us to bear the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-24. This personal accountability is something we understand in our culture where we are very independent and we may even be very self-satisfied in our relationship with the Lord.
Now though, Paul interjects a thought that goes beyond our personal responsibility for ourselves. He says, OK, you who are so spiritual, you have a responsibility to those around you to help them, not by catching them in doing wrong, but in helping to restore those that have stumbled or fallen in
Galatians 6:1–2 (LEB) “Brothers, even if a person is caught in some trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a person in a spirit of humility, looking out for yourself, lest you also be tempted. 2 Carry the burdens of one another, and so fulfill the law of Christ”.
Let Us Not Grow Weary in Doing Good
Galatians 6:6–10
There is a way of living in Christ that is good for us and will yield good results in our lives. It begins with the gift of God, through Jesus Christ that gives us access to God in Hebrews 4:16 and seals us with the Holy Spirit in Ephesians 1:13-14 so that we are no longer slaves to sin in Romans 6:22, driven only by the nature of our flesh.
In this new life in Christ, there are guiding principles, can I say “laws of God’s kingdom” without setting off religious alarm bells? Let me say it this way, what God has said will stand. Paul says it this way, in
Galatians 6:7–8 (LEB) “Do not be deceived: God is not to be mocked, for whatever a person sows, this he will also reap, 8 because the one who sows to his own flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit”
There is a good reward for those that sow to the Spirit in
Revelation 14:12–13 (LEB) “Here is the patient endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and the faith in Jesus. 13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!’ ” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “in order that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow after them.”
In God’s kingdom, there is always faith and then fulfillment, there is always seed planting followed by time for the fruit to develop and then there is a harvest as Paul says in
Galatians 6:9 (LEB) “And let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap, if we do not give up”.
A New Creation
Galatians 6:11–18
Study Verses
- Galatians 5:7–15 Who Hindered You?
- Galatians 6:1–5 You Who Are Spiritual, Restore
- Galatians 6:6–10 Let Us Not Grow Weary in Doing Good
Today’s Reading
- Galatians 5:1-26
- Galatians 6:1-18
