Galatians Chapter 6

Galatians 6:1-5 “ Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. ² Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. ³ For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. ⁴ But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. ⁵ For each one shall bear his own load.”

If we see another Christian caught up in a problem, we should humbly attempt to restore such a person and help them.  None of us are beyond having issues, and we should help others and fulfill the law of Christ.  What is the law of Christ?  Love others as He loves us.  How did He love us?  He paid for the sins of our entire lifetime and offers us grace.  We should extend grace to others. 

Galatians 6:6-10 “Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.  ⁷ Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. ⁸ For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. ⁹ And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. ¹⁰ Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.”

It has been taught that this passage is dealing completely with sowing finances into ministry.  It is certainly applicable to that and may be the context.  When we sow into getting the gospel to people, we will reap everlasting life.  If we sow finances into anything that is fleshly or part of this physical world, it will eventually be corrupted.  I would agree with this.  I do believe it also applies to sowing to the works of the flesh; we will reap pain and corruption.  It does not mean that we will lose our salvation.  We should not grow weary in sowing towards the Spirit or in doing good towards people.  We will eventually reap joy and peace and mercy in our relationships with people.

Galatians 6:11-18 “See with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand! ¹² As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh, these would compel you to be circumcised, only that they may not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. ¹³ For not even those who are circumcised keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. ¹⁴ But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. ¹⁵ For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.  ¹⁶ And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.  ¹⁷ From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.  ¹⁸ Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.”

Those who desire to make a good showing in the flesh are concerned with outward rituals such as circumcision.  More contemporary issues are how we are baptized or in what name we are baptized.  Paul said even those who were circumcised were not keeping all of the law.  None of us have walked perfectly in the past, nor will we walk perfectly in the future.   Our focus should be upon Jesus and what Christ did for us on the cross.  He bore the sins of our entire lifetime.  If we boast, we should boast in the Lord Jesus Christ and His great grace for us.  It is not any outward ritual such as circumcision that will save us.  It is becoming a new creation on the inside of us.  We must be born again on the inside.  When we trust in His grace and receive His life, peace and mercy are the result.

Paul had suffered persecution for holding to the truth that we are saved by grace alone and not by any of the works of the Old Testament law.  He had been stoned and left for dead as he preached the gospel in the region of Galatia.  We should hold to the same truth of what Jesus has done for us and not be moved away from grace back to the Old Testament law.

Keith Oliver