Welcome back to our discussion of Galatians. Today we’ll begin chapter 6 and zero in on verses 1 through 10, the call to Bear One Another’s Burdens. In our previous session, we discussed the new freedom that the Christian possesses as a result of Christ’s work on the cross. If there is one thing you should take away from it, it is this: Christ has delivered us from the curse of the Law, not so that we can live as we like (which would prove that we are still living in sin), but so that we can keep the commands of the Law. He has delivered us from the tyranny of the old nature (which despised God’s law) and clothed us with the Holy Spirit, so that we may delight in fulfilling God’s word. I’ll encourage you to revisit that session.
Galatians 6:1-10 Examined
Bear One Another’s Burdens
6 Brothers,[a] 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.
- Verses 1 -5
Paul continues to give a list of practical things the Galatians ( and us) must do that are evidence of a spirit filled life. The first has to do with restoring a brother/sister in Christ that is succumbing and struggling with sin. The apostle gives us the blueprint. We must deal with them with a spirit of gentleness ( and humility). We all stand by the Spirit of God and put no confidence in the flesh ( the old nature). Paul is also saying that we ought to be careful not to let ourselves get caught up in the temptation while we help others. Jesus Christ was a friend of sinners, not so that He could indulge in sin Himself but to free them from the power of sin. That is the idea that is being conveyed here. The Spirit of God is also called the comforter, the counselor, the one that will guide us into all Truth. So those who are strong in the faith should not use it as a way to lord it over others, but rather shepherd them as Jesus would have them. By doing so , Paul says that we will bear each other’s burden and so fulfill the law of Christ ( the law of the Spirit). Christ bore our burdens ( by dying on the cross for our sins) so that we might be the righteousness of God. In the same way, we ought to bear each other’s burdens ( via helping one another in addition to intercessory prayers). By doing that, we show that we are truly of Christ. Paul reminds the Galatians ( and us) that there is no room for pride. And if we ever think we’ve attained some kind of spiritual giant status, we’re certainly deceiving ourselves because that attitude demonstrates that we haven’t truly grasped God’s righteousness. I like how verses 4-5 read in the complete Jewish bible translation, it says
“So let each of you scrutinize his own actions. Then if you do find something to boast about, at least the boasting will be based on what you have actually done and not merely on a judgment that you are better than someone else; 5 for each person will carry his own load”
And in the amplified version, it reads
“4 But let every person carefully scrutinize and examine and test his own conduct and his own work. He can then have the personal satisfaction and joy of doing something commendable [[c]in itself alone] without [resorting to] boastful comparison with his neighbor.
5 For every person will have to bear ([d]be equal to understanding and calmly receive) his own [[e]little] load [f][of oppressive faults].”
Basically verse 5 is telling us that we will all have to give an account of what we’ve done before the throne of God, this is why we ought not to compare ourselves with others. We ought to evaluate our work in light of the righteousness of God. We are to never pin ourselves against others to look better. God wants us to evaluate ourselves in light of His righteousness in order to keep us from being conceited ( humble and of a sober mind).
- Verse 6
Paul is also encouraging the congregation to be kind and generous to those who teach and preach the word of God to them. This is consistent with what Paul shared in 1 Corinthians 9. Those who are considered shepherds in the church ( those in position of teaching and preaching) ought to be commended and receive blessings from the congregation. He isn’t encouraging leaders to be abusive and misuse the scriptures for material gains. But basically what Paul is saying is that those who preach and teach the Gospel ought to live off the gospel, not in a perverted way. And Scripture actually encourages it ( 1 Corinthians 9, Luke 8:1-3)
- Verses 7-8
The apostle is once again exhorting his listeners ( the Galatians and us) to righteous living. God cannot be deceived. We can pretend to live Holy lives but eventually on judgment Day , we will be exposed for what we truly were. Those who live according to the old nature will be damned while those who through the Spirit put to death the deeds of the old nature will inherit eternal life. Basically Paul is using farming language to make his point. Anyone who sows mango seeds cannot expect to reap oranges and vice versa. So Paul is saying that those who do not live according to the Spirit will not inherit eternal life.
- Verses 9-10
Those two verses are self- explanatory but I’d like to mention how they read in the Amplified version,
9 Let us not grow weary or become discouraged in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap, if we do not give in. 10 So then, while we [as individual believers] have the opportunity, let us do good to all people [not only being helpful, but also doing that which promotes their spiritual well-being], and especially [be a blessing] to those of the household of faith (born-again believers).
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PS: All the videos series from RC Sproul and Dr John Gerstner added to the website have been thoroughly listened to by myself. And I highly recommend them to anyone looking to deepen his/her faith in Christ. We live in the age of relativism and now more than ever understanding what we believe, and why believe what believe is not optional.
My name is Tayib Salami and I started Tayibs.com for the sole purpose of exploring difficult questions about the Christian faith that most of us shy away from. In 2017, I entered a very dark time in my life and it’s only by the grace of the Living God that I’m still alive today. It led me to really go deeper in my faith and consider a myriad of questions that I never thought about asking myself or others before. Welcome and enjoy the ride with me.