Explore the Bible
By Jay T. Robertson
Assistant Professor of Christian Studies, School of Christian Studies, University of Mobile
BE RESPONSIBLE
Galatians 6:1–18
Shoulder Burdens (1–5)
The Christ-follower who walks in the Spirit is free from selfishness and so freed to love others unselfishly. He wants spiritual people to show concern for one another and respond biblically to a fellow believer who has fallen into sin. This is an extremely important passage in understanding the character of congregational discipline in the life of the church.
“You who are spiritual” refers to believers manifesting the fruit of the Spirit. They live and walk according to the Spirit. These believers with Christlike character traits produced by the Holy Spirit encourage faltering Christians. The legalists, on the other hand, are harsh and judgmental toward a believer struggling with sin. They know the Law and the consequences of disobeying the Law, but they do not know mercy.
To illustrate grace, the apostle Paul presented this hypothetical case of a believer who was “caught in any wrongdoing.” The word “caught” refers to someone suddenly entrapped or discovered in an unseemly situation or heinous act. The spiritual believer should restore the sinning brother. He should be restored gently as an emergency room doctor sets a broken bone. The sinning Christian is like a broken bone that the body of Christ must reset. This delicate restoration must be done “gently.” A harsh, legalistic reaction to a sinning brother will only make things worse. A gentle, graceful response will help. We can only ask ourselves which response we would want if we were the one caught in a sin.
To “carry one another’s burdens” is the supreme imitation of Jesus Christ, the ultimate burden-bearer. All Christians have “burdens.” Our burdens may differ in size and shape and will vary in kind depending on the providential ordering of our lives. No Christian is exempt from burdens. The good news is that God does not intend for us to carry them by ourselves. We are to help “tote” one another’s burdens. Carrying one another’s burdens is not an option; it is written as a command. One much neglected feature of contemporary Baptist church life is the congregational covenant, setting forth the ethical standards and obligations required of all members. God has expectations for His children. When we carry one another’s burdens, we “fulfill the law of Christ” by loving others the way Christ loves us.
Do Good (6–10)
In these verses, Paul encouraged the believers to provide material support for the pastors and teachers in their midst. Teaching the Word of God is time-consuming. The one who devotes his life to such ministry should be supported by those he teaches. Perhaps the Judaizers’ false teaching caused some of the Galatian believers to stop supporting their pastors as they should. Paul said to demonstrate love to spiritual leaders by supporting them and sustaining a faithful gospel ministry through generous financial support. God cannot be mocked. There will be a payday someday because “a man reaps what he sows.”
Paul’s message is “Don’t quit!” Faced with the temptation of legalism on the one hand and libertinism on the other, many of the believers were beginning to lose heart. Having begun well in the life of the Spirit, they were in danger of losing their first love, being diverted from witness and service into petty bickering and greedy self-concern. To these spiritually exhausted Christians, Paul wrote, “So we must not get tired of doing good.”
Avoid Selfish Motives (11–15)
Paul contrasted the improper motives of the legalists with his proper motives. The Judaizers may have been motivated by fear. They may have been trying to accommodate the gospel to the Jews to avoid persecution by them. By including the Law, they made the converted Jews happy. In contrast, by preaching the gospel of grace, which excluded the Law, Paul had experienced harsh persecution. While the Judaizers bragged about the number of converts who were circumcised, Paul only bragged about the cross of Jesus. The Judaizers gloried in the flesh (circumcision), but Paul gloried in the cross.
Seek Peace (16–18)
Peace and mercy are available to those who believe in salvation by grace through faith in Christ. God has cornered the market on peace and mercy. One can become a member of the true Israel of God only by turning from his or her sin and resting in the completed work of Christ on the cross.
Paul concluded his letter by declaring that he was a genuine minister of the gospel and had the scars to prove it, what he called the “marks of Jesus” on his body. Paul’s final prayerful blessing shows that he had not given up on the Galatians. He still referred to them as “brothers” and called on Christ to give them grace.
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