Lesson 15
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we are now in the last chapter of Galatians. We give You our full intention. We pray for a spirit of receptiveness and teachable hearts, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Galatians 6: 1-18, closing exhortations.
VV 1-3, 1 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 fulfil the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
Greek for trespass in verse one is “paraptoma”, which means to cross a boundary line. “Paraptoma” is an intentional sin. Greek for sin is “harmatia” which means to miss the mark. “Harmatia” is an unintentional sin. Paul encouraged his audience and us that someone who has willfully sinned should be restored to fellowship in a spirit of gentleness. We are to shoulder one another’s burdens to fulfil Christ command to love one another, John 13:34. We are not to overvalue ourselves, for we are nothing in God’s sight.
John 13:34, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another”.
VV 4-6, 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. 6 Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.
We are to examine our work and not to compare our work with others. We are to take responsibility for what we do. We are to be generous teachers who taught us the word.
VV 7-8, 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.
Greek for mock is “empaizo”, which means to ridicule. We cannot ridicule God. Whatever we do will return to us. If we operated in the flesh and indulged in the works of the flesh, we will end up in eternal death. If we walked in the Spirit, we will produce the fruit of the Spirit and receive eternal life.
VV 9-10, 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.
We are to do good to others, for God will reward us. We are to take every opportunity to do good, especially to those who are Christians.
V 11 See with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand!
Paul wrote Galatians with his own hands in large letters. In Romans, Paul dictated to his secretary or amanuensis who wrote for him, Romans 16:22.
Romans 16:22, “I, Tertius, who wrote this epistle, greet you in the Lord”.
V 12-13, 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.
The Judaizers who compelled the Galatians Christians to be circumcised were legalists, opportunist, and hypocrites who did not keep the law.
VV 14-15, 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.
Paul did not boast about himself except to boast in the crucifixion of Christ. Circumcision is of no spiritual value in the kingdom of God. What count is to be born again as a new creation, 1 Cor 5:17.
Ephesians 2:8-9, “by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast”.
1 Cor 5:17, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new”. VV 16-17, 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.
If we walk in the Spirit, peace and mercy will be upon us and Israel. Paul called the scars on his body marks of the Lord Jesus. Paul’s body was severely scarred due to the beatings he received from the Jews, 2 Cor 11:25.
2 Cor 11:25, “Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have been in the deep”.
V 18 Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your Spirit. Amen.
Paul ended the epistle of Galatians with a doxology of grace to his audience and us.
Application:
If you sow generously, you will reap well, but if you sow sparingly, you will reap poorly. You are to take every opportunity to help one another, especially those who are Christians.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for Paul’s epistle of Galatians. Thank You for allowing us to hear Your words. We pray that You will empower us to apply all that we heard, meditated, memorised, and learned, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
