For if anyone considers himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

Transcription

1 Explore the Bible Lesson Preview October 14, 2018 True Compassion Background: Galatians 6:1-18 Lesson: Galatians 6:1-10, Motivation: One of the key issues for Christians is learning to live the exchanged life: dying to our wants and desires and living in Christ, through His power and direction. This is not an option; for whatsoever a man sows, that he will also reap. (6:7) Examination: I. Guards (1-5) Brothers, if someone is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual should restore such a person with a gentle spirit, watching out for yourselves so you also won t be tempted. 2 Carry one another s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone considers himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But each person should examine his own work, and then he will have a reason for boasting in himself alone, and not in respect to someone else. 5 For each person will have to carry his own load. (1-5) A. Restoration 1 / 10

2 1. When Can One Fall? Brothers, if someone is caught in any wrongdoing... (1) Paul writes to the Corinthians So, whoever thinks he stands must be careful not to fall. No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity. God is faithful and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able... (1 Cor. 10:12-13; Jas. 1:14-15) We do not have to succumb to temptation; however, John writes If we say, We have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (I John 1:8) Anyone can fall into temptation. 2. Who Can Restore? you who are spiritual should restore such a person... (1) Paul defines a spiritual person as one who walks in the Spirit (5:16, 25). The fruits of a spiritual person are itemized in 5: If it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, you can conclude that it s a duck. A spiritual person exhibits spiritual fruit. The responsibility is for the more mature Christian to help the less mature. (Matt. 5:23-24; Rom 8:1-4; Titus 2:11-14) 3. How Do We Handle the Situation? with a gentle spirit (1) One translation renders this you should quietly set him back on the right path (Phillips). Restoring a fallen Christian is not a time for public humiliation or strident lecturing. Rather, it must be handled in a spirit of meekness and humility. 4. What Is the Warning? watching out for yourselves so that you also won t be tempted (1) Satan spreads a net of entrapment; so, if we are not armored up, prayed up, and bound up in His will, the restorer can become fowled in the same net as the fallen. (Matt. 7:3-5) B. Reinforcement Carry one another s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ (2) Paul has taught much on our freedom from the law. But here he says, if you want to please Christ, here s a law you should obey. Christ came to serve (Matt. 20:28); so, we should serve one another (5:13; II Cor. 1:3-5). 2 / 10

3 C. Reality For if anyone considers himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself (3) In the context of restoration, Paul delivers a strong rebuke to pride and conceit. A counselor who dealt extensively with high profile ministers who failed morally said that the problem was not lust but pride: no one can tell me what to do. (1 Cor. 13:1-3) D. Rejoicing But each person should examine his own work, and then he will have a reason for in himself alone, and not in respect to someone else. (4) The antidote to pride is self- examination. Don t compare yourself to others, especially to those who ve fallen. Rather compare what you ve done to the potential that Christ has placed in you. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit, produced by God s power (5:22). E. Responsibility For each person will have to carry his own load. (5) Believer s Study Bible, p. 1672: 6:5 No contradiction should be imagined between this statement and that in v. 2. Verse 5 stresses one s personal accountability for whatever work God has given to him: his load ( phortion, Gk.) On the other hand, v. 2 speaks of the responsibility of helping a brother who is burdened down with sin (v. 1) or other problems and needs help to bear his burden ( bare, Gk.). (Matt. 11:28-29) II. Stewards (6-10) The one who is taught the message must share all his good things with the teacher. 7 Don t be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows he will also reap, 8 because the one who sows to his flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. 9 So we must not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don t give up / 10

4 Therefore, as we have opportunity, we must work for the good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith. (6-10) A. Generosity The one who is taught the message must share all his good things with the teacher. (6) Early church ministers were dependent on the hospitality and generosity of the local church. Paul encouraged the churches to be generous toward their teachers. (I Cor. 9:9, 11, 14; 2 Cor. 8:2,9; 9:6-8; Phil 4:10-14, Philemon 22; 1 Timothy 5:17) B. Godliness Don t be deceived; God is not mocked. (7) The terror of the Lord is mentioned in Isaiah 2:21, Jer.20:4, and 2 Cor. 5:11. When we strive to be fully devoted followers of Christ, God is our Shepherd and Father. When we choose to mock God (based on a failure to f ear Him), He becomes our judge. C. Gathering (7b-9) The law of sowing and reaping has three aspects: 1. One Reaps What One Sows... whatever a man sows, he will also reap (7) 2. One Reaps More Than One Sows a. because the one who sows to his flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, (8a) b. but the who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. (8b) HCSB, p.2 4 / 10

5 022: 6:8 Corruption here may refer to: (1) eternal damnation (5:21) or (2) loss of eternal rewards (1 Co 3:12-15). Eternal life does not mean earning your salvation since justification before God is through faith (2:16). It refers to life from the Holy Spirit (Rm 6:22). 3. One Reaps Later Than One Sows So we must not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don t give up. (9) This aspect of the law should be an encouragement to those doing good and a warning to those doing evil. Ecc. 8:11 Because the sentence against a criminal act is not carried out quickly, the heart of the people is filled with the desire to commit crime. That s why Hebrews remarks on the short-lived pleasures of sin (Heb. 11:25) (Ps. 16:11) D. Good Therefore, as we have opportunity, we must work for the good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith (10) A lasting criticism of the Christian Army is that it shoots its own wounded. Considering the fruit of the Spirit (5:22-23), we are encouraged to sow goodness, to have the reputation of generosity, love and kindness. In Christ you were called to be free only don t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh but serve one another through love. (5:13); (Rom. 6:14; 20-22; 1 Pet. 2:15-16) III. Authenticity (11-13) Look at what large letters I use as I write to you in my own handwriting. 12 Those who want to make a good impression in the flesh are the ones who would compel you to be circumcised but only to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 For even the circumcised don t keep the law themselves; however, they want you to be circumcised in order to boast about your flesh. (11-13) 5 / 10

6 A. See Paul s Letters Look at what large letters I use as I write to you in my own handwriting (11) Believer s Study Bible, p. 1672: 6:11 Paul concludes the epistle with his own characteristic imprimatur: See with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand! An amanuensis (secretary), having recorded Paul s words, is now replaced by the apostle himself, who in large letters affixes the unique mark of his identification. Some conclude that the large letters indicate that Paul had poor eyesight, but the evidence is inconclusive. B. Shun the Judaizers (12-13) 1. Their appeal was outward Those who want to make a good impression in the flesh (12a) Their mark of religion was on the outside rather than the inside (Deut. 10:16; I Sam. 16:7; Matt. 23:27; Eph. 6:6; Col. 3:22). We still see that attitude in the church today where some exert effort to look the part of a fully devoted follower of Christ without ever experiencing life change. (Luke 18:10-14; John 3:3,7). HCSB, p. 2022: 6:12-13 The Jewish teachers who were compelling the Galatians to be circumcised were doing so for appearance s sake and to avoid being persecuted by unbelieving Jews for the cross of Christ, as Paul had been (Ac 14:19). They had no basis for boasting since they could not keep the law themselves. 2. Their appeal was safety... only to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ (12b) Widespread persecution of Christians by the Roman government was on the horizon; early in church history, Christians were viewed as a sub-sect of Judaism which was officially a religio-licita an approved religion. Later pressure by the Jews on one side and the pagans on the other caused the emperor to declare Christianity religio-illicita, an illegal religion. Perhaps it was the threat of this persecution to which Paul alluded. (Jas. 1:27) 3. Their appeal was to pride in order to boast about your flesh (13) Some see everything as a zero sum game; that is, for every winner, there must be a loser. The entire 6 / 10

7 doctrine of the Judaizers was antagonistic to Paul s teaching. The Judaizers were gloating in potentially winning converts away from Paul. IV. Proclaims (14-15) But as for me, I will never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. The world has been crucified to me through the cross, and I to the world. r both circumcision and uncircumcision mean nothing; what matters instead is a new creation. (14-15) 15 Fo A. Shame I will never boast... In contrast to the boasting of the Judaizers (13b), Paul recognized that selfish ambitions were fruits of the flesh (5:20). B. Source except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ (14) For both circumcision and uncircumcision mean nothing; what matters instead is a new creation (15) Our salvation comes from Jesus Christ and His atoning work on the cross. Circumcision or the absence of it has nothing to do with salvation. However, in Christ, we are new creations (2 Cor. 5:17). C. Separate - The world has been crucified to me through the cross, and I to the world (14b). In Gal. 2:20, Paul declared I have been crucified with Christ. In reckoning himself dead on the cross to the world, to the law, and to the flesh, Paul could have freedom to live for Christ alone regardless of temporal circumstances, (2Cor.4:16-18) V. Conclusion (16-18) May peace come to all those who follow this standard, and mercy to the Israel of God! 17 From now on, let no one cause me trouble, because I bear on my body scars for the 7 / 10

8 cause of Jesus. 18 Brothers, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. (16-18) A. Condition peace and mercy (16) Walking in the way (rule) of the cross will result in peace with God and mercy from judgment. HCSB, p. 2022: 6:16 The Israel of God may mean: (1) the Gentile church, which through faith has inherited the promise God gave to Abraham (3:29) or (2) more likely, the remnant of believing Israel chosen by grace (Rm 11:5), as opposed to the false brothers among the Jews (Gl 2:4), who were seeking to be justified by the works of the law (2:16). B. Cast scars for the cause of Jesus HCSB, p.2022: 6:17 Paul asked that this letter put an end to the trouble he had been facing because of standing against justification by the works of the law and for justification by faith (2:16). Paul s scars were from injuries he had received through persecution (Ac 14:19; 2Co 11:23-25). He considered these far more significant than the mark of circumcision (Gl 6:12-13, 15). C. Conclusion the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen (18) A fitting close to the epistle of freedom! HCSB, p.2020: 6:18 Paul ended Galatians on the same note with which he began grace. It is also significant that in Paul s last sentence, he addresses the Galatians as brothers. Although they have been tempted by another gospel. Paul ends this letter in the hope that they may remain brothers. 8 / 10

9 Application: 1. Christians are responsible for helping restore fallen members. 2. God has set unchangeable laws of the harvest. 3. We live through the power of the exchanged life. Leader Pack Item 3: Poster: Fruit of the Spirit Biblical Illustrator: no article Notes: **You may access David s Lesson Preview in MP3 format at: g ; Dates: 8/29-11/14 Midlink; 10/14 Parent Commitment; 10/19-20 Women s Retreat; 10/2 7 Men:Serve; 10/31 Light the Night; 11/4 MIYCO; 11/15 Staff Hunt Retreat; 11/9 Re:Create Date Night; 11/10 Legacy 685 Appreciation Dinner; 11/11 Leadership Appreciation Lunch preschool; 9 / 10

10 11/14-17 Missions Conference; 11/22-23 Thanksgiving Holidays; 11/25 No LBS; 12/1 Deacon s Christmas Party; 12/6-9 - Celebration Performances 6th-9 th ; 12/23 No LBS; 12/24 - Christmas Eve 2,4 & 6; 12/24-25 Christmas Holidays. 10 / 10