Galatians 6
1 Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.
In this chapter Paul is trying to give, to the Galatians who do agree with him, advice on how to approach correcting those who have gone astray.
Paul hoped that there were at least some people in the churches in Galatia who would get what he was saying and correct their understanding of the gospel. To these people he writes that they should gently convince others of the truth, without they getting convinced of falsehood themselves.
This is a good general approach to take as well. We should help others only in areas where we are not so weak that we might fall while trying to help the other person. A struggling alcoholic, for example, should not try to go to a bar to save other alcoholics. He should first be fully recovered himself before trying to help the others.
However, I think that what Paul is referring to here is to not fall into pride and think that we are superior because we understand the doctrine better than the other person.
2 Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.
We should not expect the people around us to be perfect. Rather, we should make allowance for their imperfections, including their doctrinal inaccuracies. And when they fall, we should not be upset, but be ready to bear the cost of their mistakes. This is what being a mature Christian is all about, because that is what Christ did – He did not expect us to be sinless but instead bore the payment of our sins upon Himself. He bore our burdens. The law of Christ is to make allowance for other people to mess up.
3 For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
It is easy to think that we have the correct doctrine when we are discussing doctrine with others. And we might just be right in thinking that we have the correct doctrine. But we should be careful to not allow it to lead us into thinking that we are something i.e. we are superior. Rather, the correct attitude to have is to realize that even if we do have the correct doctrine we are just the same as everyone else – nothing but sinners saved by grace. We need to look to ourselves and ensure that we don’t give into the temptation of pride.
4 But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another.
We must be careful to not compare ourselves with others, especially those who disagree with us. Rather, we should examine ourselves and compare ourselves today to what we were yesterday, or last week, or last month, and see whether we have become more like Jesus. If we have, then we can be glad.
5 For each one will bear his own load.
Paul explains that the reason why we need to only examine ourselves is because on the Day of Judgment we will have to answer only for ourselves, giving an account of how we handled the responsibilities that the Lord gave us to do.
6 The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him.
In general, if someone is teaching you useful things about God then you must compensate them properly. More specifically, perhaps Paul was writing this verse to those people who initially refused to accept Paul’s view, but later, through the teaching of other Galatian brothers in the church, came to see the light.
7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will 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.
You might think that just because you have the correct doctrine you are going to go to heaven and the person who has the wrong doctrine is going to go to hell. But correct doctrine is not enough to take you to heaven. If you sow to the flesh you will still go to hell, even if you have the correct doctrine. You have to sow to the Spirit by fighting temptation if you want to reap eternal life.
9 Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.
10 So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.
When there are doctrinal disagreements one is quickly tempted to be cold and to stop doing good to those who disagree with us. We should overcome that temptation and continue to do good to all people even those who disagree with us, without neglecting those who do agree with us (i.e. the household of faith, or those who have the same doctrine as us).
11 See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand.
Perhaps Paul was so greatly concerned about the state of affairs in the churches of Galatia that, unlike in other letters, he didn’t wait till he was able to find someone to write this letter for him; he just sat down and wrote it himself.
12 Those who desire to make a good showing in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised, simply so that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.
13 For those who are circumcised do not even keep the Law themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh.
Be aware that church leaders (pastors, teachers, parents, others) are not above manipulating people in their church just so that they won’t be put in an uncomfortable situation. They want their congregation to be well-behaved just so that they will look good among other pastors and teachers and leaders.
14 But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
Good leaders will not want to boast in what they have accomplished. Rather, they want to bring focus to the greatness of God.
To be crucified to the world means that you will not compromise your message of truth just so that you can bring in more of the world into the church. If your message makes you obnoxious to the world it doesn’t bother you as you don’t want to do what the world wants but what God wants.
To have the world crucified to you means that you no longer live based on the values of the world. Things that are great in the eyes of men are an abomination to you just like how they are an abomination to God. You no longer want to be great in the eyes of the world.
A man of God strives to keep the world crucified to him and strives to crucify the world to himself.
15 For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.
Here Paul summarizes his point – circumcision doesn’t get you anywhere with God anymore. What matters is whether you are born again.
16 And those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.
Paul speaks a blessing over those who don’t try to push circumcision.
17 From now on let no one cause trouble for me, for I bear on my body the brand-marks of Jesus.
This whole incident has been quite distressing to Paul. It troubled him to see the Galatians fall away. So he hopes that that he doesn’t have to deal with this kind of trouble again as he has suffered enough already.
18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.
He wishes that his readers will be helped by Jesus to do what is right. He has strong hopes that things will turn out okay as he still calls them ‘brethren’.
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