THE NEED TO CONSTANTLY HELP EACH OTHER WITHOUT CONDESCENSION (GALATIANS 6:1). While confident in the Holy Spirit Paul does recognise that God's people will require assistance in their walk with Him. What has been described is the life of the Spirit, but those who are young in it, or weak, will cert... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Brothers, even if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of meekness, looking to yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear you one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.' ‘Even if a man is overtaken in any trespass.' Note the ‘even if'.... [ Continue Reading ]
‘For if a man thinks himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.' Self-importance is revealed as a major sin, especially when seeking to help another. The self-important man should never be a counsellor. For if we would counsel we must remember that we are in fact nothing, that... [ Continue Reading ]
‘But let each man prove his own work, and then he will have his glorying in himself alone, and not of the other. For every man shall bear his own pack.' Rather than criticising or looking with superiority at the behaviour of others, what we should be doing is putting our own behaviour and achieveme... [ Continue Reading ]
‘But let him who is taught in the word communicate to him who teaches in all good things.' In thinking of the load that each man must carry as he seeks to help others, Paul's thoughts turn to the burdens borne especially by those who ministered the word in those days, for it was often difficult for... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Do not be deceived. God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows, that shall he also reap. For he who sows to his own flesh, will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap eternal life.' This statement applies to the whole of Galatians 5:13 to Galatians 6:7.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE END WE MUST FACE UP TO THE CONSEQUENCES OF OUR BEHAVIOUR (GALATIANS 6:7). Paul warns us all to remember that in the end we will have to give account for our behaviour. Walking with Christ is not a soft option that we can take or leave as we wish. It is the very evidence that we are truly His... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And let us not be weary in well-doing, for in due course we will reap if we do not faint.' Paul recognises that all this may not be easy. It is tempting to follow the lusts of the flesh, and go beyond the bounds set by God. So he seeks to encourage the people of God, and he knows he must include h... [ Continue Reading ]
‘So then, as we have opportunity, let us work that which is good towards all men, and especially towards those who are of the household of faith.' ‘Opportunity' is kairos, which also means time. Thus it means ‘while it is the opportune time'. For a time will come when no man can work (John 9:4). So... [ Continue Reading ]
‘See with how large letters I have written to you with my own hand.' Having laid out for them the full position with regard to what the Gospel is, and the failure of those who preach otherwise, he wants to stress his conclusion. Thus he writes by his own hand and He writes in large letters.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FINAL SUMMARY - WHAT THE CHRISTIAN SHOULD GLORY IN (GALATIANS 6:11). Having summarised Christian behaviour Paul now turns their attention to what they should be glorying in. Here Paul takes the letter from his secretary who is writing it for him, and writes in large letters so as to stress his... [ Continue Reading ]
‘AS MANY AS DESIRE TO MAKE A FAIR SHOW IN THE FLESH, THEY COMPEL YOU TO BE CIRCUMCISED, ONLY THAT THEY MAY NOT BE PERSECUTED FOR THE CROSS OF CHRIST. Let them now reconsider the first fact. That the Judaisers are not honest. There real aim is to avoid the persecution that they would suffer if they... [ Continue Reading ]
‘FOR THOSE WHO RECEIVE CIRCUMCISION DO NOT EVEN THEMSELVES KEEP THE LAW. BUT THEY DESIRE TO HAVE YOU CIRCUMCISED THAT THEY MAY GLORY IN YOUR FLESH.' Let them consider the second fact. That those who try to bring them in subjection to the Law cannot even keep the Law themselves. They offer them some... [ Continue Reading ]
‘BUT FAR BE IT FROM ME TO GLORY, EXCEPT IN THE CROSS OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, THROUGH WHICH THE WORLD HAS BEEN CRUCIFIED TO ME, AND I TO THE WORLD. FOR NEITHER IS CIRCUMCISION ANYTHING, NOR UNCIRCUMCISION, BUT A NEW CREATION.' Let them consider the third and final fact. That Paul desires to glory i... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And as many as shall walk by this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and on the Israel of God.' His letter is finished. He has made clear his Gospel. And now on those of the Galatians who walk by ‘this rule', (that the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ is all and that neither circumcision matters, no... [ Continue Reading ]
‘From henceforth let no man trouble me, for I bear branded on my body the marks (stigmata) of Jesus.' He has finished what he wanted to say. Let them make their choice. They must choose either those who are branded with the mark of circumcision, or he who has been crucified with Christ and is brand... [ Continue Reading ]
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.' He finishes his letter by praying for the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ to be with their spirit. This is pointed, for he never finishes like this anywhere else. He is stressing that it is only to those who are spiritual, beca... [ Continue Reading ]