Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• Looking at Gal 5:24-6:5
• Remember the Galatian churches were troubled by legalists
  • Explanation
  • They were causing divisions amongst the churches
  • They were enforcing outward tradition
  • There was a lot of biting and devouring of each other
• The root of the problem was human pride
  • Our way is right, your way is wrong
  • Envy
  • 5:26
• The deeds of the flesh - not living in the Spirit
  • Other examples of carnality - Corinthians
• Paul wants to remind them there is a better way, walk in the spirit - 5:16 & 5:25
  • Love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control
  • Fully evident in the life of Jesus Christ
  • 4:19
• Overview:
  • The Starting Point (5:24)
  • The Ongoing Life (5:25)
  • Life in Community (5:26-6:2)
  • Self Assessment (6:3-6)

The Starting Point (5:24)

• A glorious truth - we belong to Jesus Christ
  • We have been made a child of God
  • A death blow to our sinful nature
  • He died in our place
  • Christ lives in us
• Interpreted in two ways
  • Minority opinion - The person crucifying the flesh
  • Majority opinion - What God has done in Christ for us
  • The two hold together
  • cf. Gal 2:20, Rom 6:4-6
• The starting point is Christ - past tense
  • Can you say this has happened to you?

The Ongoing Life (5:25)

• We have begun in the Spirit (Gal 3:3) - are we now going to continue in the flesh?
  • No we continue in the Spirit
  • 5:25
• Living in the Spirit - the root, walking in the Spirit is the fruit
  • Daily reliance on God - examples
  • Not something mystical - obedience to God's word
  • Prayer, communion, dependence
  • God is concerned with the heart of man (the legalists were only concerned with the external matters)
• The ongoing life - walking in the Spirit

Life in Community (5:26-6:2)

• 5:26 - how not to live in community and 6:1-2 – how to live in community
  • We are not individuals but part of the body of Christ
  • Many "one another" statements in the New Testament
    • e.g. 5:26, 5:13
  • Looking out for one another
  • Helping one another
  • The opposite of 5:26
• 6:1 - A brother or sister overtaken by a strong temptation
  • Those who are spiritual - any believer walking in the Spirit
  • Restore in a spirit of gentleness
    • Not rebuke, not put down, not harshness
      • Public rebuke is someone who is stubborn and unrepentant
      • This is for the person who has fallen and is repentant
    • Consider your own weakness
  • The desire to build up our brethren
    • cf. Matthew 18
    • To restore our brethren
    • 'Unlimited' forgiveness
  • To desire the restoration of all believers
• 6:2 - Bearing each others burdens
  • Greek word burden - meaning a heavy weight
  • Come alongside the person, love them, understand them, give them hope
    • The burden of bereavement - examples
    • The burden of failed exam - give hope
    • The burden of family problems - come along side
    • The burden of finances - give
    • The burden of ill health
  • We may have limits but we are to go the 'second mile'
  • James refers to this as the law of liberty and the royal law
• As part of a body, bearing burdens and upholding people

Self Assessment (6:3-6)

• Self-assessment is required in the physical world - it is needed also in the spiritual world
  • Not to others, but in relation to God and the word of God
  • A true assessment compared to God's Holy standards
    • Prov 3:7 - fear God and depart from evil
    • Rom 12:3 - think seriously about yourself
  • Life in the Spirit is a humble life
• Bear your own burdens, not other people's burden
  • A different Greek word for burden - your backpack, your kit
  • Sometimes we expect too much from others - example
  • You cannot bear someone elses' burden - example of unsaved family

Closing Remarks