In my last post, I wrote about the role that works play in the Christian life. It’s not that works do not matter, for they are an important part in our walk with the Lord. Paul wrote to the Ephesians, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10) We do good works from a stand-point of already being saved, and our primary motivator is love and gratitude. Those who have truly received the grace of God begin to think and act differently. It is nothing we can do on our own, but it is a work of the Holy Spirit in our lives that produces good fruit. It comes as a result of abiding in Jesus Christ through faith.
Next, Paul instructs them how they are to treat those who have been overtaken in a fault. The word overtaken here means to be caught by surprise, as an animal being cornered by a predator. The idea is that a person has been caught up in a particular sin as a result of being deceived or tripped up by the devil. He is no less guilty, but our response is different from someone who has willingly jumped into sin and is not repentant. For those who have been caught up in sin, we are to restore them with a spirit of humility, remembering that we ourselves are subject to like temptations. I think the temptation often is to be harsh or overly critical of others’ faults, but we tend to go easier on our own. This is revealing of our own pride and self-righteousness. The word restore is a medical term meaning to mend or set a broken bone. Our goal should be to see that person made better, not rub in their face how wrong they were. If we have been a Christian long enough, we will have made plenty of mistakes, and maybe some really big ones. Just like you and I, that person needs the grace of God in order to get back on track. There may be some discipling and instruction from the Word of God that is necessary, but it is for their good and to ensure genuine repentance takes place. Again, it should be done in humility, remembering where the Lord has brought us from and what we are still capable of apart from the grace of God. This may not always be an easy task, but we are to bear one another’s burdens. We should not think that we are above this, for we are all human and have times of need (including needing to be restored). At the same time we are to bear our own burdens (V 5). We are not to be needy or spiritually lazy. There are believers out there who are always depending on others, and have not made up their minds to grow up and mature in the Lord. Paul wrote to Timothy, “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” (2 Timothy 2:3-4) We are in a battle, and if we want to mature in the Lord we need to lay aside the sins and any other thing that would distract us from fully serving Him. We need to discipline ourselves to seek and to serve the Lord whole-heartedly.
Next Paul brings up the principle of sowing and reaping. Those that are taught the Word of God are to distribute to those who are doing the teaching. In other words, we are to provide materially to our pastors and elders who are tending the flock and teaching us the Word of God. This is most commonly done through our tithes and offerings, but in addition it can be through meeting other needs such as maybe fixing their car or working on their roof. He writes, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (v 7) It would seem that Paul is referring to two different things here: First is the principle of giving. The only area in Scripture we are told to test the Lord is in the area of giving. He states in Malachi that when we give to Him (tithe to our local Church)He will open up the windows of Heaven and pour out a blessing in which there will not be enough room to receive it (Malachi 3:10). I know there are a lot of preachers who abuse this (in particular those on television), but the truth is it is still a Biblical principle. The Lord does promise to bless us when we give, and when we do not we are subject to the devourer. The second principle I believe Paul is referring to is whether we are sowing to our flesh (sin nature) or to the Spirit. If we sow to our flesh we will reap corruption or ruin. This can be a gradual process in which we allow a little sin into our lives that grows over time, and eventually it can rule or dominate our lives. It’s kind of like those goat heads that appear in your yard: By the time you notice them they have taken over a corner in your yard. They grow along with the grass, and are a pain to get rid of. Sin is the same way: Once we allow it into our lives long enough, it can be hard to get rid of it. We also have the natural consequences that inevitably come with sin. Solomon wrote in Proverbs that the way of transgressors is hard (Proverbs 13:15). It might be enjoyable initially, but it will always bring unnecessary pain and heartache into our lives. If we choose to sow to the Spirit however, we will reap everlasting life. We should not be weary in doing what is right, for we will reap a good harvest in due season. I wonder how much we miss out on blessings because we give up just before the Lord is ready to reward us. We should do good to everyone, especially to our fellow Christians.
Paul then concludes by coming back to the topic of legalism. He states the real reason the judaizers want them to be circumcised is to avoid the persecution for the cross of Christ. They do not keep the very Law they try to impose on others; they only want to feel good about themselves for making others follow their rules. But rather than glory in getting others to follow rules, we should glory in the cross of Jesus Christ. For it was on the cross that the Lord redeemed us from the curse of the Law, and has truly set us free. It is not about keeping or not keeping rules, but being made a new creation in Christ. True peace and the mercy of God are on those who have believed on Jesus Christ.
In closing, I hope these several posts on the book of Galatians have been refreshing to you as they have been to me. Everything we have from the Lord is based on a relationship with Jesus Christ by faith, and not by keeping rules and regulations made up by man. When Jesus was asked by the people what they must do to work the works of God, He answered that they should believe on Him whom God had sent. In this He was obviously speaking of Himself. That’s it, guys! We just have to believe on Jesus, and He does the rest. He produces good works in us and gives us the power to walk in victory over sin. The world has been crucified unto us, and we unto the world. As Paul prayed, to those who name the name of Jesus Christ, I pray the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your Spirit. Amen.
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