Galatians 6:6-18

Galatians 6:6-18

Galatians 6:7 – “Do not be deceived...” 

3 Deceptions of Sin

Deception 1 – God can be fooled.

Galatians 6:7b – “God cannot be mocked.”

Truth: Sin convinces us that we are the exception.

Max Anders – “Disregarding God’s counsel, we will always suffer. Each of us by our thoughts, attitudes, and actions is constantly planting for a future reaping.”

Application: God blesses those who trust him enough to ACT ON and REST IN his promises.

Deception 2 – I need to set my own agenda.

“It would certainly be a surprise if you planted corn and pumpkins came up.”

Point: God will reward each according to which agenda we follow.

Galatians 6:8 – “The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”

Deception 3 – Life should be easy! (vs. 9-10)

Jeremiah 12:1 - “You are always righteous, O LORD, when I bring a case before you. Yet I would speak with you about your justice: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease?”

Galatians 6:9-10 - “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”

Point: Following Jesus can be brutally difficult.

The Final Encouragements (vs. 12-17)

Encouragement 1 – Don’t let anyone influence your life...except Jesus. (vs. 12-13)

Galatians 6:12 – “Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ.

Point: Life is not about making a good impression. Encouragement 2 – Jesus is your only Security. (vs. 14-15)

Galatians 6:14-15 – “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation.”

Point: Our security is centered solely in the Cross.

Galatians 2:20 – “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Encouragement 3 – Proudly bear the marks of Jesus.

Galatians 6:17 – “Finally, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.”

Point: Whatever the consequences you bear for following Jesus, wear it proudly.

Galatians 5:16-6:5

Galatians 5:13-6:5

“Freedom of religion is the God-given right for each individual to choose to go to hell the human way or to go to heaven God’s way.”

- Unknown Author

** Works of the Flesh -

1. self-indulgent (v. 16) – “...gratifies the desires of the flesh”

2. contrary to and in conflict with the Spirit (v. 17) – so you “do what you do not want”

3. “obvious” (v. 19) = apparent, not hidden, public (See: Romans 1:19)

4. incompatible with heaven (v. 21b)... “ those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

   Point: Paul does not blame the “flesh” for spiritual problems...it is the natural outcome of a life lived under the Law.

** The Fruit of the Spirit... (vs. 22-23)

• “Love” (agape) = self-sacrificing love, reflects the very character of God (see: 1 John 4:8)

• “Joy” = deep, inner happiness and fulfillment that is not situation based

• “Peace” = inner sense of completion, not lacking anything...not referring to war

• “Patience” (makrothumia) = long-term, enduring patience, usually used in reference to a

  relationship more than a situation

• “Kindness” = an attitude of benevolence with others in response to their needs

• “Goodness” = an action of benevolence with others in response to their needs

• “Self-Control” = disciplined, not given to emotions

Paul’s Conclusion (v. 23b) – “Against such things there is no law.”

...in other words...this is the natural outcome of those who live in Freedom.

Application (vs. 24-26) – Freedom: The Solution to the Sinful Struggle

Application 1 – God empowers Christians to choose freedom of living by the Spirit rather the enslaved in the Flesh. (See: Galatians 5:24)

Application 2 – We make that daily choice by doing what Jesus would do. (See: Galatians 5:25) 

Application 3 – Arrogance and Freedom are incompatible. (See: Galatians 5:26)

Max Anders – “Freedom in Christ does not give us the right to do as we please, but the liberty to do as we ought.”

Freedom’s Impact (6:1-6) 

** When we live in the Spirit, Freedom has an Impact on:

•  ...our response to Sin

** Re: the Sin of Others –

o “...when someone is caught is sin, restore him gently...” (v. 1)

o “Caught” (Gk: prolambano) = means to “take by surprise” or “overtaken”... Note: “Sin” (Gk: paraptoma) = to “step/fall aside”.

** Re: Personal Sin –

“...watch yourself or you may be tempted.” (v. 1)

▪ “Watch” (Gk: skopeo, English, “Scope”) = to examine, inspect or scrutinize.

Richard Foster – “The disciplined person is the person who can do what needs to be done when it needs to be done. The disciplined person is the person who can live in the appropriateness of the hour. The extreme ascetic and the glutton have exactly the same problem: they cannot live appropriately; they cannot do what needs to be done when it needs to be done. The disciplined person is the free person.”

Point: Without careful, honest self-examination, Christians can be overtaken by sin.

... Relationships.

o “Carry each others burdens...fulfill law of Christ” (v. 2)

o “Burdens” (Gk: bastazo) usually refers to an excessively heavy item...

Point: Paul encourages Christians to help each other particularly when the burden is excessive.

... Personal Integrity –

o Be wary of false self-deception (v. 3) o Test you motives and results (vs. 4-5)

Point: Self-deception and comparing to others prohibits a Christian to serve others since arrogance leads to self-service.

Galatians 5:7-18

Galatians 5:7-18

** We do not “run the race” to be saved, but because we ARE saved.

“But I do not count my life of any value to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the good news of God’s grace.” 

– Acts 20:24

You, my brothers, were called to be free.

But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. 

- Galatians 5:13

** Freedom is:

• a “calling” (v. 13a)

  o v. 13a – “You, my brothers, were called to be free.” o Gk: ekkaleo = to be “called out”

  Point: Freedom is a calling that causes Christians to live differently from the World.

• an “opportunity” (v. 13b)

  o ESV better translation – “Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh...”

  Point: Freedom is a starting point/springboard for growth.

• motivation (v. 13c)

o Paul says (v. 13c), “Serve one another in love”...

o Note: Paul’s “single command” different from Jesus’  2 Great Commands

o The Question: Who has more to give?

▪ Can the World give you more? – and, so, you require others to serve you? ...it’s all about you?

▪ Or can you give the World more? – and, so, you fulfill your calling of serving the World in Love because the World has everything to gain in Christ.

Point: Freedom serves because the Free person KNOWS they have nothing to lose but others have everything to gain.

  

Three Practices of Freedom 

Freedom Practice #1 – Beware of your Adversaries

Galatians 5:7 – “You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth?”

** “Cut in” = Gk: planao – “to cause to wander”, lead astray, mislead

• used, originally, on the running track to describe someone who cuts off the leader to take charge/set the pace of a race

o Metaphorically: sense of leading someone off the path into the wilderness o Spiritually: cause someone to hold a wrong view/attitude

** In fact, Jesus predicts that this direct misleading will happen (Matthew 24:3-5)

Bottom Line Truth #1 – Anyone can be knocked off course. 

Freedom Practice #2 – Beware of the Persuaders.

Galatians 5:8-9 – “That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. 9 “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.”

Bottom Line Truth #2 - We obey/follow what (or who) we trust most. 

Freedom Practice #3 – Beware of your Sinful Nature

Galatians 5:16-17 – “So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other.”

** Essentially......all of the abuses of life are the result of our Sinful Natures. Question: So how do we live in the Spirit?

Answer: Freedom!

Bottom Line Truth #3 – We choose whom we will please.

Faith Fellowship Boca · Galatians 5.7 - 18

Galatians 5:1-6

  

Key Verse: “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” 

(Galatians 5:1)

** Defining “Freedom”

• Freedom is NOT:

  o License
  o Autonomy

  • ▪  1 Peter 2:16 – “Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.”

  • ▪  Quote: “Freedom from the law means freedom from moralism, from self-lordship before God in the guise of serious and obedient responsibility.”

    o Self-Determination...
    ▪ Quote: “We achieve self-control by letting ourselves be controlled.”

• Freedom IS:

  o Discovered in Truth
  ▪ Jesus said (John 8:32) – When we hold to his teachings...“Then you will know the

  truth, and the truth will set you free.” o Release from the domination of Sin

  ▪ Romans 6:18 – “You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.”

  o Power to Choose
  ▪ Reject the things that lead us away from God ▪ Embrace the things that connect us with God

• Romans 6:22 – “Now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.”

** Bottom Line: Freedom is a lifestyle choice.

2 Corinthians 3:17 – “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”

Peter in Acts 15:10 – “Why are you now challenging God by burdening the Gentile believers with a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors were able to bear?” (NLT)

Matthew 11:28-30 – Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Galatians 5:1-6

Strategy 1 – “Stand Firm”

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” - Galatians 5:1

** “Stand Firm” (Gk: steko) – this first COMMAND demands that we stay focused and strong.

• 1 Peter 5:9 – “Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family

of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.”

Point: To live in Freedom is to live Resolutely in the Grace of God.

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” – Hebrews 12:2

Strategy 2 – “Do not be enslaved/yoked”

• A Better translation than the NIV’s would read, “...never again yoke yourself as a slave...”  

** Consequences of Re-Enslavement to the Law (5:2-4)

You are saying Jesus’ sacrifice was worthless (v. 2)
You are subject to the Law as a means of salvation (v. 3)...this makes salvation impossible.
You alienate yourself from Jesus (v. 4a)
You “fall away” from grace (v. 4b)

** Benefits of Standing Firm in Grace (5:5-6) 

Benefit 1 - Genuine Reason for Hope

v. 5 – “But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope.”

Benefit 2 - Meaning

v. 6 – “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.”

** So...How do you know if you are living in Freedom?

• The answer: love - v. 6 – “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” o 2 Corinthians 5:14 – “For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one

  died for all, and therefore all died.”

• But there are other signs...

  o We express freedom in service, in yielding our lives to the divinely demanded righteousness of love of God and neighbor (Romans 6:18ff.).

  o Being free, we accept civil obedience (Matthew 17:24ff; 1 Peter 2:13ff.).
  o We forego our “rights” or “privileges” for the sake of helping others (1 Corinthians 9:19).

o We live fully for God wherever we are living (1 Corinthians 7:20-24)

Faith Fellowship Boca · Galatians 5.1 - 6

Galatians 4:21-31

Galatians 4:21-5:6

“No amount of religion or legislation can give the dead sinner life. Only Christ can do that through the gospel.”

– Warren Wiersbe

The Ancestry Allegory: “Two Mothers” and “Two Sons”

Hagar  (Law-Based Salvation)

• Second Wife Origin: Unbelief
• Nature: Slave Ishmael = “God Listens”
• See: Matthew 5:45b
• Life Source: Ordinary/Natural/Physical
• See: Galatians 4:22-23
• Inclusion: Dismissed
• See: Genesis 21:10-12 
• Presiding Covenant: Mt. Sinai (v. 25)
• Home: First-Century Jerusalem
• See: Galatians 4:25
• Blessed then Banished
• See: Genesis 21:8-10
• Final Result: Contempt
• See Genesis 16:4

Sarah  (Grace-based Salvation)

• First Wife Origin: Promise
• Nature: Free Isaac = “He Laughs”
• Life Source: Miraculous/Supernatural/Spiritual
• See: Galatians 4:22-23
• Inclusion: Accepted and Ordained
• See: Galatians 4:31
• Presiding Covenant: Abraham Home: New Jerusalem
• See: Revelation 21:1-3
• Barren then Blessed
• See Galatians 4:27
• Final Result: Contentment
• See: Genesis 21:6

** Additional passages are given below **

Note: Galatians 4:29-30 answers many questions:

1. How are Jewish and Gentile believers related?

   1. v. 28 – We are all children of the Promise

   2. Unknown - “Just as Isaac’s birth was a miracle of God, so Christianity, offering people the

      opportunity to be born again, is a miracle of God (John 3:3).”

2. Why is there conflict in the Holy Land?

   1. v. 29 – Because of Ishmael’s violence.

   2. Genesis 16:12– “Ishmael will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against

      everyone and everyone’s hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.”

3. Who does God favor?

a. v. 30 – To those who come to him through the promise, he gives the inheritance

Additional Passages from the Chart Above

Matthew 5:45b – “For God gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.”

Genesis 21:10-12 – So Sarah said to Abraham, “Cast out this slave woman with her son, for the son of this slave woman shall not be heir with my son Isaac.” 11 And the thing was very displeasing to Abraham on account of his son. 12 But God said to Abraham, “Be not displeased because of the boy and because of your slave woman. Whatever Sarah says to you, do as she tells you, for through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” (ESV)

Revelation 21:2 – “I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.”

Genesis 21:8-10 – “The child grew and was weaned, and on the day Isaac was weaned Abraham held a great feast. 9 But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was mocking, 10 and she said to Abraham, ‘Get rid of that slave woman and her son, for that slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac.’”

Genesis 16:4 – “So Abram had sexual relations with Hagar, and she became pregnant. But when Hagar knew she was pregnant, she began to treat her mistress, Sarai, with contempt.” (NLT)

Genesis 21:6 – “Sarah said, ‘God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.’”

Faith Fellowship Boca · Galatians 4:21-31

Galatians 4:8-20

“If you’re lost in the wilderness and travelling in circles,

it really doesn’t matter how much ground you cover each day!”

- Anonymous

I. Pastor Paul’s Vulnerability

Galatians 4:11 – “I fear for you...”

Galatians 4:8-9 – “Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. But now that you know God – or rather are known by God – how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles?

Paul’s Pastoral Question: Why do you want to go back to ignorance when you’ve had intimacy with God?

II. Pastor Paul’s Plea

Galatians 4:12 – “I plead with you, brothers, become like me, for I became like you.”

Galatians 4:15-16 – “What has happened to all your joy? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?

Point: The Truth that once set them free is now going to be their Judge.

III. Pastor Paul’s Release (vs. 17-20)

Galatians 4:19 – “My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you...”

Galatians 4:17-18 – “Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you, so that you may be zealous for them. It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always and not just when I am with you.”

** The Judaizers...

• They are up to no good

o v. 17a - “Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good.”

• They are trying permanently drive a wedge between you and God.

o v. 17b – “What they want is to alienate you, so that you may be zealous for them.”

o “Alienate” = image of locking a dead bolt on the door.

** So his word of Release is:

Galatians 4:18- “It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always and not just when I am with you.”

Point: “If a thousand people believe in a stupid idea...it’s still a stupid idea.”

Faith Fellowship Boca · Galatians 4:8-20

Galatians 3:27-4:6

Benefits of Being a Heir

Benefit 1 - Heir has a new Position: Child of God

Galatians 3:26 – “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”

Note: Paul is emphasizing the word “All”.

Benefit 2 – Heir has a new Privilege: Adulthood

Galatians 3:26-27 – “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”

** Analogy for our Christian Application of Baptism: Roman rite of Toga

Point: Paul’s point is that Christian Baptism is the donning of adult faith.

Benefit 3 – Heirs have a new Purpose: Equality

Galatians 3:28-29 – “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

** Three Barriers that the Law (i.e.: Sin) Creates

1. The Ethnic Barrier – “There is neither Jew nor Greek...”
2. The Social Barrier – “...slave nor free...”
3. The Gender Barrier – “...male nor female...”

Rabbinic Prayer – “I thank you God that I am not a Gentile, slave or woman.”

Josephus Flavius (1st Century Jewish Historian who worked for the Romans) – “Woman is inferior to man in every way.”

Paul’s Point: Jesus overcomes our earthly barriers to fulfill God’s will in salvation: “...for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Galatians 3:29 - “If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

Comparing and Contrasting a Child and the Heir 

Note: The word Paul uses for “child” really means “baby” or “infant”.

“Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly – mere infants in Christ.

I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.” 

- 1 Corinthians 3:1-2

“What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. He is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world.”

– Galatians 4:1-3

Child

• Restricted Rights and Privileges Under a Guardian
• Limited access to Riches of Inheritance Slave
• Intermediary to Father
• “Under the Law”

Heir

• Full Access to Privileges Self-regulated
• Full Access to Riches of Inheritance Free
• Direct Access to Father 
• “Under Grace”

Note 1 – God’s grace “redeems” the Heir.

Galatians 4:4-5 – “But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.”

** Redemption by Jesus has two purposes:

1. To make us acceptable to God
2. To free us to live as adopted heirs.

Note 2 – God’s grace creates a new relationship for the Heir.

Galatians 4:6 – “Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, ‘Abba, Father.’”

John R. W. Stott - “We cannot come to Christ to be justified until we have first been to Moses to be condemned. But once we have gone to Moses, and acknowledged our sin, guilt and condemnation, we must not stay there. We must let Moses send us to Christ.”

Faith Fellowship Boca · Galatians 3:26-4:7