Galatians Lesson #12

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Galatians

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January 17, 2010

RETURN TO SYLLABUS
GALATIANS 6:1-18
LESSON #12
BEARING CHRISTIAN BURDENS

v     MEMORY VERSE:  GALATIANS 6:2

v     PAUL HAS DISCUSSED SALVATION BY FAITH AND THECHRISIAN LIFE LIVED BY FAITH. THE CHRISTIAN WHO LIVES HIS LIFE BY FAITH WILL PRODUCEFRUIT. WE HAVE EXAMINED THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IN CHAPTER 5.

v     IN CHAPTER 6 PAUL WILL SHOW US HOW THE FRUIT OF THESPIRIT AFFECTS THOSE AROUND US.

v     READ GAL 6:1-6

Ø      THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SPIRIT OF MEEKNESS

§         “YE WHICH ARESPIRITUAL” (1)

·        MOST PEOPLE THINK THEY ARE MORESPIRITUAL THAN OTHER PEOPLE AND THEY HAVE A CALLING TO STRAIGHTEN OUT THE LIVES OFEVERYONE ELSE.

·        THE TRULY SPIRITUAL PERSON IS THEONE WHO HAS THE FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT OPERATING IN HIS LIFE. THEREFORE, HE IS HUMBLE.

·        THE TRULY HUMBLE PERSON WILL KNOWTHAT HE IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE SAME THINGS THAT CAUSE ANOTHER CHRISTIAN TO STUMBLE. (3)

Ø      THE IMPORTANCE OF RESTORATION

§         THE WORD “RESTORE”IN VERSE 1 IS THE SAME GREEK WORD USED FOR SETTING A BROKEN BONE.

·        THE TRULY SPIRITUAL PERSON WILLNOT CONDEMN OR SEEK PUNISHMENT FOR ANOTHER BELIEVER WHO HAS STUMBLED IN HIS FAITH, BUTWILL SEEK WAYS TO RESTORE HIM TO A STRONG FAITH.

¨      THE PHRASE “OVERTAKEN IN A FAULT”(1) MEANS TO STUMBLE.

Ø      THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LEGALISM AND GRACE ISHOW A STUMBLING BROTHER IS TREATED.

§         GRACE SEEKS TO RESTORE.

§         LEGALISM CONDEMNS.

·        TOO MANY TIMES CHRISTIANS “SHOOT”THEIR WOUNDED RATHER THAN HEALING AND RESTORING THEM.

·        CONDEMNATION AND ABANDONMENT OF ABELIEVER WHO SEEKS TO BE RESTORED IS THE WRONG RESPONSE.

Ø      BEARING BURDENS (2)

§         PAUL TELLS BELIEVERS TOBEAR ONE ANOTHER’S BURDENS.

·        REMEMBER THAT PAUL CONSIDERED THEMOSAIC LAW A BURDEN. JESUS REFERRED TO THE LAW AS A BURDEN IN MAT 23:4. IN ACTS 15 JAMESDECIDED NOT TO ADD THE LAW TO THE BURDENS OF THE GENTILES.

·        PAUL SAYS BELIEVERS ARE TO BEAROTHER’S BURDENS AS OPPOSED TO PUTTING BURDENS OF LEGALISM ON THEM.

·        HOWEVER, NOTICE VERSE 5 SAYS THEBELIEVER IS TO BEAR HIS OWN BURDENS. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?

¨      THERE ARE ELEVEN GREEK WORDS FOR BURDENS.THREFORE, THERE MUST BE DIFFERENT KINDS OF BURDENS.

Ø      SOME BURDENS CAN BE SHARED AND OTHERS MUST BECARRIED ALONE.

§         VS. 2 “BURDENS” (baros)  = SOMETHING VERY HEAVY.

·        THE BURDENS THAT ARE TOO HEAVYFOR ONE PERSON TO CARRY ALONE NEED THE HELP OF OTHER CHRISTIANS.

·        THE WORD “FAULT” INVERSE 1 IS THE SAME WORD (baros) FOR BURDENS IN VERSE 2.

¨      IT REFERS TO AN INFIRMITY, WEAKNESS,IGNORANCE, TENSION OR GRIEF.

·        BEARING ANOTHER’S BURDENFULFILLS THE LAW OF CHRIST. (2)

¨      WHAT IS THE LAW OF CHRIST?  IT IS LOVE ONE TO ANOTHER.

·        BEARING ANOTHER’S BURDENINCLUDES BLESSING MATERIALLY THOSE CHRISTIAN PASTORS AND TEACHERS WHO MINISTER TO YOU. (6)

¨      REMEMBER WE LEARNED THAT WE CANNOT FULFILLGOD’S LAW OR GOD’S STANDARDS IN OUR OWN STRENGTH. WE CAN ONLY FULFILL THEM WHENWE LET THE HOLY SPIRIT DO IT BY PRODUCING THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT.

§         VS. 5 “BURDENS” (phortion)= SOMETHING CARRIED BY ONLY ONE PERSON LIKE A SOLDIER’S BACKPACK. (4-5)

·        THE WORD IS USED FOR A BABY INHIS MOTHER’S WOMB. NO ONE ELSE CAN HELP THIS MOTHER CARRY HER BABY.

·        WHAT KIND OF BURDEN MUST BECARRIED ALONE?

¨      THE BURDEN OF YOUR OWN SPIRITUAL GROWTH.

v     READ GAL 6:7-10  THEREAPING

Ø      THE PRINCIPLE OF SOWING AND REAPING (7-9)

§         THIS PRINCIPLE ISTHROUGHOUT THE WHOLE BIBLE. IT PLACES THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ONE’S DECISIONS SOLELYON MAN HIMSELF.

§         IT IS A PRINCIPLE THATPERVADES ALL OF GOD’S CREATION PHYSICALLY, MATERIALLY, AND SPIRITUALLY.

§         IT IS A PRINCIPLE THATPLACES GOD AS THE FINAL JUDGE OVER HIS CREATION.

·        MANY TIMES CHRISTIANS THINK THEYARE EXEMPT FROM JUDGMENT.

¨      REMEMBER, FREEDOM IN JESUS CHRIST DOES NOTMEAN A FREEDOM FROM REAPING THE CONSEQUENCES OF OUR ACTIONS.

¨      CHRISTIANS ARE EXEMPT FROM THE FINAL GREATWHITE THRONE JUDGMENT OF NON-BELIEVERS.

¨      CHRISTIANS ARE NOT EXEMPT FROM THE JUDGMENTSEAT OF CHRIST. (2COR 5:10  ROM 14:12) THECHRISTIAN’S PAST SINS ARE WASHED AWAY WHEN HE IS BORN AGAIN IN JESUS CHRIST. HOWEVERTHE CHRISTIAN MUST ANSWER FOR HIS LIFE SINCE HE BECAME A CHRISTIAN.

Ø      THIS IS AN EVALUATION FOR THE PURPOSES OF AREWARD.

§         BURDENS AND THE JUDGMENTSEAT OF CHRIST (7)

·        ANOTHER GREEK WORD FOR “BURDEN”IS (bema). THIS IS THE SAME WORD USED FOR THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST.

¨      WHAT IS THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST?

Ø      THIS IS THE JUDGMENT THROUGH WHICH ALLBELIEVERS MUST PASS AFTER THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH.

Ø      THIS IS A JUDGMENT THAT EVALUATES THECHRISTIAN’S LIFE OF SERVICE TO THE LORD.

¨      LIFE, AS A CHRISTIAN, IS A BURDEN THAT THEBELIEVER CARRIES WITH HIM UNTIL HE GOES TO BE WITH THE LORD. THEN THE BELIEVER PLACES THATLIFE OF SERVICE AT THE FEET OF CHRIST FOR EVALUATION AT THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST TODETERMINE HOW WELL HE CARRIED THIS BURDEN.

§         IMPORTANT TRUTH’S TOREMEMBER ABOUT SOWING AND REAPING:

·        -1. EVERY SEED SOWED REAPS ITSOWN KIND.

¨      DEEDS IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE ALWAYS REAP THEIROWN KIND. GOOD DEEDS REAP BLESSINGS, AND EVIL DEEDS REAP EVIL RESULTS.

·        -2. EVERY SEED TAKES TIME TOPRODUCE THE RESULT.

¨      THE REAPING IS NOT USUALLY INSTANTANEOUS.JUST AS A SEED NEEDS TIME TO GROW TO MATURITY, SO LIKEWISE DEEDS DONE IN THE CHRISTIANLIFE ARE OFTEN NOT REAPED UNTIL MUCH TIME PASSES.

·        -3. EVERY SEED PRODUCES ANINCREASE IN THE AMOUNT REAPED.

¨      ONE SEED NEVER PRODUCES JUST ONE SEED BUTMANY SEEDS IN RETURN. DEEDS IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE ARE MULTIPLIED WHEN REAPED.

§         DOING GOOD (10)

·        THE CHRISTIAN LIFE SHOULD BE ALIFE OF DOING GOOD.

¨      REMEMBER THAT THIS LIFE IS BY FAITH AND NOTBY DOING GOOD ACCORDING TO KEEPING ANY TYPE OF LAW.

¨      REMEMBER THAT THIS LIFE IS BY FAITH AND NOTBY LIVING IT IN YOUR OWN STRENGTH.

·        THE RESULTS OF THE HOLY SPIRITPRODUCING THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IN YOU IS A CHANGE IN YOUR CHARACTER THAT WILLAUTOMATICALLY RESULT IN DOING GOOD DEEDS. THIS IS A NATURAL RESULT OF THE HOLY SPIRITLIVING INSIDE OF THE BELIEVER.

¨      THEN WHY DOESN’T EVERY BORN AGAINBELIEVER “DO GOOD”?

Ø      THE REASON IS BECAUSE MANY CHRISTIANS DO NOTYIELD THEMSELVES TO THE WORK THE HOLY SPIRIT WANTS TO DO IN THEM.

Ø      IT IS FOR THIS REASON THAT PAUL TALKS ABOUTSOWING AND REAPING IN THE CONTEXT OF THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST. MAN STILL HAS HIS FREEWILL THAT HE MUST SUBMIT TO CHRIST, WHICH IN TURN CAUSES THE PRODUCTION OF A FRUIT-BEARINGLIFE THAT RESULTS IN GOOD DEEDS.

v     READ GAL 6:11-18  CONCLUSION

Ø      “HOW LARGE A LETTER” (11)

§         PAUL OFTEN DID NOT WRITEHIS OWN LETTERS (BOOKS). HE USED A SCRIBE. (ROM 16:22) HOWEVER, THE BOOK OF GALATIANS WASWRITTEN IN PAUL’S OWN HANDWRITING.

·        HE EVIDENTLY HAD SOME EYEPROBLEMS THAT CAUSED HIM TO WRITE LARGE TEXT SO HE COULD SEE WHAT HE HAD WRITTEN.

¨      REMEMBER, WE DISCUSSED PAUL’S “THORNIN THE FLESH” WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN AN EYE DISEASE. (GAL 4:15)

Ø      THE POPULARITY OF LEGALISM VERSUS LIFE OFSUFFERING BY GRACE (12-14)

§         PAUL RETURNS TO HIS SUBJECTCONCERNING LEGALISM AND THE JUDAIZERS. HE SAYS THAT LEGALISM IS MORE POPULAR AND DOES NOTCAUSE PERSECUTION. PAUL’S GOSPEL OF GRACE IS OFFENSIVE TO MANY PEOPLE AND CAUSESPERSECUTION.

·        PEOPLE LIKE TO FORCE OTHER PEOPLETO LIVE UP TO LAW.

·        PEOPLE DON’T LIKE THESTANDARD OF LAW TO BE TOO HIGH FOR THEM. THEY ONLY WANT A HIGH STANDARD FOR OTHERS.

§         YOU CAN DETERMINE IF APERSON IS LIVING BY FAITH IN THE GRACE OF GOD OR LIVING BY SOME FORM OF LEGALISM. IF YOULISTEN TO HIM TALK, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO TELL IF HE IS BOASTING ABOUT WHAT HE HASACCOMPLISHED OR ABOUT WHAT GOD HAS ACCOMPLISHED IN HIM. (14)

·        CHRISTIANS WHO SAY THEY ARELIVING BY THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OR LIVING BY THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT ARE LIVING BYLEGALISM.

·        CHRISTIANS WHO SAY THAT CHRIST ISCHANGING THEIR CHARACTER ARE LIVING BY THE GRACE OF GOD. (15)

Ø      PAUL’S EXAMPLE OF SUFFERING FOR CHRISTAND THE GOSPEL. (17-18)

§         THE JUDAIZERS WANTED TOMARK THE FLESH WITH CIRCUMCISION. PAUL CONTRASTS THIS WITH THE MARKS OF SUFFERING FORCHRIST.

·        PAUL’S BODY BORE MARKS OFHIS MANY SUFFERINGS: (2COR 11:18-33)

¨      5 TIMES FLOGGED WITH A CAT-O-NINE-TAILS.

¨      3 TIMES BEATEN WITH RODS.

¨      1 TIME STONED.

¨      3 TIMES SHIPWRECKED.

§         IT WAS COMMON IN PAUL’SDAY FOR A PERSON TO BE BRANDED OR TATOOED WITH A MARK TO DESIGNATE SOME PAGAN GOD, TODESIGNATE A SLAVE, OR TO DESIGNATE A SOLDIER.

·        IN CONTRAST, PAUL’S MARKSARE SCARS THAT RESULTED FROM SUFFERING FOR CHRIST. HE CONSIDERED HIMSELF A BOND SERVANT OFJESUS CHRIST. HE ALSO CONSIDERED HIMSELF A SOLDIER FOR CHRIST.

Ø      PAUL CLOSES HIS LETTER WITH THE WORD, “GRACE”.

§         THE GRACE OF GOD IS WHATTHE GALATIAN CHURCHES NEEDED TO LIVE THE CHRISTIAN LIFE NOT LEGALISM.

v     APPLICATION:

Ø      THE BOOK OF GALATIANS CLOSES WITH ANEXPLANATION OF WHAT HAPPENS IN A LIFE SUBMITTED TO THE HOLY SPIRIT. THE HOLY SPIRIT WILLCHANGE YOUR CHARACTER FROM INSIDE. THE FRUIT OF GAL 5:22-23 WILL WORK ITS WAY OUT TORESULT IN GOOD WORKS OF FAITH. NOTICE THAT THE KEY IS A LIFE SUBMITTED TO CHRIST. GAL 5:24SAYS THEY HAVE CRUCIFIED THE FLESH NATURE.

§         AS AN EXAMPLE OF THESERESULTING GOOD WORKS OF FAITH, PAUL SAYS THE CHRISTIAN WILL TAKE ON CERTAINRESPONSIBILITIES TO OTHER CHRISTIANS.

·        DISCUSSION:  WHAT ARE THE RESPONSIBILITIES TO OTHER BELIEVERSTHAT THE TRUE BELIEVER HAS IF HE IS WALKING IN THE LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST?

v     BOOK SUMMARY:

Ø      PAUL VERY CLEARLY EXPLAINED THE TRUE GOSPELOF THE GRACE OF GOD.

§         MAN IS SAVED (JUSTIFIEDBEFORE GOD) BY FAITH IN GOD’S GRACE.

§         MAN LIVES THE CHRISTIANLIFE BY GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS OF SANCTIFICATION (BECOMING MORE AND MORE LIKE CHRIST)BY FAITH IN GOD’S GRACE.

Ø      THEREFORE, THE BELIEVER IS FREE.

§         HE IS FREE FROM THE BONDAGEOF THE MOSAIC LAW.

§         HE IS FREE FROM THE BONDAGEOF THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH.

§         HE IS FREE FROM THE BONDAGEOF ANY FORM OF LEGALISM.

§         HE IS FREE FROM THE BONDAGEOF STRIVING TO LIVE THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IN HIS OWN STRENGTH.

Ø      HOWEVER, THE BELIEVER IS CONSTRAINED BY AHIGHER STANDARD THAN LEGALISM.

§         THE BELIEVER HAS THE LAW OFGOD WRITTEN ON HIS HEART.

§         THE BELIEVER HAS THEINDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT AS HIS GUIDE AND TEACHER.

Ø      AS A RESULT, THE HOLY SPIRIT SHAPES THESUBMITTED BELIEVER’S CHARACTER TO FORM THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT (GAL 5:22-23).

§         THAT INWARD FRUIT PRODUCESAN OUTWARD LIFESTYLE.

·        THE BELIEVER HAS A LIFESTYLE OFLOVE AND RESPONSIBILITY TO OTHER BELIEVERS.

·        THE BELIEVER’S LIFE THENWILL GLORIFY GOD AND REAP A FINAL REWARD.

Ø      THE FINAL RESULTS OF PAUL’S MESSAGE TOTHE GALATIAN CHURCHES IS THAT THE LIFESTYLE OF THE TRUE CHRISTIAN GUIDED BY THE HOLYSPIRIT IS A LIFESTYLE TOTALLY DIFFERENT FROM THAT OF LEGALISM.

§         A LIFE OF FAITH IN THEGRACE OF GOD IS A LIFE OF FREEDOM.

§         A LIFE OF PERFORMANCE-BASEDLIVING IN ANY LEGALISTIC FORM IS A LIFE OF BONDAGE.

THE END

MAY GODBLESS YOUR LIFE AS YOU WALK IN FREEDOM!