A NEW CREATION

Galatians 6:1-18

Key Verse 6:15

“Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation.”

Look at vs. 1-5. These verses teach us Jesus’ practical example of shepherding.  How should we restore a brother who sins? (1) And in doing so, what should we watch out for? What is the Law of Christ? (3; Rom. 13:8; Gal. 5:13-14) Why should we test our own actions? (4) What should we carry? (2,5) The word ‘should’ is repeated 3 times in verses 1-5. Webster’s dictionary defines ‘should’ to express an obligation. What does this reveal about our freedom in Christ?

• Paul is done with doctrine; now is the time for application.  Practical application of shepherding.

• Gal. 6:1-5, “1Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, 5for each one should carry his own load.”

• Those who are ‘spiritual’ should restore someone gently who is caught in sin.

• The ‘spiritual’ may be more mature than others, but in reality they are no different than anyone else.  They could have been completely faithful for over 20 years, but they are still able to be tempted and fall to temptation even if they are mature.  Mt. 26:41, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.  The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

• Spiritual doesn’t mean invincible.

• The phrase ‘Law of Christ’ is only found one other place in the Bible, I Cor. 9:21, “To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law.”

• The Law of Christ is the Law of love.  We have one debt that remains outstanding: the debt of love. Rom. 13:8, “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.”  Gal. 5:13-14, “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.  The entire law is summed up in a single command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

• The Law of Christ is the example that Christ showed to us.

• Love as exemplified through Christ’s example.

• Jesus took the burden of our sins; He also carried His own load.

• Be conscious that Christ died for each person including the one caught in sin.

• We should test our own actions so that we can take pride that Christ is living in us.  Joseph in the Bible is a good example.  God’s Spirit was with him and gave him success in all that he did.

• We should carry our own load; not expect others to carry our load for us.

• Our freedom in Christ is not without any obligation.  Freedom in Christ still has responsibilities.

• Not sinning; carry each other’s burdens; share good with one another.

Look at vs. 6-10. What must the person receiving instruction do for the person who taught them? (6) In verses 7-9 Paul shares the principles of ‘sowing’ and ‘reaping’. What will a man reap if he sows to please his sinful nature? To please the Spirit? (8) Why should we not grow weary in doing good? (9) What is our responsibility toward all people? (10)

• Gal. 6:6-10, “6Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor. 7Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8The 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. 9Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

• That person should share all good things with their instructor.  As the family of God we are to share all good things with others.

• A man reaps whatever he sows.

• He will reap destruction.

• Eternal life.

• If we do not grow weary we will reap a harvest.  This shows that perseverance in doing good is vitally important in our life of faith. We should not give up.

• We are to do good to all people.

Look at vs. 12-13. What is the motivation of those who want the Galatians to observe circumcision? What was the inconsistency of those compelling circumcision? (13)

• Gal. 6:12-13, “12Those 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. 13Not even those who are circumcised obey the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your flesh.”

• The motivation is that they want to make a good impression outwardly.  They are focusing on the flesh.  They also want to avoid persecution.  They desired to boast about the flesh.

• Ironically, they themselves did not keep the law, because they were unable to.  They pointed to others as a source of pride and to their flesh to ‘prove’ their righteousness.  They avoided repentance and dying to oneself.  They avoided any form of persecution for the name of Christ.

• What counts is inner change, not just outward impression.

Look at vs. 14-16. What was Paul’s confidence based on? (14) What does Paul mean when he writes, ‘[T]he cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world’? Paul states that circumcision or non-circumcision means nothing.  So what then does matter? (15) Why?  What belongs to those who ‘follow this rule’? (16)

• Gal. 6:14-16, “14May 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. 15Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation. 16Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule, even to the Israel of God.”

• Paul’s confidence was based only on the cross of Jesus.

• The only thing that matters is a new creation.

• The flesh counts for nothing.

• It is only the cross of Christ that makes us a new creation.  Cosmetics will never make you a new creation.

Look at vs. 17-18. Why did Paul ask that no one trouble him? (17) What were Paul’s final words to the Galatians? (18)

• Gal. 6:17-18, “17Finally, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.  18The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers.  Amen.”

• Because he bore in his body the marks of Jesus.  Paul’s faith was evident in actual marks on his body.

• The grace of our Lord Jesus can be with our spirit.  We can have fellowship with Him.

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