Bearing one another’s burdens

Bearing one another’s burdens Galatians 6

Affect of “walking in the Spirit” • Seek to restore those having trouble (v.1) • Restore others in spirit of gentleness (v.1) • Bear one another’s burdens (v.2) • Bear your own load (v.5) • Share with others (v.6) • Don’t grow tired of doing good (v.9) • Do good to all (v.10)

Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ • This is not optional • It is what Christ’s law aims at • Requires the fruit of the Spirit to be successful Can you think of any Bible examples of this?

Bible Examples • Ruth helping Naomi • Sarah’s agreement with the “sister” plan • collection for the Jerusalem poor fund • Job’s 3 friends when they sat silent with him • Moses carried the burden of Israel (Num 11:11-17) and then shared it with the 70 • Samuel praying for the people • Rahab’s hiding of the spies • Jonathan’s assistance to David while a fugitive

The problem with helping others • Considering yourself lest you also be tempted (v.1) • We think too highly of ourselves (v.3) • How do we prevent this??? • Really believe that we are nothing (v.3) • Examine our own work (v.4) • Bear our own load (v.5)

We have to bear our own load • Must serve others & bear their burdens – like Christ did for us • Must do it in a manner that reveals the fruit of the Spirit – like Christ did Can’t possibly do it in isolation from people!

Generosity (sharing) • Based on belief that everything belongs to our God • Driven by motive to serve one another through love • Don’t be deceived – God won’t be mocked • If we mock (sneer) at others, God considers this sneering at Him! • If we aren’t generous with others, God will not be with us (v.7) • Do good to ALL (especially believers)

Don’t be deceived…. • God won’t be mocked (ridiculed) • We will reap what we sow! 2 Cor 9:6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. James 3:18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Large Letters • Paul usually dictated his letters and only wrote the end. (2Thess 3:17; Col 4:18; 1Cor 16:21). He may have written this last part in large letters himself to emphasize his summary points. • Some think Paul was trained in Hebrew, not Greek, and that he wrote this letter in fairly large Greek letters. • Using the KJV [“see how large a letter”], some think the letter was a long letter. (but compared to Hebrews & Romans it’s not!)

Motive of the Judaisers • Want to make a good showing in the flesh (v.12) [look good to others – popular] • Don’t want to suffer persecution for teaching the cross of Christ (v.12) • Want to boast about what they convince us to do (v.13) Circumcision

Paul’s Motive • Won’t glory in his own works • Will only glory in the cross of Christ • The world has been crucified to Paul • Paul has been crucified to the world How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? (Rom 6:2) "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; (Gal 2:20)

Glory in the Cross of Christ • 1 Cor 1:17-31 Paul did not preached in words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power • Philip 3:18 enemies of the cross of Christ How could Paul glory in the cross of Christ? Because the cross of Christ was turning Paul into a new person, a member of the family of God forever by the grace of God

All that matters is the new creation 2 Cor 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Rom 8:21-22 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Eph 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Eph 4:24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

Walk according to this Rule • Want to be crucified with Christ • Want to become new creatures (born again to be children of God) • Hate Sin like God hates it Upon these Paul says will be mercy & peace

The Israel of God Rom 2:28-29 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God. Rom 9:6 For they are not all Israel who are of Israel Maybe Paul’s way of referring to true believers of all ages

I bear in my body Gal 2:20 Paul was crucified with Christ (2:20) 2 Cor 4:10-11 always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

Grace of the Lord Jesus be with your spirit Free Gift Let the Grace that Jesus shows to us dominate our way of thinking (our attitude) in the way we deal with one another. Grace

Lessons from Galatians • Faith working through love will motivate us to live as God’s children far more than law • Appreciate God’s gospel of grace – thank Him every day and show our thankfulness by being merciful to others • Don’t use our freedom to serve our flesh, but through love serve one another • Spend more time & energy on developing the fruit of the spirit, not judging each other by comparing ourselves with ourselves • Bear one another’s burdens – don’t make the burdens of others heavier

Tomorrow we have the opportunity to let the love of God motivate us to produce the fruit of the spirit by the way we treat one another

May God bless us to bear fruit to His glory!

Bearing one another’s burdens