This chapter is jam-packed with nuggets of wisdom and practical instruction.
Practical ways to show love to one another - restore those who've sinned, bear one another's burdens.
In the restoration process, Paul says that this is the task of spiritual (Spirit filled, mature) persons and gives additional caution about being tempted. For someone who is younger in Christ, danger lies in helping others in restoring from sin because the discussions about the temptation faced by the other person brings temptation for the person helping. Satan hates sin being exposed and people coming away from sin, so those who are helping will come under attack.
In bearing burdens, this would apply both to spiritual burdens that are carried in prayer and spiritual warfare and physical burdens that require physical help, time or finances etc. These are practical examples of how we can love our neighbor as ourselves.
Principle of sowing and reaping - actions now for good or bad produce life or death in future. Paul describes sowing to the flesh will produce corruption. He had just given (in Chapter 5) a list of some of the obvious works of the flesh (including sexual sins, magic, drunkenness, anger, jealousy etc). If we live in that way, we should not be deceived and think that we will end up with eternal life. Many people are deceived in this way and think that just because they "prayed the prayer" or go to church regularly that they are now saved and going to heaven no matter what their life is like. Jesus clearly said that people who live a sinful life will not enter the kingdom of heaven even if they claim to follow Jesus and do miracles in his name (Matt 7:21-23). Paul wants the Galatians to know that their actions matter and they should continue in doing good. Their "doing good" doesn't save them, but if they are not following the Spirit and turning from sin, then it is really evidence that they weren't saved.
Priority of believers - do good to all, especially those who are believers. Loving our neighbor as ourselves means we will be doing good to others. Paul says that our first priority in doing good should be toward those who are believers. Part of the reason could be that at times it is easier to do good to those who don't belong to God. This gives us then a priority of 1) God first 2) believers next 3) non-believers 4) ourselves. Other passages will add immediate family as well.
Large letters note of interest
Paul comments in verse 11 about the large letters that he is writing with his own hand. Some have guessed that this may be due to some eye problems that Paul seems to have experienced. In Chapter 4 verse 13 Paul says that he first preached to the Galatians because of a sickness in his body. He then says in verse 15 that in their love for him the Galatians would have gladly gouged out their eyes and given them to Paul - indicating that his ailment was with with his eyes and how much the Galatians wanted to help. If indeed Paul did have some eye problems, it would make sense that his writing would be large to enable him to read it easier.
Practical ways to show love to one another - restore those who've sinned, bear one another's burdens.
In the restoration process, Paul says that this is the task of spiritual (Spirit filled, mature) persons and gives additional caution about being tempted. For someone who is younger in Christ, danger lies in helping others in restoring from sin because the discussions about the temptation faced by the other person brings temptation for the person helping. Satan hates sin being exposed and people coming away from sin, so those who are helping will come under attack.
In bearing burdens, this would apply both to spiritual burdens that are carried in prayer and spiritual warfare and physical burdens that require physical help, time or finances etc. These are practical examples of how we can love our neighbor as ourselves.
Principle of sowing and reaping - actions now for good or bad produce life or death in future. Paul describes sowing to the flesh will produce corruption. He had just given (in Chapter 5) a list of some of the obvious works of the flesh (including sexual sins, magic, drunkenness, anger, jealousy etc). If we live in that way, we should not be deceived and think that we will end up with eternal life. Many people are deceived in this way and think that just because they "prayed the prayer" or go to church regularly that they are now saved and going to heaven no matter what their life is like. Jesus clearly said that people who live a sinful life will not enter the kingdom of heaven even if they claim to follow Jesus and do miracles in his name (Matt 7:21-23). Paul wants the Galatians to know that their actions matter and they should continue in doing good. Their "doing good" doesn't save them, but if they are not following the Spirit and turning from sin, then it is really evidence that they weren't saved.
Priority of believers - do good to all, especially those who are believers. Loving our neighbor as ourselves means we will be doing good to others. Paul says that our first priority in doing good should be toward those who are believers. Part of the reason could be that at times it is easier to do good to those who don't belong to God. This gives us then a priority of 1) God first 2) believers next 3) non-believers 4) ourselves. Other passages will add immediate family as well.
Large letters note of interest
Paul comments in verse 11 about the large letters that he is writing with his own hand. Some have guessed that this may be due to some eye problems that Paul seems to have experienced. In Chapter 4 verse 13 Paul says that he first preached to the Galatians because of a sickness in his body. He then says in verse 15 that in their love for him the Galatians would have gladly gouged out their eyes and given them to Paul - indicating that his ailment was with with his eyes and how much the Galatians wanted to help. If indeed Paul did have some eye problems, it would make sense that his writing would be large to enable him to read it easier.
Paul's comment about his large letters highlights the interesting process of inscripturation... where many different books and letters were written and compiled over time, and then debated over to form our current canon. I think that some people just think of the Bible as appearing in its whole form, chapter and verse numbers and all. "Why would there be a verse about that?" The actual historic compilation of the Bible is complex - chapter and verse divisions are pretty arbitrary. Our uniform font on the page certainly doesn't show any difference when Paul talks about his "large letters."
ReplyDeleteI am interested in checking out The Books of the Bible (NIV) and also the soon-to-be-released ESV Reader's Edition, which presents Scripture in a more unbroken, narrative format like a book. This may make referencing and memorizing harder, but it helps to keep scripture in context.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Books-Bible-NIV-Zondervan/dp/0310400570/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1402432234&sr=8-1&keywords=niv+books+of+the+bible
http://www.amazon.com/Readers-Bible-Cloth-over-Board/dp/1433544148/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1402432258&sr=1-1&keywords=esv+reader%27s+bible
Paul clearly said, circumcision means nothing; what counts is a new creation.
ReplyDeleteAs I go through christian life, I am feeling that I am getting focused on what I did outwardly.
I sometimes say myself, I am good enough because I read bible a lot today/ I tithe enough/ I helped somebody, etc.
I know I can't gain salvation with my effort.
What counts is a new creation and living as God wanted, take up my cross and follow him.
Amen!