Book of Galatians - Ch. 6, Vs. 2-18 (09/24/2000)

Bearing One Another’s Burdens in Galatians 6

The sixth chapter of the book of Galatians says, Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. The word for bear in Greek is bastizo, meaning the urge that we're to have sympathy, to feel for each other, and consider the case of your brother as your own, knowing that we could all be in the same situation.

Bear ye one another's burdens. Now he's going to explain that a little bit further as we go on a verse or two. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. He deceiveth himself only.

Others perhaps already know that you're nothing. It seems as though there are no people more critical or hard-hearted than those among some religious people who pretend to be more religious and have a deeper communion with God.

They're generally carried away with a sort of sublime, high-sounding phraseology, which seems to argue a wonderful, deep acquaintance with divine things. Stripped of all of this, many of them are like Samson without his hair.

Verse 4, chapter 6,. But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another, not in someone else. Turn to 2 Timothy 2 .15. Greg, will you read that to us?

All right, the King James Marian says, Study to show thyself. Harvey, do we have to study to show God? No. We're to study to show ourself approved unto God. Now, joy, that means as we study, we become more aware of just how much we belong to Him.

And we begin to understand that we do belong to Him and that we are approved of Him. If you study and understand, it means you are one of His. 6, verse 5,. For every man shall bear his own burden. Now, here's the other side of that coin.

Just a moment ago, we read, Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. I have to ask, what is the law of Christ? Who can answer?

Can anyone? Yes. What aspect of it is called the law of love?

All right, the law of Christ can be called the law of love. Now, we are to bear one another's burdens in as much as it is possible, knowing that verse 5 means every man shall bear his own burden. Well, how can we correlate these two?

In verse 2, we are to assist others in their weaknesses. But it remains a fact that at the judgment seat of Jesus, each child of God will answer for his own conduct. And that's why he's here on Earth, the conduct here on Earth.

So we do bear each other in that we sympathize and that we assist in every way possible. But in the final outcome, at the judgment seat of Christ, everyone will bear their own burden for their own conduct and will answer for themselves.

No one can answer for someone else. Now that we're nearly all here, I want to go back to verse 1. And let me say while I am going and you are turning, please try your best to be in your seat at 10 o 'clock.

Seems like it's notorious for Baptists to come straggling in at any time. I intend to start at 10 o 'clock. And I would rather not have to pause and catch everybody up. So please be here at 10 o 'clock, a place that I used to work had one man that was always two minutes late.

The company moved locations. And the first day we were reported to work in the new location, he was exactly on time. That's because he didn't know the route. But the second day and every day after that, he was two minutes late.

He planned it that way. So you just plan to be here five minutes early. Now come back again to chapter 6, verse 1. In my study this week, I saw even more than we had discussed last week. Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness, considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

Overtaken, to overtake, now it can be interpreted two ways and perhaps should be. First is we see the man in his sin before he can finish it. We've overtaken him before he can finish the act. The other view is that he was overtaken by the sin.

He fell into it unawares. But I want you to look first at the word brethren. Greg tells us what? That is Christians. Then the word in. If a man be overtaken in a fault, the little word in. Greg, what does that tell us?

All right. It means that you see it. You didn't hear about it. You have overtaken him while he is in that fault. And please understand, that is the only way in which you have firsthand knowledge of what he did.

Any other aspect would be hearsay. So it's very important that we understand the word in. You have observed him while he is performing the act, whatever it is. Then you can correctly address it. Do not hear what somebody else says about somebody else and then try to correct the somebody else.

I fall into that trap all the time. And I know better. In my head, I know better. So please understand verse 1. Any questions about it? All right, then let's continue. All right.

Well, if you don't see it, is this what you're saying?

Let me see if I understand your statement. There is an individual in the church membership that is known for doing something. But you don't see it. Then you better just keep your mouth shut. If someone sees and talks to the individual and gets no headway, then the one that saw it might come to you, and both of you go to him.

But that's the only proper way to handle it, only if you know it to be a fact. What I'm trying to stress is don't operate on gossip. Don't operate on hearsay. So if you know it for a fact and have seen such a fact, then certainly talk to him.

But I could not support you talking to him when you have never seen it.

David? I think you're absolutely right. I think on the first phrase, where you have two possible interpretations, he's about to do something. Because if he hasn't done it yet, he doesn't need to be restored.

That's right. He's involved in it, he does. So I think it means that he's already overtaken by this fault. He's in it. He's in that fault in the sense of being in the flesh, as opposed to being in Christ or walking with the Spirit.

And so then that makes your idea of seeing it fit. You just cannot go by hearsay. That's right.

And unless you personally have had experience of seeing or feeling or smelling or touching the act itself,.

Then it is hearsay. And if someone comes to you and tells you they saw it, you should ask them, well, have you gone and spoken to them? That's right. And if they say no, then you're out of the ballgame.

And until they say, well, yes, I have, they wouldn't listen to you.

Then if they say no, you can tell them, well, you should. Yeah. OK. Anything else? Does everyone understand what we're saying? Just don't work on hearsay.

For those also, I think that the way we go to them, too, is very important. It's very important, too. We don't go to them with arrogance either. That's, I think, so many times that the people, when they go to them, they don't go to them like this.

We're supposed to be generous and meek. We're supposed to go to them and look how good I am or what I'm doing. Yeah. Instead of going to them like we should. I think that that's pretty important right there, too.

Considering, lest thou also be tempted, because we're all subject to it. That's a good point, Virg. Anything else? We're talking to Christians now. All right, now, come to, where did we leave off? Six.

Let him that is taught in the Word. Taught in the Word. Greg, what's it mean to be taught in the Word? All right. It's a subject that you're studying and you have a teacher that is conducting the class.

Knowledge of what you're studying. Let him that is taught in the Word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. Now, Greg, the word communicate. What's that mean? Transfers. Bill, is that all it means?

That's correct. Greg is right in that if I, as a teacher, and Greg is sitting under me, I'd like for him to communicate back to me what he's learned. So, to communicate his knowledge of what's being taught is certainly right.

So, if I give him a test, I'd like to know how he rates on that test. Also, it means what Bill said in that we are to support those that have dedicated their life full time into the teaching and preparation of the Word.

It appears that from some believers in Galatia could receive the Christian ministry without contributing to its support. Well, that's wrong. Now, at the same time, if you have received something that cost you nothing, then you're not to charge for it.

Because it's God that has given it to you. But that does not relieve us of the responsibility of helping the person that is communicating the truth to us. Yes.

It says what to do good is to communicate God's will, please. That is one of God's things that places us is that we communicate and to do what's right. And sometimes it is a sacrifice, but a crime in some cases.

But in doing that, God is well pleased. That's good. One of the few places he says he's well pleased.

Someday I hope to get everybody seated on the front row. I can hear people at the back, but there's so much echo in the room it covers it up. So be patient with me. This not contributing as the Galatians were not is both ungrateful and very base.

It's unjust to expect someone to dedicate their life to something and then just enjoy the fruits without supporting. Verse 7. Be not deceived. Be not deceived. Direct command. God is not mocked. For whatsoever man soweth, that shall he also reap.

God is not mocked. Clarence, what does the word mocked mean? That's good. Anything else? Burge, what's the word mock mean to you? How many of you have in the last month read a joke about God? Don't put up your hands.

The world's full of them. I cannot stand it. You just do not joke about God at all. That's right. Let me ask you, is it alright to lie about the devil?

I get a yes and a no. It's not correct to lie about him. That's right. Can we make fun of the devil?

Do we make fun of the devil? You remember, was it Michael that would not confront Satan because of the office he once held? Well, you cannot deceive God and he will not permit you to mock him with pretended instead of real services.

So a hypocrite is mocking God if you act like something you're not. Whatever kind of grain a man sows in his field, that shall he reap. For no other species of grain can proceed from that which is sown.

If parents permit their children to grow up being fed on all kinds of seeds, they cannot expect a beautiful harvest of golden grain. I grew up in a wheat country. I know of no farmer that planted corn or barley and then expected to reap wheat.

You reap what you sow. Now, David, how old are we when we begin to sow? Jesse, at what age do we stop sowing? That's right. We sow all of the time. I, too, do not care for high school reunions, but my wife does, so we go to hers.

Why don't we let Mary Charlotte go, too? Well, you know, that's the same thing as you.

They will think of, and still kind of categorize me in that bracket. I'm going, I can't even remember them, but they can remember the squirrely things. But now that I'm a Christian, you know, they can do that, too.

That's true, because we have an Old Testament. You can't keep your parents quiet.

I have heard that a little baby starts sowing seeds because you can take a little baby, and if you lay him on the bed, crying his eyes out, he might get tired and go, think, go, think. If you don't catch that, he's going to poop, poop, poop.

I've heard people play that baby lying.

Another question on reunions. Why is it that everybody seems so old to you when you go? Because they are. What did he say? Because they are. No, there's a reason for it. The average person considers themselves to be 20 years younger than they really are.

And on top of that, your soul never does age. So you look at other people, that's the physical part, and you look at yourself from the inside, and you just don't think you're as old as you are. And when you see someone else that shows it, it's a shock.

They're so old.

Say it again. Is it possible for a person to be that way?

Well, let me ask you, is Paul still sowing? Paul of the Bible? Why is it we are not judged immediately upon death? That's right. So it is possible, Dennis, and very probable.

Yes? The hatred that they see he has, and their lifestyle even after they're gone, and just reading about them in Paul. That's right.

That's right. Each one of us in this room will continue to sow long after we're gone for someone. All right? Verse 8. For he that soweth to his flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption. But he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Now, the standard question, what kind of a verb is shall? Everyone ought to know that by now. Imperative. Greg, what does it mean, imperative?

There is no choice, it will be done. Absolutely so.

He that soweth to his flesh, shall absolutely reap corruption. Now, David, what if you sow to both? That's right. Be gone. That's right. And you'll miss some rewards you could have had, had you not been in the flesh.

All right, the word shall makes it affirmative. And let us not be weary in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not, if we do not quit. Literally, the Greek says, let us not keep on giving in to evil while doing good.

Let us not be weary in well-doing. Don't keep giving in to evil while you're doing good. In other words, don't stop the good in order to indulge the flesh. It is curious to me how prone we are to give in and to give out in doing the good, which somehow just becomes boring to us.

We go to church every Sunday. We do this every week. We do that every week. And if you're not careful, it will become boring, but it shouldn't. And I think you all attest to that or you wouldn't keep coming here to this wonderful church in this study time.

It says, if we faint not, the Greek literally says, not loosened out. Don't slack off. Don't just become loose in your good deed. Be very attentive. Don't let it become a habit that you can perform while thinking of something else.

Do not be relaxed, exhausted as a result of giving in to evil. Ten. As we have, therefore, opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. The key word here is opportunity.

As we have opportunity, Joy, how does opportunities come to us? You think they are? You only believe they are?

Alright, so an opportunity.

Is there an opportunity right now to anybody? You have an opportunity right now to do what, Greg? Learn, to listen, to study, to think, to meditate. So the opportunity has presented itself. Let us do good unto all men, especially to them who are the household of faith.

So, David, I would have to read that. To all men means literally to everybody, and especially to the fellow Christian. We're not to be short-sighted or evil toward those that are not saved. Because we do not know, first, if they are.

We do not know if they are a potential Christian. If we decide they're not even a potential Christian, and we do not live the Christian life in front of them, and then later they become a Christian, they will forever remember the life we led while in front of them, claiming to be a Christian.

They won't remember the good, they'll remember the bad. So we have opportunities every moment. Some greater than others. Some more pronounced than others. Some more dramatic than others. But as the opportunity is there, then use it for good.

Question. How is the movement of clouds like the operation of the providence of God in and on the life of his ministers? How is the movement of clouds like the providence of God dealing with his ministers?

All right. Yes. Well, when you're laying opportunities for good, you have a person that they consider not a good person. So he may bring a cloud that's a rain cloud, something you don't want, something you don't like, something that reads you as good in that situation.

And then the next cloud may come by and it's the next fluffy one, something you love, it's easy to put down and handle it. And then there's a big array of clouds, a bunch of kids that come after you. But you're to do good and do what's right in the sight of the Lord as he brings those clouds past you.

All right.

Let me repeat the question. How is the movement of a cloud like the providence in a minister's life? What she said was exactly right, but it didn't really address the question I want. How is the movement of the cloud like the providence in a Christian's life?

All right, Bill. We don't. We don't see that there's any reason for there even to be a cloud. And suddenly a cloud will just appear. So we can appear from nowhere and only God knows from where he came.

It's controlled by forces that only God knows. All right. That's good. All of you are good. David? Another thing about it is to us that the movement of clouds appears to be random chance. And yet, your rain is exactly where God wants it to rain, where he calls it rain.

So it's not a random cloud to be. That's the way our opportunities are. All right. Anyone else?

Like clouds without water. Well, I think that means that we're bad. I think that he gives that to us as if we see the movement of people who are in need.

A shower. Our presence has got to be above them, helpful.

Be a shower. Listen to me. And we can see as clouds with water get showered with. All right. Clouds without water. OK. Do clouds move themselves?

Do the children of God move themselves? We think we do, but we don't. Providence of God moves both. So the cloud is not moved by itself. It is like the providence moving one of his children. And you've all brought out good points.

You can't see it. It appears when there was none. Everything you have said has been excellent. So you see how you can bring a devotion on anything? Anything. I challenge you to practice it. Because someday I'm going to call on one of you to come up here and do it.

And I'll give you the subject at that moment. Verse 11. You see how large a letter I have written unto you with my own hand? I think Paul had a problem with his eyes. As many as desire to make a fair show in the flesh, they constrain or command you to be circumcised only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.

And they don't want that persecution. Fair show in the flesh. The Jewish religion at that time was the predominant religion of Galatia. And as it was then professed and practiced among the Jews, it really was not a hard religion to keep.

It wasn't very grievous. And it certainly did not disturb the old nature very much. An unrenewed nature might go through all of the old Jewish observances with very little pain and with almost no cross bearing.

But, Greg, on the other hand, Christianity could not be very popular at that time. It's not very popular today. It was too strict. Still too strict. It was a temptation to a weak Christian to swerve into Judaism because Christianity was so strict.

And the Judaizers were doing their best to get them to follow the law, to be circumcised, so that he could point to those that were not Christian to support himself. So he would not have to be a follower of Christ.

Because if he was, he'd be persecuted as they are. And he didn't want that. So all that verse really means then the world of today picks out a religion that will not demand them to change their lifestyle.

They were the same then. I would hope that your presence in this church and membership has caused you to change your lifestyle. Yes. That's right. And do we have so-called Christians today doing the same thing?

Yes. Most church members in this country for neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law, but desire to have you circumcised that they may glory in your flesh or in you in the fact that they have persuaded you.

Well, today it's not for circumcision, but to be able to brag how large a following they have. And that's rampant in the country. Bigger and bigger and bigger churches. Verse 14, For God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ by whom the world is crucified unto me and I unto the world.

I have died unto the world. We begin our Christian walk where? We begin our Christianity where? At the death of Christ. How did we how did we do that? So we didn't get in there by ourself? Alright, done to us and for us.

By what agent? What agent was it that placed us into Christ? Right. We were placed into Christ. That's what baptism means, being placed into. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything or uncircumcision, but it is a new creature.

And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them and mercy and upon the Israel of God. Observe here one thing, two things, several. The nature of Christianity described. It's a walk. Our Christianity is a walk.

Now, Dennis, how did you learn to walk? Well, how did your child learn to walk? They learned to walk by falling down, didn't they? So, Christianity is a walk. Walk is a motion. It's not a standing still.

It's a free and voluntary motion. This is our Christian walk. It is a progressive motion and a constant motion. Otherwise it'd be standing and not walking. The condition of this walk, it is regular. It is a walk by rule.

You cannot violate the rules of walking and walk very far. A Christian is not a lawless person to range and ramble and run up and down as fancy leads him, but he walks by rule, by the rule of Christ. The rule of scripture and the rule of love.

The determination of that rule by which a Christian is to walk, it must be according to this rule. What rule? The foregoing verse declares it is regeneration by the walk of regeneration. As many as walk according to that rule for the new creature in the principles and walkings of it is made as the ground and pattern and direction for our obedience.

The blessed privileges of this walk, peace, mercy, there shall be peace and mercy to them. These shall be their portion that is in a large and plentiful manner. Peace is granted to those that are in this walk.

Then there is the honorable mention which the apostle makes of them in this walk. According to the laws of the new nature written in the hearts, he calls them the true Israel of God, spiritual seed of Abraham, the children of his faith, which was a thousand times greater privilege than the children of his flesh.

These are the people that are interested in his blessings. True and inward peace, great and lasting peace, peace with God, peace with conscience is the assured portion and shall be the possession of all and only those who walk according to the law of God as many as walk according to this rule.

From henceforth, let no man trouble me for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus. Brethren, the grace of our Lord is in your spirit. Amen. The cause makes the martyr, not the punishment.