Lesson 9
Galatians

Bear Share & Do Good

Galatians 6:1-10

Prayer:

Lord, open our eyes to see as YOU see! Lord show us YOUR will for our lives. Show us HOW to think like you do, to act like you do and most importantly to SEE as you see Lord. Give us a heart for doing GOOD. Lord make us DOERS of the word and not just HEARERS of the word. Change us LORD from the inside out. In Jesus Name We Pray, Amen.

Galatians 6:1-10

Welcome to Believers Bay’s study on the book of Galatians lesson 9. Questions and comments should be directed to publisher@believersbay.com. Thank you. We hope you enjoy this study and it helps you to grow in Christ.

This section of scripture is often quoted as: "Bear One Another’s Burdens."

In verse 1 Brethren refers to us, the believers. If any man is overtaken in any fault (sin) we are to restore them in the spirit of gentleness. Wow, do we do that? Do we do that IN the church?

Sometimes perhaps it is easier to be gentle with others OUTSIDE the church. Some times it is easier to do that INSIDE the church. We are told to restore them in the spirit of gentleness. Restore here, refers to the fact that this person was OVERTAKEN by the sin.

Let’s look at the sin/trespass topic. Sin overtakes us, whether it is lying, stealing, or sexual sins. Sin is like a roller coaster. It speeds up the longer we are there. Sin has been described as taking us on a journey we don’t want to go on and taking us to places we don’t want to go and staying longer than we would ever want to stay. The secret is to NOT go there; don’t start on that journey.

This scripture refers to a person being OVERTAKEN by sin. Overtaken means that they are "over their head". They do not feel, and physically can not break free from the grip of sin, yet spiritually perhaps they do have the power to break free from this stronghold of sin. When sin enters our lives it does so because we take our eyes off Jesus. We all do that from time to time. The quicker we regain our focus the quicker we get back on track. If we don’t do that we will be OVERTAKEN by sin.

Once we have let sin in, we are giving a way for our enemy to get a "toehold". This usually starts with a compromise. One of those: "Oh Well, I’ll just …". That is how it begins. Then is grows and multiplies. It expands.

The word OVERTAKEN also implies that it is a progression. It builds and then overtakes us. So why don’t we "nip it in the bud" before it gets started? That is most likely because it is starts as a small thing. Can we see the danger of that line of thinking?

The next part of that verse states: "those of you who are spiritual" are to restore this person. This is a topic we could spend all day on. To be spiritual is basically one who is lead by the Holy Spirit. We covered that in the last lesson, about LETTING the Holy Spirit lead us and guide us.

Someone who is Spiritual, can and WILL restore the overtaken person in the Spirit of Gentleness. Somewhere through the ages from Jesus until the 20^th century some Christians have decided that gentleness will not affect people. Truth of the matter is gentleness is quite powerful. It is not natural in the flesh. Anger and condemnation is the natural reaction. Gentleness is the reaction we will have in the Spirit.

Have you ever treated your mate with super kindness and gentleness after they were angry? It is powerful. It cuts down to the bottom-line. It says, I love you and I care. It is the opposite of selfishness.

This verse states that we are to restore one in the Spirit of Gentleness or meekness. We do not really do it, the Holy Spirit does it as we yield to the Spirit. It refers here to gentleness or meekness and not love. Gentleness and or meekness is a specific act of Love. It creates a safe, non-threatening environment. That is powerful.

The last phrase in verse one urges us to "consider ourselves" lest we ALSO be tempted. This of course refers to the fact that we should not expose ourselves to temptations we know we will have trouble with. It says, consider ourselves. Evaluate our weaknesses FIRST. If we can not go, we can find someone else who can help our brother.

An example would be if we know we have a problem with alcohol then we shouldn’t go to a bar to bring a friend home from there. The atmosphere, the smell of alcohol the friendly crowd may bring us to a point of compromise if that is a weakness on our part. Consider ourselves means we KNOW our weaknesses, and ourselves well enough to consider that.

In verse 2 we are told to bear one another’s burdens or restore another Christian ("brother") from sin as we saw pointed out in verse 1. The Greek word here used for burden, according to Strong’s Concordance, is "barus" which means: weighty, i.e. (fig) burdensome, grave: --grievous, heavy or weightier. So burden refers to more than the normal load one would carry. It was "grievous." It was not easy or normal. We all have times when we have "burdens". We need each other.

In "Bearing one another’s burdens" we fulfil the law of Christ. The summation of the law, "Love your neighbor" was stated in Galatians 5:14. (For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.)(KJV) (See also Matthew 22:39; John 13:34)

Loving our neighbor as our self would mean treating them how we would like to be treated i.e. help to carry a heavy load. It’s an act of love to willingly help another person rather than ignore the situation and take the easy path.

Sin is truly burdensome. It can weigh us down greatly. We can slip into sin, through compromise and "small decisions" but before we know it we are "in over our head," so to speak. We need a brother / friend who will bear our burden and reach out to us with the love of Christ, to show us the way out.

In verse 3 we see the admonition to be careful not to think we are something, when we are nothing. If we do we are deceiving ourselves. In bearing one another’s burdens we must NOT begin to think that we are SOMETHING SPECIAL because we are helping a brother out of sin.

It would seem that someone with this type of attitude would not really be able to help the brother out of sin. However, the Lord has proven He can even us a donkey to talk to those He wants to communicate to. The important thing to note here is that humanly we might tend to think that we are "something" when we are really "nothing" just because we were used by God to help a brother. The fact is he simply "deceives" himself.

You see the flesh tempts us all, whether it is lying, stealing, sexual sins, gossip or whatever, we all have our weaknesses. The fact of the matter is we all MUST stay close to the Lord for the continual strength to walk in the daily victory that HE wants for us. We will from time to time get our eyes off the Lord and we will be weaker than at other times. The Christian walk is designed for us to learn more and more how to drift less and less. If any one say he is without sin he is a liar and the truth is not in him. We all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and we MUST continually be covered in the blood of Jesus for remission of sins. The good news is we CAN have that victory. The battle WAS won over sin at the cross by Jesus our Lord and Savior and because of that we can be called the RIGHTEOUS. Praise the Lord for that!

Let’s compare another translation of this verse In Weymouth's New Testament it is translated this way:

These passages make it obvious that while we can share one another’s burdens and we are to do that, we are also to examine ourselves, i.e. prove our work. We are not to examine others but ourselves. This is being stated right after we are encouraged to bear another’s burdens, which would imply HELPING them, not examining them. We are to examine ourselves to be sure we are followers of Christ. (I Corinthians 11:31; II Corinthians 13:5)

The literal translation of this verse, according to Strong’s Concordance is:

So we can see from this that the admonition is for those who are being taught to share with those who are the teachers of the word.

That is probably our first test of whether or not we are willing to bear another’s burdens. Are we supporting those who are the teachers of the word? Where you are fed you need to be sharing the burden, share all good things. Share our blessings. (See also I Timothy 5:17)

Don’t be lead astray. God is not to be scoffed at or mocked. We are mocking God if we think we can sow in the flesh and reap otherwise. What we sow, we will reap. What we plant we will harvest.

Simple English version states this verse this way:

When we plant corn we don’t expect a tomato bush to grow and produce tomatoes do we? Well it is the same with our actions. What we plant, we harvest.

Another translation of this verse from Weymouth's New Testament:

Corruption in verse 8 is used to refer to a field’s produce that is too rotten to harvest. (Hebrews 6:8). Some interpret CORRUPTION to imply eternal destruction either through losing ones salvation or through never truly receiving salvation from the beginning. Others believe this word means tragic loss of rewards for a believer who is carnal.

The phrase "he who sow to the Spirit will reap everlasting life" does not mean that we earn our salvation. Salvation is a FREE gift. However, those who truly have received salvation will be sowing to the Spirit. (Romans 6:22).

The literal translation of this verse is:

|3754| Because |3588| he |9999| {who is} |4687| sowing |1519| to |3588| the |4561| flesh |1438| of himself, |1537| of |3588| the |4561| flesh |2325| will reap |5356| corruption. |3588| he |1161| But |4687| sowing |1519| to |3588| the |4151| Spirit, |1537| of |3588| the |4151| Spirit |2325| will reap |2222| life |0166| everlasting.

Corruption is defined in the dictionary as: Decay, rot.

In the Thesaurus it list: vice; evil-doing, evil courses; wrongdoing; wickedness, viciousness; iniquity, peccability, demerit; sin, Adam; old Adam, offending Adam.

Strong’s defines it as: decay, ruin, corruption, destroy, perish.

This is what sowing in the flesh will harvest.

The Apostle Paul has spoken at length about good works. He began in 2:16 showing us that works can not justify or sanctify (3:3) us. However, in chapter 5 verse 5 he shows us that good works are an important fruit of a life lived by Faith of the Believer. God has planned it that way. (Ephesians 2:8-10) In chapter 5 verses 19-23 he begins to describe the attitude and actions of those controled by the flesh verses those controled by the Spirit. In the last several verses Paul shows us the impact of these two different ways over the lifetime of a persons life. (See also II Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 22:12)

Once again let’s look at the literal translation from the Greek of this verse. According to Strong’s this is verse 9:

|3588| the |1161| And |2570| good |4160| doing, |3361| not |1573| let us weaken. |2540| in time |1063| For |2398| in its own |2325| we will reap |3361| not |9999| {we are} |1590| fainting.

In verse 10 we see that we are to do good to all but especially to those in the household of faith.

This verse begins with the word THEREFORE. That would mean that it speaks to an important application of the previous verses (7-9) to give us the point in a nutshell.

Christians are not only to serve one another (5:13; 6:2) but also serve (do good to) the non-Christians.

Weymouth's New Testament translation: (10) So then, as we have opportunity, let us labor for the good of all, and especially of those who belong to the household of the faith.

Ø First: Pray! Pray! Pray!

Ø Re-evaluate our life.

Ø After re-evaluating our life,

    We must ask ourselves these questions:

o "Do I seek to serve others because I feel better than them?"

o "Do I do good to others?

o "Do I only serve other Christians?"

o "Do I reach out to non Believers?"

Ø If we answered yes to any of these questions be need to seek the Lord’s help in being lead by HIM through the power of the Holy Spirit to do HIS will and not ours. To follow the Holy Spirit and not our carnal (fleshly) minds, which is self-satisfying.

Ø Next: Pray! Pray! Pray! Ask God to speak to lead you daily by His Holy Spirit; to show you how to walk in the Spirit and NOT in the flesh. Ask God daily to keep your heart soft, i.e. teachable and He WILL!