Keep in Step with the Spirit

Part 3

Text: Galatians 5:25-6:10

Introduction/Review:

I.     Paul exhorts believers to keep in step with the Spirit in order to restore sinning believers (5:26-6:5).

A.    Restoration is not to be carried out in a spirit of pride. 5:26

B.    Restoration is to be carried out in a spirit of gentleness. 6:1

Lesson:

C.    Restoration is to be carried out in a spirit of helpfulness. 6:2-3

What is “the law of Christ?”

“For when there is mutual concern among believers to ‘bear one another’s oppressive burdens’—which, of course, is the exact opposite of libertine attitudes based on a desire to live solely for one’s own self—the whole intent of Jesus’ example and teaching comes to fulfillment within the church” (Longenecker, Galatians, p. 276).

“Let arrogance be removed, and we shall all discover the greatest modesty in our conduct towards each other” (John Calvin, Calvin’s Commentaries, vol. 21, p. 174).

“There is nothing wrong with being ‘nothing’ or a ‘nobody,’ because that is what one actually is. It is wrong, however, to be deluded into thinking one is ‘somebody’” (Betz, Galatians, p. 301).

“One person may be a relatively decent sinner and another may be a flagrant sinner, but both are sinners, and God’s law admits of no degree of failure. If sixty is the passing grade on a college exam, it does not matter if you scored forty and I scored only twenty. We both failed to get a passing grade. There is no point in your boasting that your failing grade is superior to mine. The only thing that matters is that we both failed the exam” (Jerry Bridges, The Discipline of Grace, p. 52).

D.    Restoration is to be carried out in a spirit of self-examination. 6:4-5

“True humility does not mean that you have to overlook what is good in you, and notice only what is bad! Your great challenge is to find if there is some drop of saving grace in the ocean of your wickedness. True humility means that you will notice any spark of true holiness that is in you. However, when you see it, you will admit that all the praise and glory for it belongs to God alone and not to you at all” (Walter Marshall, The Gospel Mystery of Sanctification, p. 198).

“It is the man who knows he has a burden of his own that is willing to bear his fellow’s burden” (James Dunn, Galatians, p. 334).

Reflection:

© John Fonville

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