GALATIANS 62006 Teaching by Jerry B Simmons

Teaching Transcript: Galatians 6

You are listening to FerventWord, an online Bible study ministry with teachings and tools to help you grow deeper in your relationship with God. The following message was taught by Jerry Simmons in 2006. Galatians chapter 6, we see in verse 1, Paul says, Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself

lest you also be tempted. As we're gathered together this morning, I pray that you know that we are a family. We are brothers and sisters in the Lord that He has brought together. The same would be true of the churches there in Galatia. But the problem was, as the legalistic people were coming in and trying to impose their laws, the regulations of the law on the churches there,

We learned that legalism does not promote that type of loving relationship that we are to have as a family, as brothers and sisters in the Lord. And that is why in verse 26 of chapter 5 that we looked at very briefly last week, Paul

Paul encourages us in this. He says,

And Paul is saying, stay away from those things. Don't go down that road. Walk in the Spirit. Now as he continues on in verse 1 of chapter 6, goes on to tell us that legalism does not produce the type of relationship that we need and that it does not produce restoration. Instead of producing restoration, it produces a holier-than-thou mentality.

Legalism condemns and defeats those who fall. But Paul says that is not how we are supposed to be. Here's how we're supposed to act with those who are overtaken by a trespass. We're to restore them.

To restore them. That word restore, it means to mend as a net. If you were to mend a net, what you do is you put back in place the things that are missing. You set it back in its original place so that it's all in order. And that's the idea of this word to restore, to set it back in place to mend the things that have been torn or broken. And the idea here that Paul is sharing with us

Is that when someone is overtaken in a sin, we are to put them back in fellowship and service where they belong. We're to take them and mend the relationship, bring healing into the situation. Legalism will do exactly the opposite. You might remember from chapter 2 where we saw Peter.

becoming legalistic for a time. And that the brothers came from Jerusalem and previously Peter was able to fellowship with everyone and hang out with everyone and have meals together. But when those brothers came, he began to have a legalistic mentality again and he only associated with the Jewish people. He would only fellowship with them and have meals with them. And instead of embracing and restoring and having wonderful loving fellowship,

Now he was isolating himself amongst those who were like-minded with him and kept the laws and were circumcised and all of the things that the law required. But now he was unable to reach out and to restore because he had isolated himself. Legalism does that. It produces the opposite effect.

Of the mending that's to take place between us as brothers and sisters within the Lord. We are to restore. Now, who is it that we are to restore? Paul says, those who are overtaken in any trespass. That word overtaken, it's an interesting word because it's a word that's used of one who is entrapped, ensnared, or outwitted by a predator.

So you can imagine a predator out to get its prey. And what does it do? It's cunning. It tries to trap its prey, to sneak up on it. And we know that the Bible in 1 Peter chapter 5 speaks of the devil as a roaring lion. We know as we look at the language that's used in Job that the devil considers us.

And that he looks at all the areas of our lives and evaluates where's the weak link. Where is the area that I'm able to ensnare them, to trap them, to outwit them and overtake them, to get them caught up in sin. This portion here in verse 1 is speaking of someone who has been caught by the wiles of the devil. Who's been caught up in sin through ignorance or foolish decisions.

Yes, they had a choice, but it was not that they were just disregarding God and running back into sin and flaunting it before everyone. No, this was someone who tried to run but made some foolish decisions, was outwitted, outsmarted, didn't pay attention to some of the signs and got caught up in sin. And you and I know how that is. Satan does a great job of ripping people off.

of entrapping and ensnaring us in the things of this life. And many times, unfortunately, the church helps him do it by failing to be a loving body that brings restoration to people. And so as he entraps them and ensnares them, then many times we as believers, we add on the condemnation, we add on the burden and the guilt of

Rather than what Paul says, here's what you're to do as a loving body who has received and understood the grace of God. Restore such a man. Restore such a one who has been overtaken, who has been caught up.

And sin in that way. Dealing with sin. It's very important that we deal with sin within our midst. Now the Bible gives us guidelines for dealing with sin in our body and amongst each other. I would encourage you to write these down and check out these portions of scripture on your own. When someone has sinned against you.

The guidelines are found in Matthew chapter 18, verses 15 through 20. When someone sins specifically against you, what do you do? Well, he gives you guidelines there. Jesus speaking, he tells us what you do is you go and try to mend that relationship.

And you reveal that sin. And you deal with the situation. And if they don't hear you, then you take a brother or sister with you. And if they don't hear you, then you take the elders of the church with you. And to deal with the sin in that way. Now, very carefully, if we have followed this, know that for sure many of the problems...

that we have experienced could be avoided if we dealt with sin the way the Bible tells us to. Rather than going around and telling everybody else what this person did to us, the Bible says, go talk to that person, you and them alone, and take care of the situation and let God deal with that sin.

God gave us some specific things about sin in his law in Leviticus 19 verses 16 through 18. The powerful portion. I would encourage you to check that out. What about someone who has been caught up in false doctrine, has been led away in that way? Well, James 5, 19 through 20 gives us some guidelines about that. How about someone who is unrepentant and involved in sin?

Paul gives us some guidelines in 1 Corinthians chapter 5 in dealing with that type of situation, that type of sin within a body. But dealing with someone who has been overtaken, here is the guideline. Here is what we need to do. The Bible says, restore such a one. Restore to them that fellowship, the relationship. Encourage them, lift them up and set them back where they're supposed to be. Encourage them back in ministry, back in fellowship.

Mending the net and putting them back in place where God had called them. We're not supposed to talk about them, ridicule them, look at them. But we are supposed to have compassion and restore them. Have compassion? Yes, notice it says, considering yourself. Who are we to consider? I'm to consider myself. There's a saying, I would love for all of you to learn it. And so repeat this after me, please.

Except the grace of God, there go I. Except the grace of God, there go I. If it wasn't for the grace of God, I would be in the same spot, same situation, involved in the same things. It's something we need to learn. None of us are above any sin. Not one of us is incapable of any sin. Every single one of us.

If it wasn't for the grace of God, we could find ourselves doing things that we could never imagine. Paul says, here's what you need to do as a loving body who has learned about the grace of God. Now extend that grace to the brother or sister who has been overtaken. Have compassion, considering yourself, not with the legalistic attitude of superiority, but with compassion, realizing I could be in that same spot.

And so then reaching out in love and gently restoring, gently bringing back into fellowship with the spirit of gentleness. It's important to note that it never tells us then to give them the silent treatment, to further punish them for what they've done. We're just called to restore them. They've been beaten up by the enemy. They've been beaten up by the world. We're not called to beat them up.

or to further their punishment, but simply to restore, to bring back into the fold. Just like if you can remember the story of the prodigal son in Luke chapter 15. The prodigal son, he took his inheritance, he asked it from his father, he goes off and he wastes it all in prodigal living. Ends up in a mess. Feeding the pigs, the pig's food that he's feeding to them looks great to him. He's so hungry.

Has nothing. And he comes to his senses and he realizes, what if I go back to my dad and I can't be a son. I've already ruined that, but maybe I could just be a servant because they have plenty to eat. And I would be happy with that just to serve in my father's house. And he comes back and you know the story. The father runs to him with open arms and embraces him and puts a robe on him and a ring on him and takes him back as a son.

That is the picture that we are to have or to understand as we restore. Just loving arms, embracing, include and treat as a son. But if you want to be legalistic, then you're going to end up being like the brother in the story who told the father, listen, I've done everything. I've kept the law. The father says, it's not about that. It's about this grace. It's about him being alive again. That's the important part. He's alive again.

It's not about keeping the law, but it's about, through the grace that's been given to us, extending that and restoring the brothers and sisters that have been overtaken by sin. He goes on in verses 2 and 3. He says,

And so the next thing that we see that we are to do as a loving body that has learned about the grace of God, Paul says, here's what you need to know. Here's what you need to do. Bear one another's burdens. That word burden, it means heaviness or weight or trouble. And the picture is of someone who is under this heavy load.

They've taken on more than they can carry or more than they can handle has been thrown on them. They're in more trouble than they can take care of. Paul says, bear one another's burdens. Help them with that burden and so fulfill the law of Christ. What is the law of Christ? I would like to take you there. John chapter 13. If you could turn there with me, we'll jump back to Galatians in a moment. But John 13 says,

Jesus outlines for us his command, his law that we are to fulfill. We find the disciples in the upper room with Jesus. They've just finished the Passover feast. He's washed their feet as a demonstration of how to be a servant amongst one another. And in John chapter 13, verse 34 and 35, he gives them some powerful instruction. Jesus says, a new commandment I give to you.

Love for one another is the command. It's the law of Christ. He says, here's the commandment. Just as I have loved you, you are to love me.

Jesus did it after he washed the disciples' feet.

Making sure that we knew the example crystal clear. We're to serve one another. Now again, legalism does not promote this. It promotes pride, conceit, provoking and envying. But the church is to be the perfect family. Notice he uses the words love one another three times in these two verses. It's to be the main thing. It's to be the characteristic family.

Of us as a body of Christ. Of us as believers in Jesus Christ. Our love for one another. More than just saying I love you. But to the point that we bear one another's burdens. That we help each other through the heaviness of life and the trouble that we face. This is what the gifts of the Holy Spirit are for. I would challenge you to check out

The portions of scripture that talk about the body of Christ and the gifts of the Spirit. Ephesians chapter 4, 1 Corinthians 12 and Romans chapter 12. It's very clear. We are the body of Christ. We're to love one another, to serve one another through the power of the Holy Spirit. We are to come to this place and to fellowship together with the attitude of how can I help or who can I help?

Not, here I am, meet my needs, but I'm here to meet the needs of others. How can I serve others? And I guarantee you, if you will open your eyes and look around and ask God to show you some burdens that need to be bore, some help that needs to be given, you'll find God will reveal many needs to you. As you look around, you might notice some that have financial need.

And you can pray for the gift of giving that God would give you, the gift of giving that you might be able to be generous to meet that need to bear that burden along with that brother or sister. It might be an emotional need that needs to be met. And so you can pray for the gift of encouragement that you might be able to uplift and edify and build up that brother or sister in the Lord. It might be a directional need. Someone is lost and not sure where to go or where to turn.

And you can pray for words of wisdom or knowledge. It might be a physical need. You can pray for the gift of service, that you might be able to physically meet that need. Look around. There are so many needs within the body. And God has brought us together that we might help bear one another's burdens and love them as Christ loves us and serves us.

It might be something like meeting a financial need. It might be something as simple as installing a water heater for someone who is not able. But to meet one another's needs, to bear one another's burdens, it's the natural result of a body that loves one another and that has learned about the grace of God and the relationship that we have with him through faith. Going back to Galatians chapter 6.

In verses 4 and 5, Paul says, So we see at the beginning, loving body, learn the grace of God. What are we to do? Well, we're to restore those who have been overtaken in sin. Then, verses 2 and 3,

We're to bear one another's burdens. And now in verses 4 and 5, the next thing that we're to do as a body is to bear our own load. Seems to be the opposite of what we just learned, but it's not the case. That word burden, again, it means weight, heaviness, or trouble. But the word for load here is

It's the idea of a soldier's pack. If you were a soldier, you would have your gear that you would need to carry and to hold on to. You would have your arms that you would have, your rifle and your ammunition and everything, but you would also have your rations. You would also have your tent or your covering and whatever else you needed out there on the field. You would have your own pack that you would need to carry, and that's what Paul says. Not only are you to...

bear one another's burdens. See, on the one hand, I may get myself into a tough situation where I'm overwhelmed, I'm burdened, I'm surrounded, I'm getting beat up, I'm not able to carry all the things that I'm holding on to. And the body of Christ around me is able to help in those times, to carry those burdens, to get through those times of heaviness. God places us next to each other specifically for that purpose.

However, that does not mean that I should just let everything go and let everybody serve me. Okay, everybody do everything. I'm just going to relax, kick back. No, I'm called to bear my own load. I have a God-given role and responsibility within the body of Christ and I am to fulfill it.

Again, legalism does not promote these things. Legalism makes me feel like I'm righteous, makes me critical of everyone else. You guys, you do it. I've already attained. You're still working on it. Remember Matthew chapter 7, verses 1 through 5, Jesus tells a story about

The man who was trying to deal with the speck in his brother's eye, but he didn't see it. He was blind. He had a plank in his own eye. That's what legalism does. It makes me feel like I've accomplished. I'm ready to deal with everything and I've got everything under control. But in reality...

I've got some big problems. And so I'm not able to even deal with my own load, with my own responsibilities, because I've been completely deceived and blinded. So the solution to keep us from that is found here in verse 4. He says, let each one examine his own work. Then he will have rejoicing in himself alone and not in another. See, if I examine my own work and I look in the mirror and I realize, huh, I've got a plank in my eye, then I'm able to deal with it.

He says, examine your own load. Examine your own work. Examine what you're doing compared to what God has called you to do. And then take rejoicing in yourself alone and not in another. God calls us to a very joyous life. We are to take rejoicing in ourselves.

Not that we're all full of ourselves and all prideful, but to rejoice in a job well done. To rejoice that, hey, I've done the things that God has laid before me. Not because I have a big following. Now, in verse 13, we kind of get some insight that that's what the legalistic people of Galatia, that's what they were looking for. People, a big following to take a rejoicing in.

I'm not to rejoice in that I'm able, you know, God's gift to the church, that I'm able to spot everyone else's faults. That's not what you're to rejoice in. You're to rejoice in that you served him well, that you did what he commanded you to do. Rejoice in a job well done and that you say, hey, Lord, I gave it my best. I did what you asked. And man, it was a blessing.

That's something to rejoice in as we bear our own load, as we take the responsibilities and roles that God has given to us and fulfill them. Everybody, every single one of us has our part in the body of Christ, our God-given responsibilities, and none of us are insignificant.

In Ephesians chapter 4, we find that the whole body is joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effect of working by which every part does its share. And it causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. See, the body grows, is edified in love, which is what we've been talking about.

When every part bears its own load, does it share and does what God has called it to do? And so the question we ask ourselves this morning is, am I doing my part? Am I doing the things that God has assigned to me? With the understanding that that extends beyond this property. We're not just talking about, well, yeah, I served in Sunday school. Well, no, God has called you.

To be a father or a mother or a son or a daughter or a spouse. He's called you to be some role socially in this life. And are you doing that? Are you being and living the life that God has called you to live? Are you serving in the area that God has called you to within the body of Christ? That's important too. Are you being the witness that he's called you to be as an employee or an employer? The roles that God has given to you, your own load, is not just about being

Once or twice a week, if you serve in the ministry that you think you're supposed to serve in. But it's really, are you living your life the way that God has called you to? Accomplishing the work, being the witness, training up and discipling the way that he has called you to. So, the body of Christ. Having learned of God's grace, we restore those who are overtaken. We bear one another's burdens, but we also bear our own load.

As we seek to walk with God and to walk in the spirit. Now going on to verse six, he says, let him who has taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches. The next thing that we see we are to do as a body that has learned about the grace of God is that we are to bless those who has taught us, who have taught us the word of God.

And so, you know, just a word from the Lord right now. I'm going to skip. I'm not going to teach the rest of Ephesians. I want to spend the next 45 minutes in this verse. This is an important verse. No, I'm just kidding. God takes good care of me, so don't worry about me. But listen, let me just share something about this verse real quick with you. We have received so much, so much from Pastor Tom.

And so the biblical principle is here. He says, let him who has taught the word share in all good things. The idea is you physically share with those who have spiritually blessed or ministered to you. And we have received so much from Pastor Tom. It's biblical for us to share with him financially and physically to support and to bless him, especially as he has shared with us.

The next step that God has given to him in breaking away from Calvary Chapel Okinawa and really starting a new ministry to the people of his village. I would encourage you to meditate on that and to allow God to speak to your heart about that. Now on Wednesday nights, we receive the offering that goes specifically to support the missionaries that God has sent out from here.

But I want to encourage you. If at any time God places a specific person upon your heart, such as Pastor Tom, if you write their name on the envelope or on the check as you deposit it, that money goes towards them. That money goes to them to support them. And so meditate on that in verse 6 and share as God places it upon your heart to bless Pastor Tom. He didn't ask me to do this. I don't get a percentage if a lot of you give to Pastor Tom.

But if the Lord lays it upon your heart, and it may not be this week, it might be several months from now, where there's a need that's happening over there that we know nothing about, but God speaks to your heart. Share. Share with those who have blessed you spiritually. Going on, verses 7 and 8. It says,

But he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. I have to take a drink because here's where I get excited. Paul is trying again to protect us from the deceitfulness of sin and the deceitfulness of our own hearts, just like we saw last week. Again, he's telling to us, open your eyes. Do not be deceived. God is not mocked.

God is not mocked. And once again, God is not mocked. He's not mocked, guys. We need to understand and open our eyes. Don't be deceived. This is a great portion of scripture. I would encourage you to memorize it. Galatians 6, verses 7 and 8. Easy to remember. Galatians 6, 7, 8.

Because God is not mocked. That word mocked, it means to turn up the nose at or to sneer at, to make fun of or to ridicule. And you know what that is. You know how that is. In fact, I was reflecting this last week about this and remembering when I was much younger.

And I'm sure that you experienced this as well, and so please don't make me feel too bad. But, you know, your mom or your dad, they tell you to stop doing something, and, you know, you just got to do it one more time, right? Just to show them that there's defiance within our heart, just to show them, listen, I can keep doing it if I want to, but okay, I'll stop.

In fact, many times I would tell my mom that I'm stopping because I want to, not because you told me to. Right? Don't you have that defiance in your heart when you were young? Maybe you've experienced that recently with your own children. But here's the thing. Here's our hearts. Here's where we need to watch out against mocking God. Having our hearts attitude toward God saying, you said I cannot do this, but I am getting away with it.

You said I can't do this, but I just did it. Lightning didn't strike. Everything didn't crash around. Nobody even seemed to really notice. I'm getting away with it. Maybe it's not as bad as I thought or they made it out to be. Paul says, don't be deceived. God is not mocked. You cannot continue in the things that God has spoken against through his word or to your own heart personally. You cannot.

Continue in those things and not be affected by it. Do you really think that you can watch those movies and not be affected? Do you really think that you can play with sex or pornography and not be affected? Do you really think that you can talk that way or have that attitude and not be affected? Do you really think that you can hold on to that thing, drive that way, listen to that music or whatever else it may be and not be affected?

You cannot. God is not mocked. And there may not be an immediately visible result, but that does not mean that there is no result at all. The result is corruption. Every time, in every case, without exception, our heart grows corrupt as we sow to the flesh. It's a principle of God. Don't be deceived.

We need to open our eyes. We need to wake up and to realize I cannot live contrary to what God says. I can't mock him and turn up my nose and ridicule and say, hey, you said, but listen, look, my life is blessed and I'm still doing it. And have the attitude, well, maybe God thinks it's okay. No, understand. Every time you and I sin, the wages of sin is death. There is a death that takes place. There is corruption that sets in.

What about the grace? Well, the grace is there. The grace is for our relationship with God. We have free fellowship with him because of what Christ did. But that does not stop the corruption that takes place in our heart. Now, we will understand this better if we remember why sin is sin. Why is sin sin? What's so bad about sin?

We need to remember that it's not that God decided, well, I want to think of all the ways that I can really just limit their ability to have fun and have a good time and enjoy life. And those things I'll call sin and I'll see if they're really able to walk with me by not participating in all the things that they would really enjoy. That's not what God did. God, in looking at life, saw the things that are harmful to us, that corrupt us, that destroy us.

And to keep us from those things because they're dangerous for us. He said, I'm calling this sin. Don't do it because it's bad for you. It brings corruption and death. So God says, that's sin. Do not do it. And then we, when we're deceived, we say, well, look, I can do it and not be affected. It's not a big deal. We're deceived and thinking we can continue to live that way and not be affected. That's not getting away with it because the corruption that is reaped

is still taking place, even if we don't see it immediately. It's a law of nature. You reap what you sow. If you sow to the flesh, you'll reap corruption. If you sow to the spirit, you'll reap everlasting life. You reap what you sow. God cannot be mocked.

Listen, if you sow corn seed, you get corn. If you sow apple seed, you get an apple tree. Every time. You don't get an orange tree when you sow an apple seed. If you sow a pumpkin seed, you get a pumpkin. If you sow bird seed, well, maybe that's the exception, right? You can't sow bird seed and get a bird. But you reap what you sow. If you sow to the flesh, you will, every time, without exception, even though there's grace, even though there's forgiveness, even though there's cleansing, you will reap what you sow.

you reap corruption. And if you sow to the Spirit, you reap everlasting life. That's why it's so important to fill our lives with the things of God, because they're fruitful and productive things for us.

But if we have just a little bit of God, we go to church a couple times a week or have a little bit here or there, and the rest of our lives are surrounded by things of the flesh. We need to beware. Open our eyes. Don't be deceived. God's not mocked. Corruption will be the result of that life. This truth brings into balance for us the whole subject of grace, of freedom in Christ.

Because we are free in Christ. And we have received amazing grace. But that is not a license for us to continue in sin, to live however we want, to do whatever we want. Because the law of reaping what you sow is a law of God. And even though we're free in Christ, we've received the grace of God. If we sow to the flesh, we will reap corruption.

And if we sow to the Spirit, we will reap eternal life. So it doesn't mean that we can continue to live in sin. Because what happens if I continue to live in sin is my heart is increasingly corrupted. And a corrupted heart will not seek God. You can deceive yourself and fool yourself and think you're okay. And I've done it many times. But a corrupted heart.

will find itself dead in destruction, not seeking after the things of God. And so there'll be a point that you come to in your walk of life where you have a choice to make if you will walk with God or if you will walk away. And because your heart is corrupted, because you filled your life with the things of this world and sown to the flesh, there's no guarantee that you're going to walk with God.

That you're going to let go of those things at that time and then truly have a relationship with Him. There's no guarantee. Your heart's corrupted. You don't know right from wrong. That's why sin is so deadly. Not because God strikes us with lightning immediately when we do it, but it corrupts our heart so that down the line, our judgment is impaired. Our decisions, they go from bad to worse because our heart has been corrupted and we've been deceived and blinded to it all. I need to stay away from sin.

Not because of legalism, that I'm not keeping some law. No, not because of that. But to protect myself, that I will walk in his spirit and walk in fellowship and relationship with him. Because that is where I find life, in relationship with Jesus Christ. But if I find my heart corrupt, my judgment impaired, I will be led away and destroyed. So don't be deceived. God cannot be mocked.

Whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. Let's move on to verses 9 and 10. He says,

Even if we see no results. Because of the law that we've just learned about. You reap what you sow. You will reap. And so Paul says, hey, don't grow weary while doing good. For in due season you will reap. It will come back to prove fruitful. To produce righteousness and goodness.

Continue to read. Even if you don't see the results, you've been sharing with that person, you've been praying for that person, you've been serving in that ministry, serving in that way, you've been reading through the Word, continue on. Hang in there. You will read. It's God's law. It will happen. It will come to pass. But hang in there. Don't stop. Don't grow weary. Sometimes it's tempting to give up because sometimes

It just doesn't seem to be producing anything. Or other times, you know, it's like, I've tried living right. I've tried walking uprightly, and it just seems to make everything worse. Things get harder and more difficult, and I don't see the blessings that are supposed to be there as I walk the way that God has said. Paul says, hang in there. God's law will be proven faithful. It is a law of nature. You reap what you sow.

Notice he makes it so easy for us too. He says, therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all. All we need to do is look for the opportunities that God is giving to us to take them, to go around and do good to all, especially to those who are believers. Because again, that's to be the characteristic of the church in John 13, 35. Everyone will know you're my disciples by your love for one another. So do good to all.

As you've learned about the grace of God, continue on. Don't grow weary in serving and praying and seeking and doing the things that God had asked you to do. Verse 11, Paul says, See with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand. Now, as we discussed earlier in the book of Galatians, Paul, it appears, had an eye problem. There was some sort of situation with his eyes there.

And as a result, we see here that it caused him to write with large letters so that he would be able to see what he was writing. Very often we know that he would have someone else actually write the letter. He would dictate it to them. But here he is writing it and he shares with them, look it, pay attention. I'm writing with large letters. Why? Well, because of the situation with my eyes, the problem that I have with my eyes. He indicates it here as a contrast to

to the legalistic people that he's about to refer to again in the following verses. It's a contrast to those who are trying to put on a good show. So look at the large letters that I write with, and let's move on to verse 12 and 13, and we'll make more sense of it in a few moments. He says in verse 12, "...as many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh, these would compel you to be circumcised, only that they may not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ."

So the legalists, they're there, they're trying to get you to be circumcised, but Paul says they're falsely motivated.

They're just looking for a good showing in the flesh. It's an outward appearance and an outward show. They desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh, that they may put on a good show, that they may avoid persecution, that they may be able to boast about the following that they have, those who have listened to them. But Paul says they don't even keep the law, yet they're trying to convince you to keep the law.

By being circumcised and following it. But what they're doing is not right. It's just an outward show. They themselves don't even keep it. They're only promoting this so that they don't have to suffer persecution. That they would be able to boast and look at their other legalistic friends and look, well, yeah, the Galatians, they were messed up, but we should convince them, look, we got them all. They're all circumcised now. They're all keeping the law. So now they wouldn't have to suffer any type of persecution from those who are legalistic.

Paul says, that's not right. And so in verse 14, he says, God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me and I to the world. For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything but a new creation. This is the real issue, Paul says. God forbid that I boast in anything

The only thing I can boast in is the cross of Christ, what he did for me. Again, teaching us about grace and faith and how we receive everything that God has for us by coming to the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ and receiving by faith the grace that he has extended towards us. The real issue is, Paul says, not what your outward flesh looks like. It doesn't matter if you're circumcised or not circumcised. The real issue is what he closes with right there in verse 15.

A new creation. Are you a new creation? Are you walking in the spirit? Are you walking in love? Are you doing the things that he's talked about in Galatians chapter 6? Restoring others. Bearing others' burdens. Fulfilling the role and responsibilities that God has given to you. Is there new spiritual life in you in that you have relationship with God?

2 Corinthians 5.17, Paul said, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. Old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new. The old things, they're gone. They're passed away. For anyone who is in Christ, and everyone in Christ, is a new creation. So Paul says, it's not about the outward show, but is there a change inwardly? Is there a new creation within? Is there spiritual life?

Jesus said in John 10, 10, I came that you may have life more abundant, overflowing, wonderful spiritual life. There will be a difference for everyone who is a Christian, for everyone who has received Christ because they're a new creation. So there will be a difference in their life. They will have new life in Christ. Paul says that's the real issue. I won't boast in anything except for the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Are you walking in that newness of life, in that the world has been crucified to you and you to the world so that you're not continuing on in the flesh and in the things of the world, but now the things of the spirit of the priority? Are you walking in newness of life? Or are you walking just as you always have? Because that's the real issue. It's not about how much you read, how many times you go to church. It's a new creation, new spiritual life within you.

Verse 16, Paul says, and as many walk or as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them and upon the Israel of God. Peace and mercy, Paul says, upon those who agree with this, who walk according to this. We need to walk in newness of life. And that's the issue, not about legalism and legalities and regulations and rules, but about a new life in Christ relationship with God.

Paul says, to those who teach that, to those who walk that way, oh, peace and mercy be upon them and upon the true Israel of God, those who are believers in Jesus Christ. And then verse 17, from now on, let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus. Here we have the tie. It ties it all the way back to verse 11, where Paul had said, see with what large letters I've written to you with my own hand.

concludes it here by saying, I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus. Paul says, forget about the outward show, the legalism, the circumcision, all of those things. What's real, what's the real issue is the cross of Christ. And I bear in my body, Paul says, the marks of preaching that message. Now they preach legalism so that they would be able to avoid circumcision. Not circumcision, persecution.

They preach circumcision to avoid persecution. But Paul says, I preach the cross of Christ. That's the real issue. And as a result, I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus. I've been persecuted. I've received the persecution. And as a result, his eyes, the eyes, the problem that he had, it was the product of him being persecuted for the cross of Christ.

And he says, see with what large letters, let no one bug me anymore. Let no one question my motives or worry about the things that I'm preaching the truth. And I bear in my body the proof because I'm still here, still ministering, despite the persecution and turmoil that is coming against me. So Paul says, from now on, let no one trouble me. I bear in my body the beatings, the stoning, the shipwreck,

resulted in the problem that he had with his eyes. Paul says, here's the proof. Here's the real issue. The cross of Christ. Will you walk in the grace of God? And so in verse 18, he says, brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. Since you have learned so much about the grace of God, Paul says, may his grace be with you. May you receive it. And how do you receive it? Faith. Believing what he said.

receiving what he said, taking God at his word, walking in the spirit, walking in love towards the body of Christ, towards those around you, restoring those who have been overtaken in the trespass, bearing one another's burdens, bearing your own load and roles and responsibilities that God has given to you, sharing in all good things with those who have given to you spiritually,

and doing good as you have opportunity. The result of a life that has received the grace of God will be evidenced by walking in the Spirit, by restoring brothers and sisters, by bearing each other's load, by bearing your own load, by sharing with those who bless you spiritually, and by doing good to all. Don't be deceived. This morning, I want to encourage you. Don't be deceived. God is not mocked. Paul says, examine.

Let a man examine his own life and take rejoicing. Rejoice. If you examine your life and you find, these things are in place in my life. I'm sowing to the Spirit. Rejoice. Spend time with God. Enjoy it. Take joy. And present yourself before God that you would continue to walk with Him. But if as you examine yourself, you find that you are in areas of your life sowing to the flesh,

Know that what the Bible says is true. You will reap corruption. You're not getting away with it. But the wonderful thing, the wonderful news for us is God has a wonderful way of dealing with corruption in our life. In 1 John 1.9, he says, if you confess your sin, it is faithful and just to cleanse you from all unrighteousness, filthiness, corruption. The way that you get away from that corruption that's in your heart

from those areas that you've sown to the flesh is to repent and to confess, to agree with God, this is an area that I should not be and I will not walk in it any longer. And as you confess that to God, He will cleanse you from all unrighteousness, from all filthiness, and restore to you a new heart. He makes you a new creation in Christ that you have perfect fellowship with God. I encourage you this morning, take that step. Repent from the areas

As you examine your heart that you sow to the flesh. I cannot emphasize it enough. Do not be deceived. God is not mocked. For whatever you sow and whatever I sow, we will reap. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, Lord, your word is powerful. It's convicting, God. Lord, I ask for us as a body that you would help us to examine ourselves. Lord, not against the law.

not to condemn ourselves or to be legalistic, but Lord, to ensure that we have right relationship with you, to ensure that we're walking in the spirit and sowing to the spirit. Lord, may we examine ourselves. Give us joy, Lord, in those areas where we're being obedient to you. We're walking with you. But Lord, I pray that you would also give us sorrow in those areas that we're sowing to the flesh, where our heart's been corrupted. And Lord,

Many times it's even hard to be remorseful over those things because of the corruption and the judgment that's been impaired in our hearts. Lord, but it's so clear. We know what your word says and we know what you're speaking to us. And so God, right now we repent of those things, those areas where we're sowing to the flesh. Lord, we ask that you would cleanse us from all unrighteousness as we confess our sin to you.

Lord, that you would bring us back into right relationship with you. That you would give us a new heart. A heart of flesh and not of stone. Lord, that it might be moldable and shapeable. To be conformed into your image. Lord Jesus, that we might learn to walk in your spirit. And God, I pray for us as a body that you would teach us, Lord. As we have learned so much about your grace. That we would extend that grace to one another. Lord, that everybody would know.

that we are your disciples because of our love for one another. Lord, as we restore those who have been overtaken by sin, Lord, as we bear one another's burdens, and as we fulfill the role that you've given to us, doing good to all as you give us opportunity, God, I ask that you would teach us to love one another. Fill us with your Holy Spirit, we pray. Lord Jesus, right now, by faith, we receive all that you have for us. We thank you, Lord, that we are justified.

without sin in your sight. Thank you, Lord, that we receive your spirit to empower us, to wash us, to communicate with you simply by faith and believing what you said. Thank you, Jesus, that we receive blessing in our life, the same blessing that you promised through Abraham because we believe what you said in your word. Lord Jesus, we also receive intimate, close relationship with you through the real issue, God.

which is not legalism and how we keep regulations and rules, but through the cross of Christ. We receive communion, intimacy with you because you died to take away our sin, to take us into your throne room, to have fellowship with us. May we walk with you in your spirit and in love towards one another. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Amen. Why don't you stand with us as we worship the Lord.

What can heal the soul? What can make us white as snow? What can fill? What can mend? Grow wonderful. Is the whole. Lift us from the fall. Look. What restores the faith? What reveals the faith? What can melt the heart of sin? What can save? Overcome. Some. Wonderful.

Lord, thank you for the wonderful power of your cross that we can come to the foot of the cross and receive forgiveness. Lord, the power of the flesh is broken and the power of this world is crucified. Thank you, Jesus. Help us to walk with you. We love you and it's in your precious name we pray.

We pray you have been blessed by this Bible teaching. The power of God to change a life is found in the daily reading of His Word. Visit ferventword.com to find more teachings and Bible study resources.