Title: Advice for Christian Living

Text: Galatians 6:1-6

This morning we continue our series from the book of Galatians chapter six. In the previous chapter we looked at Paul’s list of the sins of the flesh. Paul listed them as the negative aspect of the moral implications of scripture. The moral implication of Scripture is that there are certain things believers should not allow to be part of their character. In contrast to those evil works, or evil deeds or deeds of the flesh he gave us a positive list he called the fruit of the spirit, virtues Scripture implies should be a part of the Christian’s walk. Again, neither list is comprehensive, both are representative. Paul also stressed the fact believers must walk in the Spirit. In other words believers are to be yielded to the Spirit’s leadership and direction in their daily lives. Walking in the Spirit is the supernatural aspect of Christian living, the empowering and enabling to follow through in living according to the moral and spiritual aspects of faith and in obedience, and that ability and opportunity are also a gift from God. Looking at the first few verses of chapter six Paul moves us from the theological to the practical, giving us some practical advice about Christian living under the Spirit’s control.

His first word of advice applies to the body of Christ as a whole. He addressed the Galatians as a body of believers not just as individuals. “Brethren, even if a man is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; {each one} looking to yourself, lest you too be tempted.” (NAS)

Not only are we as Christians to be about the ministry of evangelism, or introducing the lost to Christ, we are also to be actively involved in the ministry of reconciliation and restoration among ourselves. In this verse Paul is not referring to a person who is willfully and intentionally engaged in sin. The word caught suggests surprise, or being overtaken and snared by temptation. A sincere believer who has been caught in the tempters snare.

The legalistic approach of the Judaizers in such a case is to treat this just as intentional sin, to condemn the person rather than try and restore them; to add more burdens rather than bear burdens (Matt 23:2-6). Unfortunately our natural tendency also seems to be to respond the same way. Almost as a way to affirm our own spirituality, we condemn and destroy our brothers and sisters who are overtaken and fall into sin. It’s unfortunate but it has often been said Christians are the only army that buries their wounded, and many times this is true.

As we’ve said before and as the Bible makes abundantly clear we are never to condone sinful behavior, we’re not to excuse it, we’re not to look the other way, or act like it doesn’t exist. We are, however, to seek ways to minister forgiveness and restore the broken fellowship sin brings within the body.

This isn’t an easy task, we stand to be criticized either way. If we condemn and shun such a person we obviously face criticism for being unforgiving and intolerant. On the other hand, if we forgive and restore the person we are criticized for being hypocritical. But, the Bible says we are to try and restore a person caught in sin back to fellowship with Christ and the church.

That’s not an easy job. There is only one way it can be accomplished. Paul said it’s spiritual work. In verse one, Paul isn’t talking about super Christians, or some special group of believers, “You who are spiritual” refers to mature believers. That’s where all of us expect to be, but the body is made up of people in various stages of faith; some have just become believers, others haven’t yet learned how to walk by faith themselves. Not that any of us ever reach the pinnacle of maturity in this life time, but reconciliation and restoration are accomplished by believers who have learned how to be yielded to God’s Spirit and who can minister in the power of His Spirit, rather than in the power of the flesh.

The word gentleness means humility, another sign of maturity is that the mature Christian doesn’t lord over other less mature believers, like the Pharisee who prayed and gave thanks he wasn’t like other men, like the lowly publican in Lk 18:9-14. Gentleness also reflects the idea of being under the control of Christ. It means even though a person be mature in their faith, while being involved in seeking to restore someone who has been overtaken by sin we don’t become prideful thinking we are so spiritual something like that couldn’t happen to us, but rather we are under Christ’s rein, like a horse under the riders control. And even though we are mature, we are to be constantly on guard so we don’t get caught up in sin ourselves. We’re all different, what might entice me might repulse you, what might be a weakness for me might be a strength for you, something that might overtake me might never be conceivable to you. But the opposite is also true, so while you might not fall into sin or be overtaken by a sin that I would, I might not fall into sin you would. And each of us no matter how mature we might be must be always on guard. Peter certainly understood that concept when he compared Satan to a roaring lion. That’s the reason Paul teaches us to put on the full armor of God each day. Because the lion will attack us at our weakest point.

Paul’s second word for practical Christian living is we are to be burden bearers. Gal 6:2 Bear one another's burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ. (NAS) All of us, no matter what stage of faith, can be involved in the ministry of burden bearing.

Bearing one another’s burdens doesn’t imply we are to be busy bodies sticking our noses into other people’s affairs uninvited. It does mean we are to be aware of and sensitive to the life situations of our brothers and sisters in Christ. We are to minister compassion and love to our fellow believers. Sharing the load as of our brothers and sisters. Paul gives two examples of this in his letters. The first in Rom 12:15 where he wrote, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.” Then in 1 Cor 12:25-26 there he wrote “that there should be no division in the body, but {that} the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if {one} member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.” (NAS) Paul says this kind of compassion fulfills the "law of Christ," which is to love one another.

There are some things that hinder our ministry within the body of Christ we are to avoid these pitfalls. The third word of practical advice is found in verses 3 and 4 – pride: “For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have {reason for} boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another.” (NAS)

Pride is the perhaps the most common sin of all. Paul’s not talking about pride in the good sense such as feeling good about who you are or doing things to the best of your ability. His talking about a self-centeredness that results in conceit, excessive pride in oneself. We’re not in competition with one another, we’re members one of another. We shouldn’t be comparing ourselves to others, but examining ourselves to see if we are doing what the Lord has for us and if we are doing everything for His glory rather than our own.

The fourth word of practical Christian living is found in verse 5, “For each one shall bear his own load.” (NAS) Paul’s not contradicting himself, he’s talking about two different things and there are two different Greek words used. We are to help one another bear the burdens of life, but we are also to take care of our own responsibilities and pull your own weight. That’s very important practical advice for a church. The sad truth is that most churches fall under what’s known as the law of 80. That means 80% of the work of the work of a church, and 80% of the financial responsibility of a church is born by 20% of the church membership. Research has shown that’s generally true regardless of church size or denominational affiliation.

The fifth word of practical faith is to Care for your teachers in the Faith. Verse 6 says, “And let the one who is taught the word share all good things with him who teaches.” (NAS) In the Old Testament the people gained a bad reputation for being unfavorable toward God’s prophets and priests. They killed many of the prophets. They were negligent in giving of their tithes. Christians should be sure that their pastors and missionaries are adequately cared for financially, and otherwise.

I’m pleased to be able to commend you as a body for more than adequately providing for your pastor financially and in other ways as well, and for you support of missions. That’s not to say you aren’t doing the other things equally well, I think you do a good job with those too. As your pastor, however, I want to encourage each of you to examine yourselves to see how you are measuring up to what Paul says and how you are meeting your own responsibilities and carrying your weight within the body and urge you to continue to strive to greater achievement in living practical faith. Avoid the sins of the flesh, continually walk in the Spirit, allowing the fruit of the Spirit to produce in your life so that you put your Faith to practical use: Love one another, bear one another's burdens. Flee from pride. Be responsible. Care for those who have taught you the Faith.