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Galatians 6: Bear One Anothers Burdens

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Read Galatians Chapter 6

Introduction: Galatians 6 is the closing chapter of Paul’s letter to the Galatians, it is a message of personal responsibility, mutual care, and the central message of living by the Spirit. Here, Paul provides practical applications of the principles he has laid out in the previous chapters, emphasizing the importance of bearing one another’s burdens, sowing to the Spirit rather than the flesh, and boasting only in the cross of Christ. This chapter calls out to Christians in year 2024 and beyond, to a life of love, humility, and perseverance.

I. Bear One Another’s Burdens (Galatians 6:1-5)
The first verses teaches believers to help each other when someone is caught in sin, but with a spirit of gentleness and self awareness. He encourages the bearing of one another’s burdens to fulfill the law of Christ, which is love. Yet, Paul also reminds believers that each person is responsible for their own actions, they were and we are also.

Cross reference verses:

  • Romans 15:1: We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves, emphasizing the importance of support in the community.
  • 1 Corinthians 10:12: So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall, a warning to be vigilant in self awareness.
  • James 5:19-20: My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, stressing the restoration role Christians play in each other’s lives.

II. Sow to Please the Spirit (Galatians 6:6-10)
In these verses, Paul says those being taught the word to share all good things with the one who taught them. He teaches the principle of sowing and reaping: what one sows, that will he also reap. If we sow to please our sinful nature (the flesh), we’ll reap destruction; but if we sow to please the Spirit, we’ll reap eternal life. Paul encourages not to become weary in doing good, for we will reap a good and spiritual harvest if we do not give up.

Cross reference verses:

  • 2 Corinthians 9:6: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously, very close to Paul’s teaching on sowing and reaping.
  • James 3:18: Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness, highlighting the rewards of sowing good seeds.
  • 2 Thessalonians 3:13: And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good, which points to the encouragement to continue in good deeds.

III. Boast Only in the Cross (Galatians 6:11-18)
In the final verses, Paul reiterates the main point of his letter: the irrelevance of circumcision or uncircumcision in Christ. What matters is being a new creation, a new creature, born again. He talks about those who want to look good outwardly only, suggesting they want to avoid persecution for the cross of Christ. Paul ends by stating that he only boasts in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to him, and he to the world.

Cross reference verses:

  • 1 Corinthians 2:2: For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified, showing why Paul focuses on the cross over worldly matters.
  • Philippians 3:3: For it is we who are the circumcision, who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh, pointing to the new identity we have in Christ.
  • 2 Corinthians 5:17: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here,  a new creation in Jesus Christ.

Conclusion: Galatians 6 compels believers to live by the Spirit, bearing each other’s burdens, sowing to the Spirit, and boasting only in the cross of Jesus Christ. It is a chapter that blends the practicality of Christian responsibility with the profound theological truth of the gospel’s life changing power. Paul’s words outline the timeless message that in Christ, we find the strength to support one another, the wisdom to live righteously, and the freedom to reject worldly glory in favor of the glory that comes from God alone. The chapter should inspire believers to life a life marked by love, humility, and steadfastness.

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The Nicolaitans were a group mentioned in the book of Revelation in the New Testament, specifically in Revelation 2:6, 2:15. They were a heretical sect in the early Christian church that was condemned by Jesus in his messages to the churches of Ephesus and Pergamum. The exact beliefs and practices of the Nicolaitans are not clearly described in the Bible, but early church leaders such as Irenaeus and Clement of Alexandria suggested that they promoted sexual immorality and the consumption of food sacrificed to idols. Some scholars believe that the Nicolaitans were followers of a false teacher named Nicolas, who may have been one of the original seven deacons appointed by the apostles in Acts 6:5. However, the exact identity and teachings of the Nicolaitans remain a matter of debate among theologians and historians.