The Apostle Paul closes his stern letter to the Galatian believers with important instructions as to how they should live practical Christian lives as those who are enjoying the liberty they have in Christ. They were not to be doing these things to gain favor with God as though under the law, which demanded something of man, but as a practical result of the Spirit of God dwelling in them.
Restoration of a wandering sheep of Christ was to be undertaken by those who were spiritual and to be done in meekness. They were to learn to bear each other’s burdens. At the same time, each one was responsible for the way in which he walked before God. They were to care for those who taught them the Word of God by providing for their practical needs. This sowing to the Spirit would reap blessing, even as sowing to the flesh would reap corruption.
The Apostle encourages believers to spend their time in well doing in view of the coming time of reaping the results of our efforts. Indeed, believers should do good to all men, but especially remembering other believers, whom Paul calls “the household of faith.”
The false teachers were seeking to find glory in their flesh and in their keeping of the law. The Apostle teaches us that the only thing we should glory in is the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ, which is, in effect, God’s final judgment on flesh. The cross forever proved how bad the flesh is and how impossible it is to improve it by keeping the law.
Paul himself bore marks in his body to prove how he had maintained the truth which the Galatians had so readily given up. Though having written such a stern letter, he closes by commending the Galatian believers, whom he loved so much, to the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. It was by this grace, rather than the law, that they were truly blessed.
1. The Apostle Paul directed those who were spiritual in the Galatian assemblies to seek the restoration of one who was not walking in obedience to God. Why was it that Paul longed to see the believers in Rome? Romans 1:___
2. Because of their worldliness, Paul had to speak about the Lord to the Corinthians in a very simple way — as though he were talking to very little children. In what manner would he have desired to speak to them?
1 Corinthians 3:___
3. What will a man who is truly spiritual acknowledge the writings of Paul to be? 1 Corinthians 14:___
4. What kind of songs are believers to be found singing? Ephesians 5:___
5. What is the character of the wickedness against which believers are to fight? Ephesians 6:___