Galatians 6

True Christianity

Brethren, if anyone is taken in a sin, you who are spiritual restore such a one in the spirit of meekness, considering yourself, so that you also are not tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

6:2 Believers are not under the law of Moses (Gal 3:25; 5:1), but they are under the law of Christ. This is the law of love (John 13:34). If we love fellow believers we will want to help them in everything that makes life difficult and burdensome for them.⚜

3 For if a man thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

6:3 One of the great obstacles to fulfilling v 2 is conceit (Gal 5:26). We must have a right attitude toward ourselves if we are to be really helpful to others. This right attitude is seen in Luke 17:10; Rom 12:16; 1 Cor 3:5-7; Phil 2:3.⚜

4 But let everyone test and prove his own work, and then he will have reason to rejoice in himself alone, and not in someone else.

6:4 See 2 Cor 10:12-18. If we think we are better than other believers, or that our ministry is superior to theirs, this will promote pride and will be an obstacle to the fulfilment of verse 2.⚜

5 For everyone should bear his own burden.

6:5 Every individual has his own duties and he is responsible to God only for them, not for someone else’s (John 21:21-22; Rom 14:12).⚜

6 Let the one who is being taught the Word share all good things with the one who is doing the teaching.

7 Do not be deceived; God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows, that is what he will reap.

6:7 This is a truth that appears throughout the Bible – Lev 26:3-17; Deut 30:15-18; Hos 8:7; 10:12; Prov 22:8; Ps 18:25-27; Job 4:8; 2 Cor 9:6.⚜

8 For he who sows to his flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; but he who sows to the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap life everlasting.

6:8 There are only two possible ways to live: pleasing self (“flesh”), or pleasing God’s Spirit. The one way ends in destruction as it should. The other way ends in eternal life (Gal 5:19-21; Rom 2:5-11; 8:5-6, 12-14). Paul has already said that believers have crucified the flesh (Gal 5:24). So anyone whose life is taken up in pleasing his sinful nature is no true believer in Christ (though it is possible for every true believer to fall sometimes into that error). But is eternal life something to be reaped? Paul knew it is a gift (Rom 6:23), but he is showing here that it is an inheritance that is entered after a certain kind of life (compare Rom 2:7-10). He is not teaching salvation by works, but transformation of life by God’s Spirit. Believers are not like anyone else in the world. They alone of all people actually sow to the Spirit.⚜

9 And let us not be weary in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 Therefore as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

6:10 “Everyone” means everyone – even our enemies (Matt 5:43-48; Luke 6:35; Rom 12:20-21).⚜

11 You see with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand.

What Paul gloried in

12 As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh, are trying to compel you to be circumcised, only so that they can avoid suffering persecution for the cross of Christ.

6:12 The false teachers there tried to please men. They wanted to impress the Jews with their ability and zeal. And they did not want to bear the “offense of the cross” (Gal 5:11). Some so-called servants of Christ will do anything to avoid persecution and be popular. Compare Gal 1:10.⚜

13 For not even those who are circumcised keep the Law. But they want to have you circumcised so they can boast about your flesh. 14 But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For in Christ Jesus what avails is neither circumcision nor lack of circumcision, but a new creation. 16 Peace and mercy be on all those who live according to this rule, and on the Israel of God.

Closing words

17 From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear on my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.

6:17 Paul appeals to the Christians there to accept his teaching, reject false teachers, and no longer be a source of trouble to him.⚜

18 Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

6:18 Paul ends the letter as he began it with “grace” (Gal 1:6). This was a reminder to them that every blessing they had, especially every spiritual blessing, was by the grace of Christ.⚜