This document outlines a study on the book of Galatians. It discusses two main points: 1) Bearing one another's burdens as discussed in Galatians 6:1-5. The goal is restoration with gentleness and humility. 2) Reaping what you sow as discussed in Galatians 6:6-10. Sowers should be valued, you must know what you're planting, and persistence pays off. The overall message is about living under grace rather than being bound by the law.
Big Idea: Good Fruit/Bad Fruit Galatians 5:16-26
The obvious theme of this text is a comparison between Good Fruit and Bad Fruit, or to follow the language of the text, the works of the flesh vs. the fruit of the Spirit.
One of the defining characteristics of this text is the constant reference to the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is named 7 times in these 11 verses.
So, we can anticipate that as Paul is identifying a contrast between the Good and the Bad, that the answer will have a lot to do with the Holy Spirit.
First Point: The Law of Christ: Bear One Another’s Burdens
Galatians 6:1-5
6 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. 5 For each will have to bear his own load.
Some Burdens were meant to be shared.
Our goal: Restoration
Our approach: Gentleness
Some Burdens were meant to be shouldered.
Our attitude: Humility
Our perspective: Eternity
Second Point: The Law of the Harvest: You Reap What You Sow
Galatians 6:6-10
6 Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. 7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy,[d] drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do[e] such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Some Laws of the Harvest
1. Sowers should be valued.
Some Laws of the Harvest
2. You have to know what you’re planting.
Job 4:8
As I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same.
Hosea 8:7a
For they sow the wind,and they shall reap the whirlwind.