December 4, 2021 — Galatians 6 

“Brothers and sisters, if a person is discovered in some sin, you who are spiritual restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness. Pay close attention to yourselves, so that you are not tempted too. Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Let each one examine his own work. Then he can take pride in himself and not compare himself with someone else. For each one will carry his own load. Now the one who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with the one who teaches it. Do not be deceived. God will not be made a fool. For a person will reap what he sows, because the person who sows to his own flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. So we must not grow weary in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who belong to the family of faith.” Galatians 6:1–10  

In the first part of chapter six, Paul describes what life in community looks like when we live in the freedom Christ. It is necessary that we use that freedom to serve one another. Paul offers the example of dealing with a member of the community detected in a transgression. “You who have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness”. Gentleness, after all, is one of the fruits of the Spirit just mentioned at the end of chapter 5. The goal of dealing with the transgressor is restoration and healing. The verb “katartizo” (in Greek) is often used as a medical term, to refer to setting a bone or joint right so that proper healing can occur. As such, while seeking to restore the transgressor, community members are to take care that they themselves are not tempted by a false evaluation of the self in comparison to the fallen brother or sister — in other words, as the Pharisee prays, “Thank G-d I am not a sinner like that person” (Luke 18:11). 

Instead, we are to “Bear one another’s burdens,” Paul says, “and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ”. Paul has a radical understanding of the responsibility believers should have for one another. They are to share all burdens, even the burdens of guilt and shame when one of them goes astray (another way of fulfilling the command to love neighbor as self). Loving our neighbor this way means resisting self-deception, recognizing that I am every bit as vulnerable to temptation as my neighbor, and every bit as dependent upon the grace of G-d.

Let us pray,

Lord Christ, you call us to bear one another’s burdens. Help me to remember that instead of comparing myself to my neighbor, rather I should engage in self-examination and reconciliation. Help me Lord Christ. Amen. 

Pastor Dave 

December 2, 2021 — Galatians 5:1–15  

“For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be subject again to the yoke of slavery. Listen! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you at all! And I testify again to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. You who are trying to be declared righteous by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace! For through the Spirit, by faith, we wait expectantly for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision carries any weight – the only thing that matters is faith working through love. You were running well; who prevented you from obeying the truth? This persuasion does not come from the one who calls you! A little yeast makes the whole batch of dough rise! I am confident in the Lord that you will accept no other view. But the one who is confusing you will pay the penalty, whoever he may be. Now, brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. I wish those agitators would go so far as to castrate themselves!” Galatians 5:1–12  

The Galatian Christians appeared to have viewed circumcision as a ritualistic act which although painful and inconvenient, was a small price to pay to be more spiritual. Thank goodness we do not look upon circumcision the same way in our churches today. Granted, there are significant differences between the Galatian churches of Paul’s day and the situation of the church we know today. The Galatian saints were saved and wanted only to enhance their spiritual standing. 

Now, do we run into this thinking in the modern-day church? Of course. Many young couples today view baptism the same way — as a means to ensure if not enhance salvation — in a legalistic not spiritual manner. We cannot earn salvation by the “work” of baptism. Furthermore, baptism is not associated with additional duties and obligations.  

Circumcision for the Galatians however, carried with it far-reaching consequences which they did not seem to understand. They did not realize that circumcision implied certain binding obligations. It was Paul’s intention in this passage to point out the consequences of circumcision, showing them they had everything to lose by it and nothing to gain. 

As I said earlier, we recognize that circumcision is not an issue for the Christian today — it is more an issue of hygiene than a mark of belonging. Yet not all male children are circumcised because it is even being viewed today as a cultural practice. But Paul’s message is clear — to fall back into legalism is a particularly grave danger. As such, we must pay all the more attention to the warning of the apostle. Christ freed us in order that we might be free. Bondage is the opposite of freedom, and since the Law produces bondage, living under it is inconsistent with the gospel. And yet, that’s the way a lot of professing Christians view baptism. They don’t understand the relationship and the claiming that happens in baptism, but instead they feel some social pressure or fear of hell for their child. So they want to “get their children done” — in other words they go through the motions to have them baptized not worrying about or understanding what baptism is all about — naming, claiming, identity and Christian responsibility.  

Let us pray,

Lord Jesus, we know how important our baptisms are to us. But we too easily fall into traps of “legal obligation”. Give us your Spirit — which leads us to understanding. It is the beginning of a relationship, not a work to be completed. Amen. 

Pastor Dave  

December 3, 2021 — Galatians 5:16–26 

“Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, depravity, idolatry, sorcery, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish rivalries, dissensions, factions, envying, murder, drunkenness, carousing, and similar things. I am warning you, as I had warned you before: Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God!  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also behave in accordance with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, being jealous of one another.” Galatians 5:19–26  

We can put these fruits in three categories: 

1. Love, joy, peace.  For the Christian our first love is our love for G-d, and this is demonstrated through love for our neighbor; our chief source of joy is the joy of the Lord; and our deepest peace is our peace with the G-d of all peace. 
2. Patience, kindness, goodness.   Patience is sometimes called long-suffering, suffering without a sense that it will end. Kindness is our disposition towards other people to do them good. Goodness is actually doing others good as there is opportunity. 
3. Faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Faithfulness is reliability, loyalty, steadfastness; gentleness is being calm and humble; self-control is self-discipline over our lives. 

All these are fruit of the Spirit — not individual fruits — but all one fruit. Imagine a fruit tree laden with fruit rather than individual pieces of fruit on individual branches. It’s a natural part of the life cycle of the tree — it produces fruit, like apples, or oranges, but there are multiple fruit that are produced in one season.  In the same way spiritual fruit in our lives should be a natural (or supernatural) consequence of the Spirit-led life — all part of or produced in a season, in an “aion” or age of our lives. 

Let us pray,

Lord Jesus, we are all born with physical gifts, but our spiritual fruits are opened to us through the Holy Spirit. Guide us as our natural fruit “ripens”, but also lead us in growth in you as our spiritual graces grow in our lives. Amen.

Pastor Dave