When we become Christians we enter a New Life. Some people
believe this New Life comes about by obtaining a new character. This is
far from being true. A new character can be a change in moral or legal
correctness brought about by one's own efforts. A person can change
his/her moral character by treating others differently and getting rid
of bad habits. A person can change his/her legal character by obeying
the laws when they have been negligent in obeying them in the past. The
New Life the Apostle Paul writes about in Galatians chapter five does
not come about by self-efforts, but is produced by the Holy Spirit. This
New Life comes about because the believer has done to his old nature
the same thing that was done to Jesus Christ on the cross, Gal 5:24,
"And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections
and lusts". In other words, every one is born into sin and remain dead
in trespasses and sin until they express faith in Jesus Christ. At that
time we are crucified with our sins and trespasses and made alive in
Christ. Ephesians 2:1 says "We were dead in trespasses and sins but
Christ has quickened us" (made us alive).
As a Christian, since we
have chosen this New Life we need not just hold it as an idea in our
heads, or a sentiment in our hearts. We must work out the implications
of the New Life in every detail in our lives.
We must first work out the implications of the New Life in our body.
The
New Life has been produced by the Holy Spirit and must be carried out
in the Spirit. Gal 5:25 says, "If we live in the Spirit, let us also
walk in the Spirit". The Holy Spirit must direct our steps as we move
toward Christian maturity. If we are living and walking in the Spirit
our lives will show it. Gal 5:26 says, "Let us not be desirous of vain
glory, provoking one another, envying one another". Christians living
the New Life will no longer seek the glory of men. The glory of men is
vain glory because it will not profit the Christian anything. Christians
living the New Life will not provoke others. They will not look upon
others with contempt, or cause hatred to produce a desire for them to
take revenge. Christians living the New Life will not envy others. They
will not compare themselves with others as if they were better or worse.
The
New Life calls for cooperative attitudes and actions with all people.
In Galatians chapter 6 the Apostle Paul puts all Christians in one of
three classes.
The Case of the Sinning Brother: Gal 6:1, "if a man
be overtaken by a fault". In these words, Paul recognizes that even one
whose life is guided by the Spirit may stumble and fall into wrong
doing. One who is born again does not deliberately plan to sin, but may
be tempted by Satan and yield to the temptations because of head strong
passions or lack of thought. The idea of Paul's message here is the
picture of one who is a victim of sudden temptation which has produced
an unexpected lapse in the brother's spiritual growth.
The
cooperative action and attitude called for regarding the sinning brother
is described in the next words of Gal 6:1, "restore such a one in the
spirit of meekness". Restore means to repair and to bring back into a
useful condition. Paul was meaning here to set the sinning brother to
rights; to bring him back into line; to put him back on the road of
right living. The restoring must be done in the spirit of meekness. The
quality most needed to be a restorer is meekness. Religious zeal need
not be harsh and overbearing. We must always consider Jesus' treatment
of sinners when helping a sinning brother. Many useful reproofs loose
their effectiveness if given in wrath. When reproof is managed with
calmness and appear to come from sincere affection and concern for the
welfare of those whom the reproof is given, it is likely to make a good
impression. Another reason for restoring in the spirit of meekness is
also given in Gal 6:1, "lest thou also be tempted". We need to deal
tenderly with brothers who have been overtaken in sin, because we don't
know that sometime it might be our own case.
The Case of the
Burdened Brother: Gal 6:2-5. Paul not only recognizes that even one
whose life is guided by the Spirit may stumble and fall into wrong
doing, Paul also recognizes he will also find himself burdened down from
time to time.
The cooperative action and attitude called for
regarding the burdened brother is described in Gal 6:2, "Bear ye one
another's burdens". In dealing with the sinning brother Paul's emphasis
was on tolerance. In dealing with the burdened brother Paul's emphasis
shifts to action. Christians must do more than set a fallen brother on
his feet. We should lend a helping hand so the brother won't fall again.
There are many burdens which press a person down. A person is often
pressed down under the weight of disappointment, anxiety, tension,
weariness, and the plain pressures of every day living. If we leave our
brother to stagger alone and eventually sink under his load when we
could have helped him by shouldering part of his burden we are doing
less than is expected of us, and we deserve reproach. The result of our
0utworking here when helping a burdened brother is found in the next
words of Gal 6:2, "and so fulfill the law of Christ".
Paul was not
speaking in legalistic terms. He is referring to a life-principle of a
much greater and deeper meaning than merely following a set of rules.
The law of Christ is to love, help, and give comfort. We can only
satisfy the requirements of Christ-likeness by showing concern for all
those who face the ravages of a cold and heartless world. The greatest
hindrance to this cooperative action is self-importance based on
self-ignorance. Gal 6:3, "For when a man think himself to be something,
when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself." If a person imagines himself
free of burdens or so above weakness, sorrow, or short-comings that he
shall never need help, he will completely be disinterested in helping
others bear their burdens. Paul does not mean we should belittle
ourselves or that our attitude should be that we are unfit to perform
any work for the burdened brother. We must maintain a worthy opinion of
ourselves, yet we must also realize that any ability we possess has been
given by God and conveyed to us through Jesus who infuses strength
within us.
The Case of the Teaching Brother: Gal 6:6, "Let him
that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all
good things".
The cooperative action and attitude called for
regarding the teaching brother applies to our treatment of teachers.
Paul had been speaking about our attitude toward inferiors, those who
had fallen, whom we are tempted to despise. Then he spoke about those
who had fallen under the burdens of this world, those whom we are
expected to help. He is now speaking about our attitude toward superiors
whom we are tempted to neglect. If a person is harsh in treating the
weak, he is likely to show rudeness and insubordination toward the
strong. When a person is self-centered and self-sufficient, he is likely
to show a cold contempt toward his inferiors and a jealous independence
of those above him. A proper realization of our weaknesses will make us
treat our inferiors correctly, and a proper realization of our
obligation to God will make us deal properly with those who teach us. It
is proper duty of those who are taught in the Word to support those who
are appointed to teach them.
Questions to challenge us. How are
we working out the implications of our New Life in Jesus Christ? Are we
living and walking in the Spirit? Do we have a cooperative attitude
toward all our brothers and sisters in Christ? To the sinning brother -
an attitude of meekness that will help restore him and bring him back
into a useful condition for God. To the burdened brother - an attitude
to help him bear his burdens in order to fulfill the law of Christ. To
the teaching brother - an attitude of support to those appointed to
teach and to communicate to them in all good things. Remember, the New
Life is much more than self-efforts to change our character. The New
Life is just what it says it is: A New Life because the old life if
gone.
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