Paul's Epistles - Galatians
Part 14 – Doing
Good to All
Pastor Bruce A.
Shields
House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org
INTRODUCTION
Paul wrote the Galatians concerning some
of the false teachings that had been allowed, specifically salvation in Christ
with works (or obedience to Old Covenant) added in.
Paul explains plainly to them this is a
false teaching. These are two completely different covenants with God, with the
Old only showing our guilt and condemning, and the New showing our salvation in
the Lord and freeing us from the condemnation of the first.
Being a slave to sin exposed by the
commands, and being set free by Christ revealed through His ministry and
Gospel.
Paul explains there is no other gospel but
the one he originally taught them, the one that saved them and changed them. To
accept any other teaching does not “add” to their salvation, but causes them to
move in a direction which takes them away from it.
Paul explains God’s promise, and how
salvation through Christ alone was set in motion and can be seen in the
Abrahamic Covenant. The promise of a coming Savior, how those who put their
faith (or trust) in him (not just believe as in He is real), would become the
children of God and heir to the Kingdom.
He explained how the two covenants work,
the first based on works of the flesh, which only lead to condemnation, and the
second based on the Spirit which leads to life everlasting.
Paul denounces their legalism, which is
based on the works of men for salvation, and tries to convince them of the
Truth, which is the freedom only found in Christ Jesus, a free gift, not
earned, or deserved, but given by Faith alone.
There is freedom in Christ Jesus. But with
that freedom, comes the responsibility of being Good to all, through the power
and fruits of the Holy Spirit.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE Galatians 6:1-10
Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live
by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch
yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the
law of Christ. 3 If anyone thinks they
are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. 4 Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride
in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, 5 for each one should carry their own load. 6 Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should
share all good things with their instructor.
7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he
sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap
destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap
eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we
will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore,
as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those
who belong to the family of believers.
I.
RESTORATION (NOT
JUDGMENT) TO THOSE WHO WANDER FROM THE TRUTH
a.
Brothers & Sisters
i. Paul is speaking to
saved
ii. These
are instructions for the church on handling saved people who walk away from the
truth
iii. James
5:19-20 “My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, 20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the
error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of
sins.”
1.
A “saved” person CAN wander from the Truth
2.
When they do, just as Paul explains in
earlier verses in Galatians, they leave the New Covenant of Salvation in
Christ, and return to the Old Covenant and are condemned by the Commands.
3.
However, they can return to the New
Covenant of Salvation in Christ
4.
This will save them from the Second Death
(Judgment Day – the Commands)
5.
And will cover a multitude of sins
(rather, forgive sins, even many, again)
b.
If someone is caught in sin
i. Paul just explained
what sin is in Galatians 5 when he spoke of the fruit of the flesh
ii. If
someone who is living by the Fruit of the Spirit (also described in Galatians
5), and they should see someone in sin, they should restore (return to the
Truth) that person GENTLY.
ILLUSTRATION:
Westboro Baptist church verbally assaults
and attacks those not living according to the teachings of Christ. Picketing
with signs reading, “God hates fags, God killed your soldier son, etc.”
There are a few things wrong with what
they are doing.
1.
Jesus said in the Great Commission, preach
the Gospel, then baptize them, THEN teach them to “obey” all that I command.
a.
Paul has shown us in Galatians that
without this process, without being “saved” we do NOT have the Holy Spirit.
b.
Without the Holy Spirit it is IMPOSSIBLE
to obey what Christ commands.
2.
Paul teaches us in Galatians that we are
to approach the unsaved gently, and as it says in I Corinthians 13:1-3
a. If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am
only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may
boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
3. There is only one way to do what is right, and that is
the way the Lord teaches us.
c.
But watch yourselves, or you may get tempted
i. Paul warns us to be
careful that we too are not tempted.
1.
Do not fall into the same trap as the
person you are trying to pull out.
ii. We are
instructed to carry each other’s burdens
1.
When we do this, we fulfill the “Law of
Christ”
II.
BUT DO NOT DECEIVE
YOURSELVES
a.
Do not think you are something when you are not
i. Remember, the ONLY
difference between us and a lost sinner, is Jesus
ii. When we
are “saved” we receive the Holy Spirit
iii. All of
our GIFTS, FRUITS and the Whole Armor of God come from the Holy Spirit.
iv. Our
strength to do what Christ commands comes from the Holy Spirit.
v. All the
righteousness we have and display comes from God’s Holy Spirit
vi. Without
the Lord, we are the SAME as a lost sinner.
vii. All we
are is Him, not us. Therefore, do not think more highly of yourself then you
ought to.
b.
Test your actions
i. 2 Corinthians 13:5 “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith;
test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of
course, you fail the test?”
ii. Each of
us should test our own actions
1.
Meaning, examine what you “do”
2.
Are you following the Spirit of God, or
your flesh?
3.
Is this for God, or you?
4.
If your actions are true, you are
following the Spirit, you can take pride in what you do, because it is
accomplished through the Spirit
c.
Do not compare yourself to others
i. We may lower the
standard of those around us to make ourselves seem more righteous and good.
ii. Either
by choosing what we consider “worse” people to be our friends, or by tearing
those we have down, to be higher than them.
iii. Either
way, this pride and arrogance will no doubt lead to you falling away from the
Truth
Each one should carry their own load
Meaning, do not compare yourself to
others, rather to what the Lord commands, and measure against yourself.
Am I doing better than I was yesterday?
Or, last time I was tempted?
Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share
all good things with their instructor.
Share with your instructor your progress.
How you see yourself growing. How you catch yourself following the Holy
Spirit’s lead.
In this way, you encourage your
instructor, and recognize your own growth, which can encourage you to continue
to do good and not grow tired, feeling there is no progress being made.
Recognize and acknowledge your victories
through the power of the Holy Spirit.
III.
DO NOT BE DECEIVED,
GOD CANNOT BE MOCKED
a.
A man reaps what he sows
i. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction;
1.
Some call this Karma…but the scripture explains
the truth
ii. Whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the
Spirit will reap eternal life.
b.
Do not give up on doing good
i. Let us not become
weary
1.
Why would we get weary?
a.
Not “seeing” results
b.
Not getting the response we think we
should
c.
Always doing good, while receiving bad
c.
At the proper time we will reap a harvest
i. “If we do not give
up”
1.
Not giving up is key to receiving harvest
2.
And it will come…at the proper time
a.
God’s timing, not ours
CONCLUSION – Therefore, as we have
opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong
to the family of believers.
When the opportunity arises (What
opportunity? To do good to someone)
Let us (Who? Those living by the Spirit)
Do good to ALL PEOPLE
Especially (meaning, do not forget about)
those who belong to the Lord.
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