Paul begins the last chapter in his letter to the Galatians (Galatians 6:1–18) with more instructions on how to live out their freedom in Christ, especially in regard to relationship. He’s already directed them to walk by the Spirit, but what happens when someone is overcome by wrongdoing? Paul calls for gentle restoration and then concludes his letter back on the topic he started with—circumcision doesn’t matter. What counts is living as a new creation.

Previous Posts: Gal 1:1–10; Gal 1:11–2:10; Gal 2:11–21; Gal 3:1–14; Gal 3:15–4:7; Gal 4:8–5:12; Gal 5:13–26

Restore Others

Paul knows the brothers and sisters in Galatia will at times be overtaken (entrapped) by wrongdoing. If that happens, those “who live by the spirit should restore that person gently.” But Paul warns them to to watch themselves or they may also be tempted (6:1). He instructs them to “carry each other’s burdens” and in doing so, they will “fulfill the law of Christ” (6:2).

Paul offers a further caveat to the restoration process. If the Galatians think they are “something when they are not, they deceive themselves” (6:3). If they “test their own actions” (examine their own work), they can “take pride in ourselves alone,” and not compare themselves to someone else (6:4). And everyone should “carry their own load” (6:5).

The word Paul uses for “wrongdoing” means “a slip, lapse, unintentional error or willful transgression”¹ that is not a habitual sin. Paul’s goal is restoration, not condemnation (1 Thess 5:14). Restoration happens within a close community, not strangers. Only those who walk by the Spirit (as opposed to those who walk in the flesh) should attempt any kind of restoration. Paul uses a plural “you” indicating restoration needs the wisdom of many (not an individual’s agenda). Restoration should be led by the Spirit, not the law. It must be done with gentleness (meekness with strength 1 Cor 4:21).

Restorers must self-reflect on their own temptations lest they be guilty of the same thing (Phil 2:3–4). To avoid self-deception, they test their actions, critically examining them. They should not be puffed up, thinking they are better than the one entrapped (Matt 7:5). They don’t forget that they too are susceptible to the same sins. In the end we will all stand before God and be responsible for ourselves (Rom 14:10).

This is love lived out. The law of Christ is to love my neighbor (John 13:34, Jam 2:8, Rom 13:8–10). Loving means I don’t put heavy burdens of rules on my fellow believers, but instead help to carry or relieve their burdens (Rom 15:1). Love means I don’t become self-righteous and forget that I, too, am susceptible to the same sins. I remember that Jesus is gentle and humble and offers me rest, not condemnation (Matt 11:29).

What does gentle restoration look and feel like? What load of your own are you responsible for?

Do Good to All

Whoever receives instruction in the word (i.e. the gospel of Jesus) “should share all good things with their instructor.” (6:6). Paul again warns against deception for God will not be mocked. People reap what they sow (6:7). If they “sow to please their flesh,” they’ll reap destruction but if they “sow to please the Spirit,” they’ll reap eternal life (6:8). Paul wants his readers to keep doing good and not grow weary, because they’ll reap a harvest at the proper time if they don’t give up (6:9). With this in mind, he wants them to do good to all people, especially to fellow believers (6:10).

Sharing here means helping to relieve the burden of those who minister to us by giving in financial and material ways (1 Cor 9:14, Phil 4:15). We plant what we want to grow (2 Cor 9:6–11). For example, if we sow unforgiveness, we’ll reap bitterness which eventually hardens our hearts. But if we forgive, we’ll reap peace. If we’re generous, we’ll receive joy. This also leads to an eternal reward. But we can easily get weary when we don’t see immediate results from our efforts. But we will, in time. (1 Cor 15:58, Eph 6:7–8.)

Beth Moore encourages us: “No effort we have sown into the things of the Spirit is in vain. No prayer, no time in scripture, no fasting, no serving nor sacrifice, no help to our neighbor, no aid to the poor, no word on behalf of the unheard is bereft of effect. Any work we have done for the good of others—even what did not seem to ‘work’ at all—is seed sown in eternal soil.”²

Scripture says a lot about doing good. In the context of Galatians, we know that this is not a way to earn our salvation. This is following the law of Christ. Some claim that Paul gives us allowance to focus only on our immediate families and those like us while ignoring the needs of those who are not believers (i.e. immigrants and foreigners.) However, this verse is a “both/and” command.

• To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. (Rom 2:7)
• For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Eph 2:10)
• See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all. (1 Thess 5:15)
• For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. (1 Pet 2:15)
• It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. (1 Pet 3:17)
• So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good. (1 Pet 4:19)

Why do we tend to become weary sowing to the Spirit? How can you do good to all?

Live as a New Creation

Paul begins to wind up his letter and comments on the size of the letters he’s writing with his own hand (6:11).³ Next he comes back to the purpose of his letter in the first place—to warn his readers about the agitators who insist the Galatians be circumcised so that they (the agitators) can “avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ” (6:12). But not even those who are circumcised can’t keep the whole law and yet they’re still trying to get the Galatians circumcised so they (the agitators) can boast about them (6:13).

Paul insists that he only boasts in the cross of his Lord Jesus Christ, because “by means of his cross the world is dead to me, and I am dead to the world” (6:14 GNT). Once again, Paul repeats the main point of his letter: Circumcision isn’t important. What counts is being a new creation in Christ! (6:15). Paul then closes his letter with a promise of peace and mercy to all who follow this standard (6:16). He defies anyone to bother him again since he bears the marks of Jesus on his body (6:17). Paul then closes his letter with a benediction: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen” (6:18).

Timothy Keller explains, “Paul is telling the Christian that there is nothing in then world now that has any power over them.”⁴ Paul will not boast about his converts, or his religious rituals, or even the persecution that left physical scars on his body (2 Tim 3:11; 2 Cor 11:23–25). He doesn’t want what the world offers. What matters to him is one thing, one standard: He’s a new creation! (2 Cor 5:17). I want what Paul has.

What does it look like to “boast in the cross of Christ”?

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, thank you for being my gentle Savior who takes my burdens and gives me rest. Teach me to examine myself humbly. Show me where I may be deceiving myself. Reveal where I may be judging another for their wrongdoing rather than confessing the ways I still sow to the flesh. Help me not grow weary but continue to do the good work that you have created me to do. Enable me to live as the new creation you made me to be. And may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with the spirit of my readers. Amen.

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1. https://biblehub.com/greek/3900.htm ↩︎
2. Beth Moore and Melissa Moore, Now That Faith Has Come, 244. ↩︎
3. Sometimes Paul had a scribe, but in this case he wrote the letter himself, or at least this portion of it. ↩︎
4. Timothy Keller, Galatians For You, 182. ↩︎

This study has clarified for me that since I participated in Christ’s death when I believed in him, my old self is already crucified. Now, instead of reinforcing self-effort by “crucifying the flesh,” I reject old patterns by refusing to “indulge” them or let them “reign.”                                     

Instead I live BY FAITH, not just for salvation, but BY THE SPIRIT everyday. I resolve to walk more consciously with him, led by him, in step with him, and sowing to him. I want to attune my thoughts to him and follow him moment by moment.

What is your takeaway from Galatians?