Gal 6:1-3: "Brethren, if a man should be precipitated, also, in some offense, you, who are spiritual, be attuning such a one, in a spirit of meekness, noting yourself, that you, also, may not be tried. Bear one another's burdens, and thus fill up the law of Christ. For if anyone is supposing himself to be anything, being nothing, he is imposing on himself."
A believer should know his flesh is weak, as they were saved by the cross of Christ alone with nothing contributed by themselves. Knowing this prepares one to deal with an offending brother in a meek way, bearing one another’s burdens.
Gal 6:4-8: "Now let each one be testing his own work, and then he shall be having his boast for himself alone, and not for another, for each one shall be bearing his own load. Now let him who is being instructed in the word be contributing to him who is instructing, in all good things. Be not deceived, God is not to be sneered at, for whatsoever a man may be sowing, this shall he be reaping also, for he who is sowing for his own flesh, from the flesh shall be reaping corruption, yet he who is sowing for the spirit, from the spirit shall be reaping life eonian."
Each member of the body of Christ has their own, God ordained purpose to serve within the body (1 Cor 12:11-26). I think testing one’s own work to be sowing for the spirit can be summarized here: Phil 1:9-11: "And this I am praying, that your love may be superabounding still more and more in realization and all sensibility, for you to be testing what things are of consequence, that you may be sincere and no stumbling block for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that is through Jesus Christ for the glory and laud of God." Testing what is of consequence…what props up the evangel and gives glory to God and Christ in what they have done for all?
I think I need to address something that may be coming into the thoughts of some: does falling from grace or “reaping corruption” result in one losing their salvation (eonian life)? It can’t possibly be. If one could lose this, the eonian life promised to believers would never have been of grace to begin with. If one could lose this, the reality would be that salvation depends on works, which is completely contrary to Paul’s evangel and what he is defending here in this letter. What one can “lose” are rewards (allotment, Gal 5:21) at the dais of Christ and reigning with Christ in the coming eons (2 Cor 5:10). 2Tim 2:12-13: "if we are enduring, we shall be reigning together also; if we are disowning, He also will be disowning us; if we are disbelieving, He is remaining faithful -- He cannot disown Himself." Believers are sealed with the holy spirit of promise (Eph 1:13, 4:30) into the body of Christ; Christ cannot disown himself. When Paul says “disowning us” in 2 Tim 2:12 above, it is the loss of reigning, not of eonian life. Notice that once sealed, even if we disbelieve, Christ remains faithful. This topic deserves its own blog, but I felt like it should be briefly addressed here.
Gal 6:9-10: "Now we may not be despondent in ideal doing, for in due season we shall be reaping, if we do not faint. Consequently, then, as we have occasion, we are working for the good of all, yet specially for the family of faith."
Ideal doing is good for all, the believer, for other believers and unbelievers alike. God will lead us in the ideal.
Gal 6:11-13: "Lo! with what size letters I write to you with my own hand! Whoever are wanting to put on a fair face in the flesh, these are compelling you to circumcise only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ Jesus. For not even they who are circumcising are maintaining law, but they want you to be circumcised that they should be boasting in that flesh of yours."
Remember what Paul said back in Chapter 2:17? “Now if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves also were found sinners, is Christ, consequently, a dispenser of sin? May it not be coming to that!” Those who seek to be justified in Christ, may look like “sinners”. They are not focused on sin, they are dead to it (Rom 6:11). They aren’t trying to fix themselves or put on a good show (putting on a fair face in the flesh). Religion and churches are full of people boasting in their flesh, in their ability to be “good people” or “follow Jesus’s commandments”. Pastors boast over how well their congregations behave or help the community. Being persecuted for the cross of Christ Jesus results from boasting in the cross alone, which is Paul’s message…
Gal 6:14-15: "Now may it not be mine to be boasting, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything, but a new creation."
2Cor 5:14-15: "For the love of Christ is constraining us, judging this, that, if One died for the sake of all, consequently all died. And He died for the sake of all that those who are living should by no means still be living to themselves, but to the One dying and being roused for their sakes." We can boast in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, as He died for all. All died, and therefore: "knowing this, that our old humanity was crucified together with Him, that the body of Sin may be nullified, for us by no means to be still slaving for Sin, for one who dies has been justified from Sin."(Rom 6:6). All are justified from sin, therefore: "So that we, from now on, are acquainted with no one according to flesh. Yet even if we have known Christ according to flesh, nevertheless now we know Him so no longer. So that, if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: the primitive passed by. Lo! there has come new!" (2 Cor 5:16-17). Live in the new creation, we have been crucified to the world and can live “to the One dying and being roused for our sakes”.
Gal 6:16: "And whoever shall observe the elements by this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, also on the Israel of God."
Notice the distinction between those in the body of Christ (those who “observe the elements by this rule”) and the Israel of God, whom were faithful Israelites of the circumcision. This is perfectly in line with the beginning of this letter, in which Paul demonstrates the difference between his evangel and that of the circumcision.
Gal 6:17-18: "For the rest, let no one afford me weariness, for I am bearing in my body the brand marks of the Lord Jesus Christ. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren! Amen!"
Paul bore the marks of being persecuted for the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ: "And all who are wanting to live devoutly in Christ Jesus shall be persecuted." 2 Tim 3:12. Living devoutly in Christ Jesus is (as was laid out in this letter) seeking to be justified in Christ, boasting in the cross of Christ alone. Paul ends this letter like he began it, extending grace and peace.
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