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In this final chapter in his letter to the Galatian churches, the Apostle Paul focuses on four aspects of how, as a Church, we should be helping each other in our walk to spiritual maturity!1.Sharing and bearing the burdens of Christian life.
2.Don’t grow weary of doing good.
3.Don’t boast in anything except the Cross of Jesus Christ.
4.Speak Godly blessings over others.
Note: in the body on this article the verses from Galatians Chapter 6 are in italics, the explanation of the verse/s follows in straight text with additional scriptures shown in bold italics.
Sharing and bearing the burdens of life.
In verses 1-5 below, Paul explains how, as brothers and sisters in Christ, we should help each other cope with the burdens of life including how we should look after and restore a fellow believer that has been overcome by sin.
1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.
Verse 1: Paul exhorts us to be gentle in helping to restore a fellow believer who has succumbed to sin. When he says those of us "who are spiritual" should restore them, he is talking about those who are known in the body to be spiritually mature and led by the Holy Spirit. The restoration should take place in an atmosphere and attitude of gentle, loving kindness and not one of harsh judgement.
But Paul also issues a warning to those helping in the restoration not to be drawn in and tempted to sin as well - we need to stand firm in the Word and in the power of the Holy Spirit. We need to be firm but gentle, doing everything in love!
John 13:34-35 (AMP)
34 I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too are to love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you have love and unselfish concern for one another.”
John 16:14 (NKJV)
Let all that you do be done with love.
2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Verse 2: This is a short verse that carries a big message. Paul tells us to "bear one another's burdens". Here the word "burdens" is from the Greek word "baros" which carries a spiritual context rather than a physical one in that in verse one Paul is referring to a believer that has been caught by sin intimating that he is facing a spiritual battle. To carry or bear another's burden in this sense is helping them to repentance and restoring them in love. Praying for them and with them until they are fully restored and back in true fellowship with God. Paul describes this process as "fulfilling the law of Christ" which is to love God with all your being and to love your neighbour as yourself in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 6:12 (NIV)
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
James 5:16 (NKJV)
Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
Matthew 22:37-39 (NKJV)
37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
3 For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
Verse 3: This verse warns us, as Christians, not to think of ourselves as being better than others in any way. Those of us that have Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour are all equal in the eyes of God and all of us are capable of sinning. Anyone of us who says we are without sin is a liar and we deceive ourselves! We need to be humble of heart in all things and in this way God will lift us up!
1 John 1:8 (NKJV)
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
Romans 12:3 (NIV)
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.
1 Peter 5:6-7 (NKJV)
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
4 But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
Verse 4: In this verse Paul means that as a Christian, rather than comparing myself with others, I should take a step back and take an objective look at myself and my own walk as a Christian. Do I have a plank in my eye that needs removing? I must not be a hypocrite! Does what I say and do line up with the Word of God? Am I doing everything in the love of God and in the power of the Holy Spirit to bring glory to Jesus? When we are walking in this way, we will be able to rejoice in the fact that our lifestyle is one that reflects Jesus and brings Him glory!
Matthew 7:5 (NKJV)
Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
1 Corintnians 10:31 (NKJV)
Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
5 For each one shall bear his own load.
Verse 5: Born again Christians should always be examining themselves by carrying their own load. This does not contradict verse 2 in any way because the word "load" here is from the Greek word "phortion" (pronounced for-tee'-on) and refers to the load or burden we each receive to carry out from Jesus in our service to Him as we follow Him, for His yoke is easy and His burden is light! These are the works that God has predestined us to do in Christ Jesus and in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV)
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Don’t grow weary of doing good, especially to our brothers and sisters in Christ!
6 Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.
Verse 6: In this verse, Paul makes it clear that we, as individuals, are to "share in all good things" with those that teach us. The Greek word for share here is "koinóneó" (koy-no-neh'-o) and means" to have a share of in the sense of to have fellowship with." And the word "good" is translated from the Greek word "agathos" (ag-ath-os) and refers to the good things that God has given us through our faith in Christ Jesus - both spiritual and physical things. This is the kind of fellowship that God wants us to have with each other in the power of the Holy Spirit and to the glory of Jesus as was the case with the early church in the Book of Acts. Today's Christian and today's Church should have a heart that gives cheerfully!
7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.
Verse 7: In this verse, Paul shows us, as born again Christians living by faith in Christ Jesus, just how intrinsically important it is for us to be generous givers especially to our brothers and sisters and to those that "teach us" in Christ.
This means giving in all things not just money! God, out of His great love for us, generously blesses us with all good things and He expects us to be like Him and be generous givers to each other and especially to our brothers and sister that are in need! Paul says if we don't lok after our brothers and sisters who are in need, then we "mock" God, we make a mockery of His giving heart!
8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.
Verse 8: In this verse Paul reminds us that sowing to the flesh is the act of selfishly using what we have been given by God for our own selfish purposes, the feeding of our sinful nature - these actions are what Paul shows us in Galatians 5:19-21. When we live or sow in this manner, we we will only reap corruption which leads to spiritual death - eternal separation from God.
Paul then goes on to say that when we live or sow in the opposite way, sowing to the Spirit, as he showed us in Galatians 5:22-26, we will reap everlasting life in Christ Jesus.
9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
Verse 9: Here Paul let's the Galatians know that he is talking to himself as well us them when he uses the personal plural pronouns "us" and "we". He exhorts us to not grow tired or weary of doing good (sowing to the Spirit) for we have a promise from God that if we carry on sowing to the Spirit and do not lose heart, we shall reap our reward and receive our crowns. As born again Christians we cannot live our old lives, the ones we lived before we knew Jesus, we are a new creation and must sow to the Spirit continually, we cannot continue to live as the world does, sowing to the flesh.
We must worship God in the Spirit and not in the ways of the flesh, we must show this in our actions, our speech and our lifestyles!
10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.
Verse 10: This verse is one that we, today's believers, really need to grasp and fully understand the essence of what Paul is telling us!
As followers of Christ, we the Church as individuals and as members of a local congregation, should do good to all when we are able to, to believers as well as non-believers, as led by the Holy Spirit. This is evidenced by Jesus himself when he fed the 5000, many there were unsaved.
Ok, that takes care of us, as Christians doing good to all as we have opportunity in general.
Now in the second half of this verse Paul slips in a huge BUT, and this but comes in the form of the word ESPECIALLY.
Let's examine this word "especially" together!
In this verse especially is translated from the Greek word "malista" (mal'-is-tah) and its full meaning and usage is: most of all, especially, particularly, chiefly and above all.
This shows us that our priority in our "doing for others and in our giving" should be first and foremost "to those who are of the household of faith." In other words our priotiy is to our brothers and sisters in Christ in our local congregation and within this to our physical family, our wives and dependent children first!
We should always take care of our own families before we take care of others. Don't look to serve elsewhere if you are not serving your own famiy and not serving your local congregation in accordance with the Word of God! God has placed you in a local congregation to fulfill His purpose and plan for your life.Do not move from your local congregation unless you are sure God is calling you to do so. Don't move because of petty grievances that just need you to change your heart attitude towards the situation! We must serve each other as Christ came to serve.
Don’t boast in anything except the Cross of Jesus Christ.
11 See with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand!
Verse 11: In this verse Paul adds an extra touch of personalism to his letter by telling the Galatians that in these last verses (11-18), he himself is writing these verses in his own hand (the rest of the letter was most probably written by his scribe as he dictated), and he is writing them big and bold to show the depth of his feelings on the letter's topic!
12 As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh, these would compel you to be circumcised, only that they may not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. 13 For not even those who are circumcised keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.
Verse 12 & 13: In these two verses, Paul revisits the main reason for writing to the Galatians, the fact that they were being led astray by false teachers who were wanting them to embrace the works of the law (circumcision in particular) as part of the gospel instead of just embracing faith in Christ Jesus and Him alone.
In verse 12 Paul tells us that these false teachers were only sowing to their flesh in order to gain favour with the non believing Jews - the followers of the law of Moses - so that these Jews would not persecute them (the false teachers) as Christ was persecuted and suffered death on the cross for us. They were denying the work of the cross! We as followers of Christ should all be prepared to suffer as He did.
In verse 13 Paul goes on to say that no man could keep the law not even the false teachers and the only reason that the false teachers wanted the Galatians to be circumcised was so that they could boast in the works of the flesh.
14 But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
Verse 14: In this verse Paul tells the Galatians that unlike the false teachers and prophets, his motives for preaching the gospel were pure, he only preached faith in Christ Jesus alone and that his only boasting was in the work of the cross on which our Lord Christ Jesus was crucified.
Paul further adds that to him, because of what Jesus did on the cross, the world and the things of the flesh were dead to him.
15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.
Verse 15: In this verse Paul reminds the Galatians and us that in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value for salvation - only faith in Christ Jesus alone. There is neither Jew nor Gentile! Christ Jesus the only one who could fulfill the law! In Christ Jesus we are new creations.
Speak Godly blessings over others.
16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.
Verse 16: In this verse Paul states that “peace and mercy” from God are available to those who walk according to “this rule.” What is this "rule"? It is those who walk according to the message of salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. This blessing of peace and mercy is pronounced by Paul on the believing Galatians, both Gentiles and Jews - "the Israel of God." This blessing of peace and mercy is still at work today for us! We should all be speaking and pronouncing God's blessings over each other as often as we can!
17 From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.
Verse 17: In this verse Paul tells the Galatians, and us today, that no one can doubt his authority in Christ Jesus as he bears in his body the marks of the Lord Jesus! He has suffered for Christ and has been persecuted for preaching the true gospel of salvation in Christ Jesus by faith alone. He has been whipped, thrown in prison, beaten with rods, he was stoned, shipwrecked, bitten by a snake and has been in peril from many different kinds of nasty people of the time, both Jews and Gentiles!
18 Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
Verse 18: In this very last verse of his entire letter to the Galatians, Paul, despite the severity of the letter's content, shows them that he still has a great love them and a Godly desire for their wellbeing! He calls them brothers, and in his final words of benediction to them, he blesses them with the words, "the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen."
My Dear Reader, please think carefully upon this!
Paul sets a remarkable example for us today when we are dealing with those who might have a different opinion or who have wandered from the truth of the Word. We must bring correction in love, but bring correction we must!
Prayer
Dear Father in Heaven
In the name of Jesus, I pray that you would continually fill me with your Holy Spirit and give me wisdom and discernment so that I will not be led astray by the errant teachings of false prophets and teachers. Reveal to me, I pray, the wolves in sheep’s’ clothing that I may not stray from your path – faith in Jesus Christ and Him alone! Lord, I pray that you would keep my ears and my heart ever attentive to the voice of your Holy Spirt! I pray, Lord, that you would teach me your ways that I may bring glory to Jesus. Amen!
Remember: Reading this article is no substitute for reading and studying the Bible for yourself. My word is flawed the Bible is not!
Verse 6: In this verse, Paul makes it clear that we, as individuals, are to "share in all good things" with those that teach us. The Greek word for share here is "koinóneó" (koy-no-neh'-o) and means" to have a share of in the sense of to have fellowship with." And the word "good" is translated from the Greek word "agathos" (ag-ath-os) and refers to the good things that God has given us through our faith in Christ Jesus - both spiritual and physical things. This is the kind of fellowship that God wants us to have with each other in the power of the Holy Spirit and to the glory of Jesus as was the case with the early church in the Book of Acts. Today's Christian and today's Church should have a heart that gives cheerfully!
Acts 2:42 (NKJV)
42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.
46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.
Verse 7: In this verse, Paul shows us, as born again Christians living by faith in Christ Jesus, just how intrinsically important it is for us to be generous givers especially to our brothers and sisters and to those that "teach us" in Christ.
This means giving in all things not just money! God, out of His great love for us, generously blesses us with all good things and He expects us to be like Him and be generous givers to each other and especially to our brothers and sister that are in need! Paul says if we don't lok after our brothers and sisters who are in need, then we "mock" God, we make a mockery of His giving heart!
2 Corinthians 9:6-9 (AMP)
6 Now [remember] this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows generously [that blessings may come to others] will also reap generously [and be blessed]. 7 Let each one give [thoughtfully and with purpose] just as he has decided in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver [and delights in the one whose heart is in his gift]. 8 And God is able to make all grace [every favor and earthly blessing] come in abundance to you, so that you may always [under all circumstances, regardless of the need] have complete sufficiency in everything [being completely self-sufficient in Him], and have an abundance for every good work and act of charity. 9 As it is written and forever remains written,
“He [the benevolent and generous person] scattered abroad, he gave to the poor,
His righteousness endures forever!”
James 1:17-18 (AMP)
17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of lights [the Creator and Sustainer of the heavens], in whom there is no variation [no rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning [for He is perfect and never changes]. 18 It was of His own will that He gave us birth [as His children] by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits of His creatures [a prime example of what He created to be set apart to Himself—sanctified, made holy for His divine purposes].
8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.
Verse 8: In this verse Paul reminds us that sowing to the flesh is the act of selfishly using what we have been given by God for our own selfish purposes, the feeding of our sinful nature - these actions are what Paul shows us in Galatians 5:19-21. When we live or sow in this manner, we we will only reap corruption which leads to spiritual death - eternal separation from God.
Galatians 5:19-21 (NKJV)
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Paul then goes on to say that when we live or sow in the opposite way, sowing to the Spirit, as he showed us in Galatians 5:22-26, we will reap everlasting life in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 5:22-26 (NKJV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
Verse 9: Here Paul let's the Galatians know that he is talking to himself as well us them when he uses the personal plural pronouns "us" and "we". He exhorts us to not grow tired or weary of doing good (sowing to the Spirit) for we have a promise from God that if we carry on sowing to the Spirit and do not lose heart, we shall reap our reward and receive our crowns. As born again Christians we cannot live our old lives, the ones we lived before we knew Jesus, we are a new creation and must sow to the Spirit continually, we cannot continue to live as the world does, sowing to the flesh.
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
We must worship God in the Spirit and not in the ways of the flesh, we must show this in our actions, our speech and our lifestyles!
John 4:24 (NKJV)
God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
Hebrews 12:28-29 (NIV)
28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our “God is a consuming fire.”
10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.
Verse 10: This verse is one that we, today's believers, really need to grasp and fully understand the essence of what Paul is telling us!
As followers of Christ, we the Church as individuals and as members of a local congregation, should do good to all when we are able to, to believers as well as non-believers, as led by the Holy Spirit. This is evidenced by Jesus himself when he fed the 5000, many there were unsaved.
Matthew 14:20-21 (NIV)
20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.
Now in the second half of this verse Paul slips in a huge BUT, and this but comes in the form of the word ESPECIALLY.
Let's examine this word "especially" together!
In this verse especially is translated from the Greek word "malista" (mal'-is-tah) and its full meaning and usage is: most of all, especially, particularly, chiefly and above all.
This shows us that our priority in our "doing for others and in our giving" should be first and foremost "to those who are of the household of faith." In other words our priotiy is to our brothers and sisters in Christ in our local congregation and within this to our physical family, our wives and dependent children first!
We should always take care of our own families before we take care of others. Don't look to serve elsewhere if you are not serving your own famiy and not serving your local congregation in accordance with the Word of God! God has placed you in a local congregation to fulfill His purpose and plan for your life.Do not move from your local congregation unless you are sure God is calling you to do so. Don't move because of petty grievances that just need you to change your heart attitude towards the situation! We must serve each other as Christ came to serve.
1 Timothy 5:8 (NKJV)
But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
Matthew 20:28 (NKJV)
just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
Don’t boast in anything except the Cross of Jesus Christ.
11 See with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand!
Verse 11: In this verse Paul adds an extra touch of personalism to his letter by telling the Galatians that in these last verses (11-18), he himself is writing these verses in his own hand (the rest of the letter was most probably written by his scribe as he dictated), and he is writing them big and bold to show the depth of his feelings on the letter's topic!
12 As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh, these would compel you to be circumcised, only that they may not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. 13 For not even those who are circumcised keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.
Verse 12 & 13: In these two verses, Paul revisits the main reason for writing to the Galatians, the fact that they were being led astray by false teachers who were wanting them to embrace the works of the law (circumcision in particular) as part of the gospel instead of just embracing faith in Christ Jesus and Him alone.
In verse 12 Paul tells us that these false teachers were only sowing to their flesh in order to gain favour with the non believing Jews - the followers of the law of Moses - so that these Jews would not persecute them (the false teachers) as Christ was persecuted and suffered death on the cross for us. They were denying the work of the cross! We as followers of Christ should all be prepared to suffer as He did.
Romans 8:16-17 (NKJV)
16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
In verse 13 Paul goes on to say that no man could keep the law not even the false teachers and the only reason that the false teachers wanted the Galatians to be circumcised was so that they could boast in the works of the flesh.
14 But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
Verse 14: In this verse Paul tells the Galatians that unlike the false teachers and prophets, his motives for preaching the gospel were pure, he only preached faith in Christ Jesus alone and that his only boasting was in the work of the cross on which our Lord Christ Jesus was crucified.
Paul further adds that to him, because of what Jesus did on the cross, the world and the things of the flesh were dead to him.
1 Corinthians 2:1-2 (NKJV)
1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.
Verse 15: In this verse Paul reminds the Galatians and us that in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value for salvation - only faith in Christ Jesus alone. There is neither Jew nor Gentile! Christ Jesus the only one who could fulfill the law! In Christ Jesus we are new creations.
Speak Godly blessings over others.
16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.
Verse 16: In this verse Paul states that “peace and mercy” from God are available to those who walk according to “this rule.” What is this "rule"? It is those who walk according to the message of salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. This blessing of peace and mercy is pronounced by Paul on the believing Galatians, both Gentiles and Jews - "the Israel of God." This blessing of peace and mercy is still at work today for us! We should all be speaking and pronouncing God's blessings over each other as often as we can!
John 14:27 (NKJV)
Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Ephesians 2:4-5 (NKJV)
4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved.
Hebrews 4:16 (NIV)
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
17 From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.
Verse 17: In this verse Paul tells the Galatians, and us today, that no one can doubt his authority in Christ Jesus as he bears in his body the marks of the Lord Jesus! He has suffered for Christ and has been persecuted for preaching the true gospel of salvation in Christ Jesus by faith alone. He has been whipped, thrown in prison, beaten with rods, he was stoned, shipwrecked, bitten by a snake and has been in peril from many different kinds of nasty people of the time, both Jews and Gentiles!
2 Corinthians 11:23-29 (NKJV)
23 Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. 24 From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness— 28 besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?
18 Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
Verse 18: In this very last verse of his entire letter to the Galatians, Paul, despite the severity of the letter's content, shows them that he still has a great love them and a Godly desire for their wellbeing! He calls them brothers, and in his final words of benediction to them, he blesses them with the words, "the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen."
My Dear Reader, please think carefully upon this!
Paul sets a remarkable example for us today when we are dealing with those who might have a different opinion or who have wandered from the truth of the Word. We must bring correction in love, but bring correction we must!
James 5:19-20 (NKJV)
19 Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, 20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save [l]a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.
Dear Father in Heaven
In the name of Jesus, I pray that you would continually fill me with your Holy Spirit and give me wisdom and discernment so that I will not be led astray by the errant teachings of false prophets and teachers. Reveal to me, I pray, the wolves in sheep’s’ clothing that I may not stray from your path – faith in Jesus Christ and Him alone! Lord, I pray that you would keep my ears and my heart ever attentive to the voice of your Holy Spirt! I pray, Lord, that you would teach me your ways that I may bring glory to Jesus. Amen!
To Jesus belongs all glory, honour and praise!
Jesus the Name above all names!
Remember: Reading this article is no substitute for reading and studying the Bible for yourself. My word is flawed the Bible is not!
