Galatians
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Notes on Galatians 6

Gal 6:1  Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

I love this verse. A spirit of meekness is needed in correction and restoration. We should desire to restore. We should desire that someone who strays away from the truth be restored to "walking in the spirit." This should be done in the spirit of meekness. Not in a holier than thou, I'm more spiritual than you, spirit. We need to consider that in the same circumstances, we may be subject to the same temptations.

Jude 1:23 says And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

Remember we are not to hate and despise the one in trouble here but to hate the fact that sin and the works of the flesh stain the garment.

James 5:19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;
20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

If we see a fellow believer sin and restore them in the spirit of meekness, we will save a soul from being lost eternally.

Gal 6:2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

We fulfill the law of Christ when we show love and care one for another. Our desire should be to see people converted, delivered and changed. We should never desire vengeance and to see someone suffer loss.

3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.

 This returns to the subject of walking in meekness. We should never think ourselves above being capable of falling into sin.

1 Cor 10:12 says, "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." 

4  But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
5 For every man shall bear his own burden.

We should search our own hearts and motives to make sure that we are walking in the light and in the spirit.

Phil 2:12 says, "Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling."

6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Communicate good things and things that edify.

Col 4: 6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

What a treasure the word of God is. We rob ourselves of more precious things than gold or silver when we neglect this word.

We sow what we reap. If we seek the things of the world, we will reap the fruits of the world, if we seek the things of the spirit, we will reap the fruit of the spirit. If we live by violence, we will receive the fruit of violence. Walk in the spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

If we walk for this life only and neglect our souls we will reap eternal death. Let us continually seek God and seek to walk in Him so that we not only save our own souls but those who may be influenced by our testimony.

9  And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Take advantage of opportunities to share our faith, show kindness to others, especially to fellow believers. We reap what we sow. The Lord gives back to us what we give.

10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. 

We have an obligation to show kindness to our brothers and sisters in Christ.

11 Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand.
12 As many as desire to make a fair show in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.
13 For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.
14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.
15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

Paul now returns to the topic of which he is writing this letter. He again warns against moving away from the truth of the gospel to outward religious observances that have nothing to do with the saving of the soul. Our center of attention concerning salvation is Jesus Christ, his death to pay for sins and his resurrection to show the eternal life that is to come to us who believe.

Here is the sum. In Jesus Christ circumcision or uncircumcision avails nothing. What counts is being a new creature in Christ Jesus, old things are passed away and all things become new.

16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
17 From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.

Paul seems to be saying, "Enough of these things that do not pertain to salvation and the word." He was persecuted for preaching the word and bore in his body the marks of Jesus. He wanted them to seek those things that edify and that mattered and get out of the unessential outward fleshly things that did not matter.

18 Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.