Galatians 6
Restore those overtaken in a sinverses 1-3
Brethren – IF a man be overtaken in a fault
You which are spiritual
RESTORE such a one in the spirit of meekness
considering yourself
lest you also be tempted
Bear you one another’s burdens
and so fulfill the law of Christ
for IF a man think himself to be something
when he is nothing
he deceives himself
Prove your own workverses 4-5
BUT let every man prove his own work
and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone
and not in another for every man shall
bear his own burden
Provide income for Biblical instructorsverse 6
Let him that is taught in the word communicate
to him that teaches in all good things
Illustration of sowing and reapingverses 7-10
BE not deceived
God is not mocked – FOR whatsoever a man sows
that shall he also reap
FOR he that sows to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption
but he that sows to the Spirit shall of the Spirit
reap life everlasting
AND let us not be weary in well-doing
FOR in due season we shall reap if we faint not
As we have therefore opportunity – let us do good unto ALL men
ESPECIALLY unto them who are of the
household of faith
Paul wrote the letter himselfverse 11
Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you
with mine own hand
Warning given regarding false teachersverses 12-13
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
FOR neither they themselves who are circumcised
keep the law but desire to have you circumcised
THAT they may glory in your flesh
Transformation into new creatureverses 14-16
BUT God forbid that I should glory
SAVE in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ
by WHOM the world is crucified to me
and I unto the world
FOR in Christ Jesus neither circumcision avails any thing
nor uncircumcision but a NEW CREATURE
AND as many as walk according to this rule
peace be on them – and mercy
and upon the Israel of God
Personal testimony of Paulverse 17
FROM henceforth let no man trouble me
for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus
Benedictionverse 18
Brethren – the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ
be with your spirit AMEN
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, you which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering yourself, lest you also be tempted. (4301 “overtaken” [prolambano] means to do before the time, detect, be caught, to be surprised, betrayed into a fault unawares or lack of circumspection)
DEVOTION: There are times in every believer’s life when he/she finds themselves caught by surprise that they have been deceived by themselves or someone else into sinning.
Paul is warning of false teachers who have come into the church to instruct them regarding their relationship to the Old Testament law. They were teaching those who would listen that they needed to be circumcised before they could consider themselves genuinely born again. There were some who believed what they were teaching and were telling others that what Paul had taught them was wrong.
So there are new believers and some old believers who liked the teachings of these false teachers and wanted others to follow their teachings. There was a division in the church. There were some believers who were genuinely caught in the middle not knowing what to believe.
Here we find that Paul wants those who are genuine believers to come along side those who have been deceived into a false belief to help them get back to proper teachings of the Word of God.
This can also be applied to those who fall into sin because of their own false beliefs or have been taught wrong beliefs. Those who are spiritually mature are to help them get back on the right road to maturity.
CHALLENGE: There are many false teachers out there in our “Christian” world who want disciples to follow their false teachings. Our responsibility as a mature believer is to help them stay on the right road to maturity.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. (2745 “rejoicing” [kauchema] means to glory, boasting, a motive or ground for being satisfied with your (or another’s) achievements, honor, pride, the justification for boasting, or reason for being proud)
DEVOTION: Paul throughout his ministry has educated each believer in the fact that the Holy Spirit has given each believer a gift to serve the LORD in the local church. There are other commands that every believer must obey to show that they are genuine followers of the LORD.
Here he wants every believer to pay close attention to their own work. The Holy Spirit again communicates with each believer concerning their own work. HE will use fellow believers to confirm the gift or gifts that another believer has been given.
The problem is that some believers start comparing themselves to other believers instead of just concentrating on their responsibility for service. Too often this comparison causes jealousy.
We have to be satisfied with the gift we are given and not seek someone else’s gift. Our service to Jesus Christ is based on the gift we have received from the Holy Spirit not on what others do.
Examine your own heart to see if you are seeking something that the LORD has never given you. Also make sure you are doing service to the LORD with the gift you do have and practice satisfaction in that area.
CHALLENGE: This is pleasing to the LORD.
: 6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate to him that teaches in all good things. (2841 “communicate” [koinoneo] means be partaker, distribute, to come into fellowship with, to become a sharer, be made a partner, participate, contribute, or give)
DEVOTION: There is a proper relationship between student and teacher. The student is to learn from the teacher. The student is to put into practice what they have been taught. It is one thing to know a Biblical doctrine and another to understand it enough to be able to teach others. God has given some the gift of teachers.
Now Paul is instructing the believers in Galatia to share their wealth with those who have taught them. In other words, a pastor or teacher who makes a living at instructing others in the Word of God has to be provided for by those they teach. If there is no gift to help the pastor/teacher earn a living for himself and/or his family than he will have to find another way to earn a living. God wants those HE has gifted in the area of pastor/teacher, evangelist, Bible teacher or other gifts in these areas to be able to be free to instruct new and older believers in the truth of the Word of God.
Each believer has a responsibility to give a portion of his/her income to those who are serving the LORD. Remember if the gifted person in this area takes too much money he will have to answer to the LORD. If those who are believers give too little money for the work of the LORD they will have to answer to the LORD.
CHALLENGE: The LORD knows the needs of HIS Biblical teachers and HE knows how much individual believers can give to the work. HIS records are always accurate.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.(2540 “opportunity” [kairos] means right time, decisive point, decisive moment, convenient opportunity, season, occasion, or a limited period of time)
DEVOTION: This chapter begins with a friend or fellow believer overtaken in a fault. Those who are spiritual are to take this occasion to restore him/her back to fellowship with the LORD. They are to do it with a spirit of meekness, lest they fall into temptation too.
Paul continues by informing the Christians in Galatia that they are to bear one another’s burdens. They are to help each other ALL the time. He warns that if Christians are not helping Christians all the time they are going to come to a point when there is no one to help them when they need help.
He tells them that they are NEVER to give up on each other because there is always a time of reaping or blessing. This is especially true if they are helping those in the household of faith or in the church.
When do we have occasion to help mankind or our fellow believers? These occasions come every day. We have time each day to help those in need. We have time to see a fellow human being who needs the LORD in the family, store or workplace. We see individuals from church that is struggling each Sunday.
What do we do with these situations? Do we walk on by? The story of the Good Samaritan comes to mind. Some religious leaders just walked by the individual who had a need. One stranger stopped to help.
As we unpack this verse it informs us that we are to be the one to stop. We are the one who is to offer a helping hand. We are the one who can help someone out of a troubling time. IF we help someone else, there may come a time when we need help and they will be there for us or the LORD will send someone else to help us.
Ask the LORD for the time and occasion to help those in our world who have a need. Paul also informs us to not be weary in well doing. Do we get tired of helping people? Should we? We have to especially concentrate on those who are fellow believers. Remember our ministry is to encourage of fellow travelers on their way to heaven. Thank the LORD for HIS ministry to us on the cross. AMEN!!!
CHALLENGE: Find someone in your church that has a special need and see what you can do to help them. Don’t always be looking for people to help you. Be an encourager!!!
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Letterverse 11
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Wordverse 6
Letterverse 11
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
Godverses 7, 14, 16
Israel of Godverse 16
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
Christverses 2, 12, 14, 15, 18
Law of Christverse 2
Cross of Christverses 12, 14
Lordverses 14, 17, 18
Jesus verses 14, 15, 17, 18
Lord Jesus Christverses 14, 18
Crucifiedverse 14
Christ Jesusverse 15
Lord Jesusverse 17
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Spirit verse 8
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Uncircumcisionverse 15
Human spiritverse 18
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Overtaken in a faultverse 1
Temptedverse 1
Deceivesverses 3, 7
Mock Godverse 7
Sows to the fleshverse 8
Reap corruptionverse 8
Faintverse 9
Glory in fleshverse 13
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Spiritualverse 1
Restoreverse 1
Meeknessverse 1
Bear one another’s burdensverse 2
Fulfill law of Christverse 2
Prove own workverse 4
Rejoicingverse 4
Bear own burdenverse 5
Taught in the Wordverse 6
Sowing to the Spiritverse 8
Everlasting lifeverse 8
Not weary in well- doingverse 9
Do goodverse 10
Suffer persecutionverse 12
Glory in the crossverse 14
Crucified to worldverse 14
New creatureverse 15
Walk according to ruleverse 16
Peaceverse 16
Mercyverse 16
Marksverse 17
Graceverse 18
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Circumcisedverses 12, 13, 15
Keep the lawverse 13
Israel of Godverse 16
Church (New Testament people of God)
Brethrenverses 1, 18
Household of faithverse 10
Last Things (Future Events)
Life everlastingverse 8
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QUOTES regarding passage
6 The reference to the one who is taught in the word (katēchoumenos ton logon) probably does not imply a fully developed catechetical system such as prevailed in the church later on, but it does point to a class of paid teachers at a surprisingly early date. Paul’s policy was apparently to preach the gospel without receiving money, preferring to earn his living as a tentmaker. But this was in pioneer work. As soon as possible he seems to have established a more fixed structure. So here as elsewhere (1 Cor 9:11, 14; 1 Tim 5:17, 18; cf. Luke 10:7), he indicates that a workman is worthy of his pay.
To support the Lord’s servants is not, however, a grim duty, though some congregations seem to treat it as such. Instead, Paul speaks of it as sharing; it is a “fellowship” or a “partnership” (koinōneō). As the teacher shares the good things of the Word, so the congregation is to share all good things with the teacher. (Boice, J. M. (1976). Galatians. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Romans through Galatians (Vol. 10, p. 503). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
6. But, although each man is thus individualised as regards his burdens, Christian fellowship in all morally good things is to be maintained between the teacher and the taught. The passage is often explained as an injunction to provide for the temporal wants of Christian teachers.* But this is entirely foreign to the course of thought, and isolates the verse from the context on both sides of it. As vv. 1–5 refer to moral errors, in all good things has naturally the same reference, as do good in ver. 10 certainly has. The exhortation therefore is, that the disciple should make common cause with the teacher in everything that is morally good and that promotes salvation. The introduction at this point of the relation of disciple and teacher may be explained by the fact that this relation in the Galatian community had been disturbed by the efforts of the Judaising teachers, notably in the case of Paul himself; and this disturbance could not but interfere with their common moral effort and life.
Him that is taught (ὁ κατηχούμενος). See on L. 1:4.
In the word (τὸν λόγον). The gospel. Usually in Paul with some qualifying word, as of God. Comp. Acts 4:4; 8:4; 11:19; 14:25; 16:6; 1 Th. 1:6; Col. 4:3.
Communicate (κοινωνείτω). Hold fellowship with; partake with. Not impart to. The word is used of giving and receiving material aid (Philip. 4:15): of moral or spiritual participation (Rom. 15:27; 1 Tim. 5:22; 2 J. 11): of participation in outward conditions (Heb. 2:14): in sufferings (1 Pet. 4:13). (Vincent, M. R. (1887). Word studies in the New Testament (Vol. 4, pp. 174–175). New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons.)
Verse six. The word taught is from katecheo (κατεχεο) which refers to the act of giving instruction, usually orally. It refers to oral teaching here, because that was the only form of instruction then in existence in the churches. The person referred to has received oral instruction in the Word of God. The word communicate means “to share, to be a partner in a thing with a person,” here “to hold fellowship with another person.” That in which the person holds fellowship with another is designated by the context. The one who is taught should hold fellowship with his teachers in all good things. What the good things are is defined by the context. In verses 1–4, Paul exhorts the Spirit-filled saints in the Galatian churches to take upon themselves the responsibility of restoring to the right method of living a Christian life, those who had put themselves under law, and also that of restoring to fellowship with the Lord Jesus, these saints who had sin in their lives because of their lapse from sanctifying grace. In neither of these evil things, namely, the act of deserting grace for law, and that of committing an act of sin, could the Spirit-filled Galatians hold fellowship with those who had followed the Judaizers. Nor could these spiritual Galatians hold fellowship with the Judaizers, for the latter were not teaching the Word of God nor were they ministering good things to them. Therefore, the good things of verse 6 refer to spiritual things, since they are compared to the evil things just spoken of.
Now, the Judaizers had precipitated a situation in the Galatian churches in which those who followed their teaching broke fellowship with the true teachers of the Word. Paul is exhorting these to resume their fellowship with their former teachers and share with them in the blessing of grace which their teachers were enjoying. The exhortation is that the disciple should make common cause with the teacher in everything that is morally good and which promotes salvation. This breach that had interposed itself between some of the Galatians and their teachers who had taught them grace (Paul included), could not but interfere with their moral and spiritual life. The Galatians’ growth in grace was largely dependent upon their attending the means of grace afforded by the presence and ministry of the teachers in their midst who had taught them grace. Furthermore, the work of the churches was hindered by this disruption. The disciple is not to leave the sphere of the morally good as Paul taught it, to the teacher alone, and go off to the Judaizers. He is to work in common with his teachers and so promote the spiritual life of the churches.
The interpretation that makes the one taught assume the responsibility for the financial welfare of his teacher is not possible in this instance of the use of the word koinoneō (κοινονεω). This is the word Paul uses in Philippians 4:15, where he speaks of the obligation of the one taught to make the financial needs of his teacher his own, thus sharing with his teacher his earthly goods inasmuch as the teacher has shared with him his heavenly blessings. But Paul does not use it so here, and for the following reasons: First, the context which speaks both of the evil (6:1–5) and the morally good (6:9, 10), is against the interpretation that financial support is in the apostle’s mind here. Second, the context defines the good things as being of a spiritual, not a material nature. Third, it would be the height of folly for Paul to inject sucha delicate subject as the pocket book of the saint (delicate in some circles) into the already discordant atmosphere of the Galatian churches, especially when the whole trouble revolved around heretical teaching and not around the finances of the churches. Fourth, if Paul were exhorting the saints to contribute financially to the support of their former teachers, the Judaizers would be quick to say that the apostle was attempting to win the Galatian saints back to grace for financial reasons, since he himself was one of their former teachers. One of the favorite methods of attack adopted by the enemies of Paul was to charge him with commercializing his ministry. He would not lay himself open to this charge by such an unwise act as in the present circumstances exhorting the Galatians to resume their financial responsibility with reference to the material needs of their former teachers.
Translation. Moreover, let the one who is being taught the Word, constantly be holding fellowship with the one who in teaching in all good things. (Wuest, K. S. (1997). Wuest’s word studies from the Greek New Testament: for the English reader (Ga 6:6). Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.)
6:6. One responsibility of each believer is to shoulder the financial support of the pastor-teachers in the church. Perhaps the Judaizers had influenced some of the believers to slack off in their support of the teachers, a special group who were giving their full time to this ministry and who were reimbursed for their labors (cf. 1 Cor. 9:7–14). This concept of voluntary giving to provide for the Lord’s servants was revolutionary since Jews were taxed for the support of their priests and Gentiles paid fees, made vows, etc., to sustain their religions. The admonition is clear that as a teacher shares the good things of the Word of God, a believer is to reciprocate by sharing all good things with his instructor. (Campbell, D. K. (1985). Galatians. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 610). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
He begins with a precept (Gal. 6:6), urging us to share with one another. The teacher of the Word shares spiritual treasures, and those who are taught ought to share material treasures. (Paul uses a similar approach when he explains why the Gentile churches ought to give an offering to the Jewish believers—Rom. 15:27.) We must remember that what we do with material things is an evidence of how we value spiritual things. “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matt. 6:21).
Because the Apostle Paul did not want money to become a stumbling block to the unsaved, he earned his own living (see 1 Cor. 9), but he repeatedly taught that the spiritual leader in the church was to be supported by the gifts of the people. Jesus said, “The laborer is worthy of his hire” (Luke 10:7), and Paul echoes this statement (1 Cor. 9:11, 14).
But we must realize the spiritual principle that lies behind this precept. God does not command believers to give simply that pastors and teachers (and missionaries, Phil. 4:10–19) might have their material needs met, but that the givers might get a greater blessing (Gal. 6:7–8). The basic principle of sowing and reaping is found throughout the entire Bible. God has ordained that we reap what we sow. Were it not for this law, the whole principle of “cause and effect” would fail. The farmer who sows wheat can expect to reap wheat. If it were otherwise, there would be chaos in our world.
But God has also told us to be careful where we sow, and it is this principle that Paul deals with here. He looks on our material possessions as seed, and he sees two possible kinds of soil: the flesh and the Spirit. We can use our material goods to promote the flesh, or to promote the things of the Spirit. But once we have finished sowing, we cannot change the harvest.
Money sown to the flesh will bring a harvest of corruption (see Gal. 5:19–21). That money is gone and can never be reclaimed. Money sown to the Spirit (such as sharing with those who teach the Word) will produce life, and in that harvest will be seeds that can be planted again for another harvest, and on and on into eternity. If every believer only looked on his material wealth as seed, and planted it properly, there would be no lack in the work of the Lord. Sad to say, much seed is wasted on carnal things and can never bring glory to God.
Of course, there is a much wider application of the principle to our lives; because all that we do is either an investment in the flesh or the Spirit. We shall reap whatever we have sown, and we shall reap in proportion as we have sown. “He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully” (2 Cor. 9:6). The believer who walks in the Spirit and “sows” in the Spirit is going to reap a spiritual harvest. If his sowing has been generous, the harvest will be bountiful, if not in this life, certainly in the life to come.
Paul’s enemies, the Judaizers, did not have this spiritual attitude toward giving and receiving. Paul sacrificed and labored that he might not be a burden to the churches, but the false teachers used the churches to promote their own schemes and fill their own coffers. This is also what happened in the Corinthian church, and Paul had to write them: “In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or pushes himself forward or slaps you in the face” (2 Cor. 11:20, niv).
How many times we have seen the sacrificing godly pastor persecuted and driven out, while the arrogant promoter is honored and gets everything he wants. The carnal believer thrives under the “spiritual dictatorship” of a legalistic promoter-pastor, because it makes him feel secure, successful, and spiritual. The carnal believer will sacrifice what he has to make the work more successful, only to discover that he is sowing to the flesh and not to the Spirit.
Having given us the precept (Gal. 6:6) and the principle behind the precept (Gal. 6:7–8), Paul now gives us a promise (Gal. 6:9): “In due season we shall reap if we faint not.” Behind this promise is a peril: getting weary in the work of the Lord, and then eventually fainting, and stopping our ministry.
Sometimes spiritual fainting is caused by a lack of devotion to the Lord. It is interesting to contrast two churches that are commended for “work, labor, and patience” (1 Thes. 1:3; Rev. 2:2). The church at Ephesus had actually left its first love and was backslidden (Rev. 2:4–5). Why? The answer is seen in the commendation to the Thessalonian church: “Work of faith, labor of love, patience of hope.” Not just work, labor, and patience, but the proper motivation: “faith, love, and hope.” How easy it is for us to work for the Lord, but permit the spiritual motivation to die. Like the priests of Israel that Malachi addressed, we serve the Lord but complain, “Behold, what a weariness is it” (Mal. 1:13).
Sometimes we faint because of lack of prayer. “Men ought always to pray, and not to faint” (Luke 18:1). Prayer is to the spiritual life what breathing is to the physical life, and if you stop breathing, you will faint. It is also possible to faint because of lack of nourishment. “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4). If we try to keep going without proper food and rest, we will faint. How important it is to “wait upon the Lord” to get the strength we need for each day (Isa. 40:28–31).
But the promise Paul gives us will help to keep us going: “In due season we shall reap.” The seed that is planted does not bear fruit immediately. There are seasons to the soul just as there are seasons to nature, and we must give the seed time to take root and bear fruit. How wonderful it is when the plowman overtakes the reaper (Amos 9:13). Each day we ought to sow the seed so that one day we will be able to reap (Ps. 126:5–6). But we must remember that the Lord of the harvest is in charge, and not the laborers.
Sharing blessings involves much more than teaching the Word and giving of our material substance. It also involves doing good “unto all men” (Gal. 6:10). There are those in this world who do evil (Ps. 34:16); in fact, there are those who return evil for good (Ps. 35:12). Most of the people in the world return good for good and evil for evil (see Luke 6:32–35; 1 Thes. 5:15). But the Christian is supposed to return good for evil (Rom. 12:18–21) and to do this in a spirit of Christian love. Actually, the Christian’s good works are a spiritual sacrifice that he gives to the Lord (Heb. 13:16).
We are to “do good unto all men.” This is how we let our light shine and glorify our Father in heaven (Matt. 5:16). It is not only by words that we witness to the lost, but also by our works. In fact, our works pave the way for our verbal witness; they win us the right to be heard. It is not a question of asking, “Does this person deserve my good works?” Did we deserve what God did for us in Christ? Nor should we be like the defensive lawyer who tried to argue, “Who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:25–37) Jesus made it very clear that the question is not “Who is my neighbor?” but “To whom can I be a neighbor?”
As we “do good unto all men,” we must give priority to “the household of faith,” the fellowship of believers. This does not mean that the local church should become an exclusive clique with the members isolated from the world around them and doing nothing to help the lost. Rather, it is a matter of balance. Certainly the believers in Paul’s day would have greater needs than would the outsiders, since many of the believers suffered for their faith (see Heb. 10:32–34). Furthermore, a man always cares for his own family before he cares for the neighborhood (1 Tim. 5:8).
We must remember, however, that we share with other Christians so that all of us might be able to share with a needy world. The Christian in the household of faith is a receiver that he might become a transmitter. As we abound in love for one another, we overflow in love for all men (1 Thes. 3:12).
This is how it was meant to be. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, pp. 723–724). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
6:6 all good things. Although this expression could refer to material compensation, the context suggests that Paul is referring to the spiritually and morally excellent things learned from the Word, in which they fellowship together. Paul uses this same term to describe the gospel (Ro 10:15; cf. Heb 9:11). (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Ga 6:6). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
Ver. 6. Let him that is taught in the word, &c.] Instructed in the knowledge of the word, either of the essential Word, the Lord Jesus Christ, of his person, office, and grace; or rather of the written word, particularly the Gospel, which is sometimes called the word, without any additional epithet, which distinguishes it, and directs to the sense of it; and sometimes with such, as the words of truth, the word of faith, the word of righteousness, the word of reconciliation, and the word of this salvation, so called from the nature, use, and subject-matter of it. He that is taught in this, is, according to the original word used here, a catechumen; and which designs not one that is just beginning to learn the first principles of the oracles of God, but any one that is instructed in it, as this word is rendered in Rom. 2:18 whether more or less, or whether internally or externally; one that is internally taught in and by the word, is one that has been taught to know himself, and his lost state by nature; to know Christ, and salvation by him; to know the truths of the Gospel, and to deny ungodliness, and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly. It may include every one that is only outwardly taught, that is but an external hearer; and so the Syriac version renders the clause, דשמע מלתא, he that hears the word: of which there are many sorts, and on whom it is an incumbent duty to communicate to him that teacheth: who is commissioned, and qualified and sent forth by Christ, and whose office in the church is to teach the word, to preach the Gospel, to instruct men in the truths of it, and teach them their duty also to God and men, such are to be communicated to; that is, such as are under their instructions ought to impart of their worldly substance to them, for their honourable and comfortable support and maintenance; for since they spend their time, and make use of their talents, gifts, and abilities, for their instruction in spiritual things, it is but reasonable, and no such great matter, that they partake of their carnal things; and especially since it is the will and ordinance of Christ, that they that preach the Gospel should live of it. The apostle adds, in all good things; which may be either connected with the word teacheth, and so be descriptive of the teacher, as the Arabic version reads, him that teacheth all his good things; good doctrines, excellent truths, the wholesome words of Christ, which he is intrusted with, has a knowledge and experience of; and who freely and faithfully imparts them, and conceals and keeps back nothing, but declares the whole counsel of God, all that he knows, and that is good and profitable; and carries in it a very strong argument why he should be communicated to: or else with the word communicate; and the sense either be, let him be a partaker of, and join with him in every thing he says or does that is good, but not in any thing that is evil, which is a sense some give into; or rather let him impart of his temporal good things unto him: temporal things are good as they are of God, and in themselves, and when rightly used answer good purposes; all a man’s good things are not to be communicated, only a part, according to his ability, and in proportion to others; and yet the communication should be large and liberal, sufficient to support the teacher in an honourable manner, and to supply him with all the necessaries of life, that his mind may be free from secular cares, and he be at leisure to attend to the instructing of others. (Gill, J. (1809). An Exposition of the New Testament (Vol. 3, pp. 53–54). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
We have frequently been bound more to the biases of our culture than to the unadulterated Word of God. (Timothy George)
Failure is an event NOT a person.
There is so much good in the worst of us and to much bad in the best of us that it behooves all of us not to talk about the rest of us. (Robert Louis Stevenson)
of being “overtaken” in any trespass, Gal. 6:1, where the meaning is not that of detecting a person in the act, but of his being caught by the trespass, through his being off his guard (see 5:21 and contrast the premeditated practice of evil in 5:26). The modern Greek version is “even if a man, through lack of circumspection, should fall into any sin.” (Vine, W. E., Unger, M. F., & White, W., Jr. (1996). Vol. 2: Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (454). Nashville, TN: T. Nelson.)
In Gal. 6:1 the point is surprise, i.e., being betrayed into a fault unawares. In this case loving restoration is demanded, not unloving censure. (Kittel, G., Friedrich, G., & Bromiley, G. W. (1985). Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (497). Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans.)
Deuteronomy 32
Moses writes in poetic form a summary of everything he has taught the Israelites.
INSIGHT
Man is more than a machine. Man is more than a combination of blood vessels and bones. There is something within man that transcends the physical. It is the image of God. When the major issues of life lie before us, the image of God within us demands that we sing a song or paint a picture or write a poem or perform a dance.
At the end of his life-as Moses is struggling to summarize all that he needs to say to his people-he bursts out in song. Surely the thumbprint of God is seen in his crowning achievement. (Quiet Walk)
CAN YOU LOSE THE GIFT?
Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39
I find it quite extraordinary that anybody calling himself a Christian can believe that he can receive the gift of the life of God and then, because of sin, lose it and then accept it again and then lose it once more. You cannot go on being born and dying! No. If you receive the life of God, then God Himself gives you this gift through His Son, and the very quality, the nature, and the character of the life means that it is imperishable. Our Lord had already said in John’s Gospel, “Neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand” (John 19:28);it is impossible. Or again, the apostle Paul says, “Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).
Furthermore, this is especially true because He Himself has given us this life. So we are in this new relationship, we belong to the family of God, we are separated out of the world, we are separated unto God, we are a part of His plan and purpose, and we belong to Him. That is why Paul can say with such confidence that “the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18).
We are saved by hope, hope that is sure and certain, because it is based upon the character, indeed upon the life, of God Himself. Therefore, if we know that we have eternal life, that should encourage us and strengthen us. It should enable us to know that because God has given us that gift, it is indeed, as God Himself has said, an eternal life.
A Thought to Ponder: We are saved by hope that is based upon the life of God Himself.
(From Saved in Eternity, pp. 182-183, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
When He Shall Appear
“And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.” (1 John 2:28)
There are many glorious promises associated with the great promise that Christ Himself shall once again appear in person here on planet Earth. For example, Paul says: “When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory” (Colossians 3:4).
Similarly, the apostle Peter promises: “And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away” (1 Peter 5:4). The writer of Hebrews first reminds us of His former appearance on Earth: “But now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself” (Hebrews 9:26). Then the promise is: “Unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation” (v. 28).
Perhaps the most wonderful promise associated with His second appearing is given through John: “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure” (1 John 3:2-3).
Therefore, when He shall appear, we shall appear with Him in glory; we shall receive an unfading crown of glory; we shall be like Him, and without sin unto salvation. These promises even now constitute an incentive for each believer to purify himself even as He is pure.
But there is also the sobering warning in our text associated with the soon-coming time when He shall appear. We should abide in Him (that is, continue in Him, hour after hour), careful that whatever we do, wherever we go, we are in no danger of being ashamed before Him when He shall appear!
(HMM, The Institute for Creation Reseach)
In most cases we do not need to spend more time visiting with people; we jus tneed to be more focused in the time we spend with them. Instead of talking about the weather, sports, and local politics, we need to talk about how things are going with them spiritually and how we can be praying for them.
(p. 18, Developing Leaders for the Small Church by Glenn C. Daman)
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