Should The Galatians: Sacrifice For Sponsoring Christian?

Main Idea

Christians are urged to restore their believing brothers who were caught in sin since freedom in Christ also involves service towards restoring sinning Christian.

Galatians 6:1-10 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. 2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. 3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. 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. 6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all

The Galatians consist of a mixed people, mainly the Gauls and the Celtics in the time of the Romans. They accepted the true gospel preached by Paul and Barnabas (Acts 14:26). Describing the true gospel brought by Paul to the Galatians, the editors of the book “Encountering the New Testament,” summarized that “the true gospel Paul preached centered on Jesus Christ’s atoning death, foretold by Old Testament prophets. In light of the cross, all need to rely on Christ’s self-sacrifice for salvation and new life, just as Abraham relied on God’s promise in times of old.” However, after Paul’s visitation to Galatia, the Judaizers, or called the legalist, insisted that salvation and new life required strict adherence to the Law of Moses. With this insistence, they advocate that morality can only be upheld if the Law of Moses is imposed. Therefore, believers (even the Gentiles need to submit) who erred should be deal with the Law of Moses – John 8:3-11. The legalist not interested in bearing burdens, instead they add burdens to others, especially to the sinning person (Acts 15:10). In contrary to the legalist’s practice, Paul stressed that Christians (who are led by the Holy Spirit) should bear each others burdens, to the point of restoring the sinning brother (6:1) with the love of Jesus Christ (Rom.

Paul presents the same manner in the book of Galatians. In chapters 1-2, he wrote about Galatians’ false notions on the gospel that Paul preached to them – Paul defends his apostolic authority and the teaching of justification by faith (1:1; 2:16). In chapters 3-4, he outlines the Gospel’s theology so that proper understanding of the Gospel can be established – Paul affirms that salvation by faith and not by the Law (3:22, 29). And lastly, in chapters 5-6, he presents some proper applications and commands driven from this proper theology of the Gospel for them to implement in their Christian living – Paul exhorted Christians to live with a balanced perspective and not to neglect their responsibilities towards others if they are led by the Holy Spirit (5:13; 6:1). Therefore, Paul wanted the Galatians to understand that since they are saved by grace, they are free from the Law and now they are to serve Christ. Although the Judaizers or legalist try to impose a legalistic system upon them, the Galatian believers should anchor their faith and service in Christ alone. With Paul’s perspective in our mind, let us examine chapter 6:1-10 of how Paul wanted the Galatian’s believers to deal with the sinning brother if they are free from the law