Fruits of Redemption
Galatians 5:22-6:10
International Sunday School Lesson
February 26, 2012
Commentary
By
Jed Greenough
Sometimes, no, make that often, we forget to look at the bigger picture as we read our scriptures. That is easy enough to do when we study for Sunday School using this ISSL/Uniform Series format. We see what the scripture is on any given Sunday and concentrate on what we have been given but let’s look at this in how we think the context might have been when written.
But before we do that I want to ask you each a question. I must assume that since today’s scripture begins with” but” you must know that there will be something that is contrary to what you are about to read and so you read what that was. Having found that in the previous verses that describe the sinful nature, how did it make you feel? When you read the acts of the sinful nature and then the fruits of the spirit, again how did you feel? We will get back to this in a bit.
First of all putting this in the proper context I will remind you that this entire letter was written because of the reports that Paul had heard concerning these Galatians. There was an influence among them causing them to think that they were to live their Christian lives with aspects of the Jewish law instead of by the Spirit. So this letter was sent with urgency to correct them, to remind them that they came to be Christians by faith in the news they had heard concerning Christ not through following any laws.
Having concentrated on making them understand through the bulk of his letter that they should live by the Spirit given to them (4:6) and not live by the law Paul is wrapping things up as we read today how the person with the Spirit lives.
So we have some, pretty new to their faith, slightly confused Christians in these Galatians. Paul had converted them, according to my understanding during his first missionary journey. This is a fledgling church and Paul has limited means of instructing them. Zealous teachers of course would have influence. Paul is far away and writes a forceful letter and to have the most affect he concentrates his firepower.
Fortunately for us, we have all of our years of sermons and Sunday School lessons. We have our personal study of not just this lesson but all of Paul’s letters. Paul couldn’t write everything there was to say in each letter so again he wrote in ways to have the most affect. For the Galatians Paul wanted to be sure that they understand they are to live by Spirit and truth. They would have been eager to be instructed by Paul that living in the Spirit was the correct and pleasing way to God. As I said last week they weren’t pursuing the law because they were lazy they were adding this because they were taught incorrectly that it was pleasing to God. So Paul very clearly told them you can live one way or the other. By the Spirit and have these attributes in your life or by the law and have the sinful nature.
Rather extreme examples were given in my honest opinion coupled with those that were less so to impress upon them the extreme difference between following the law and following the Spirit. A rather efficient way of driving home his point to an eager reader given the constraints Paul was operating under.
So let’s get back to the question I asked. A question that, to use the words of Rick from Casablanca, won’t matter a “hill of beans” to someone who doesn’t care but like the Galatians, to the passionate, it will matter a great deal. Again, how do you feel when you read the acts of the sinful nature and the fruit of the Spirit?
Since we aren’t together I cannot get your responses so let me reveal to you my psyche. I have a passion like I feel the Galatians did and I measure myself with each of the words that are listed there. It is easy for me to not concentrate on the fact that I haven’t the depravity listed by some of these but rather concentrate on those I shouldn’t have and do.
I know that there are areas that I have where I am weak and if I were left only with this letter to the Galatians I would be motivated to react but in a somewhat depressed manner. Fortunately I have the rest of the scriptures as well including others from Paul that tell me enough to give me encouragement.
They tell me in places like Ephesians and Romans that I am still living in a sinful body, I will still sin but as I let the process of sanctification work in me I will mature in ever increasing measure until I do become “mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”
This knowledge is given to us that we are not perfect and so it comes with a caveat which Paul mentions in Galatians 4:13-14, “You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
For Discussion:
1. Stay with me on this one! If you were to privately ask 20 people what should be a very basic foundational question that could produce a clear answer such as, “What is the gospel?” You will get 20 different and somewhat convoluted answers. Likewise if you were to ask what it means to be a spiritual Christian or how you become spiritual you will also get a myriad of answers. This is vital to the “Galatians” among us. Discuss this.
2. Discuss the burdens that we can carry for each other mentioned in 6:2.
3. With regard to 6:2 see Romans 15:1-3.
4. 6:4-5 talks of not comparing ourselves with others but looking only at our own actions as it deals with the load we carry. Discuss this.
5. A teacher may find this more difficult to bring up so hopefully a student will bring up for discussion 6:6. See also 1 Timothy 5:17.
6. Discuss all the different ways that we can reap and sow negatively and positively. Is this verse connected with the preceding verse 6?
7. With regard to 6:8-10, discuss as whether your church does a good job of ensuring that those within your church are having their various needs met. How do you know?
8. How do you arrive at this site? Bookmark it and make it a habit to start here!
Upcoming Adult Sunday School Class Commentaries
3-4-12: Wisdom’s Part in Creation (Wisdom’s Origin) Proverbs 8:22-35
3-11-12: The Word Became Flesh John 1:1-14
3-18-12: The Wedding at Cana (Water Turned to Wine) John 2:1-12
3-25-12: God’s Word Saves (Nicodemus Learns of New Birth) John 3:11-21
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved
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