Sermon Tone Analysis

1-5

Here we find the concluding remarks of Paul in this letter.

There are several parts to this finishing chapter but we will look at the first two:

Part 1 are verses 1-5 about bearing and sharing burdens and the second part,

Part 2 are verses 6-10 are about what you sow you will reap so persevere in the good.

The other part is what has been covered in every chapter so far which, therefore, makes it the theme of this whole letter which is freedom that we have in Christ.

This freedom is not something we got by doing something whether religious or good but by the grace of God but this freedom is freedom to live God’s way and not a freedom to live in sin.

This is what we have heard ever week.

So here in this first paragraph it makes it clear that for those who get caught by sin the object is restoration not banishment.

The key is restoration rather than condemnation.

Legalism brings the adulteress in public to condemn but grace restores.

Paul also says to exercise caution especially if we think we would never commit such a sin but, I am sorry to say, unfortunately we are all capable of gross sins.

Pride can easily overcome us.

Pride leads us down paths which inevitably leads to a fall.

“I would never do that!”

we say, but friends, that is not definitely so!

The heart is deceitfully wicked - we are capable of many things but with humility we can win.

In fact we need to encase this whole chapter with humility:

and before that it is a return to the theme of this letter: the freedom that we have in Christ.

This freedom is never about freedom to live in sin.

So here in this first paragraph it makes it clear that for those who get caught by sin the object is restoration not banishment though banishment may be necessary if there is no repentance.

But the key is restoration rather than condemnation.

Legalism brings the adulteress in public to condemn but grace restores.

Paul also says to exercise caution especially if we think we would never commit such a sin but unfortunately we are all capable of gross sins.

Pride can easily overcome us.

Pride leads us down paths which inevitably leads to a fall.

“I would never do that!”

we say, but friends, that is not definitely so!

The heart is deceitfully wicked - we are capable of many things but with humility we can win.

In fact we need to encase this whole chapter with humility:

The Bible calls that people offer an honest appraisal of themselves; or as Paul says, we ought “not to think more highly of yourself than what one ought to think” (Rom 12:3).

Pride, especially the spiritual kind, can prevent people from being used by God.

When people begin to be used by God, it is very easy for them to think of themselves too highly.

Yet the New Testament itself repeatedly emphasizes that God uses the the unified body of Christian believers at work in the world, as a group, not just as individuals (1 Cor 12).

The Biblical Example of Using God’s Gifts Appropriately

In Acts 3, Peter and John encountered a crucial crossroads in their ministries.

Peter commanded a lame beggar, “In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, walk” (Acts 3:6), and the man was instantly healed.

At that point, all of the attention in the temple turned toward Peter and John.

They could have used this attention for their personal advantage, but they didn’t; instead, Peter said, “Men and Israelites, why are you astonished at this? Or why are you staring at us, as if by our own power or godliness we have made him walk?” (Acts 3:12).

Peter and John gave God all of the glory.

In doing, so Peter and John express integrity and humility, and offer an honest evaluation of themselves.

His Instruments

Christians are meant to be God’s instruments (1 Cor 13; compare Jer 18:4).

We shouldn’t praise ourselves—the mere instrument—but the one who uses the instrument, God.

In 1 Corinthians 4:7, Paul puts it this way: “And what do you have that you did not receive?

But if indeed you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?”

SKIP HEITZIG

That’s why we need to carry one another’s burdens too.

We are not meant to live this life alone.

Now I am not talking about marriage here.

I am talking about the Church.

There are always those in the Church, though, who think too much of themselves.

They think they are it…the ‘A list’ Christian…God’s gift to the Church and humanity…they deserve all the ‘hellos’ and reverence and honour and leadership as they think they have got it altogether.

They love it when others fall and are self-righteous all the way and often the most vocal in their criticism of others.

These don’t deliberately behave this way but they are the deceived!

Not that they are deceiving others, which they may do, but they deceive themselves.

(NKJV) — 19 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;

To be honest I wish I had this verse imprinted at the front of my brain and heart.

How often I miss it and miss what others are saying to me.

When we learn to hear we will start to hear more of what is going on between the lines too.

It is not always what they are saying but it maybe the symptom of something else.

For instance if someone feels hurt it often expresses itself in anger.

But the point is about bearing one another’s burdens: ‘a problem shared is a problem halved’ is an oft quoted proverb.

Another way we can carry one another’s burdens is to help them in their situations if that is possible.

If their burden is financial then what do we hear in Scripture?

Again James comes to the rescue:

(NKJV) — 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?

Cosy Christianity doesn’t cost anything but true Christianity costs everything.

Jesus though comforts us all:

(NKJV) — 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

And (NKJV) — 22 Cast your burden on the Lord, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.

Note that he does not say he will take the burden away but that He will carry us burden and all.

How else can we carry one another’s burdens?

There are surely a number of ways that we can be helps to one another in practical ways and then we should always carry one another’s burdens to God in prayer: What a friend we have in Jesus all our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry

everything to God in prayer!

O what peace we often forfeit,

O what needless pain we bear,

all because we do not carry

everything to God in prayer.

This is an ancient story:

A Chinese woman lost her dear son and could not find comfort.

She went to wise old man and asked him what to do: “go to a home that has no sorrow or grief, and bring back a mustard seed, and I will restore your son” Several days went by, and she returned and said, “I have been so selfish in my grief…sorrow is common to every home.”

We all have problems and cares, and they weigh down upon us like a burden on the back.

It is easy to forget this when we are in the midst of our own troubles not realising that almost all of us have something going on.

Some here are under enormous stresses and strains and it is hard not to be completely stressed out, even suicidal, wanting to get off the train as it were of life.

Here, together we are a fellowship who, if we can, should be sharing the load.

Some will have had experiences similar to someone who is going through it now.

We have to be both patient and kind understanding that everyone has burdens.

It’s also about being the community that God has called us to be: sometimes that means sharing things about our own lives especially when we are going through the mill.

And as a community we should see to it that what is said stays with us…what is shared is not to be an occasion for gossip.

We are to be a safe community.

We are living under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and in such ways we can also counsel one another especially from a biblical perspective.

Worldly counselling has its uses but it is limited.

When we are submitted to God, praying and listening, His counsel will be wiser than anything we could get from a psychologist.

And how does it fulfil the law of Christ?

Well, what is the law of Christ?

(NKJV) — 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

How did He love us?

He took our burden upon Himself and took it to the cross.

He laid down His life.