Sermon Tone Analysis

Galatians 6:2-5

Paul’s challenge to the Galatian church thus far has been mixed with reproof and instruction.

In this passage, the Apostle Paul continues to challenge these young believers in the way they treat each other.

His instruction is relevant to the way we as Christians and member of local churches treat each other today.

We are to carry on the ministry of Christ in our lives.

The ministry of Christ is the ministry of love

The prayer of every believer’s heart in response to the way he treats others should be threefold:

I. Make Me Helpful (v.2)

The words bear ye are from the Greek word bastazo, meaning, “to take up in order to carry or bear, to put upon one’s self (something) to be carried, to bear what is burdensome.”

This verb phrase is imperative, giving us a command, not an option.

Christ gave and sacrificed himself to reach out to man.

He bore the sins of man.

We of course cannot do this, but we can bear each other’s burdens.

We are all under the weight of sin – whether the sins are known or not we can:

be compassionate

share the promises of God

pray

forgive

be warm and tender

sympathize

empathize

encourage

A. In Love

B. In Labor

The word burdens in Greek is barosmeaning, “heaviness, weight, trouble.”

According to this passage, it is our duty to carry the heavy weights of other believers.

True love always labors despite difficult trials and burdens.

I’ve heard that in regards to marriage, there are two times when a man doesn’t understand a woman – before marriage and after marriage.

In light of the context of verse 1 in restoring the fallen brother, it would be logical in the context that the burden bearing is specifically referencing the realm of others’ spiritual burdens and needs.

This burden-bearing can carry over into physical needs as well.

Years ago, the founder of Salvation Army, General William Booth, was on his death bed.

The workers of the Salvation Army were gathered for their annual conference when they received a message from General Booth.

The message simply read, “Others.”

II.

Make Me Humble

(v. 3)

One of the dangers of bearing burdens is a know-it-all attitude.

Sometimes when we are restoring and burden bearing we can begin to think too highly of ourselves.

A. Beware of False Pride

The Reverend Walter Chellberg discovered the following two epitaphs in a local cemetery.

“She lived with her husband fifty years and died in a confident hope of a better life.”

“Here lies Jane Smith, wife of Thomas Smith, marble cutter.

This monument was erected by her husband as a tribute to her memory and as a specimen of his work.

Monument of the same size $350.”

We need to confess our own nothingness.

This is why so many fallen brothers are locked out of the fellowship of believers and churches.

They are looked upon as being:

unfit

less capable

weaker

less spiritual

too tarnished

insufficient

This attitude, of course, is contrary to the Spirit of Christ.

Note the words, "When he is nothing."

Christ came to save "nothings," that is, sinners.

All men are sinners whether they know it or not.

Even believers, after they are saved, are sinners.

This is too often forgotten, yet believers are both saved and kept by the righteousness of Christ and not by their own righteousness.

We must always remember this, for the only acceptable approach to God is through the righteousness of Jesus Christ.

Which leads us to our second point:

B. Beware of Self-Deception

If you have a proud attitude, you will eventually say something or do something that will show your pride.

The point is this: no person is better than any other person, not in righteousness and godliness.

All men stand before God as sinners; in fact, they stand as totally depraved sinners.

There is not a single man outside of Jesus Himself, who is righteous, no, not one—not today, not tomorrow, not ever.

If a man, believer or unbeliever, wants to stand in God's presence, he has to come by Jesus Christ and his righteousness alone.

Therefore, there is absolutely no place among God's people for...

super-spirituality

spiritual snobbishness

spiritual pride

There is absolutely no place for feeling superior or spiritually better than others.

Only one person can make that claim: Jesus Christ.

Within the church and its believers there is to be only one attitude:

that of confessing our nothingness before God

that of confessing our total dependency upon the grace of God

that of confessing the righteousness of Jesus Christ.

Note that any other confession is a deception.

If we think otherwise, we only deceive ourselves.

When a believer understands this truth, then he is ready to reach out and help restore the erring brother.

He knows he is no better; he has to approach Christ just like the erring brother—as nothing, for he is nothing.

Righteously and godly,

he stands on the same footing as the fallen brother: neither one of them has any righteousness or godliness to offer God.

Therefore, they both must approach God through His Son Jesus Christ.

Knowing this truth is what will stir love, concern, and care within the hearts of believers for fallen brothers.

We are all just sinners saved by grace.

Our service is not indispensable.

Our tithe and talents are not indispensable.

All of our service should be done as unto the Lord.

The spiritual man does not think he is something or that he is nothing—he simply doesn’t compare!

III.

Make Me Honorable

(vv.

4-5)

A. As I Prove My Work

(v. 4)

The word prove in Greek is dokimazo, meaning, “to test, examine, prove, scrutinize (to see whether a thing is genuine or not), as metals; to recognize as genuine after examination, to approve, deem worthy.”

The word work here is of course speaking to the works we perform as Christians.

The metaphor the Apostle Paul gives here is the obligation Christ lays upon his followers to examine their own works—whether they are genuine and worthy—because every believer will bear the load of work he has done for Christ.

2 Corinthians 13:5a

5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.