Galatians 6:1-18. We are constrained to be in Church, but if we be in the Spirit, we inherit heaven.

We are constrained to do rituals and ceremonies, and to join an organized church with our friends. But, if we live by the Spirit we will inherit heaven. If a man thinks of himself to be something, when he is Spiritually nothing, he deceives himself.

1. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

We will not find everybody in the same spiritual level in any church. A few people may be into the spiritual things, but most of them will be nominal participants. So, we may say that there are spiritual believers and ordinary Christians. "Galatians 6:1 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." In America, churches are not executing judicial functions. So, these verses do not make any sense in our situation. But, many eastern countries, even in India, churches are the center of society. So, if a member of a church is found guilty in a wrongdoing, those who are spiritual should counsel him for better behavior, than to rebuke him as a culprit. In that way, we may gain a believer, rather than expel him. By doing so, we will fulfill the law of Christ and bear one another's burden. "3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself." Usually, an influential, or a wealthy, or a cruel person will have an attitude to throw his weights around, to exhibit himself. But spiritually he is nothing, and we should not allow such a behavior among spiritual brethren. "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." Even in a spiritual church, there is room for fakes because of ignorance. There may be a few people who have entered the church through the back door; teach others to speak in tongues, how to tell prophesy, and such things, polluting churches with fake spiritual gifts. So, there must be few responsible people to supervise the operations of the gifts in every church. "1 Corinthians 14:29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge." They must verify whether the prophesies or other gifts are true or not, rather than accepting as anything goes. And, if you operate yourself in the manifestation of Spiritual gifts, it is better that you verify yourself whether you are in the true Spirit or not. We must take responsibility ourselves, and if we do so, we will protect the integrity and sanctity of the church. This is where rubber meets the road. If we do, we will live by the truth and the Spirit, and we will have a true spiritual fellowship. 

2. He that sow to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

I was a pastor and now I am retired. When I was a pastor, I lived by my secular job, and I did not need more money. So, I never taught the next few verses. Since that situation does not exist now, let me explain these verses. "6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things." Communicate unto him means give him substance, may be money. If we have learned anything pertained to the word of God from someone, we must give him something from our good things, but not leftovers. It is, as we pay tuition to a school, or as we pay to buy valuable merchandise. "7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." The guy who teaches God's word, may be an ordinary poor preacher, but God says that God is not mocked. That is, even though we do not see God behind him, if he is a true servant, God stands behind him. If we reward him, we reward God, and if we exploit him, we exploit God. Also, we reward or exploit ourselves, because God will do to us as we do to them; so, whatever we do to them, we do to ourselves. "8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting." Here, corruption refers to worldly things that are not eternal; even though they may be glorious things of the world. If we invest for worldly goods, we will get them; but they do not have eternal value. But if we invest for Spiritual things, they will return to us as eternal glory; it will be for ever and ever. This is about how we must deal with the true servants of God, who teach us the true word of God. Now, God takes us to another level. "9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." Here, well doing is charity. Faint not, is not to give up in doing good to others; and God will reward us back even though it appears that we are losing. "10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith." So, we must do good to all, but look for them that are the household of faith, who love and obey the Lord Jesus Christ, at least in his basic doctrines; and help them. But if they fully flow into the leading of the Spirit, consider them as part of yourself. Help them as much as we can. God will return to us greatly in his glory.

3. It is a fair show in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised.

"11 Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand." Apostle Paul gives emphasis to this letter and says that he himself wrote this long letter. Usually they will narrate such letters, and some other person who was trained in writing the script will write the letter. But, in this case Paul himself wrote it. "12 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." Like we said before, there are two groups of people in any church; one is Spiritual, and the other is religious that are worldly people. Religious people want to follow the rules of the ceremonial observations, which are the glory and glamor of the church traditions. They are described as, who desire to make a fair show in the flesh. They constrain others to be circumcised, that is, they want everybody to be part of the membership in the church to glorify the church and their denomination; but they really do not care about the cause of God. Some others may follow Christ as he suffered for us, leaving us an example, that we should follow his steps: as in 1 Peter 2:21. It always happens that the first group will persecute the second. "13 For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh." However, those who are for churches also say the name of God and God's laws and such clichés, but they will never obey God. But they will say anything to draw us to them for their glory in their traditions.

4. Christ Jesus rejects circumcision and uncircumcision but accepts new creature.

Verse 14 is about how we should glory in the cross of Jesus. Our glorying in the cross must entirely be different from how Christians celebrate and worship the cross. It is most important subject for Christians to know and to avoid worshipping the devil; by worshipping the cross; and so, I skip verse 14 now for the next lesson. "15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature." Here, circumcision represents them that are part of the organized church and uncircumcision represents those just attend the church for other reasons. And God does not care for either of them, both circumcised and uncircumcised. But God cares for those who has become the new creature; God wants us to be born again, and to become the new creature. A caterpillar hides under the leaves of a plant, eating the leaves. It is neither beautiful nor attractive. After some time, it dies and ceased to be a caterpillar, and then it is resurrected to life, but not as a caterpillar, but as a butterfly, as another new creature. The new creature no more hides, it flies on the sky for others to see, and it is beautiful. It does not eat leaves, instead it drinks honey and nectar from flowers. Everything about it becomes new. So many Christians proclaim that they are born again and now they are a new creature. But it is only in their vocabulary, telling clichés. But there are no changes in their life. They were sinning before and sinning even now. If there is change in them, before they were hiding their sins; now, sins became their witness and testimony, they have learned to boast about their sins, and claim that God is for them and who can be against them. Their God is the devil, but not the Lord Jesus Christ. It is shame to Christianity. But most Christians clap their hands for them and shout Alleluia. What a shame! "16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God." The blessings of God are upon the Israel of God. It has a spiritual meaning. Please notice, Jacob got desperate at one point and he met God. He became a new creature, and now he is Israel. "Genesis 32:28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed." Israel has the power with God, that is of the Spirit; but verse 32 says, "because God touched the hollow of Jacob's thigh in the sinew that shrank," that is, the tough fiber, tendon, or ligament, which unites the muscles to bone, or bone to bone, in his thigh, shrank; that is, it has become weak as nothing; that is, his flesh was broken, but he got a new Spirit, which is from God with power. So, those who are the Israel of God, that is, "as many as walk according to" the Spirit, God's peace and his mercy will abide upon them. Are you Israel of God? God's peace and his mercy will abide upon you. The proof is, that your flesh is broken for the Lord.

5. No man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.

When apostle Paul was a zealous Jew, he was persecuting Christians. When he began to serve God the Lord Jesus Christ, Jews persecuted him. He was stoned, whipped, beaten, and got wounds in so many ways; and he carries the scars in his body.  "17 From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus." His scars are the proof and his testimony that he suffered in the hands of the enemies of God and the Lord Jesus Christ. He was not only a vocabulary preacher for the gospel, but he was a follower of Jesus Christ on his steps. Now, he is getting tired to face resistance even from those who follow Jesus Christ. He was dejected and tells them not to bother him anymore and not to trouble him again. It is not a happy way to end a letter or an epistle; however, that is the predicament of a true servant of God. But he blesses them. "18 Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen." Please notice, that the blessings of God are upon the Spiritual children, but not on the sinning people. So, be converted to be his newly born-again Spirit children, and be blessed.