Rev. David Holwick ZD Galatians sermon series
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
September 24, 2000
Galatians 6:1-5
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I. Hold on if you possibly can.
Several years ago the New York Times carried a story about a high
altitude crisis on British Airways Flight 5390.
The windshield of the plane blew out at 23,300 feet and the pilot
was sucked out onto the nose cone of the jet.
What took place next is incredible.
Timothy Lancaster, the pilot, had just pointed to his house in
Abingdon when a loud explosion blew out the windshield.
Pressurized air bursting from inside the plane pushed him partway
out.
Outside, the 320 mph airstream slammed the upper half of his body
back against the jet's fuselage.
Several of the aircraft's 81 passengers said they watched in horror
as crew members frantically wrestled to pull the pilot back
into the cockpit.
At one point, the crew was faced with a terrible possibility:
would they have to push their captain out to free the controls?
The co-pilot shook his head and shouted to the others, "Hold on
if you possibly can."
They were able to readjust the pilot's body enough to fly the plane.
The jet went into a dive.
With half of Mr. Lancaster's body hanging outside, the co-pilot
flew the aircraft towards Southampton Airport, 70 miles
southwest of London.
Crew members, who clung to his ankles for 15 minutes, were
encouraged by the co-pilot who kept yelling, "Hold on with all
your might -- we're almost there!"
He finally landed the plane safely, and the pilot was taken to the
hospital suffering from shock, a fractured elbow and wrist,
and frostbite on one hand.
More than likely, you will never experience anything as dramatic
and dangerous as this rescue.
Yet, lives and souls are in jeopardy all around us.
A marriage of friends is "exploding."
A Christian brother is being "sucked" back into his old ways.
Another has messed up so many times you are tempted to ask,
"Should we just cut our losses and move on?"
Do you let them go, or hang on?
#7080
II. Practical applications of the fruit of the Spirit.
A. Paul does not isolate himself in the mystical but moves into
the "real world."
1) Random sayings or structured?
a) At first, chapter 6 seems like a random collection.
b) Restoring sinners, helping with burdens, paying pastors.
2) Two overall themes emerge:
a) Mutual accountability - we need to help each other.
b) Personal responsibility - we need to watch ourselves.
B. A hypothetical situation.
1) Someone is caught in a sin.
a) Paul is being hypothetical but it happens all the time.
1> How many Christians do you know who have fallen?
b) Somehow the news gets to you. (It always seems to)
c) How do you react?
2) Our culture's approach.
a) "Gotcha!" emphasis.
1> Clinton and Lewinski.
2> Recently, ex-homosexual advocate exposed (?)
b) Exposure of sin and hypocrisy is everything.
1> Restoration is an afterthought, and usually doubted.
C. Options for someone who is spiritual:
1) Overlook their sin.
2) Expose the sin openly.
Years ago I read an article by an ultra-conservative
Southern preacher who had a huge church.
A young man in the congregation had just finished seminary
and his ordination was imminent.
He was also engaged to be married to a young woman from
the church.
Just before the marriage, she was found to be pregnant.
Tearfully, they made a confession before the entire
congregation.
The confession was accepted but the young man was barred
from the ministry.
Forever.
He left the sanctuary in tears, a broken man.
The preacher wrote with what seemed to me an air of moral
superiority.
He was proud his church took such a hard line.
The gist was there can be restoration to fellowship, but
never to ministry.
A biblical case can be made for this position.
But in the back of my mind I wondered:
If this had been the preacher's own son,
would he have been treated the same way?
3) *Restore them graciously.
a) This is what Paul is telling us to do.
b) Restoration can be one of our most important ministries.
III. The art of restoration.
A. Italian art restorers.
1) Sistine Chapel, Da Vinci's "Last Supper."
2) Painstaking care, inch by inch, long-term effort.
B. Restoring Christians.
1) Reasons to restore. #497
a) To preserve a Christian's life. James 5:20
1> Sin destroys their effectiveness, fellowship and
joy for Christ.
b) To preserve the church. 1 Thess 5:14
c) To protect God's reputation. 2 Samuel 12:14
1> "Church is full of hypocrites."
2> "If this is how Christians act, I don't want
your Jesus."
2) What to do.
a) Restore - medical term used for setting a broken bone.
1> They are to be set straight, not neglected or
exposed openly.
b) The proper technique is not given.
1> Jesus's instruction fills it out. Matt 18:15-17
A> Graduated response...
B> Privately, with a few others, then before the
church.
2> At each stage they can repent.
3) Who is to do it.
a) Those who are spiritual.
1> Paul being sarcastic? Probably not.
2> Mature Christians in view.
A> Not just possessing Spirit, but walking in it.
b) An excuse to evade restoring?
1> Not all Christians are mature, but all should be.
4) How it should be done.
a) Must be done gently.
1> Same word used in fruit of Spirit.
2> Lightfoot - gentleness is key sign of spirituality.
b) Must be done humbly.
1> Be conscious that no one is immune from temptation.
A> The fallen Christian's sin?
B> Better, the sin of pride. (compare 6:3-4)
2> They have sinned, but you are not superior.
C. Benefits of restoring the Bible's way.
1) Much unkind gossip would be avoided.
2) More serious backsliding would be prevented.
3) The church would grow as others see positive fruit of
Christian love.
IV. Some things you cannot carry alone. 6:2
A. Help others with their burdens.
1) May be burden of sin, or something else.
2) Spiritual people need to look out for one another.
3) Hang on and don't let go.
B. The "law of Christ."
1) Most of Galatians is in opposition to law and legalism.
2) The law of Christ is a different kind of law - that of love.
3) We seek to restore others because Jesus loved us enough
to restore us.
V. Other things you have to carry alone. 6:5
A. Not a contradiction of verse 2.
1) Two different words for burden are used.
2) "Load" is similar to a backpack. Doable by one person.
B. We must continually check our motives.
1) Don't compare yourself with other people.
a) (a prideful comparison is in view)
2) Just compare yourself with Jesus.
a) Positive statement of principle in Romans 12:3 [read].
C. We stand before God by ourselves.
1) It is a burden you cannot shift to anyone else.
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SOURCES FOR ILLUSTRATIONS USED IN THIS SERMON:
# 497 "Confronting Sin," by Mark R. Littleton, in Discipleship Journal
#44, March 1988, page 37.
#7080 "Hang On, We're Almost There!" by Dwaine Powell, of "From the
Heart" in Auburn, Alabama; quoted in The Daily Bread,
May 1999; collected by Rev. Roddy Chestnut.
These and 16,500 others are part of a database that can be downloaded,
absolutely free, at http://www.holwick.com/database.html
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Commentary summaries:
James Montgomery Boice, Expositor's Commentary
I. Theme of closing chapter.
A. Rather than emphasizing the mystical, Paul stresses practical
issues in a spirit-filled life.
1) Personal relationships. 6:1-5
2) Use of money. 6:6-10
B. Our spirituality can be measured by our actions.
1) Concrete situations, rather than emotional highs,
demonstrate the reality of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
II. Actions that reveal real spiritual character.
A. Helping a believer trapped in a sin.
1) Hypothetical, but common experience.
2) Options for spiritual friend:
a) Overlook sin.
b) Expose the sin openly.
c) *Restore them graciously.
3) Directions for restoration.
a) What to do.
1> Seek to restore wandering brother.
2> Restore - medical term used for setting a broken
bone.
3> They are to be set straight, not neglected or
exposed openly.
b) Who should do it.
1> Must be done by those who are spiritual.
c) How it should be done.
1> Must be done gently. (same word used in fruit)
2> Be conscious that no one is immune from temptation.
B. Bearing one another's burdens.
1) It is the second practical example of spirituality.
2) The law of Christ is love, the fulfillment of the Law.
3) Two possible hindrances.
a) Conceit.
1> You may think you are above helping another with
their burdens.
2> By God's standards, no one amounts to anything.
A> Positive statement found in Romans 12:3.
b) Comparison of self with others.
1> Positive - I am too good to help.
2> Negative - I am inferior and cannot help.
3> Our eyes must be upon God.
______________________________
Scot McKnight, NIV Application Commentary
I. Introduction.
A. Appear to be random thoughts.
1) Actually is interplay between two themes.
a) Personal responsibility.
b) Mutual accountability.
2) Both are rooted in the freedom of the Spirit.
a) And both are addressing the divisiveness in Galatia.
II. Spiritual people should bear others' burdens.
A. Problem: restoring a sinful brother.
1) This is one way we can express love within the family.
2) Must be done "in spirit of humility", a reflection of the
fruit of the Spirit.
3) Watch out for temptation - pride. (not sinner's sin)
a) Note that Paul is more concerned about restorer than
restoree.
B. Underlying principle: spiritual people need to look out for
one another.
1) It is the "law of Christ."
2) Don't just point out problem, but help them to become
free of it.
3) The principle of restoration is loving one another.
C. The problem of pride.
1) Do not check self by comparison with others.
a) Especially those who are caught sinning.
2) In final analysis, each is responsible before God for what
we have done.
D. Contradiction?
1) No, two sides of same coin.
2) We answer to God individually.
a) Part of our responsibility is bearing burdens of others.
b) All Christians will be judged by God.
____________________________________
John R.W. Stott, "The Message of Galatians," IVP, 'The Bible Speaks
Today' commentary series.
Galatians 6:1-5
I. Bear one another's burdens.
A. Assumption - we all have burdens and God does not mean us to
carry them alone.
1) Some see it as a sign of strength to bear them alone.
2) Others see Jesus as only one who can bear them for us.
a) We can cast all our cares on him.
b) But one of ways he bears our burdens is through humans.
1> Note 2 Cor 7:5-6.
3) We should seek out other Christians when we are burdened.
B. It fulfills the "law of Christ."
1) An allusion to the burdens of the OT Law?
2) Instead of imposing the burden of the law we need to lift
burdens off our friends.
3) Loving our neighbor fulfills the law of Christ.
II. Thinking you are something when you are nothing.
A. Implication - if we don't bear others' burdens it is because
we think we are above it.
1) It would be beneath our dignity.
2) Our conduct to others is governed by our opinion of
ourselves, as in 5:26.
B. Conceit is self-deception.
1) Instead of comparing with others, we are to test our own
work and carry our own load.
2) There is no contradiction with 6:2.
a) Two different words for burden are used.
b) We should share a burden too heavy for another to bear
alone, but there is a burden we cannot share.
1> It is our own responsibility before God.
III. An example of burden-sharing. 6:1
A. What to do.
1) Restore to their former condition.
a) Medical term for fixing a broken bone.
2) Very positive instruction.
a) Negative possibilities.
1> We should not act like it is none of our business.
2> Neither should we condemn them in our hearts.
3> Nor should we report them to others (minister, etc.)
b) Instead we are to set them back on right path.
1> Detailed instructions not given. See Matt 18:15-17
B. Who is to do it.
1) Those who are spiritual.
a) Paul being sarcastic? Probably not.
b) Mature Christians in view.
1> Not just possessing Spirit, but walking in it.
2) An excuse to evade restoring?
a) Not all Christians are mature, but all should be.
C. How it should be done.
1) Have a spirit of gentleness.
a) One of the fruits of the Spirit.
1> Lightfoot - gentleness is a good indication of
spirituality.
b) It is born of a sense of our own weakness.
1> We should be watchful or we might sin.
2) We often fail to carry this out.
3) Benefits of obeying it.
a) Much unkind gossip would be avoided.
b) More serious backsliding would be prevented.
c) The good of the church would be advanced, and the name
of Christ glorified.
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