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The Fifteenth Sunday After Trinity
Loving One Another Into Heaven
September 16, 2007
TEXT: NKJ Galatians 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the
Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one
another. 6:1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are
spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself
lest you also be tempted. 2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law
of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing,
he deceives himself. 4 But let each one examine his own work, and then he will
have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 5 For each one shall bear
his own load. 6 Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him
who teaches. 7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows,
that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap
corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting
life. 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall
reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do
good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.
As Paul ends chapter 5 of our text—he advises us not to become conceited—not to
provoke each other—not to envy one another—but to live by the Holy Spirit—once
again reminding us that the Holy Spirit lives within us—but we can fail—and when
we fail—we have a responsibility to the Church and to each other—Paul told this
in his letters to the various churches
NKJ Philippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but
in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of
you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of
others.
NKJ Romans 12:10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in
honor giving preference to one another;
And Peter quotes Proverbs 3:34 from the wisdom of the Old Testament to give us
Christian guidance for today
NKJ 1 Peter 5:5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders.
Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for
"God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble."
The tendency for us today is to compare ourselves with others and believe we are
doing better than them—so God must love us enough to let us into heaven—we need
to understand that it is by grace that we are saved—we do nothing to deserve His
love and grace—and just because we are not as big a sinner as the next
person—does not mean that we are seen as good—there is nothing good in us except
God—and He is in us by His grace and mercy
If we see someone going contrary to God’s Word—or we see someone yielding to
temptation—we should not just stand idly by—we need to love one another in a
Scriptural way—we don’t show your love for each other by turning our backs on
each other when we are in jeopardy of giving our lives to the prince of this
world—in his first letter to the Corinthians—Paul gave us a beautiful discussion
of what Christian love is
NKJ 1 Corinthians 13:4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love
does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not
seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity,
but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all
things, endures all things.
Consider how each of these verses give us the same message of love for our
neighbor—but in a little different way—our entire Christian life comes down to
the two commandments our Lord Jesus Christ gave us when one of the legalists
challenged Him during His ministry
NKJ Luke 10:25 And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying,
"Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" 26 He said to him, "What is
written in the law? What is your reading of it?" 27 So he answered and said, "
'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with
all your strength, and with all your mind,' and 'your neighbor as yourself.' "
28 And He said to him, "You have answered rightly; do this and you will live."
When Jesus says you will live—He refers to the life that defines our very being
as a Christian—Jesus says we will never die if we believe in Him—consider these
two verses from the exchange between Martha—the brother of Lazarus—who was dead
and in the tomb at the time—Martha and our Lord Jesus are discussing Lazarus and
life
NKJ John 11:25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who
believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 "And whoever lives and
believes in Me shall never die....
Living our lives in accordance with the Scriptures and in accordance with the
plan God has for us is simple—but not necessarily easy—there is nothing
complicated about it—but we have to be totally dedicated to God and the things
of God—God’s people are guided by the Law written on our hearts and the Holy
Spirit that dwells within us—those of us who are capable of encouraging and
correcting others must apply ourselves to that end—listen carefully to another
passage of Paul’s in his letter to the Romans—the strong in Christ must always
help the weak to survive the devil’s torments—and they must always help the weak
gain strength in the knowledge of the things of God—that is the hope of the
Gospel message
NKJ Romans 15:1 We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the
weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his
good, leading to edification. 3 For even Christ did not please Himself; but as
it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me." 4 For
whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we
through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. 5 Now may
the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another,
according to Christ Jesus, 6 that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify
the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Therefore receive one another,
just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.
TEXT: NKJ Galatians 6:6 Let him who is taught the word share in all good
things with him who teaches.
There are those that teach that Paul is instructing those that learn to share
what they have with their teacher—including money and things—this interpretation
is not consistent with Paul’s other teachings—and it is not likely that Paul
would ask the Galatians to provide money to those that preach and teach—the
Galatians were being overrun with false teachers who were seeking financial gain
and power from those instructed—let’s consider some of Paul’s other writings and
draw our own conclusion—we begin with the taking of money for preaching the
Gospel—in 1 Corinthians chapter 9 Paul spends the entire chapter describing his
right to expect to be supported by the church he preaches to and serves—but he
states that he does not take such gifts from the people so there is no confusion
about his motive—Paul and Barnabas work for their money—he sums up his argument
in two verses
NKJ 1 Corinthians 9:11 If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great
thing if we reap your material things? 12 If others are partakers of this right
over you, are we not even more? Nevertheless we have not used this right, but
endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ.
This supports the position that Paul did not take money for his preaching—Paul
understood that there were those who were false preachers motivated by financial
gain—Paul intentionally avoided payment—listen to his second letter to the
Corinthians
NKJ 2 Corinthians 11:6 Even though I am untrained in speech, yet I am not in
knowledge. But we have been thoroughly manifested among you in all things. 7 Did
I commit sin in humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached
the gospel of God to you free of charge? 8 I robbed other churches, taking wages
from them to minister to you. 9 And when I was present with you, and in need, I
was a burden to no one, for what I lacked the brethren who came from Macedonia
supplied. And in everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and so I
will keep myself. 10 As the truth of Christ is in me, no one shall stop me from
this boasting in the regions of Achaia. 11 Why? Because I do not love you? God
knows! 12 But what I do, I will also continue to do, that I may cut off the
opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are
in the things of which they boast. 13 For such are false apostles, deceitful
workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For
Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.
The lesson we learn is that Paul is not saying we have to pay for the services
of a preacher or teacher as many teach from this verse—but we need to support
the preacher with respect and encouragement—money has always been an issue in
the church—just as false preachers have always been an issue—in Paul’s case he
did not want anyone to feel that he was preaching for personal gain—therefore he
took offerings from a distant church to support himself—this eliminated the
opportunity for an enemy of the Gospel to accuse him and Barnabas of filling
their pockets as a motivation for their message—enough said about money
Paul sets an excellent example for every minister of the Word—our reward for our
effort is the knowledge that we are fulfilling the calling of God—and that we
have been used as an instrument of God to help people understand the things of
God—Amen!
Paul’s message in our text is simple—love God!—love your neighbor!—study the
Word—help each other—encourage one another—and your reward will be in heaven
ALL GLORY BE TO GOD!