All Must Test Their Own Work

The scripture for this sermon also comes from Paul's letter to the Galatians 6:1-16:

Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. 4 Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, 5 for each one should carry their own load. 6 Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.  7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.  11 See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand!

12 Those who want to impress people by means of the flesh are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 Not even those who are circumcised keep the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your circumcision in the flesh. 14 May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation. 16 Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule—to the Israel of God.

Our scripture this morning is split into three different sections or sub-headings that could each be their own sermon.  First, Paul talks about how to help those who have sinned.  Then he moves onto how we reap what we sow and finally he talks about life as a new creation.  These topics were spots where the Galatians really struggled and these topics are still extremely relevant to us today.  

Verses 1-6 discuss how to handle someone who has sinned.  Paul encourages us to restore that person gently but that comes with a warning.  He knew that we all fall short and that each of us will sin but as a Christian community we should help one another and not judge each other.  We are called to help someone who struggling but Paul tells us to do so with caution because we may be tempted as well.  He calls us to carry each other’s burdens but then we must test our own actions so not to compare it to others.  When talking about sin in the first six verses, Paul uses a greek word that means “slip up” and this is important because Paul wants us to understand the difference between a deliberate sin and a slip up.  The type of slip up that Paul is referring to is comparable to walking on snow or ice in the winter time.  While working on the farm in the winter, it is not a question of will I fall, it is just a matter of when.  Dan often gives me a hard time about laying down and making snow angels while I supposed to be working.  Paul is sympathetic towards those who live a good Christian life because he knows it is difficult for those people to not judge others for their sin.  This is the fine line that every Christian will encounter and Paul tells us that is our Christian duty to help get those people who have sinned back on their feet.  Think of it like the work of a doctor.  If someone is sick, it is not just their job to make them feel better, they are also called to find what caused the illness in the first place so it can be prevented next time.  This is the ultimately difficulty for a Christian.  How do we balance helping others out so they can recover but not so much so that they become dependent on us for help?  This is why Paul is calling us to compare ourselves only to ourself and not to anyone else.  Paul wants us to compare ourselves only to the best of each of us like a marathon runner trying to improve their time each race they run.  Most people who run marathons know they aren’t going to win but they are only comparing themselves to their previous time.  They get better not by competing against someone else, only by competing against themselves do they improve.  And as Christians, we too should follow this example.  I found myself comparing my preaching style to others and would get frustrated that I could not do as well in some areas as others but then I realized that I do not need to compare myself to them.  I was not worried about carrying my own load, I was worried about how others carried theirs.  

The second topic from this morning’s scripture is one that we have all heard several times: we reap what we so but Paul wanted to reiterate the point that Jesus made in Luke 19.  Paul uses this opportunity to talk about the forgiveness of God and the scars that our sins may leave behind.  God is merciful and willing to grant us forgiveness but He does not change or alter the consequences of those sins.  For example, if someone were in a car accident and had a lot of cuts, the surgeon operating on them will stitch those cuts but there will still be scars.  God is like that surgeon in the sense that He will heal us of our sins but the consequences of those actions still remains.  This is why it is difficult for new and veteran Christians alike to maintain their faith because it is easy to assume that God will take care of the unforeseen consequences just like He does the sin and it is important for us to understand that this is not the case.  And this is why the analogy of reaping what we sow is so incredibly important.  Sure God will forgive us if we fall short, but we will only harvest what we have planted.  If a farmer is wanting to grow 36,000 corn plants per acre, they must plant that many to get them to grow.  Does it make much sense for a farmer to only plant 18,000 seeds per acre and hope that 36,000 corn plants come out of the ground?  No, not at all.  Our faith is the same way, we cannot hope that love, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, and self-control will manifest out of nothing if we do not plant those seeds first.  A common misconception about Christianity is that the world is much different after accepting Christ but the world does not change one bit, it is the person living in it that changes and now sees the world in a different light.  Paul makes a very important point in verse 9 as well by saying, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”  Going back to the analogy of the farmer, it is not enough for the farmer to to plant the seed.  The field must be taken care of and the seed nurtured.  Farmers do not plant the seed in a field and just hope for the best.  The ground is worked or sprayed and the fertilizer is put on so they can give the seed the best opportunity to grow.  A farmer is not done just because the seed is planted, they do not give up.  Our faith follows this analogy to the “T.”  We cannot just accept Christ and hope for the best without changing who we are or how we act.  We must see our faith through in every hardship and slip up and then, only then will be able to harvest a bumper crop.

The final topic that Paul talks about in our scripture this morning is the importance of our new creation found in Christ.  Paul knew that many people were getting circumcised only so they would fit into a certain category and those people wanted to reap the benefits of that group of people.  Paul’s focus was on the new creation that Christ’s saving grace allowed us to live in.  Again, this new creation that Paul is referring to is not found in the world or in any community, it is found only in the individual.  It changes how we hear the Holy Spirit, it changes how we live in this world and it changes how we see our fellow man in this world.  You are the new creation, not the world.  Paul wanted to make sure that the Galatians knew that they did not have to resort to being a believer like the Jews were believers.  They had received the Spirit and because of this they were a new creation.

If you find yourself wanting to become a new creation by throwing away the standards of this world and living by different set of standards you may do so today.  If you confess to Christ your sin and pledge to live according to will to the best of your ability then you too can become a new creation.  The consequences of your actions may not be changed but your sin is forgiven nonetheless.  If you slipped up, know that Christ and this congregation is here for you.  If there is something that you need help with, we are here to help you back to your feet.  In helping and giving to one another is where we find the true meaning of Christianity and the essence of Christ.  Amen.