Galatians 5:13-26,
13 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.”
15 But if you bite and devour one another, take care lest you be consumed by one another.
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.
19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,
20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,
21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
26 Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.
Galatians 6:1-5,
1 Brethren, even if a man is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, lest you too be tempted.
2 Bear one another’s burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ.
3 For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
4 But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another.
5 For each one shall bear his own load.
Paul is saying we are called to freedom but should never use that freedom to obtain the desires of the flesh. We should rather use it to serve one another. We are not to be in competition with each other, instead, we should be looking out for each other. Even to the point that if we see a brother or sister trespass, we should be gentle with them and try to help them overcome their trespasses. In so doing, we will be bearing one another’s burdens.
Jesus alludes to this in Matthew 23:11, “But the greatest among you shall be your servant.”
Paul also warns us to be careful not to lift ourselves up to be something we’re not, but rather to walk humbly and care for one another.
We have been called and born into the family of God, and God is love. We now live by the perfect law, the law of liberty.
James 1:25,
25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man shall be blessed in what he does.
James 2:12-13,
12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty.
13 For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.
The whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.”
Again, our God is love; bear one another’s burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ.
Jon David Banks, God’s most unworthy servant
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org
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