THE FAKE GOSPEL

GALATIANS 6:6-16

LAST WEEK

God wants us to know stuff because he wants us to become stuff and do stuff.

Look at the context and you will discover the meaning.

GALATIANS 6:6-16

1Brothers, if someone gets caught up in some kind of sin, those of you who are spiritually strong should try to restore that person in a spirit of gentleness. You should also be watchful in case you are tempted yourself. 2You need to bear one another’s burdens because in this way you are fulfilling the command of Christ. 3If anyone considers himself special when he isn’t, he is only fooling himself. 4Each person should test their own actions themselves. When you do that you can take satisfaction in your own progress without comparing yourself to someone else. 5Each of us must accept personal responsibility for our own journey.

GALATIANS 6:6-16

1. When someone gets mixed up in this legalistic stuff gently help them back to knowing Jesus

2. Don’t allow yourselves to be fooled by the persuasiveness of this religious rubbish.

3. Take up the burdens of others as if they were your own.

4. Being right and being the best doesn’t make you special, so don’t start fooling yourself.

5. Keep taking responsibility for your own journey lest you start to believe you are the person with all the answers.

Get a picture of what is going on

GALATIANS 6:6-16

6The person who is taught God’s word should respond by sharing

their worldly goods with the person who provides the

instruction. 7Don’t be deceived for a moment. God will not be

mocked. Whatever someone sows he will also reap.8The one

who puts effort into satisfying the desires of anti-God human

nature will reap its corruption. The one who puts effort into the

things of the Spirit will reap eternal life.

What is it there for?

GALATIANS 6:6-16

9Let us not become weary in doing these good things. We will

eventually reap a harvest as long as we don’t give up. 10So every

time we get the chance let us do good to everyone especially

those who belong to the family of believers.

FOUR QUESTIONS

FOUR QUESTIONS

What information are we given?

What is God wanting us to know about?

What would it look like if this were happening?

What do I need to do for this to happen?

GALATIANS 6:6-16

11Do you notice what large letters I am using as I write with my

own hand? 12The ones who are trying for force you to be

circumcised are doing it just to try and look good in the eyes of

other people. And they want to avoid the persecution that

comes when you embrace the real gospel message centred on

the cross of Christ.

GALATIANS 6:6-16

13The irony is that the people who make a fuss about this don’t

really keep all of the law anyway. They want to focus your

attention on circumcision so that when you comply they can

boast about what you have done. 14I don’t ever want to boast

about anything except the work of Jesus on the cross. Because

of this the world is crucified to me and I am crucified to the

world.

GALATIANS 6:6-16

15The reality is that whether you are circumcised or not makes

no difference. What matters is becoming a transformed person. 16May peace and mercy be upon everyone who has determined

to live in this way. They are the ones who qualify as chosen

instruments of God, the new Israel.

INFORMATION

1. Circumcision (religious acts) by themselves don’t mean anything and don’t represent anything worthwhile.

2. Becoming a new transformed person is what really matters.

3. People who are doing this should be untroubled by all of the intimidation happening.

4. People who are experiencing this will live lives that represent God and his purposes.

5. These people are the ones that God has always wanted to have on the earth.

WHAT IS GOD WANTING ME TO KNOW

1. Don’t get caught up in making religious issues the main focus

2. Allow Him to make me a new person.

3. He wants me to be free from getting embroiled in religious (etc.) controversies.

4. God wants to use me to fulfill his purposes

5. This is everything to do with who I am and why I am here.

WHAT WILL LOOK LIKE

1. I will be focusing on things that enable transformation rather than religious culture.

2. I will be being transformed and helping others to be transformed

3. I won’t get involved in religious/cultural controversies.

4. I will be fulfilling God’s purposes

5. I will be God’s person, working among God’s people to see God’s purposes fulfilled.

WHAT DO I NEED TO DO

1. Check and make sure I am not putting emphasis on religious, cultural or traditional values.

2. Focus on what I need to trust God to change in me and not avoid something because I can’t do it.

3. I will avoid all useless controversies over religious, culture and tradition.

4. I will give my attention to what God wants to do through myself and those I am teamed with.

5. I will rejoice in the fact that I am a child of God.

THE FAKE GOSPEL

GALATIANS 6:6-16