Galatians 5:25–6:5 - In Step with the Spirit

Have you ever seen or taken part in a three-legged race? One person’s right leg is strapped to another person’s left leg, and they have to run in unison. They have to be in sync. If they get out of step with each other, they can’t move forward, but with some time and effort, two people can run as one.

In some ways, the three-legged race is comparable to our relationship with God. In a three-legged race, one person must set the pace and take the lead. The other person then aims to match the pace. In a similar way, God leads in our relationship with Him. He sets the pace with His ways and His will and by His Spirit.

But the influence of sin can get us out of sync with Him.

That’s why Paul says, “let us also keep in step with the Spirit.” This means, “let’s proceed with God.” Notice verse 25 again. He says, “If we live by the Spirit,” which is to say, “if, by the Spirit’s power, we have been brought from spiritual death to life,” or “if, by the Spirit, we have been brought into union with Jesus Christ,” then, “let us also go forward with the Spirit.”

If you have begun with God in Christ, then continue with Him. If He has started His redemptive work in you, then let Him carry on with it. This happens as we abide in Christ, always fixed on the grace and knowledge of Jesus, and as we walk by the Spirit, being led and fed by God.

Those things may sound vague or subjective, but they really are not. In Scripture, God has prescribed His means for leading and feeding us. He has ordained the Christ-exalting preaching, teaching, and reading of His Word, along with the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper – as well as prayer –  as His means for strengthening our faith in who Jesus is and what He’s done.

Having His written Word, with His Holy Spirit dwelling in us, and through these prescribed means, God keeps His people on pace with Him. This is how He shapes spiritually healthy Christians and churches.

These verses today serve as something of a measurement for us, to gauge how in sync with God we are as believers and as a local body of Christ. Notice the outline on page 6. Keeping in step with the Spirit gives us a right understanding and application of three biblical realities:  dignity, mercy, and responsibility.  So, as the Spirit forms Christ in us and bears His fruit in us, we will increasingly know and do God’s will as it pertains to each of these.

Now, look again at verse 26. Paul writes, “Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.” To be conceited is to be excessively proud or driven by a need to boast. Someone who is conceited thinks and makes much of themselves. One scholar defines conceit as being “eager for empty glory.” This is a person who is self-obsessed and self-important.

Do people like that bother you? Probably, which leads to Paul’s next thought: “provoking one another.” This seems to involve irritating others with our self-importance. This is making others angry with our vain attitude.

And notice Paul adds “envying one another.” Vanity and envy are very closely related. When someone is obsessed with themselves, they are normally obsessed with comparing themselves to others. When we get caught up in comparison, I want what you have, you want what I have.

There’s a theme in this verse of comparison and competition. And where those things are present, there is a dysfunctional view of human dignity. What do I mean by “dignity?” I mean, your sense of worth. Your personal sense of value as an individual.

What is your reason for holding your head up high? What gives you your sense of belonging in the world? What’s the foundation of your self-esteem?

All of us naturally establish our dignity in something. Is it your talents, your looks, your education, your career, your family, your children? Is it your money, your reputation, your friends, your awards or accomplishments? Is it your politics? Your intellect? Your theology? We find our worth in things like this and by comparing ourselves with others in these areas.

Actually, that’s what was happening in the Galatian church. This “comparison game” was going on with the keeping of OT ceremonial laws. You must understand: all people can get sucked into playing this game. At the heart of it is vanity.

You may think, “Oh, vain people are those who think so highly of themselves? True, but it’s also vain to have a low view of yourself. Comparison generates high self esteem and low self esteem. It is vain to think, “I’m so amazing! I’m doing so great!” But it’s also vain to think, “I’m so worthless.” Both have the same problem: dignity established on self rather than God.

Scripture says God made you “in His own image.” So, you are not worthless. No human being is worthless. They are created in the image of the one true God. At the same time, God’s Word is clear that we are all naturally sinners. No one is righteous, not even one. And freedom from sin’s control and condemnation is by God’s grace alone. Otherwise, we could boast.

Furthermore, every opportunity and ability you have is God’s grace toward you. You didn’t decide where to be born or how to be born. And if you are in Christ, you didn’t decide to be born again. That was God’s grace.

So, we should be profusely humble, but we’re naturally proud and vain. We need the Holy Spirit of God to form the humility of Jesus Christ in us. Jesus was God the Son, “but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

In the Roman empire, death on a cross was intended to strip someone of their dignity. They could kill someone almost instantly. The cross publically humiliated people. The cross said, “Behold this worthless individual.” Christ the Lord died on such a cross.

If you have trusted in Christ, you are in union with Him. Therefore, your dignity is secured in Him. And so is the dignity of every believer. As God leads and feeds us with His means of strengthening our faith in Christ, we will keep in step with the Spirit, and we’ll have a right understanding and application of dignity. Conceit, provoking, and envy will wither and die. And we will see ourselves and each other as God sees us in Christ.

Now, there’s a logical flow of thought that continues in verse 1: “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.” This describes someone who has been “surprised by sin” and faces ruin. Those who are governed by the Spirit should attempt to help the person with an attitude of patience and understanding.

Here’s another reason not to think highly of ourselves: anyone can fall. And so we must deal mercifully with those who fall into sin. Restoration to Christ is the goal.

There are two things in view here that will keep us from dealing with sin as we should. One is thinking highly of ourselves, and the other is caring mainly about what other people think. On one hand, we’re in danger of not being gentle. But on the other hand, we’re in danger of not getting involved or being tolerant of sin. Both approaches misunderstand biblical mercy. We can be harsh with those who fall, or we can just avoid the problem.

Consider God’s approach. On the one hand, He’s kind and loving toward sinners. He’s gracious, and His kindness leads us to repentance. On the other hand, God has dealt justly with sin. He doesn’t overlook it. The Lord Jesus Christ took the punishment for sin upon Himself.

And for that reason, God does not punish His people, but, in love, He does chasten or discipline us in order to form the humility of Christ in us. God is merciful in His grace toward sinners and merciful in His discipline for our sin.

We need God to give us a right understanding and application of mercy, and as He leads and feeds us with His means of strengthening our faith in Christ, He will, and we’ll keep in step with the Spirit. Then we will have both the gentleness and the sober-mindedness that we need as we deal with sin in our lives and in the lives of others in the body of Christ.

Now look at these final verses. Hopefully you’re seeing this progression of thought. Within the church, when we have a biblical understanding of dignity, so that we see each other as made in God’s image and righteous in Christ – and when we have a biblical understanding of mercy, so that we are help those who fall into sin with both compassion and commitment knowing that we’re no better than them – then the following is possible, see verse [2]. Paul says, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

When we are able to see and apply God’s truth about dignity and mercy, we will be able and willing to endure the weight of each other’s troubles. Doing so shows the sacrificial love of Christ. Jesus commanded us to love God and love each other. Bearing one another’s burdens fulfills that command.

And look at verse [3] “For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.” Now, I already said we have this great dignity in Christ. So what does Paul mean by “when he is nothing?” Well, we are nothing apart from God’s grace towards us. To think otherwise is delusional. It’s all grace.

And this perspective that we are “something” – that we are so great – is based on comparing ourselves to other people, and not to Christ. Notice verse [4] “But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. [5] For each will have to bear his own load.” The meaning here is simply that we shouldn’t compare ourselves to each other. You should just focus on what God has given you and how to be a good steward of it, because, in reality, the standard is Christ. The standard is perfect obedience to God.

We think we’re something until we’re measured next to the Lord Jesus Christ. We think our accomplishments are impressive until we compare our hearts to Christ. He deserves all glory and honor for all we are and all we have and all we accomplish.

Test your work against the holy work of Christ Jesus. Test your character and faithfulness against His. Test your motives and your thoughts and desires against His righteous record.

Is the biblical understanding and application of responsibility coming into focus? In Christ, we have a responsibility to each other in the church, and we have to take responsibility for ourselves before God with – Christ alone as our standard.

As God leads and feeds us with His means of strengthening our faith in Christ, the Holy Spirit roots out conceit, envy, harshness, selfishness and boastfulness, and He installs gentleness, compassion, and devotion to each other.

As we all grow in the grace and knowledge of who we are in Christ, and as we grow in the grace and knowledge of what Christ has done for us, the Spirit turns this into a lush vineyard filled with good fruit.

The person and work of Jesus Christ is central all the way. He ascribed dignity to His people through His saving work, He had mercy upon His people through that saving work, and He took responsibility for His people through His glorious work of salvation. These verses fit perfectly with the theme of the book of Galatians: Christ alone must be our hope. Him alone, with nothing beside.

Have you believed in Jesus Christ in this way? Do you know that you have Christ? The biblical standard of dignity, mercy, and responsibility puts us to shame, but “the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in Him will not be put to shame.” Look always to Jesus, and He will keep you in sync with the God of your salvation.

Let’s bow in prayer.