Galatians 5:24

“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature”

The verb is in the active voice. Meaning you did it.

Other places in reference to you being crucified is in the passive voice (Gal. 2:20)

Galatians 5:25

“Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”

“keep in step” is “stoichomen” and comes from “stoichos” which means “a row” and so translates as to walk in a line or to keep in step as you march in the battle ranks.

Used in Romans 4:12 of falling in line with the faith of Abraham.

Note: In Gal.5:16 the word for “walk” was “peripeteite” and means a habitual conduct or lifestyle. It is a different word with different meaning and communicates a different concept of the Christian life.

Galatians 5:26

“Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.”

“conceited” is “kenodoxoi”

· notice the second word “doxoi” or “glory”

· the first word “keno” means “empty”

o it implies hollowness and the lack of contents

o it does mean the absence of good but also includes then the presence of evil since man’s moral nature does not remain a vacuum

· together they mean “emptyglory” or our word “vainglory”

· It is man who is pursuing the glory of God for himself

The person who has created a vacuum in his soul by pursuing the glory of God for himself will manifest the evil he has sucked into himself in two ways:

1) Provoking others

a. “provoking” is “prokaloumenoi” and means “to call forth to a challenge”

b. This manifest itself by stirring up strife between others and yourself or stirring up strife between others.

2) Envying others

Paul’s teaching is once again brought to the point of being applicable. He has described the mystical union and power of the Spirit. But, what are we to do with it?? He now tells us how we will be able to use this abstract concept to manifest God in our daily lives.

The first situation Paul uses is when you find yourself in the presence of another believer who has suddenly slipped into a sin. Do you:

a) Pretend you did not notice the sin, because it is an awkward position

b) Deal with the situation in such a way that does not bring attention to the sin because we all know we will want someone to overlook our sin some day, maybe even today.

c) We respond in “love”, by “forgiving” the sin, smiling like nothing happened because “love” would never make someone feel uncomfortable.

d) Quickly point out the sin and rebuke it so as to cut it off at its roots and so fulfill our role as the local “sin-dicator”. This way we maintain our “purity” and “holiness”.

e) As soon as possible “warn” the other believers of this “stain” that is among us. While doing this it is only logical that you draw attention to the fact that you were the one that recognized this “evil” and that it never even occurred to your “righteous” self that such a thing could be done by a believer.

Galatians 6:1

“If someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently.”

“Caught” is the word “prolamphtha” (prolhfqh)

• Notice the prefix “pro” which means “in front of, before, prior to”
• This word means to be taken by surprise by a sin or to be overpowered before he can escape. It means he was “hurried into error” and surprised himself by his sin.

“Spiritual” refers to those who meet the criteria of being in fellowship or “in step” with the Spirit of God. These verses might help remind us what Paul has in mind for the Spiritual person in the book of Galatians:

3:2

3:3

3:5

3:14

4:6

5:5

5:16

5:18

5:25

“Restore” is “katartizete” means “to restore, to correct.”

• It is a medical term used as a surgical term for setting bones or joints.
• Also in some contexts of strengthening and sustaining people who have become weary. (Rev.3) (Ep. 4:12)
• Mixing medicine
• A sailor preparing his boat for a journey (similar to Rom. 9:22; Heb10:5 and 11:3)
• A fisherman fixing his net (Mk. 1:19)
• A politician compromising to bring to separate parties into unity

The Correct Answer:

You would deal with it like a doctor deals with a broken arm. The pain and inability to function is the result of a problem on the inside. It is something that can be fixed.

The mature (spiritual) believer will be able to make the correct diagnosis and fix the problem.

The immature (fleshly) believer will do a variety of things that never address the problem:

• Tell the person to stop having a broken arm.
• Give the person a list of “legalistic” exercises to do to strengthen the broken bone and prove that it is “saved”
• Remove that person since they are useless with a broken arm.

6:1 “But watch yourselves, or you may also be tempted.”

“Watch yourselves” is singular and is addressing each of us as individuals to watch our own self.

“Watch” is “skopon” (skopwn) and means to watch attentively.

• Vincent quotes Schmidt as saying: “To direct one’s attention upon a thing, either in order to obtain it, or because one has a peculiar interest in it, or a duty to fufill toward it.”
• The verb form is present tense which indicates a continuous action of being very diligent to pay sharp attention to yourself.

“tempted” is “peirasthas” (peirasqhV) and means to try, to attempt.

• “peirasthas” can refer to a trial from God or a temptation from the sin nature (James 1)

Galatians 6:2

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Galatians 6:3

“If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.”

Galatians 6:4

“Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else.”

Galatians 6:5

“For each one should carry his own load.”