We are working through Galatians 6, Paul’s conclusion to a very essential letter. By the liberty we have in the Holy Spirit the church is freed from the law of the Old Covenant. Still, we are responsible to fulfill the “law of Christ.” (cf.v.2) This is how we live out the grace that has saved us and avoid the legalistic tendencies of our old man. The theme of these verses is Restoration. We are navigating vv.1-10 in three parts: Last time was Part 1 - Concerning Others, vv.1-2. Part 2 - Considering Ourselves, vv.3-6. Part 3 - Controlling Opportunity, vv.7-10. Concerning Others, v.1-2. Restore each other from sin. (1) Bear one another’s burdens. (2) Considering Ourselves, v.3-6. We will not be able to bear each other’s burdens until we have a proper, gospel-based view of self. If you make the mistake of v.3, you will not be able to do the work of vv.1-2. (3) Thus, we must consider ourselves. This is the second part of Biblical Restoration. Part 1 - Concerning Others. Part 2 - Considering Ourselves. Deceiving. (3) When I’ve deceived myself into thinking I am something, though I am nothing…I become too self important to bear someone else’s burdens. Paul doesn’t say, “He deceives other people.” No, “he deceives himself.” As a general rule, other people find him out; they learn what he really is. But “he deceives himself.” (Spurgeon) At this point, you’ve lost a “servants heart” and can’t even realize the needs of others in this respect. What must we do to prevent this? (Scriptures to help) Galatians 5:13-16, “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. 16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” Romans 12:3, “3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” John 15:5, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” Philippians 2:5-7, “ 5Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:” We’ve deceived ourselves — if ever — we cannot afford to put down our own burdens to carry another’s. Those needing restoration will need our time, will change our plans, and rearrange our schedules. Helping them requires the kinds of sacrifices that we will make only if we consider them more important than ourselves. We’ve deceived ourselves when we begin to think we are something special. (Conceited) What are we then? Nothing. 1 Cor. 13:1-3, “1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.” When we think we are something, when we are nothing, we’ve deceived ourselves! Considering ourselves, when conceited, we need proving. Proving. (4-5) If I only ever put myself up against the works of others, I can always find someone who leaves me room for conceit. But against Jesus, against God’s holy standard, I am nothing. So we all are to prove ourselves, grade our own work. By what standard? v.2 - the law of Christ. When we grade ourselves against the law of Christ, we become able to rejoice in our work rather than in others’ failures. “…encouragement over our progress in sanctification is to be derived not by comparing ourselves to others but by reviewing our growth from earlier immaturity, which the Spirit has granted.” (Sproul) “True self-examination is not merely taking one’s spiritual pulse…on a regular basis but rather submitting one’s thoughts, attitudes, and actions to the will of God and the mind of Christ revealed in Holy Scripture.” (George) We each will stand before God alone. (5) On that day we cannot point to others and say, “Look how much better I am than they.” God evaluates us individually. No excuses. Christ alone. We must first be sure we are right with God before we can help others. God has given you a unique set of gifts for your situation in life. You will not have to answer for what you might have done with someone else’s gifts. But you, and you alone, will have to answer for the way you carry the responsibilities that God has given you. As the church, we each, to some extent, are each other’s responsibility. (cf.2) But, says Stott, “There is one burden that we cannot share … and that is our responsibility to God on the day of judgment. On that day you cannot carry my pack and I cannot carry yours.” Burden here is load — Load means “backpack” and signifies the responsibilities that each of us carries around. It is also the common term for the cargo a ship is designed to carry. It is improper for us to compare ourselves to a sinning Christian and to feel superior to him. Rather, we are to look at the normal, day-to-day responsibilities each of us carries around and feel a permissible good pride when we are fulfilling them responsibly. (4b) Sharing. (6) There are two thoughts at play here, one financial and the other doctrinal. There should be a constant sharing of doctrine among those who make up a local church. Those being taught should share “all good things” with their teacher. All Christians need to have been those who have received “instruction in the word”. The Greek word for “taught in the word” is the katechoumenos; one who is catechized. (κατηχέω - katecheo) Here is a specific expectation within the church for there to regular, specific, instruction in doctrine. “This shows how important it was for new converts to be given a body of Christian doctrine (catechism), which was taught to them by an “instructor”.” (Keller) This is why we use the Baptist Confession of Faith in the form of a Catechism (a set of q&a) each week. People cannot live out what they have not been taught. Churches must be teaching us all how to live holy. Parents must be teaching their children. Fathers must be teaching their wives and children. Part of biblical restoration is instruction in the Word. Conclusion: Do you have a proper, gospel-based view of yourself? Or are you deceiving yourself? Are you content being conceited, putting your works up against others? Or are you proving yourself against the law of Christ? Are you being taught in the Word?