The Baptist Church Manual by J. Newton Brown (1853) was used by churches across America for many decades. It contains this beautiful paragraph of covenantal commitment: “We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love; to remember each other in prayer; to aid each other in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy in speech; to be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation, and mindful of the rules of our Saviour, to secure it without delay.” Perhaps Brown had Galatians 6 in mind when he penned this charge.

As Paul nears the end of this letter, he continues his teaching on how to live out the Spirit-filled life of love. In today’s passage, he describes ways the Galatian Christians should serve one another. First, he instructs his “brothers and sisters” to gently restore any believer “caught in a sin” (v. 1). In 5:19–21, Paul had given a severe warning against “acts of the flesh.” The consequence was that “those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God” (5:21). But here Paul offers the hope of redemption. Forgiveness and restoration are possible and should be pursued with tenderness and caution.

Second, Paul gives the charge to “carry each other’s burdens” (v. 2). It is not simply a suggestion; it is a command. The word for “burden” is baros, meaning “a heavy weight or stone.” Paul paints a picture of mutual care where one believer loses strength and another believer takes on the load. This, says Paul, fulfills the “law of Christ” (v. 2), which stands in contrast to the Law of Moses.

Lastly, Paul calls the Galatians to have an honest view of self (v. 3). This involved rooting out arrogance, assessing their own motives, eliminating unhealthy comparison, and taking appropriate responsibility (vv. 4–5).

Donate to Today in the Word: https://give.todayintheword.org/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.