Today’s Sermon Notes: 12-28-2025
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Grace Abounds
A Sermon Series Through the Book of Galatians
“What It Means To Be Spiritual”
Galatians 5:26-6:10
Introduction
Jesus told a parable in Luke 18:11-14, “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed1 thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Being Spiritual Involves An Accurate Understanding of Oneself (5:26)
26 Let us not become conceited[1], provoking one another, envying one another.
Being Spiritual Involves Restoring and Bearing (6:1-5)
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. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 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.
In 1 Corinthians 3:1, “But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, 3 for you are still of the flesh.”
Matthew 4:21 “And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, . . .” The goal is restoration not condemnation.
2 Corinthians 4:18 ff., “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”
Church is a team sport not an individual event.
Matthew 22:35-38 “And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Expertise, Execution, Evaluation
How do we measure success? “his reason to boast will be in himself alone,”—
Being Spiritual Involves Receiving What You Have Earned (6:6-10)
6 Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. 7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
Ultimately, we will have to bear the responsibility for our own behavior
10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
[1] Literally, “vainglorious”
[2] John MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, Galatians (Chicago Illinois; Moody Press, 1987) 175.
[3] Timothy Keller, Galatians For You (United States, The Good Book Company, 1013) 166.
[4] Philip Graham Ryken, Reformed Expository Commentary, Galatians (Philipsburg, New Jersey; P&R Publishing, 2005) 245.
[5] Archibald Thomas Robertson, Word Pictures In The New Testament, Volume IV (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman Press, 1931) 315.
[6] MacArthur, 181.
[7] Frederick Rendall, The Expositor’s Greek Testament, Volume III (Grand Rapids, Michigan; WM B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1967) 189.
[8] Gerald L. Borchert, Cornerstone Bible Commentary, Galatians (Carol Stream, Illinois; Tyndale House Publishers, 2007) 330.
[9] Keller, 177.
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