Angelic Conflict part 337: Future work of Christ [Bema seat] – Gal 5:13-6:5; Eph 4:17-24.

Title: Angelic Conflict part 336: Future work of Christ [Bema seat] - GAL 5:13-6:5; EPH 4:17-24.

 

 

a. The Bema seat of the church, 2CO 5:10. Identifying good and bad things.  

 

GAL 6:1 Brethren, even if a man is caught in any trespass [overtaken by sin rather than premeditated sin], you who are spiritual, restore [used for a dislocated limb restored to its place which requires tenderness] such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, lest you too be tempted.

 

"caught in any trespass" - to be caught up or taken unawares in a false step or blunder.

 

This does not mean to be caught by another witness of the blunder but to be taken unawares or overtaken by the blunder. Trespass is the Greek word paraptoma and it means a false step or a blunder therefore it refers to a stumbling block and is the antithesis of walking by means of the Spirit, which in GAL 5:25 is stoicheo which means to walk in a straight line.

 

Certainly there is in this verse the knowledge of the blunder by others and they are commanded not to challenge them or to judge them but to restore them to the fellowship in a spirit of gentleness. I believe this is best done without a word and if any words are used they are words of comfort and encouragement and gentleness and patience. Harsh judgment, legalistic bullying, self-righteousness are all evil and will lead to sin on behalf of the accuser, hence, "looking to yourself, lest you too be tempted."

 

What was the issue with the Galatians? Judiazers had infiltrated their congregation and had spread legalism in the form of righteousness obtained through the Mosaic Law. So if any man was caught up in a trespass he was condemned by the others who had followed the Judiazers and Paul was asking those who still lived under grace by freely receiving power through the Spirit and doctrine restore them in a spirit of gentleness so that they might see, through further learning of the word of grace, that their attempt to live out the plan of God in the flesh would only result in sin and misery.

 

The legalists in Galatia were operating like GAL 5:25-26:

 

GAL 5:25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk [in a straight line; not blundering in attempting to execute the plan of God in the flesh] by the Spirit.

 

GAL 5:26 Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.

 

GAL 6:1 Brethren, even if a man is caught in any trespass [overtaken by sin rather than premeditated sin], you who are spiritual, restore [used for a dislocated limb restored to its place which requires tenderness] such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, lest you too be tempted.

 

GAL 6:2 Bear one another's burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ.

 

The grace oriented believers understand the spiritual warfare of their fellow brethren especially when they are failing and their ability to forgive and encourage that failing believer to restore himself to that granite foundation of grace is a tremendous act of divine good in the body of Christ and stands in great contrast to the condemning legalist who only adds further burdens.

 

The law of Christ has agape love as its capstone.

 

ROM 15:1 Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves.

 

ROM 15:2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to his edification.

 

ROM 15:3 For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached Thee fell upon Me." [PSA 69:9]

 

Agape love takes the reproach due to another and does good to his neighbor.

 

The supernatural and superhuman quality of this love demands the power of the indwelling Spirit and copious quantities of the word of God.

 

GAL 5:13 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

 

GAL 5:14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, " You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

 

GAL 5:15 But if you bite and devour one another, take care lest you be consumed by one another [occupation with people and not Christ].

 

GAL 6:1 Brethren, even if a man is caught in any trespass [overtaken by sin rather than premeditated sin], you who are spiritual, restore [used for a dislocated limb restored to its place which requires tenderness] such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, lest you too be tempted.

 

GAL 6:2 Bear one another's burdens [in context - their blunders], and thus fulfill the law of Christ.

 

Yet the legalist:

 

MAT 23:4-5

"And they tie up heavy loads, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger. But they do all their deeds to be noticed by men

 

GAL 6:3 For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. [this attitude is the quencher of agape love]

 

GAL 6:4 But let each one examine his own work [dokimazo = test for purity], and then he will have reason for boasting [glorying] in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another.

 

When his own work is examined for purity and not in comparison to some other to whom he thinks himself superior then he will rejoice in his own virtue.

 

GAL 6:5 For each one shall bear his own load.

 

The believer knows he has his own susceptibility to certain sins and though we are all to bear the burdens of others in forgiveness and grace we must also do the same for ourselves so that we do not walk in guilt or self-condemnation, both of which produce mental attitude sins by the truck-load.

 

Knowing our own accountability to God and the call to a God-honoring life and our own burden with sin and imperfection will remove the inclination to compare ourselves with others.

 

GAL 5:16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.

 

GAL 5:17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.

 

GAL 5:18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.

 

We are not under the Mosaic Law; not any part of it.

 

Of this verse L.S. Chafer comments in his Systematic Theology, vol. 6, p. 171-172.

 

What better interpretation can be made of the text ... (GAL 5:18) than that the life is not only personally directed by the Holy Spirit to its last detail, but is contact with a living Person rather than mere conformity to a set of rules? [L.S. Chafer, Systematic Theology]

 

He continues...

No attainment in Christian experience is more effective or far-reaching in its instructive value than that of coming to know God—not merely to know about Him, but to experience the rest to the soul which such intimate acquaintance with God engenders. In this connection, the importance of not separating MAT 11:27 fROM 11:28 may be seen.

 

MAT 11:27-30

"All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son, except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father, except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.

 

Spirituality cannot be defined properly as conformity to a set of rules; it is communion, cooperation, and compliance with a sovereign Person. The principle of law may easily become a major hindrance to the spiritual life. God does indicate in His Word that particular manner of life which becomes the spiritual believer and God recognizes the believer’s limitations in understanding. [end quote]