Angelic Conflict part 347: Future work of Christ [Bema seat] – Gal 6:6-10; 1Co 9:3-12; 2Ti 3:1-5.

Class Outline:

Title: Angelic Conflict part 347: Future work of Christ [Bema seat] - GAL 6:6-10; 1CO 9:3-12; 2TI 3:1-5.

 

 

Review Col 3:

 

Paul himself had never been at Colosse; but one Epaphras, who was at that time a prisoner with him in Rome, had preached the gospel there with good success; and from him he learned that certain false teachers had endeavored to corrupt the minds of the Christians in that city. In opposition to this, and to secure the converts ni their faith, he wrote his Epistle to the Colossians, wherein he beautifully sets forth the Messiah, and all the benefits that will be bestowed on such as believe in him, as being the image of His Father, the Redeemer of all mankind, the reconciler of all things to God, and the Head of the Church, which gives life and vigor to all its members. He commends the doctrine preached to them by Epaphras, and exhorts them not to be led away by the reasoning's of human philosophy; and concludes with giving them a list of many chief and principal duties of a Christian life, especially such as respect the relations of husbands and wives, parents and children, masters and servants.

 

COL 3:1 If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

 

COL 3:2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.

 

COL 3:3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

 

COL 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.

 

COL 3:5 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.

 

COL 3:6 For it is on account of these things that the wrath of God will come,

 

COL 3:7 and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them.

 

COL 3:8 But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth.

 

COL 3:9 Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices,

 

COL 3:10 and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him

 

COL 3:11 — a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.

 

COL 3:12 And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;

 

COL 3:13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.

 

COL 3:14 And beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.

 

COL 3:15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.

 

COL 3:16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

 

COL 3:17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

 

COL 3:18 Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

 

COL 3:19 Husbands, love your wives, and do not be embittered against them.

 

COL 3:20 Children, be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord.

 

COL 3:21 Fathers, do not exasperate your children, that they may not lose heart.

 

COL 3:22 Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters on earth, not with external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.

 

COL 3:23 Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men;

 

COL 3:24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.

 

COL 3:25 For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality.

 

Before we close this point I would like us to read the rest of Galatians that we did not cover, as it is a perfect capstone to the subject of the Bema Seat of Christ.

 

The Galatian saints who have deserted grace for law, are exhorted to put themselves under the ministry of the teachers who led them into grace, and are warned that if they do not, they will reap a harvest of corruption (6:6-10).

 

GAL 6:6 And let the one who is taught the word share all good things with him who teaches.

 

"Is taught" refers to oral teaching.

 

"share" - koinwne,w[koinoneo] = to have in common, fellowship, to take part in. It refers to both sharing in truth and in materialism with the teacher of doctrine.

 

For the Galatians, many of them had been attempting fellowship with the legalistic Judiazers, having their commonality in the Law. This is an attempt at fellowship, but it is not true fellowship since the bond or connection is now in opposition to God. Therefore the Galatians where to share in common with the grace teachers that had taught them and so separate from the Judiazers. And certainly these teachers were to be supported by them as well and so the material aspect of the word is also in view. However, some refuse to believe that Paul would here mention the finances of their teachers because for some it is such a delicate subject, and it certainly would be for a church heavily influenced by legalism and so he may be referring to mental fellowship alone. On the other hand, Paul is not shy in stating the fact that a student growing in grace should support his teacher. It is so used in:

 

2CO 8:4

begging us with much entreaty for the favor of participation in the support of the saints

 

PHI 4:15

And you yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone

 

HEB 13:16

And do not neglect doing good and sharing; for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

 

Hence we have graciousness in serving one another with divine good as well as in giving materialistically. God will supply seed to the sower of both.

 

The Corinthians refused to support Paul and so he had this to say to them:

 

1CO 9:3 My defense to those who examine me is this:

 

1CO 9:4 Do we not have a right to eat and drink?

 

1CO 9:5 Do we not have a right to take along a believing wife, even as the rest of the apostles, and the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?

 

1CO 9:6 Or do only Barnabas and I not have a right to refrain from working?

 

1CO 9:7 Who at any time serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard, and does not eat the fruit of it? Or who tends a flock and does not use the milk of the flock?

 

1CO 9:8 I am not speaking these things according to human judgment, am I? Or does not the Law also say these things?

 

1CO 9:9 For it is written in the Law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing." God is not concerned about oxen, is He?

 

1CO 9:10 Or is He speaking altogether for our sake? Yes, for our sake it was written, because the plowman ought to plow in hope, and the thresher to thresh in hope of sharing the crops.

 

1CO 9:11 If we sowed spiritual things in you, is it too much if we should reap material things from you?

 

1CO 9:12 If others share the right over you, do we not more? Nevertheless, we did not use this right, but we endure all things, that we may cause no hindrance to the gospel of Christ.

 

Back:

GAL 6:7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.

 

The word "mocked" means to turn up the nose, to ridicule, to ignore, to sneer." The word when used rhetorically, referred to the betrayal of covert ill-will and contempt by cynical gestures in spite of fair words. It implies an outward avowal of respect neutralized by an indirect expression of contempt.

 

The thought which Paul wishes to press home to the Galatians is that it is vain to think that one can outwit God by reaping a harvest different from that which a person has sown.

 

Can a person outwit God by reaping a harvest different from that which he has sown?

 

The figure of sowing and reaping used for conduct, and its results, is frequent used.

 

2CO 9:7

Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food, will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness

 

Paul therefore warns the Galatians against being led astray by the Judaizers, and reminds them that they cannot outwit God in doing so, for it will lead to disaster in their lives and chastening from the hand of God.

 

A believer should not be shocked at what kind of fruit he is producing in life unless he is extremely ignorant of the truth. With truth we should thoroughly understand that whatever I invest in, whatever I plant, wherever I plant, I am going to reap the harvest of that particular seed. When good seed [positive believer] is put in good soil [plan of God for his life] and if furnished by the right power [doctrine and the FHS] then only good and right harvest can result. Abide in Me and you will bear much fruit.

 

GAL 6:8 For the one who sows to his own flesh shall from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit shall from the Spirit reap eternal life [benefits of in time].

 

The word to in the expressions, "to the flesh" and "to the Spirit," is from eis, which latter is not used here in its local use, for instance where seed is dropped into the ground, but in the sense of "with a view to." Sowing with a view to the evil nature refers to the act of a person choosing those courses of conduct that will gratify the cravings of the totally depraved nature. In other words, those who set their minds on the things of the flesh or the Spirit and so it refers to a purpose, a view, or a goal.

 

In this context, these words refer to the Galatians who in following the teachings of the Judaizers, catered to the desires of the evil nature. All false systems of religion are so adjusted that they appeal to the fallen nature of man, satisfying his religious instinct for worship, while at the same time allowing him to go on in his flesh since grace is the only cure.

 

A view to the flesh will reap an inferior condition. A view to the Holy Spirit will reap the blessings of EL in time, a superior condition.