AfterWords: Galatians – Paul’s Final Admonitions

 

Galatians 6:1-10

Do you recall leaving home for the first time? Whenever we did, most of us got all of the advice Mom or Dad or someone could pour into us.

“Don’t stay out too late.” “Be sure to eat your veggies.” “Always wear clean underwear (in case you’re in an accident).”

I’m sure you could add to this list. Paul today gives his final words to the church in Galatia, his final words to his children in the faith, final words to guide them in living the life of faith from day to day, in the community and in the world.

The Inward Life – Paul begins begins—within. Within the family of faith, within ourselves:

“…if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path.” (v.1)

Sin is understood first as action and attitudes in our lives contrary to the will and Word of God, and the result is a broken relationship between us and God and/or between us and others. Sin separates. Here in today’s reading, “sin” is the Greek word is paraptomati—the idea of unintentionally lapsing into sin or separation. When one of us seems to be slipping, we are to gently restore the person, to guide the one slipping away back into the way of God.

This passage also reminds us that you and I may be the one slipping. You or I may be the very one who unintentionally gets off the path of life. Even as we may be quick to spot others, we need to check ourselves—are we staying on the path? While we may check ourselves, Paul tells us we also need to be open to our church family helping us. The church family must check us gently…with kindness and love…with kind and loving words to bring us back to the walk of faith.

The Outward Life – Paul also points us to the life outside of ourselves, outside of the congregation.

Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.  Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit…whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith. (v.7-10)

We cannot avoid the consequences of our own thoughts and behaviours: “You will always harvest what you plant.” If we sow our lives with hatred and fear, if we sow our lives with vengeance and one-up-manship, we will get what we sow:  a “harvest of decay and death.” Is this the harvest you want?

Or, do we want the “harvest of everlasting life,” the “harvest of blessing”? For a harvest of life, life to the full, lasting life, we must sow seeds of goodness. Wesley echoes this is his admonition to the people called Methodists:

“Do all the good you can,
 By all the means you can,
 In all the ways you can,
 In all the places you can,
 At all the times you can,
 To all the people you can,
 As long as ever you can.”

That covers every aspect of life—all the good you can, in every way you can, everywhere and all the time, to everyone, always. Then, Paul adds those final words: “…especially to those in the family of faith.”

What is that about? At least two things: 1) the world is watching us—the Church, Christians—and one of the most damaging things to our witness is when we treat our brothers and sisters badly, when we fail to do good to one another. 2) Then, Paul knows that the gathering of God’s people, the family of faith, we find our proving ground. This is when and where we really practice the living of faith. Paul correctly calls us to begin right here, right now, in the small and everyday things. The big and distant are also worthy of goodness, but if we can’t be good to one another here in the house of God, in the family of faith, isn’t something missing?

Conclusions – Paul’s message for us today: “Watch out for each other. Bring each other back to the path gently. Share the load of life together. Remember: You reap what you sow. Therefore, sow goodness—everywhere, in every way, all the time, all of your life. Start today, right where you are.”

Good words of admonition for us and for always. Amen

Sunday, July 19, 2026
Galatians – Paul’s Final Admonitions
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