9/9/16
The earliest Christians followed a Jewish tradition of pausing to pray, preferably together, first thing in the morning, about mid morning, at noon, about mid afternoon, and in the evening. “Just a Note” posts are brief observations made from Scripture readings not related to a lectionary. If I have one to post, it normally appears about 9:00 in the morning, at “the hour of prayer.”
Following logically on the heels of the prior paragraph, and, indeed, the entire letter, in Galatians 6:6-10 Paul speaks of the kind of help “you who are spiritual” (6:1, NKJV) would give to other believers who are entrapped in sin. We share with one another. The learner shares his goods with the teacher, the teacher shares his understanding and life with the learner. Yes, this passage does strongly suggest that learners should pay those who are teaching them Yet there is a sharing which goes both ways.
What kind of things do we share with one another? Verse 7 says that we tend to receive back something in accord with what we give. Though this idea could seem very similar to Karma or at least generate some sort of moralism, at heart it refers to the dynamic of Law and Gospel which we have seen previously. Verse 8 speaks of sowing from our works versus sowing spiritual seed. The comparison remains. Our works are attempts to work out our own salvation or maintain it based on our ability. That’s the person “who sows to his flesh” (v. 8, NKJV). The person “who sows to the Spirit” (v. 8, NKJV) is the one trusting in Jesus’ promise.
What do we do then? Do we do some sort of works? In a way we do. In verse 10 the outcome is that we do good, especially for Christians. That’s the way the Gospel works itself out. As usual, Paul doesn’t give us a list of good works we are supposed to do. He simply assumes that the Holy Spirit will work out those details just fine.
If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.
The earliest Christians followed a Jewish tradition of pausing to pray, preferably together, first thing in the morning, about mid morning, at noon, about mid afternoon, and in the evening. “Just a Note” posts are brief observations made from Scripture readings not related to a lectionary. If I have one to post, it normally appears about 9:00 in the morning, at “the hour of prayer.”
Following logically on the heels of the prior paragraph, and, indeed, the entire letter, in Galatians 6:6-10 Paul speaks of the kind of help “you who are spiritual” (6:1, NKJV) would give to other believers who are entrapped in sin. We share with one another. The learner shares his goods with the teacher, the teacher shares his understanding and life with the learner. Yes, this passage does strongly suggest that learners should pay those who are teaching them Yet there is a sharing which goes both ways.
What kind of things do we share with one another? Verse 7 says that we tend to receive back something in accord with what we give. Though this idea could seem very similar to Karma or at least generate some sort of moralism, at heart it refers to the dynamic of Law and Gospel which we have seen previously. Verse 8 speaks of sowing from our works versus sowing spiritual seed. The comparison remains. Our works are attempts to work out our own salvation or maintain it based on our ability. That’s the person “who sows to his flesh” (v. 8, NKJV). The person “who sows to the Spirit” (v. 8, NKJV) is the one trusting in Jesus’ promise.
What do we do then? Do we do some sort of works? In a way we do. In verse 10 the outcome is that we do good, especially for Christians. That’s the way the Gospel works itself out. As usual, Paul doesn’t give us a list of good works we are supposed to do. He simply assumes that the Holy Spirit will work out those details just fine.
If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.
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