Galatians 6

Paul said that we should bear each other's burdens and correct one another in gentleness. If we do so in the Spirit, then we will reap eternal life as a reward, but if we do so of our own accord, the only reward we get will come from ourselves.

More important than what we do is why we do it. If we want God to honor what we do, we must be sure to do it for Him. He does not reward us for doing the right thing for selfish or self-centered reasons. Do everything for the glory of God.

Galatians 5

Paul wrote that when we we try to earn redemption by following the law, we reject the work done by Christ and are no longer under grace. We are free from the law, but that freedom is tempered with a commandment to love one another. Paul called the evidence of that love in our lives the fruit of the Spirit and listed the qualities as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Just because we are no longer under the law doesn't mean we are not accountable. We are still to lead lives pleasing to God, but out of love and not obligation. We can see this love lived out in our lives and the lives of others when we see the fruit of the Spirit described by Paul.

Galatians 4

Paul wrote about being heirs to God's kingdom. Under the law, we are like children with an inheritance to come, but still under a set of rules. Christ came to offer us the full inheritance so we can fully receive His blessings and be set free from the burden of the law.

The law was meant to prepare the Israelites for the coming inheritance Jesus brought. Just like children have rules to follow that are meant to shape them for adulthood, so also was the law designed to shape God's people for receiving the ultimate gift of salvation. Putting ourselves back under the law makes us slaves rather than heirs to the kingdom of God.

Galatians 3

Paul wrote about how we are saved through faith and not the law. He showed that even Abraham was justified by his faith and not by keeping the law. The law was needed to keep order until God's ultimate plan was revealed in Jesus. Through Him, salvation has been made complete and there is nothing we can add to or take away from His work on the cross.

So many people want to work their way to heaven. They believe if they do enough good deeds or go to church once in a while or at least don't do anything really bad that if there is a God, He'll let them into heaven. God has quite a different view. His standard is perfection; a standard none of us could ever hope to meet. Christ is the only person who has ever or will ever live a perfect life on Earth and only through faith in Him does He extend that covering of perfection over us so that God can see us as holy through His Son. When we reject the truth of salvation through faith alone, we reject the One who set the standard as well.

Galatians 2

Paul recounted going to the elders in the Christian church at Jerusalem to tell them what he had been teaching to the Gentiles. He also told of how he handled a disagreement with Peter, another apostle.

Here are two good examples of how we should proceed in our lives. First, we should share what we are doing with someone whose opinion we trust so that our actions can be confirmed with a second party or we can receive counseling if we are going down a wrong path. Second, we need to learn the correct way to disagree with someone. We need to confront them and try to help them right their course. Most importantly, all of this must be done in love.

Galatians 1

Paul warned the Galatians about people who came teaching false gospels. He said they take the true gospel of Christ and distort it. The true gospel is something that is not of men, but of God and is not preached in order to win the favor of men, but to honor and glorify God.

God's message of salvation is non-negotiable. We cannot add to it or take away from it to suit ourselves or others. The only choice we have is to accept it or reject it. Once we make changes, we have rejected it by default. Anyone who changes the word of God and tries to share it with others is a false teacher and should be exposed as such. Believers need to be wise enough to spot false teachers and avoid them so they will not be led astray.