Gálatas 6

John Phillips · Citado em PreceptAustin

Gálatas 6

Phillips - But in Christ it is not circumcision or uncircumcision that counts but the power of new birth. NET Galatians 6:15 For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that matters is a new creation! GNT Galatians 6:15 οὔτε γὰρ περιτομή τί ἐστιν οὔτε ἀκροβυστία ἀλλὰ καινὴ κτίσις. NLT Galatians 6:15 It doesn't matter whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation. KJV Galatians 6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. ESV Galatians 6:15 For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. ASV Galatians 6:15 For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. CSB Galatians 6:15 For both circumcision and uncircumcision mean nothing; what matters instead is a new creation. NIV Galatians 6:15 Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation. NKJ Galatians 6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation. NRS Galatians 6:15 For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything; but a new creation is everything! YLT Galatians 6:15 for in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation; NAB Galatians 6:15 For neither does circumcision mean anything, nor does uncircumcision, but only a new creation. NJB Galatians 6:15 It is not being circumcised or uncircumcised that matters; but what matters is a new creation. GWN Galatians 6:15 Certainly, it doesn't matter whether a person is circumcised or not. Rather, what matters is being a new creation. BBE Galatians 6:15 For having circumcision is nothing, and not having circumcision is nothing, but only a new order of existence. For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision: Ga 5:6 Ro 8:1 2Co 5:17 1Co 7:19 but a new creation.: 2Co 5:17 Eph 2:10 4:24 Col 3:10,11 Rev 21:5 See comments on the New Birth in John 3:3 Galatians 6 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries THE ONLY THING THAT COUNTS THE NEW BIRTH, A NEW CREATION For (gar) is a term of explanation - What is Paul explaining?

Gálatas 6

Phillips - Don't be under any illusion: you cannot make a fool of God! Amplified - Do not be deceived and deluded and misled; God will not allow Himself to be sneered at (scorned, disdained, or mocked by mere pretensions or professions, or by His precepts being set aside.) [He inevitably deludes himself who attempts to delude God.] NET Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived. God will not be made a fool. For a person will reap what he sows, GNT Galatians 6:7 Μὴ πλανᾶσθε, θεὸς οὐ μυκτηρίζεται. ὃ γὰρ ἐὰν σπείρῃ ἄνθρωπος, τοῦτο καὶ θερίσει· NLT Galatians 6:7 Don't be misled-- you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. KJV Galatians 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. ESV Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. ASV Galatians 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. CSB Galatians 6:7 Don't be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows he will also reap, NIV Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. NKJ Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. NRS Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow. YLT Galatians 6:7 Be not led astray; God is not mocked; for what a man may sow -- that also he shall reap, NAB Galatians 6:7 Make no mistake: God is not mocked, for a person will reap only what he sows, NJB Galatians 6:7 Don't delude yourself: God is not to be fooled; whatever someone sows, that is what he will reap. GWN Galatians 6:7 Make no mistake about this: You can never make a fool out of God. Whatever you plant is what you'll harvest. BBE Galatians 6:7 Be not tricked; God is not made sport of: for whatever seed a man puts in, that will he get back as grain. Do not be deceived: Ga 6:3 Job 15:31 Jer 37:9 Ob 1:3 Lu 21:8 1Co 3:18 6:9 15:33 Eph 5:6 2Th 2:3 Jas 1:22,26 1Jn 1:8 3:7 God is not mocked;: Job 13:8,9 Jude 1:18 for whatever a man sows: Job 4:8 Pr 1:31 6:14,19 11:18 Ho 8:7 10:12 Lu 16:25 Ro 2:6-10 2Co 9:6 Galatians 6:7 Sowing and Reaping - Great Texts of the Bible Galatians 6:7 Do Not Be Deceived - Sparkling Gems from the Greek - Rick Renner Galatians 6 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Click here for much more in depth discussion of Galatians 6:7 - there is some repetition of that material on this page DON'T THUMB YOUR NOSE AT GOD! Thumb your nose - A sign of derision made by putting your thumb on your nose and wiggling your fingers. Original motion created by placing ones thumb upon the side of their nose and pushing out as if giving thumbs up. Guaranteed to offend. A synonymous expression, which is more common in British English, is to cock a snook. This expression originated in the first half of the 1900s.This rude gesture was common for children to do in the past. It was a way of mocking someone. Similar antics included sticking out one’s tongue (with or without blowing a raspberry) or chanting the mocking song na na na na naaa naaa. You cannot snub God and get away with it! You may think you are escaping His just judgment, but this is why it is called deception and self-deception is the worst kind of all! Robert Louis Stevenson said it this way… “Sooner or later in life, we all sit down to a banquet of consequences.” Lloyd Ogilvie writes that… The Interpreter’s Bible refers to this section as Paul’s call for Christians to engage in “the agriculture of the Spirit.” That is a colorful and suggestive thought which aptly describes what Paul is talking about. The law of the harvest is relevant to our spiritual development and describes our destiny. A well-known Baptist preacher, R. G. Lee, had a famous sermon he preached hundreds of times, all over America, “Payday Someday.” (Read sermon) The title alone is gripping and captures the truth. (The Preacher's Commentary) Do not be deceived - This is a command preceded by a negative (present imperative with a negative) which can mean stop something already in practice (being deceived) or don't begin this practice. In the case of the Galatian believers, it seems quite likely that some were already falling for the seductive, flesh pleasing, legalistic teachings of the Judaizers. Do not be deceived (4105) (planao from plane which describes "a wandering"; English = planet) means literally made to wander and so to go (active sense) or be led (passive sense as of sheep in Mt 18:12-13) astray. This same verb is used in a similar sense in 1 Cor 15:33 "Do not be deceived (planao in present imperative with a negative): “Bad company corrupts good morals.” That warning would certainly be apropos in the context of the "bad company" of the Judaizers. Paul warns Timothy about the last days writing that "evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving (planao in present tense and active voice = volitional choice to lead others astray) and being deceived (planao in present tense and passive voice).(2 Ti 3:13) So these false teachers sow deception, but are continually reaping self-deception (and when you are deceived, you don't know you are deceived! Think of Jim Jones and his self-deception that led to the murder of many and the loss of his life. He was deceived!) God is not mocked is mukterizo (from mukter = the nose, nostril) and literally means to turn up one’s nose and thus pictures the idea of scorn. Hence the idea is to turn one's nose up to God, in a vain attempt to mock, deride, sneer, ridicule or treat Him with contempt. How foolish to think one can make a fool of God! Turning one's nose up at God does not alter the immutable law of the harvest! THE IMMUTABLE LAW OF THE HARVEST Immutable means not subject or susceptible to change or variation in form, quality, or nature, For - Term of explanation. Paul explains the clear cause-effect. As an aside Galatians 6:7-8 are a great practical application of Galatians 5:16ff, for it begs the question are we living by the flesh or walking by the Spirit? Whatever a man sows - Whatever would include thoughts, words or deeds. Stop a moment and ask "What am I planting in each of these areas?" We are planting seeds all day long, every day, for each day is filled with manifold choices and each choice is either leaning toward the flesh or toward the Spirit. There is no neutral "field" for our seed choices! Earlier Paul had declared "those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." (Gal 5:24) In the present passage, the idea is one is gratifying the flesh, not crucifying it! Sows (4687) (speiro from spao = draw out, pull) literally means to scatter (seed) and the opposite of reaping or gathering. Speiro is used figuratively to describe the sowing of the "seed" of the Word of God, the Gospel (="the word of the kingdom" - Mt13:19, cp Mk 4:14 15, 16, 18), "the ideas and precepts that have been implanted like seed in their hearts, ie, received in their hearts (Mk 4:18)." (Thayer). Jesus used speiro repeatedly in His parables (Mt 13:3, 18, 24, 31) Matthew Henry said it well "Our present time is seed-time: in the other world there will be a great harvest. We shall reap then as we sow now." This he will also reap - This is an unbreakable promise, an immutable principle in God's order. It applies to both believers and non-believers. While God commands us to be holy, we should not be surprised that we are seeing little growth in holiness if we are frequently sowing seeds to our fallen flesh. One of the deceptive aspects of sowing and reaping is that one almost never reaps the same as he has sown. Think of it this way - an acorn is a very small seed, but when it is sown, it will bring forth a large tree! We can choose the seed we sow but we cannot choose the consequences that seed will reap. In Hosea 8:7 we read "For they sow the wind And they reap the whirlwind." Notice that the reaping comes after a period of time and is greater (whirlwind) than what was sown (wind)! Do not be deceived beloved. Sowing seeds to sin will yield a harvest that is more than you could have imagined. Let this truth be an impediment to giving in quickly to those strong seductive urges to commit some sin, falsely thinking, "It's only a little sin. No one else will know. No one will be hurt," etc goes the self-deceptive false logic! God always knows and always sees. Hidden sin on earth is open scandal in heaven! Daniel Webster said "The most awful thing he knew was the recognition of his accountability to God." (cf Ro 14:12) THOUGH the mills of God grind slowly, Yet they grind exceeding small; Though with patience He stands waiting, With exactness grinds He all. --Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Reap (2325) (therizo from théros = summer, harvest time ~ time of harvests) conveys the picture of cutting ripe grain and gathering the bundles together. To reap, to harvest, harvest, reaping. The tissues of the life to be We weave with colors all our own; And in the field of Destiny We reap as we have sown. -W H Griffith-Thomas Charles Eade (1814–1884) is apparently responsible for the first version of the famous quote… Sow an act, and you reap a habit. Sow a habit, and you reap a character. Sow a character, and you reap a destiny. Here is the "amplified" version by Samuel Smiles… Sow a thought, and you reap an act; Sow an act, and you reap a habit; Sow a habit, and you reap a character; Sow a character, and you reap a destiny. I think Samuel Smiles' addition ("Sow a thought, and you reap an act") is vitally important to consider, for indeed the law of sowing and reaping (whether the harvest is good or bad) is set in motion by our thought life! Little wonder that in Philippians 4:8-note Paul commands (present imperative) the believers at Philippi to continually pursue "righteous reckoning"("dwell on" = logizomai [word study])! THOUGHT - How is your thought life? What do you think about? Are you in the Word of truth daily so that God's truth might be in you, renewing your mind (2Co 4:16, Ep 4:23+, Col 3:10+), setting you free (Jn 8:31, 32, 36), washing you clean from the polluting thoughts and images of our morally decaying society, transforming your mind into conformity with the mind of Christ (1Co 2:16, Ro 12:2+)? If not, do not be surprised when thoughts come into your mind (cp Ep 6:16+) that reap an evil act and may even "bloom" into an evil habit! Set a guard continually at the doorway of your heart (Pr 4:23+). May our daily "obsession" be for the Savior's disposition, His thoughts and His outlook, as we cry out, even in desperation,… Lord of every thought and action, Lord to send and Lord to stay; Lord in speaking, writing, giving, Lord in all things to obey; Lord of all there is of me, Now and evermore to be. Amen --E. H Swinstead Lovett on HARVEST. Not only is it true that a man can only get back what he sows, he must get it from the same field in which he sows. Yet many Christians believe they can sow to the flesh, i.e., live to suit themselves in this life and still reap a joyous harvest for heaven. It just won’t work. God’s Law will not bend to the whims of men. Those investing their lives in earthly things such as fame, families and fortune, will reap a harvest that is useless in eternity. Even worse, they will watch it go up in smoke at the Judgment (1 Cor. 3:15). The man who sows to the Spirit, (his new nature), investing himself in others in Jesus’ Name, will reap a crop in heaven which he may enjoy forever. A man’s two natures are like two fields. The crops are being sown in this life, to be reaped at death. (Lovett's lights on Galatians) Rob Salvato says the law of reaping and sowing is immutable irregardless of whether we believe it or not. He goes on to say that "Its like the guy who denied the law of gravity - just didn't believe it applied to him and so he decided to prove it. He climbed to the top of a twenty-story building and dove off. His last words were heard as he sailed past a guy on the third floor, "Hey, nothing's happened yet!" Paul says God is not mocked!" (Sermon) Illustration of Reaping - The Emperor Charlemagne wanted to have a magnificent bell cast for the church he had built. An artist named Tancho was employed by the church to make it. He was furnished, at his own request, with a great quantity of copper, and a hundred pounds of silver for the purpose. He kept the silver for his own personal use, however, and substituted in its place a quantity of highly purified tin. When the work was completed, he presented the bell to the Emperor, who had it suspended in the church tower. The people, however, were unable to ring it. So Tancho himself was called in to help. But he pulled so hard that its tongue fell down and killed him, reaping what he had sown! Elliot

Gálatas 6

Phillips - A man's harvest in life will depend entirely on what he sows. If he sows for his own lower nature his harvest will be the decay and death of his own nature. But if he sows for the Spirit he will reap the harvest of everlasting life by that Spirit. Amplified - For he who sows to his own flesh (lower nature, sensuality) will from the flesh reap decay and ruin and destruction, but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. NET Galatians 6:8 because the person who sows to his own flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. GNT Galatians 6:8 ὅτι ὁ σπείρων εἰς τὴν σάρκα ἑαυτοῦ ἐκ τῆς σαρκὸς θερίσει φθοράν, ὁ δὲ σπείρων εἰς τὸ πνεῦμα ἐκ τοῦ πνεύματος θερίσει ζωὴν αἰώνιον. NLT Galatians 6:8 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. KJV Galatians 6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. ESV Galatians 6:8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. ASV Galatians 6:8 For he that soweth unto his own flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth unto the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap eternal life. CSB Galatians 6:8 because the one who sows to his flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. NIV Galatians 6:8 The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. NKJ Galatians 6:8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. NRS Galatians 6:8 If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh; but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit. YLT Galatians 6:8 because he who is sowing to his own flesh, of the flesh shall reap corruption; and he who is sowing to the Spirit, of the Spirit shall reap life age-during; NAB Galatians 6:8 because the one who sows for his flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows for the spirit will reap eternal life from the spirit. NJB Galatians 6:8 If his sowing is in the field of self-indulgence, then his harvest from it will be corruption; if his sowing is in the Spirit, then his harvest from the Spirit will be eternal life. GWN Galatians 6:8 If you plant in the soil of your corrupt nature, you will harvest destruction. But if you plant in the soil of your spiritual nature, you will harvest everlasting life. BBE Galatians 6:8 Because he who puts in the seed of the flesh will of the flesh get the reward of death; but he who puts in the seed of the Spirit will of the Spirit get the reward of eternal life. For the one who sows to his own flesh: Ro 6:13 8:13 13:14 Jas 3:18 will from the flesh reap corruption Pr 22:8 Jer 12:13 Ho 10:13 2Pe 2:12,19 Rev 22:11 but the one who sows to the Spirit : Ga 6:7 Ps 126:5,6 Ec 11:6 Isa 32:20 Jas 3:18 will from the Spirit reap eternal life: Mt 19:29 Lu 18:30 Joh 4:14,36 6:27 Ro 6:22 1Ti 1:16 Tit 3:7 Jude 1:21 Galatians 6 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Click here for much more in depth discussion of Galatians 6:8 - there is some repetition of that material on this page For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption - In short, if you want to live for self, to gratify self, to go for all the "gusto" you can get, to really "live it up," to live as if you only go around once, etc, etc, THEN you can mark it down -- Your life can be characterized by one word - DECAY! What a legacy you will leave to your children, relatives and friends! A life that in the scales of eternity not only amount to absolutely nothing but even worse is like decay, like decaying garbage. This sounds harsh, but sadly it will be the reality for many souls who reject the free gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus. Wouldn't you like your life to count for eternity? Then believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved (Acts 16:31+) and you will then be able to live life with an eternal perspective! Sows (4687) (speiro from spao = draw out, pull) literally means to scatter (seed) and the opposite of reaping or gathering. Flesh (4561) (sarx) in the present context refers to its moral/ethical or spiritual sense which is typified by an outlook toward self, a propensity/predilection to commit sin, an active adversity/opposition to God and a relentless pursuit of one's own ends in self-sufficient, independence from God. John Piper defines the fallen flesh as "the old ego that is self-reliant and does not delight to yield to any authority or depend on any mercy. Flesh craves the sensation of self-generated power and loves the praise of men… in its conservative form it produces legalism -- keeping rules by its own power for its own glory… (in its more liberal form) produces grossly immoral attitudes and acts (Gal 5:19ff+) The flesh is the proud and unsubmissive root of depravity in every human heart which exalts itself subtly through proud, self-reliant morality, or flaunts itself blatantly through self-assertive, authority-despising immorality. (Walk by the Spirit!) John Stott explains that "Every time we allow our mind to harbor a grudge, nurse a grievance, entertain an impure fancy, wallow in self-pity, we are sowing to the flesh. Every time we linger in bad company whose insidious influence we know we cannot resist, every time we lie in bed when we ought to be up and praying, every time we read pornographic literature, every time we take a risk that strains our self-control we are sowing, sowing, sowing, to the flesh." (Stott, J. R. W. The message of Galatians) Reap (2325) (therizo from théros = summer, harvest time ~ time of harvests) conveys the picture of cutting ripe grain and gathering the bundles together. To reap, to harvest, harvest, reaping. Corruption - decomposition or rotting of an organism and the accompanying stench! The utter depravity of the fallen flesh and the resultant moral decomposition of the world opposed to God is driven by it sinful lusts or evil desires. Corruption (5356) (phthora from phtheíro = to shrivel or wither, spoil , ruin , deprave, corrupt , defile, to destroy by means of corrupting, to spoil as does milk. Ethically phtheiro was the opposite of sozo) refers to a state of ruin or destruction with the picture of deterioration, dissolution, disintegration, ruin, perishing, decay or rotting like organic matter (breakdown of organic matter). Phthora was sometimes used of decaying food, which turns from that which is beneficial to that which is harmful. But - Term of contrast. And what a glorious contrast it is. Believers who choose to sow to the flesh reap temporal corruption! Non-believers have no choice but to sow to the flesh and reap eternal corruption! The one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life - Spiritual sowing does not result in saving one's soul, but does show one's soul to be saved. To the Spirit (pneuma) - Almost all commentators agree this is pneuma with a capital "S", the Holy Spirit and not the human spirit, for only the Holy Spirit could bring about supernatural results (eternal life) (cp Jn 6:63, Ro 8:6+). Eternal life is not so much about time (eternity is timeless) but is about a quality of life and while it will not be fully realized until Heaven, this quality of life is available now to every believer in Jesus Christ. If you are a believer, you are already experiencing a foretaste of eternal life! In short, eternal life speaks of both the present possession and the future hope (absolute certainty of future good) of all believers See John Piper's discussion of "Eternal Life" in the comments on Galatians 6:9-10. Life (2222) (zoe) in the present context refers to supernatural life in contrast to a life subject to eternal death (Jn 3:36). This quality of life speaks of fullness of life which alone belongs to God the Giver of life and is available to His children now (Ro 6:4+, Ep 4:18+) as well as in eternity future (Mk 10:30, Titus 1:2+). As

Gálatas 6

Phillips - Let us then do good to all men as opportunity offers, especially to those who belong to the Christian household. Amplified - So then, as occasion and opportunity open up to us, let us do good morally] to all people [not only being useful or profitable to them, but also doing what is for their spiritual good and advantage]. Be mindful to be a blessing, especially to those of the household of faith [those who belong to God’s family with you, the believers]. NET Galatians 6:10 So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who belong to the family of faith. GNT Galatians 6:10 ἄρα οὖν ὡς καιρὸν ἔχομεν, ἐργαζώμεθα τὸ ἀγαθὸν πρὸς πάντας, μάλιστα δὲ πρὸς τοὺς οἰκείους τῆς πίστεως. NLT Galatians 6:10 Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone-- especially to those in the family of faith. KJV Galatians 6:10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. ESV Galatians 6:10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. ASV Galatians 6:10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us work that which is good toward all men, and especially toward them that are of the household of the faith. CSB Galatians 6:10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, we must work for the good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith. NIV Galatians 6:10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. NKJ Galatians 6:10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. NRS Galatians 6:10 So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith. YLT Galatians 6:10 therefore, then, as we have opportunity, may we work the good to all, and especially unto those of the household of the faith. NAB Galatians 6:10 So then, while we have the opportunity, let us do good to all, but especially to those who belong to the family of the faith. NJB Galatians 6:10 So then, as long as we have the opportunity let all our actions be for the good of everybody, and especially of those who belong to the household of the faith. GWN Galatians 6:10 Whenever we have the opportunity, we have to do what is good for everyone, especially for the family of believers. BBE Galatians 6:10 So then, as we have the chance, let us do good to all men, and specially to those who are of the family of the faith. So then, while we have opportunity: Ec 9:10 Joh 9:4 12:35 Eph 5:16 Php 4:10 Col 4:5 *Gr: Tit 2:14 let us do good to all people: Ps 37:3,27 Ec 3:12 Mt 5:43 Mk 3:4 Lu 6:35 1Th 5:15 1Ti 6:17,18 Tit 3:8 Heb 13:16 3Jn 1:11 especially to those who are of the household of the faith: Mt 10:25 12:50 25:40 Eph 2:19 3:15 Heb 3:6 6:10 1Jn 3:13-19 1Jn 5:1 3Jn 1:5-8 Galatians 6 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Click here for much more in depth discussion of Galatians 6:10 - there may be some repetition of that material on this page WHILE WE HAVE OPPORTUNITY So then, while we have opportunity - Notice the time sensitive word "while" which is defined "as a period of indeterminate length (usually short) marked by some action or condition." The point is that we don't know how long we will have opportunity to do good, but we do know that when we breath our last breath, that time is over forever. God has set boundaries around our lives, and our opportunity (a state of affairs or combination of circumstances favorable to some end) for service exists only within those boundaries. We are to make the most of our time on this evil earth in fulfilling God’s purposes, lining up every opportunity for useful worship and service. As discussed below the English word opportunity comes from the Latin and means “toward the port.” It suggests a ship taking advantage of the wind and tide to arrive safely in the harbor. The brevity of life is a strong argument for making the best use of every opportunity God gives us. If you are continually filled with and walking by God's Spirit (Eph 5:18+, Gal 5:16+), He will enable you to be on "high alert" for spiritual opportunities which you can seize before they are gone. What opportunities are passing before you today? How will you respond? Walk wisely. Be filled with the Spirit. Redeem the time! We don't want to be like Mark Twain who said "I was seldom able to see an opportunity until it had ceased to be one." It takes only a moment to be kind, but the result can last forever Alexander Graham Bell said that "When one door closes, another one opens, but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one that has opened for us." ILLUSTRATION - A farmer's clock ran amuck one morning and struck seventeen. The man of the house jumped up and ran all over the place, saying, "Get up, it's later than it ever has been before!" It is later than it ever has been by God's eternal timepiece. It is later than you think. We do not know how long we have Till time for us is past, So let us live as if this day Is going to be our last. —D. De Haan To spend time wisely, invest it in eternity. Opportunity (same word translated "time" in Gal 6:9) (2540) see preceding note on kairos. Paul uses kairos to exhort the saints at Ephesus to make "make the most of your time, because the days are evil. (Eph 5:16+) Our goal as believers is to enter into those works that He has already prepared for us, for those are the only eternally lasting and "good" works. The idea of kairos is that God gives each believer opportunities - each new day brings its opened doors, its vast potential. It behooves believers to live in such a way that we are sensitive to when God gives us one of those "kairos" opportunities, because when it passes, it is gone. We can achieve our potential in His service only as we utilize those opportunities He has given us. If this admonition was urgent during Paul's day, how much more urgent today! Billy Graham once said that "Life is a glorious opportunity, if it is used to condition us for eternity. If we fail in this, though we succeed in everything else, our life will have been a failure." (Let us do good to all people - Read Billy Graham's "missed opportunity" with President John F Kennedy - Billy Graham) The following quote from Napoleon illustrates the idea inherent in kairos: “There is in the midst of every great battle a ten to fifteen minute period that is the crucial point. Take that period and you win the battle; lose it and you will be defeated.” William Law (1686-1761) offers an interesting, practical insight on opportunity, encouraging believers to "Receive every inward and outward trouble, every disappointment, pain, uneasiness, temptation, darkness, and desolation, with both thy hands, as a true opportunityand blessed occasion of dying to self (Mk 8:34), and entering into a fuller fellowship with thy self-denying, suffering Savior (Php 3:10+). Look at no inward or outward trouble in any other view; reject every other thought about it, and then every kind of trial and distress will become the blessed day of thy prosperity. That state is best, which exerciseth the highest faith in and fullest resignation to God." Chuck Swindoll put it this way - We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations. L P Jacks - The pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; the optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty. John Ruskin (1819–1900) - Sojourn in every place as if you meant to spend your life there, never omitting an opportunity of doing a kindness, speaking a true word, or making a friend. Let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith - Paul includes himself in this exhortation ("let us"), even in light of all the good he had done. He knew the eternal value of the good we do in this life. Our good deeds on earth do not earn any favor with God, but in His amazing, magnanimous grace, in Heaven and forever God will reward us for those deeds. O, how we need to live each day as if we truly believed this were true, for IT IS! Do (ergazomai) is in the present tense and so calls for continuous activity to accomplish or bring about some good through work. This will require dependence on the Holy Spirit in Whom Paul had just commanded them to continually walk (Gal 5:16) and be led by (Gal 5:18). Good works cannot be produced by self-effort or self-reliance but only by the good Spirit working in us to initiate and enable those good works. So the order is - First, BE filled, BE walking by the Spirit. Second, DO the good works. Let us do (Accomplish) (2038)(ergazomai from ergon = work) means to engage in an activity involving considerable expenditure of effort. To work effectively. The NT uses ergazomai in a literal (to do manual labor) and figurative (especially spiritual - see below) sense. To labor, do work. Ergazomai speaks of "an action as something that stands in contrast to inactivity or talk." (Richards) Ergazomai is often used to describe work in a spiritual sense, implying supernatural work, work that God does, work that God (His Spirit indwelling believers) energizes in and through His children, work that lasts for all eternity! (Jn 5:17, Jn 6:27, Jn 9:4) ILLUSTRATION: Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel awoke one morning and read his own obituary in the local newspaper. It read, “Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, who died yesterday, devised a way for more people to be killed in a war than ever before, and he died a very rich man.” It was Alfred’s older brother who had died; a newspaper reporter had bungled the epitaph. But that account had a tremendous impact on Nobel, who decided he wanted to be remembered for something different. As a result, he initiated the Nobel Prize to reward individuals who foster peace. He said,“Every man ought to have the chance to correct his epitaph in midstream and write a new one.” C. T. Studd emphasized the importance of making your one life count for the Lord when he wrote.... Two little lines I heard one day, Traveling along life’s busy way; Bringing conviction to my heart, And from my mind would not depart; Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last. Only one life, yes only one, Soon will its fleeting hours be done; Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet, And stand before His Judgement seat; Only one life,’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last. Only one life, the still small voice, Gently pleads for a better choice Bidding me selfish aims to leave, And to God’s holy will to cleave; Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last. Only one life, a few brief years, Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears; Each with its days I must fulfill, living for self or in His will; Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last. When this bright world would tempt me sore, When Satan would a victory score; When self would seek to have its way, Then help me Lord with joy to say; Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last. Give me Father, a purpose deep, In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep; Faithful and true what e’er the strife, Pleasing Thee in my daily life; Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last. Oh let my love with fervor burn, And from the world now let me turn; Living for Thee, and Thee alone, Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne; Only one life, “twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last. Only one life, yes only one, Now let me say,“Thy will be done”; And when at last I’ll hear the call, I know I’ll say “twas worth it all”; Only one life,’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.” Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last. And when I am dying, how happy I’ll be, If the lamp of my life has been burned out for Thee.” Kent

Gálatas 6:7

Phillips: Don't be under any illusion: you cannot make a fool of God! A man's harvest in life will depend entirely on what he sows. (

Gálatas 6:8

Phillips: If he sows for his own lower nature his harvest will be the decay and death of his own nature. But if he sows for the Spirit he will reap the harvest of everlasting life by that Spirit. (

Gálatas 6:9

Phillips: Let us not grow tired of doing good, for, unless we throw in our hand, the ultimate harvest is assured. (

Gálatas 6:10

Phillips: Let us then do good to all men as opportunity offers, especially to those who belong to the Christian household. (

Gálatas 6:14

Phillips: Yet God forbid that I should boast about anything or anybody except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, which means that the world is a dead thing to me and I am a dead man to the world. ( Phillips: Touchstone) TLB: As for me, God forbid that I should boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in all the attractive things of the world was killed long ago, and the world’s interest in me is also long dead.