Phil Cox

Galatians, Chapter 6

Galatians, Chapter 6
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Galatians 6:7-10

Choose a Lifestyle

8th July 2011

The gospel is the offer of a free gift - forgiveness and adoption as children of God, paid for by Jesus Christ suffering in our place. But when we receive that free gift, we don't get a licence to sin as much as we like. To believe in God and to accept our need of forgiveness is also to repent - to choose to live the way we should. This is made clear in:

Galatians 6v7-8
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 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.

Sadly, some are deceived. They think of God's forgiveness as a blank cheque, rather than as a fresh start. Accepting God's saving grace must involve wanting to be saved from our sins, wanting to live clean and holy lives. It must involve hating the sinful past.

And sin costs. Sin is by nature destructive. If you become addicted to alcohol or drugs, you will pay a price. God may forgive you but you will still wreck your health. If you neglect your marriage vows, you will break your heart, along with the hearts of others. If you break the law, you are likely to be punished by the civil authorities. If you live solely for your own pleasure and comfort then, one day, you will look back on your life and realise that you wasted it.

To go on sinning regardless of God's word, after receiving his forgiveness for our sin, is to laugh in God's face. But God cannot be mocked. Punishment will follow.

We accepted God's grace because we wanted eternal life - God's life - for ourselves. How can we live lives that are destined for destruction?

Galatians 6v9-10
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

This is the Christian life: to trust in God, to worship Him and serve Him, to do good and never to stop. Here is God's promise: we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. We are to look for opportunities to do good - to all people. And especially to do good to those who belong to the family of believers - God's people.

As Arthur Wallis used to say: Sow an action, reap a habit. Sow a habit, reap a lifestyle. Sow a lifestyle, reap a destiny.