Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Do not be deceived?
Galatians 6:7
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.
The more I study God’s word the more I see how man has perverted His word and therefore painted & proclaimed a God that is not our true Creator. Although I think for the most part many have done this unintentionally. I have done this in the past and I am sure there are many things I believe now that is not true to who our Creator is.
How many times have you heard a teacher/pastor/preacher or a “loving” brother use Gal. 6:7 to try to scare a believer to repentance? If I really believed that I would reap corruption from everything I have done or will do that is bad, I would be scared to leave the house, because I make mistakes everyday, much less say and do things at times that I know are wrong.
Have any of us really reaped everything we deserve from everything we have sown or done?
I don’t think so; if we had we would be nothing but a smear on the floor if God gave us everything our sin and mistakes should have reaped.
But the passage is clearly saying that WHATEVER a man sows. This means everything we have sown, even mistakes that we make; we WILL reap because God is NOT mocked. I believe with all my heart that God is not nor will ever be mocked. I also believe that there are consequences for most sin that we commit, but that is not what this verse is saying. Consequences for most sin does not even come close to what this verse is saying. Lets say I get a speeding ticket and you get a warning and our friend doesn't even get stopped. Both of us getting stopped is a consequence of our speeding, but did we both reap what we sowed by speeding, did our friend reap what he sowed, not even close.
This verse can’t be talking about eternal punishment for sin because God clearly has laid on Christ the sin of us all. This verse can’t be talking to unbelievers because Paul is clearly talking to believers. If God is not mocked and we will reap what we sow then I conclude that the sowing and reaping here must be a specific act and does not pertain to every thing we sow whether intentionally or unintentionally.
Context, context, context lets look at the context and see if many people take this verse out of context to portray a God that is determined to give us what we deserve for every mistake, bad choices and intentional sowing of things we know we shouldn’t here on earth.
Galatians 6:6-10
6The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him. 7Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. 8For 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.9 Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. 10So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.
It is very clear from verse 6 what the sowing is in the context of this often misused verse 7. Paul is telling the Galatians and us that we are to share all good things with those who teach us God’s word. I posit this sharing is support, such as money, food, clothing, and encouragement to those who teach us.
I believe God is telling us if we spend our money on things that our flesh loves, the things of this world, while letting those who teach and preach the gospel of God struggle to make a living, then we will from the flesh reap corruption for everything or whatsoever we sow to the flesh that should have went to our pastors and anyone who teaches us that are depending on God’s people for support. Notice Paul said “from the flesh” we will reap corruption, he did not say from God we will reap corruption. However we should not deceive ourselves and think God will overlook this. This would be same as mocking God and I think God saying in this passage that He will not be mocked, especially when it comes to taking care of those who have given their lives up here on earth for the sake of Christ & the gospel.
So let us take this verse as a warning from God when it comes to taking care of His ministers and teachers that teach us and let us also take this verse as a promise that in due time we will reap eternal things from what we sow to the Spirit out of love in giving to those who teach us.
Let us not take this verse out of context and use it in attempting to motivate believers by fear to repentance and therefore portray our Creator has a God that is determined to make sure He gets even with us for everything we do. It is God’s kindness that leads us to true repentance.
I think it grieves the heart of God for us to listen to the enemy of our souls and believe that the same God, who loves us enough to humble Himself and come to earth and pay our sin debt while we were yet sinners, would be so set on making sure we reaped everything or whatsoever we sowed. I think it is the grace of God that keeps us from reaping everything we sow. I think it is the same grace that lets people take a verse like this out of context without letting them reap what they have sown.
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.
The more I study God’s word the more I see how man has perverted His word and therefore painted & proclaimed a God that is not our true Creator. Although I think for the most part many have done this unintentionally. I have done this in the past and I am sure there are many things I believe now that is not true to who our Creator is.
How many times have you heard a teacher/pastor/preacher or a “loving” brother use Gal. 6:7 to try to scare a believer to repentance? If I really believed that I would reap corruption from everything I have done or will do that is bad, I would be scared to leave the house, because I make mistakes everyday, much less say and do things at times that I know are wrong.
Have any of us really reaped everything we deserve from everything we have sown or done?
I don’t think so; if we had we would be nothing but a smear on the floor if God gave us everything our sin and mistakes should have reaped.
But the passage is clearly saying that WHATEVER a man sows. This means everything we have sown, even mistakes that we make; we WILL reap because God is NOT mocked. I believe with all my heart that God is not nor will ever be mocked. I also believe that there are consequences for most sin that we commit, but that is not what this verse is saying. Consequences for most sin does not even come close to what this verse is saying. Lets say I get a speeding ticket and you get a warning and our friend doesn't even get stopped. Both of us getting stopped is a consequence of our speeding, but did we both reap what we sowed by speeding, did our friend reap what he sowed, not even close.
This verse can’t be talking about eternal punishment for sin because God clearly has laid on Christ the sin of us all. This verse can’t be talking to unbelievers because Paul is clearly talking to believers. If God is not mocked and we will reap what we sow then I conclude that the sowing and reaping here must be a specific act and does not pertain to every thing we sow whether intentionally or unintentionally.
Context, context, context lets look at the context and see if many people take this verse out of context to portray a God that is determined to give us what we deserve for every mistake, bad choices and intentional sowing of things we know we shouldn’t here on earth.
Galatians 6:6-10
6The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him. 7Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. 8For 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.9 Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. 10So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.
It is very clear from verse 6 what the sowing is in the context of this often misused verse 7. Paul is telling the Galatians and us that we are to share all good things with those who teach us God’s word. I posit this sharing is support, such as money, food, clothing, and encouragement to those who teach us.
I believe God is telling us if we spend our money on things that our flesh loves, the things of this world, while letting those who teach and preach the gospel of God struggle to make a living, then we will from the flesh reap corruption for everything or whatsoever we sow to the flesh that should have went to our pastors and anyone who teaches us that are depending on God’s people for support. Notice Paul said “from the flesh” we will reap corruption, he did not say from God we will reap corruption. However we should not deceive ourselves and think God will overlook this. This would be same as mocking God and I think God saying in this passage that He will not be mocked, especially when it comes to taking care of those who have given their lives up here on earth for the sake of Christ & the gospel.
So let us take this verse as a warning from God when it comes to taking care of His ministers and teachers that teach us and let us also take this verse as a promise that in due time we will reap eternal things from what we sow to the Spirit out of love in giving to those who teach us.
Let us not take this verse out of context and use it in attempting to motivate believers by fear to repentance and therefore portray our Creator has a God that is determined to make sure He gets even with us for everything we do. It is God’s kindness that leads us to true repentance.
I think it grieves the heart of God for us to listen to the enemy of our souls and believe that the same God, who loves us enough to humble Himself and come to earth and pay our sin debt while we were yet sinners, would be so set on making sure we reaped everything or whatsoever we sowed. I think it is the grace of God that keeps us from reaping everything we sow. I think it is the same grace that lets people take a verse like this out of context without letting them reap what they have sown.
Comments:
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I had to read this a couple of times but I think we agree. There's no way this passage could apply to sin. It's speaking to our life's work as believers. Great post brother.
I agree but from my own life experience, I feel that this passage can relate to sin and what you will have to deal with because of the bad decision "seed" you have made "planted". God is not mocked, don't think you can sin and not see repercussions. Yes, we are forgiven but we will still feel and see the damage of our sins on others and ourselves.
Thanks kc. I'm glad you read it more than once to get my intention. I wish I could communicate with written words better than I do.
You know the more I learn about the true character of our God and Creator and what He has done for us and when I try to communicate it and hear peoples reaction the closer I get to understanding why Paul said what he said in Romans 3:8
Thanks for stopping by nellie bellie, I appreciate it. I agree with you about sin having its consequences. I stated that in my post.
The point I am trying to make is that we do not reap EVERYTHING our sin could reap because of our sowing. I just wanted to try to clear up that God is not making sure that everything we sow WILL reap what it deserves. I think taking this verse out of context makes God look like a God that is determined to make sure we reap everything we sow and is more of a tyrant to His children than a loving father and thereby perverting His true character.
I don't say that to imply that a person can play a type of Russian Roulette with sin though. If that is what a person is trying to get away with then they may have a bigger problem to deal with.
You know the more I learn about the true character of our God and Creator and what He has done for us and when I try to communicate it and hear peoples reaction the closer I get to understanding why Paul said what he said in Romans 3:8
Thanks for stopping by nellie bellie, I appreciate it. I agree with you about sin having its consequences. I stated that in my post.
The point I am trying to make is that we do not reap EVERYTHING our sin could reap because of our sowing. I just wanted to try to clear up that God is not making sure that everything we sow WILL reap what it deserves. I think taking this verse out of context makes God look like a God that is determined to make sure we reap everything we sow and is more of a tyrant to His children than a loving father and thereby perverting His true character.
I don't say that to imply that a person can play a type of Russian Roulette with sin though. If that is what a person is trying to get away with then they may have a bigger problem to deal with.
I see where you are coming from...From personal experience, recently...sin brought against me is continually being brought to the table with the world we live in, the person who sinned against me and I struggle with the consequences everyday...I guess I relate it to that :o(
God's grace is a beautiful mystery. He saves yet judges... I believe this is a paradox which we shouldn't think of explaining away. It's not there to be resolved only to be taken as it is. Great post.
Shalom,
Wes
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Shalom,
Wes
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