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Don't Deceive Yourself

Minister Monardo

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Galatians 6:3 For if anyone thinks himself to be something,
when he is nothing, he deceives himself.


How are we to comprehend and overcome this self-deception?
In the preceding verse, Paul states:

1
Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore
such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.

2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

The context of the discussion therefore, is effective fellowship among the saints.
What then does “thinking yourself something, when you are nothing” imply,
and how does this hinder fellowship?

I would offer to open the discussion that if I think I am “something”, this would hinder
my willingness to openly confess my weaknesses, so as to not discredit my “something”.

This hinders both my own healing and growth, and also the ability of the Holy Spirit

to move in the Light of Truth, when we try to hide "something" in the darkness.

Galatians 6:
4
But let every man prove his own work,
and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
5 For each one shall bear his own load.


After sharing burdens to fulfill the Law of Christ,
Paul now states that each of us must bear their own load.

This word [G5413, phortion] is also translated burden,
but assigned load here to indicate a different Greek word was used in verse 2.

The load each must bear is described here:


Matthew 11:30 For My yoke is easy and My burden (phortion) is light.

The only way to bear our own load by the Will of the Father,
is to be yoked to the Son, and is always beyond our own ability.
Therein is where we find true religion...



James 1:
26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle
his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.
27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this:
to visit orphans and widows in their trouble,
and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
 
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