A L M A C I A S

FULIFILLING THE LAW OF CHRIST

What comes to your mind when you read about the law of Christ in the Scriptures? Some today have come to believe that we are not under any law, but we know that such is not the case. We are under law, the law of Christ. In the letter to the Galatians, the apostle Paul wrote some things we should think about which pertain to the law of Christ. In Galatians 6:1-3, we read: "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another¹s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself."

What are some of the things that we learn from the apostle Paul concerning the law of Christ? We learn that one way we all can fulfill the law of Christ is by helping those who have been overtaken in sin. Paul says that when someone has been overtaken in a fault, those who are spiritual should restore such a brother; not only that, it should be done in a spirit of meekness. The apostle Paul gave a reason for having this attitude; that is, because some day it might be us who will be in need of restoration. We surely would want those who come to us to deal with us in a spirit of meekness.

Another manner in which Christians could fulfill the law of Christ is by bearing one another's burdens. It is interesting to see the differences in the way people see the world and how they see others. There are some in this world who live under the philosophy that the world owes them a living. We have others who are the complete opposite, who believe the way God has commanded and that it is more blessed to give than to receive. In the passage before us, the apostle Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, answers the question once and for all regarding how we should view one another. Regarding this matter, Paul said that we are to bear one another's burdens and that way fulfill the law of Christ. In our lifetime, all of us at one time or another will be faced with burdens that will be too heavy for us to bear on our own. Then we can better understand how none of us can ever be so self-sufficient that we do not need anyone else. God made us in a way that we would require us to seek help from one another in order to make it in this life. The burdens are going to come ­ maybe poor health, maybe a broken marriage, or very troubled children, or unemployment ­ we do not know. But the burdens will come and some of them will be too heavy for one to bear alone; therefore, we shall need the help of others to bear those burdens, as we also will need to help others bear theirs. Are we fulfilling the law of Christ?