These are the notes to Session 8 of The Christ Church Wednesday Bible Study group's study of the New Testament book of Galatians.
After defending his apostleship and his message of justification by faith, Paul next applied that doctrine to practical Christian living, emphasizing that right doctrine should result in right living. His contention is that sanctification should result from justification. The life of genuine faith is more than belief in divine truth; it is also the bearing of divine fruit.
The freedom for which Christ sets us free is the freedom to live a life of righteousness in the power of the Holy Spirit.
To hear an audio recording of the session click the YouTube link at the end of the notes
After defending his apostleship and his message of justification by faith, Paul next applied that doctrine to practical Christian living, emphasizing that right doctrine should result in right living. His contention is that sanctification should result from justification. The life of genuine faith is more than belief in divine truth; it is also the bearing of divine fruit.
The freedom for which Christ sets us free is the freedom to live a life of righteousness in the power of the Holy Spirit.
To hear an audio recording of the session click the YouTube link at the end of the notes
THE CONTEXT
After defending his apostleship and his message of justification by faith, Paul next applied that doctrine to practical Christian living, emphasizing that right doctrine should result in right living. His contention is that sanctification should result from justification. The life of genuine faith is more than belief in divine truth; it is also the bearing of divine fruit.
The freedom for which Christ sets us free is the freedom to live a life of righteousness in the power of the Holy Spirit. God’s standard of holiness has not changed. As Jesus makes clear in the Sermon on the Mount, it requires not simply outward performance but inner perfection.
The sermon’s theme is found in 5:17-20.
Matthew 5:17-20 NKJV “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus did not come to end or to abolish the law. He came to fulfill it and establish true righteousness. The system of the scribes and Pharisees promoted a legalistic self-righteousness, but those who would enter the kingdom of heaven must have a righteousness that exceeds that. They tried to gain it by an outward bending to man made rules and regulations, but true righteousness is a matter of a changed inner life which cannot be lived out on human abilities alone. This is demonstrated by the character qualities Jesus describes that develop in those who are truly righteousness – Being poor in spirit, mourning, meekness, hungering and thirsting for righteousness, mercy, purity of heart, being a peacemaker and rejoicing in the midst of unjust persecution
True righteousness will also demonstrate itself is striving to live to a higher internal standard and not just an outward legal one.
Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount exposes self-righteousness and makes a clear division between it and the true righteousness needed to enter the kingdom of heaven. Righteousness cannot be earned based on what you do and what you refrain from doing, for man absolutely cannot meet God’s standards on his own. He must become a humble follower of Jesus Christ who places his trust in God, not himself. This is the result of the new birth that Jesus’ talked to Nicodemus about. True righteousness comes from the heart and out of love for God seeks to do whatever pleases Him.
This sermon also reveals that man can live a blessed life only when his character is changed and he lives according to God’s design. The life lived in obedience to God is the life that is pleasing to God.
Through His Holy Spirit, believers have the ability to live internal lives of righteousness.
The final two chapters of Galatians are a portrait of the Spirit-filled life, of the believer’implementing the life of faith under the control and in the energy of the Holy Spirit.
The Spirit-filled life thereby becomes in itself a powerful testimony to the power of justification by faith.
Let’s get started;
Galatians 5:1-15 NKJV Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love. You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump. I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is. And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased. I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off! For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!
Galatians 5:1-15 MSG Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you. I am emphatic about this. The moment any one of you submits to circumcision or any other rule-keeping system, at that same moment Christ’s hard-won gift of freedom is squandered. I repeat my warning: The person who accepts the ways of circumcision trades all the advantages of the free life in Christ for the obligations of the slave life of the law. I suspect you would never intend this, but this is what happens. When you attempt to live by your own religious plans and projects, you are cut off from Christ, you fall out of grace. Meanwhile we expectantly wait for a satisfying relationship with the Spirit. For in Christ, neither our most conscientious religion nor disregard of religion amounts to anything. What matters is something far more interior: faith expressed in love. You were running superbly! Who cut in on you, deflecting you from the true course of obedience? This detour doesn’t come from the One who called you into the race in the first place. And please don’t toss this off as insignificant. It only takes a minute amount of yeast, you know, to permeate an entire loaf of bread. Deep down, the Master has given me confidence that you will not defect. But the one who is upsetting you, whoever he is, will bear the divine judgment. As for the rumor that I continue to preach the ways of circumcision (as I did in those pre-Damascus Road days), that is absurd. Why would I still be persecuted, then? If I were preaching that old message, no one would be offended if I mentioned the Cross now and then—it would be so watered-down it wouldn’t matter one way or the other. Why don’t these agitators, obsessive as they are about circumcision, go all the way and castrate themselves! It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don’t use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that’s how freedom grows. For everything we know about God’s Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That’s an act of true freedom. If you bite and ravage each other, watch out—in no time at all you will be annihilating each other, and where will your precious freedom be then?
KEYS TO THE TEXT
Circumcision:
Most Jews in New Testament times firmly believed that circumcision not only set them apart from all other men as God’s chosen people but also made them acceptable to God. Because these beliefs were strongly held in Judaism, Jewish converts in the early church carried many of them over into Christianity. Circumcision and following the law of Moses became such divisive issues that the apostles and elders called a special council in Jerusalem to settle the matter. They unanimously decided, and expressed in a letter sent to all the churches, that obedience to Mosaic ritual, including circumcision, was not necessary for salvation (see Acts 15:19–29).
We talked about the Jerusalem Council a few times. The letter written after the Council is in Acts 15:19-29
Acts 15:23-29 NKJV They wrote this letter by them: The apostles, the elders, and the brethren, To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings. Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, “ You must be circumcised and keep the law” —to whom we gave no such commandment— it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth. For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.
Paul objected to the notion that circumcision had some spiritual benefit or merit with God and was a prerequisite or necessary component of salvation.
Circumcision had meaning in Israel when it was a physical symbol of a cleansed heart (see Jer. 9:24–26) and served as a reminder ofGod’s covenant of salvation promise (Gen. 17:9–10).
Jeremiah 9:24-26 NKJV But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the Lord , exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the Lord . “Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord , “that I will punish all who are circumcised with the uncircumcised— Egypt, Judah, Edom, the people of Ammon, Moab, and all who are in the farthest corners, who dwell in the wilderness. For all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in the heart.”
Genesis 17:9-10 NKJV And God said to Abraham: “As for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations. This is My covenant which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: Every male child among you shall be circumcised;
A person who trusts in circumcision, or in any other ceremony or work, nullifies the work of Christ on his behalf. He places himself under the law, and a person under the law must obey it with absolute perfection, which is humanly impossible. “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love” (Gal. 5:6).
Let’s Break It Down
Galatians 5:1-6 NKJV Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.
2 Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. —The atoning sacrifice of Christ cannot benefit anyone who trusts in law and ceremony for salvation.
3 And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. —God’s standard is perfect righteousness, and thus a failure to keep only one part of the law falls short of the standard.
James 2:8-10 NKJV If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well; but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.
4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. —The Greek word for “estranged” means “to be separated” or “to be severed.”
The word for “fallen” means “to lose one’s grasp on something.” Paul’s clear meaning is that any attempt to be justified by the law is to reject salvation by grace alone through faith alone. Those once exposed to the gracious truth of the gospel who then turn their backs on Christ and seek to be justified by the law are separated from Christ and lose all prospects of God’s gracious salvation. Their desertion of Christand the gospel proves that their faith was never genuine.
Hebrews 6:4-6 NKJV For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.
5 For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. —Christians already possess the imputed righteousness of Christ, but they still await the completed and perfected righteousness that is yet to come at glorification.
6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.—Nothing done or not done in the flesh, even religious ceremony, makes any difference in one’s relationship to God. What is external is immaterial and worthless, unless it reflects genuine internal righteousness.—Saving faith proves its genuine character by works of love; the one who lives by faith is internally motivated by love for God and Christ, which supernaturally issues forth in reverent worship, genuine obedience, and self-sacrificing love for others.
Remember the two tests proving fellowship and relationship with God from Sunday’s sermon. a habitual obedience to God through the keeping of his commands; and second, a habitual loving of others, which becomes the natural outflow of our obedience to God.
After defending his apostleship and his message of justification by faith, Paul next applied that doctrine to practical Christian living, emphasizing that right doctrine should result in right living. His contention is that sanctification should result from justification. The life of genuine faith is more than belief in divine truth; it is also the bearing of divine fruit.
The freedom for which Christ sets us free is the freedom to live a life of righteousness in the power of the Holy Spirit. God’s standard of holiness has not changed. As Jesus makes clear in the Sermon on the Mount, it requires not simply outward performance but inner perfection.
The sermon’s theme is found in 5:17-20.
Matthew 5:17-20 NKJV “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus did not come to end or to abolish the law. He came to fulfill it and establish true righteousness. The system of the scribes and Pharisees promoted a legalistic self-righteousness, but those who would enter the kingdom of heaven must have a righteousness that exceeds that. They tried to gain it by an outward bending to man made rules and regulations, but true righteousness is a matter of a changed inner life which cannot be lived out on human abilities alone. This is demonstrated by the character qualities Jesus describes that develop in those who are truly righteousness – Being poor in spirit, mourning, meekness, hungering and thirsting for righteousness, mercy, purity of heart, being a peacemaker and rejoicing in the midst of unjust persecution
True righteousness will also demonstrate itself is striving to live to a higher internal standard and not just an outward legal one.
Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount exposes self-righteousness and makes a clear division between it and the true righteousness needed to enter the kingdom of heaven. Righteousness cannot be earned based on what you do and what you refrain from doing, for man absolutely cannot meet God’s standards on his own. He must become a humble follower of Jesus Christ who places his trust in God, not himself. This is the result of the new birth that Jesus’ talked to Nicodemus about. True righteousness comes from the heart and out of love for God seeks to do whatever pleases Him.
This sermon also reveals that man can live a blessed life only when his character is changed and he lives according to God’s design. The life lived in obedience to God is the life that is pleasing to God.
Through His Holy Spirit, believers have the ability to live internal lives of righteousness.
The final two chapters of Galatians are a portrait of the Spirit-filled life, of the believer’implementing the life of faith under the control and in the energy of the Holy Spirit.
The Spirit-filled life thereby becomes in itself a powerful testimony to the power of justification by faith.
Let’s get started;
Galatians 5:1-15 NKJV Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love. You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump. I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is. And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased. I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off! For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!
Galatians 5:1-15 MSG Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you. I am emphatic about this. The moment any one of you submits to circumcision or any other rule-keeping system, at that same moment Christ’s hard-won gift of freedom is squandered. I repeat my warning: The person who accepts the ways of circumcision trades all the advantages of the free life in Christ for the obligations of the slave life of the law. I suspect you would never intend this, but this is what happens. When you attempt to live by your own religious plans and projects, you are cut off from Christ, you fall out of grace. Meanwhile we expectantly wait for a satisfying relationship with the Spirit. For in Christ, neither our most conscientious religion nor disregard of religion amounts to anything. What matters is something far more interior: faith expressed in love. You were running superbly! Who cut in on you, deflecting you from the true course of obedience? This detour doesn’t come from the One who called you into the race in the first place. And please don’t toss this off as insignificant. It only takes a minute amount of yeast, you know, to permeate an entire loaf of bread. Deep down, the Master has given me confidence that you will not defect. But the one who is upsetting you, whoever he is, will bear the divine judgment. As for the rumor that I continue to preach the ways of circumcision (as I did in those pre-Damascus Road days), that is absurd. Why would I still be persecuted, then? If I were preaching that old message, no one would be offended if I mentioned the Cross now and then—it would be so watered-down it wouldn’t matter one way or the other. Why don’t these agitators, obsessive as they are about circumcision, go all the way and castrate themselves! It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don’t use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that’s how freedom grows. For everything we know about God’s Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That’s an act of true freedom. If you bite and ravage each other, watch out—in no time at all you will be annihilating each other, and where will your precious freedom be then?
KEYS TO THE TEXT
Circumcision:
Most Jews in New Testament times firmly believed that circumcision not only set them apart from all other men as God’s chosen people but also made them acceptable to God. Because these beliefs were strongly held in Judaism, Jewish converts in the early church carried many of them over into Christianity. Circumcision and following the law of Moses became such divisive issues that the apostles and elders called a special council in Jerusalem to settle the matter. They unanimously decided, and expressed in a letter sent to all the churches, that obedience to Mosaic ritual, including circumcision, was not necessary for salvation (see Acts 15:19–29).
We talked about the Jerusalem Council a few times. The letter written after the Council is in Acts 15:19-29
Acts 15:23-29 NKJV They wrote this letter by them: The apostles, the elders, and the brethren, To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings. Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, “ You must be circumcised and keep the law” —to whom we gave no such commandment— it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth. For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.
Paul objected to the notion that circumcision had some spiritual benefit or merit with God and was a prerequisite or necessary component of salvation.
Circumcision had meaning in Israel when it was a physical symbol of a cleansed heart (see Jer. 9:24–26) and served as a reminder ofGod’s covenant of salvation promise (Gen. 17:9–10).
Jeremiah 9:24-26 NKJV But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the Lord , exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the Lord . “Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord , “that I will punish all who are circumcised with the uncircumcised— Egypt, Judah, Edom, the people of Ammon, Moab, and all who are in the farthest corners, who dwell in the wilderness. For all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in the heart.”
Genesis 17:9-10 NKJV And God said to Abraham: “As for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations. This is My covenant which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: Every male child among you shall be circumcised;
A person who trusts in circumcision, or in any other ceremony or work, nullifies the work of Christ on his behalf. He places himself under the law, and a person under the law must obey it with absolute perfection, which is humanly impossible. “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love” (Gal. 5:6).
Let’s Break It Down
Galatians 5:1-6 NKJV Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.
2 Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. —The atoning sacrifice of Christ cannot benefit anyone who trusts in law and ceremony for salvation.
3 And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. —God’s standard is perfect righteousness, and thus a failure to keep only one part of the law falls short of the standard.
James 2:8-10 NKJV If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well; but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.
4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. —The Greek word for “estranged” means “to be separated” or “to be severed.”
The word for “fallen” means “to lose one’s grasp on something.” Paul’s clear meaning is that any attempt to be justified by the law is to reject salvation by grace alone through faith alone. Those once exposed to the gracious truth of the gospel who then turn their backs on Christ and seek to be justified by the law are separated from Christ and lose all prospects of God’s gracious salvation. Their desertion of Christand the gospel proves that their faith was never genuine.
Hebrews 6:4-6 NKJV For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.
5 For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. —Christians already possess the imputed righteousness of Christ, but they still await the completed and perfected righteousness that is yet to come at glorification.
6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.—Nothing done or not done in the flesh, even religious ceremony, makes any difference in one’s relationship to God. What is external is immaterial and worthless, unless it reflects genuine internal righteousness.—Saving faith proves its genuine character by works of love; the one who lives by faith is internally motivated by love for God and Christ, which supernaturally issues forth in reverent worship, genuine obedience, and self-sacrificing love for others.
Remember the two tests proving fellowship and relationship with God from Sunday’s sermon. a habitual obedience to God through the keeping of his commands; and second, a habitual loving of others, which becomes the natural outflow of our obedience to God.
Love Fulfills The Law
Galatians 5:7-15 NKJV You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump. I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is. And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased. I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off! For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!
7 You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? —Paul compares the Galatians’ life of faith with a race. They had a good beginning—they had received the gospel message by faith and had begun to live their Christian lives by faith as well. They had obeyed the truth which was a reference to believers’ true way of living, including both their response to the true gospel in salvation and their consequent response to obey the Word of God in sanctification. The legalistic influence of the Judaizers prevented the unsaved from responding in faith to the gospel of grace and true believers from living by faith.
Paul wrote more about salvation and sanctification being a matter of obedience.
Romans 1:5 NKJV Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name,
Romans 6:16-18 NKJV Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.
Romans 16:25-27 NKJV Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith— to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.
8 This persuasion or salvation by works does not come from Him who calls you. -- God does not promote legalism; any doctrine that claimsHis gracious work is insufficient to save is false.
9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump.— was a common saying regarding the influence of yeast in dough. Leaven is often used in Scripture to indicate sin because of its permeating power.
10 I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is.—Paul expresses encouraging assurance that the Lord will be faithful to keep His own from falling into gross heresy; they will persevere and be preserved.
Jude 1:24-25 NKJV Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen. —All false teachers will incur strict and devastating eternal condemnation.
11 And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased.
—Apparently the Judaizers had falsely claimed that Paul agreed with their teaching; he makes the point, however, that if he was preaching circumcision is necessary for salvation, why were the Judaizers persecuting him instead of supporting him?
Paul was preaching that salvation is by faith an not works and he was saying that is what is creating opposition between him and the Judiziers
Romans 9:33 NKJV As it is written: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”
12 I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off! —Better translated “mutilate themselves,” the Greek word was often used for castration, such as in the cult of Cybele, whose priests were self-made eunuchs. Paul's ironic point is that since the Judaizers were so insistent on circumcision as a means of pleasing God, they should go to the extreme of religious devotion and mutilate themselves.
13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. —The Greek word for “opportunity” was often used to refer to a central base of military operations. In the context, “flesh” refers to the sinful inclinations of fallen humanity; the freedom Christians have is not a base from whichthey can sin freely and without consequence.—Christian freedom is not for selfish fulfillment but for serving others.
14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”—The ethics of the former Old Testament law are the same as those of the NewTestament gospel.
When a Christian genuinely loves others, he or she fulfills all the moral requirements of the former Mosaic Law.
15 But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another! —The imagery is of wild animals savagely attacking and killing each other is a graphic picture of what happens in the spiritual realm when believers do not love and serve each other.
GOING DEEPER
Paul addresses the issue of Christian liberty in many areas of life.
Romans 14:1-15 NKJV Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand. One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written: “ As I live, says the Lord , Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.” So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way. I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died.
TRUTH FOR TODAY
Someone has pictured legalism and libertinism as two parallel streams that run between earth and heaven. The stream of legalism is clear, sparkling, and pure; but its waters run so deep and furiously that no one can enter it without being drowned or smashed on the rocks of its harsh demands. The stream of libertinism, by contrast, is relatively quiet and still, and crossing it seems easy and attractive. But its waters are contaminated with poisons and pollutants that to try to cross it is also certain death.
Both streams are uncrossable and deadly, one because of impossible moral and spiritual demands, the other because of moral and spiritual filth. But spanning those two deadly streams is the bridge of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the only passage from earth to heaven. The two streams lead to death because they are man’s ways. The gospel leads to life because it is God’s way.
Galatians 5:7-15 NKJV You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump. I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is. And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased. I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off! For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!
7 You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? —Paul compares the Galatians’ life of faith with a race. They had a good beginning—they had received the gospel message by faith and had begun to live their Christian lives by faith as well. They had obeyed the truth which was a reference to believers’ true way of living, including both their response to the true gospel in salvation and their consequent response to obey the Word of God in sanctification. The legalistic influence of the Judaizers prevented the unsaved from responding in faith to the gospel of grace and true believers from living by faith.
Paul wrote more about salvation and sanctification being a matter of obedience.
Romans 1:5 NKJV Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name,
Romans 6:16-18 NKJV Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.
Romans 16:25-27 NKJV Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith— to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.
8 This persuasion or salvation by works does not come from Him who calls you. -- God does not promote legalism; any doctrine that claimsHis gracious work is insufficient to save is false.
9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump.— was a common saying regarding the influence of yeast in dough. Leaven is often used in Scripture to indicate sin because of its permeating power.
10 I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is.—Paul expresses encouraging assurance that the Lord will be faithful to keep His own from falling into gross heresy; they will persevere and be preserved.
Jude 1:24-25 NKJV Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen. —All false teachers will incur strict and devastating eternal condemnation.
11 And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased.
—Apparently the Judaizers had falsely claimed that Paul agreed with their teaching; he makes the point, however, that if he was preaching circumcision is necessary for salvation, why were the Judaizers persecuting him instead of supporting him?
Paul was preaching that salvation is by faith an not works and he was saying that is what is creating opposition between him and the Judiziers
Romans 9:33 NKJV As it is written: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”
12 I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off! —Better translated “mutilate themselves,” the Greek word was often used for castration, such as in the cult of Cybele, whose priests were self-made eunuchs. Paul's ironic point is that since the Judaizers were so insistent on circumcision as a means of pleasing God, they should go to the extreme of religious devotion and mutilate themselves.
13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. —The Greek word for “opportunity” was often used to refer to a central base of military operations. In the context, “flesh” refers to the sinful inclinations of fallen humanity; the freedom Christians have is not a base from whichthey can sin freely and without consequence.—Christian freedom is not for selfish fulfillment but for serving others.
14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”—The ethics of the former Old Testament law are the same as those of the NewTestament gospel.
When a Christian genuinely loves others, he or she fulfills all the moral requirements of the former Mosaic Law.
15 But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another! —The imagery is of wild animals savagely attacking and killing each other is a graphic picture of what happens in the spiritual realm when believers do not love and serve each other.
GOING DEEPER
Paul addresses the issue of Christian liberty in many areas of life.
Romans 14:1-15 NKJV Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand. One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written: “ As I live, says the Lord , Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.” So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way. I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died.
TRUTH FOR TODAY
Someone has pictured legalism and libertinism as two parallel streams that run between earth and heaven. The stream of legalism is clear, sparkling, and pure; but its waters run so deep and furiously that no one can enter it without being drowned or smashed on the rocks of its harsh demands. The stream of libertinism, by contrast, is relatively quiet and still, and crossing it seems easy and attractive. But its waters are contaminated with poisons and pollutants that to try to cross it is also certain death.
Both streams are uncrossable and deadly, one because of impossible moral and spiritual demands, the other because of moral and spiritual filth. But spanning those two deadly streams is the bridge of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the only passage from earth to heaven. The two streams lead to death because they are man’s ways. The gospel leads to life because it is God’s way.
Walking In The Spirit Galatians
THE CONTEXT
The final two chapters of Galatians provide a practical guidebook to how the gracious gospel should make a difference in a Christian’s everyday life. Just as Jesus Christ is the primary Person behind justification, the Holy Spirit is the primary Person behind sanctification—becoming holy. Believers can no more sanctify themselves than they can save themselves in the first place.
In its most profound yet simple definition, the faithful Christian life is lived under the direction and by the power of the Spirit. That is the theme of 5:16–25, which tells believers to “walk by the Spirit” and to be “led by the Spirit.” In short, Paul's argument is that the Holy Spirit makes the life of faith work. Were it not for the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit, the life of faith would be no more spiritually productive or acceptable to God than the life of law.
Galatians 5:16-26 NKJV I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
Galatians 5:16-23, 23-26 MSGMy counsel is this: Live freely, animated and motivated by God’s Spirit. Then you won’t feed the compulsions of selfishness. For there is a root of sinful self-interest in us that is at odds with a free spirit, just as the free spirit is incompatible with selfishness. These two ways of life are antithetical, so that you cannot live at times one way and at times another way according to how you feel on any given day. Why don’t you choose to be led by the Spirit and so escape the erratic compulsions of a law-dominated existence? It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community. I could go on. This isn’t the first time I have warned you, you know. If you use your freedom this way, you will not inherit God’s kingdom. But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely. Legalism is helpless in bringing this about; it only gets in the way. Among those who belong to Christ, everything connected with getting our own way and mindlessly responding to what everyone else calls necessities is killed off for good—crucified. Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives. That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original.
KEYS TO THE TEXT
Walk in the Spirit: All believers have the presence of the indwelling Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, as their personal source of power for living to please God. The form of the Greek verb translated “walk” indicates continuing action, or a habitual lifestyle. Walking also implies progress; as a believer submits to the Spirit’s control responding in obedience to the simple commands of Scripture—he or she grows in his or her spiritual life. The Holy Spirit produces fruit, which consists of nine characteristics or attitudes that are linked with each other and are commanded of believers throughout the New Testament.
Let’s unpack
Galatians 5:16-18 NKJV I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.—This is not simply the physical body. It includes the mind, will, and emotions, which are all subject to sin, and refers, in general to our lives before salvation and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit
17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. —The flesh opposes the work of the Spirit and leads the believer toward sinful behavior that he or she would not otherwise be compelled to do.
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. These two things are mutually exclusive so that your pick. Either you live by the power of the Holy Spirit, which results in righteous behavior and spiritual attitudes, or you live by the law, which can only produce unrighteous behavior and attitudes. Which we are going to talk about next.
Galatians 5:19-21 NKJV Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness,lewdness,—These sins characterize all unredeemed humankind, though not every person manifests all these sins nor exhibits them to the same degree. Paul’s list, which is not exhaustive, encompasses three areas of human life: sex, religion, and human relationships.
—The flesh manifests itself in obvious and certain ways.
fornication —The Greek word is porneia, from which the English word “pornography” comes. It refers to all illicit sexual activity, including (but not limited to) adultery, premarital sex, homosexuality, bestiality, incest, and prostitution.
lewdness (v. 19)—The word originally referred to any excessive behavior or lack of restraint, but eventually became associated with sexual excess and indulgence.
20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,
We know what idolatry is and that’s putting anything before God. Then there is sorcery —This Greek word, from which our English word “pharmacy” comes, originally referred to medicines in general but eventually only to mood- and mind-altering drugs,as well as the occult, witchcraft, and magic. Many pagan religious practices require the use of these drugs to aid in the communication with deities.
contentions . . . heresies —Many of these sins manifested in the area of human relationships have to do with some form of anger: “Hatred” results in “contentions” (strife); “jealousies” (hateful resentment) result in “outbursts of wrath” (sudden, unrestrained expression of hostility); the next four (envy, murders, drunkenness, and revelries represent animosity between individuals and groups.
21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. -- drunkenness, revelries is probably a specific reference to the orgies that characterized pagan, idolatrous worship; generally, it refers to all rowdy, boisterous, and crude behavior.
When Paul says used the word practice in his warning the Greek verb that he used was one that described continual, habitual action.
Although believers undoubtedly can commit these sins, those people whose basic character is summed up in the uninterrupted and unrepentant practice of them cannot belong to God.
That’s what he meant when he said they would not inherit the kingdom of God —The unregenerate are barred from entering the spiritual kingdom of redeemed people over whom Christ now rules, and they will be excluded from His millennial kingdom and the eternal state of blessing that follows it.
Galatians 5:22-26 NKJV But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness,faithfulness,
love (v. 22)—One of several Greek words for love, agape, refers to the love of choice, not an emotional affection, physical attraction, or a familial bond, but the respect, devotion, and affection that lead to willing, self-sacrificial service.
joy (v. 22)—a happiness based on unchanging divine promises and eternal spiritual realities. It is the sense of well-being experienced by one who knows all is well between himself or herself and the Lord; it is not the result of favorable circumstances, and even occurs when those circumstances are the most painful and severe. Joy is a gift fromGod, and as such, believers are not to manufacture it but to delight in the blessing they already possess.
peace (v. 22)—the inner calm that results from confidence in one’s saving relationship with Christ. The verb form denotes binding together and is reflected in the expression “having it all together”; like joy, peace is not related to one’s circumstances
longsuffering (v. 22)—the patience to endure injuries inflicted by others and the willingness to accept irritating or painful situations.
Ephesians 4:1-3 (NKJV)1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Colossians 3:12-13 (NKJV)12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
kindness (v. 22)—tender concern for others, reflected in a desire to treat others gently,just as the Lord treats all believers
Matthew 11:28 (NKJV)28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
goodness (v. 22)—moral and spiritual excellence manifested in active kindness
faithfulness (v. 22)—loyalty and trustworthiness (
23 gentleness, self-control.
gentleness (v. 23)—Better translated “meekness,” this is a humble and gentle attitude that is patiently submissive in every offense, while having no desire for revenge or retribution.
In the New Testament, it is used to describe three attitudes:
submission to the will of God
Colossians 3:12 (NKJV)12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;
teachability
James 1:21 (NKJV)21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
and consideration of others
Ephesians 4:2 (NKJV)2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,
self-control (v. 23)—This refers to restraining passions and appetites.
Against such there is no law.—When a Christian walks by the Spirit and manifests His fruit, he or she needs no external law to produce the attitudes and behavior that please God.
Romans 8:3-5 (NKJV)3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh,4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.
24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Paul is not talking about Christ’s crucifixion.
Paul states that the flesh has been executed, yet the spiritual battle still rages in the believer (Rom. 7:14–25).
Paul’s use looks back to the cross of Christ, where the death of the flesh and its power to reign over believers was actually accomplished (Rom. 6:1–11). Christians must wait until their glorification before they are finally rid of their unredeemed humanness (Rom. 8:23), yet by walking in the Spirit they can please God in this world.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
GOING DEEPER
For more insight about what it means to walk in the Spirit, read Ephesians 5:1–16.
Ephesians 5:1-16 (NKJV)1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints;4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.5 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.7 Therefore do not be partakers with them.
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth),10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.13 But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.14 Therefore He says: "Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light."15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
TRUTH FOR TODAY
Because believers have new life in Jesus Christ, they should also have a new way of life. The Spirit never fails to produce some fruit in a believer’s life, but the Lord desires “much fruit” (John 15:8). As an unredeemed person, possessing only a fallen, sinful nature will inevitably manifest that nature in “the deeds of the flesh” (v 19), so a believer, possessing a redeemed new nature will inevitably manifest that new nature in the fruit of the Spirit. But it is always possible for the believer to bear and manifest more fruit if he is receptive to the Spirit. The Spirit’s provision of fruit might be compared to a man standing on a ladder in an orchard, picking the fruit and dropping it into a basket held by a helper below. No matter how much fruit is picked and dropped, the helper will not receive any unless he is standing under the ladder with his basket ready.
THE CONTEXT
The final two chapters of Galatians provide a practical guidebook to how the gracious gospel should make a difference in a Christian’s everyday life. Just as Jesus Christ is the primary Person behind justification, the Holy Spirit is the primary Person behind sanctification—becoming holy. Believers can no more sanctify themselves than they can save themselves in the first place.
In its most profound yet simple definition, the faithful Christian life is lived under the direction and by the power of the Spirit. That is the theme of 5:16–25, which tells believers to “walk by the Spirit” and to be “led by the Spirit.” In short, Paul's argument is that the Holy Spirit makes the life of faith work. Were it not for the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit, the life of faith would be no more spiritually productive or acceptable to God than the life of law.
Galatians 5:16-26 NKJV I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
Galatians 5:16-23, 23-26 MSGMy counsel is this: Live freely, animated and motivated by God’s Spirit. Then you won’t feed the compulsions of selfishness. For there is a root of sinful self-interest in us that is at odds with a free spirit, just as the free spirit is incompatible with selfishness. These two ways of life are antithetical, so that you cannot live at times one way and at times another way according to how you feel on any given day. Why don’t you choose to be led by the Spirit and so escape the erratic compulsions of a law-dominated existence? It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community. I could go on. This isn’t the first time I have warned you, you know. If you use your freedom this way, you will not inherit God’s kingdom. But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely. Legalism is helpless in bringing this about; it only gets in the way. Among those who belong to Christ, everything connected with getting our own way and mindlessly responding to what everyone else calls necessities is killed off for good—crucified. Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives. That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original.
KEYS TO THE TEXT
Walk in the Spirit: All believers have the presence of the indwelling Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, as their personal source of power for living to please God. The form of the Greek verb translated “walk” indicates continuing action, or a habitual lifestyle. Walking also implies progress; as a believer submits to the Spirit’s control responding in obedience to the simple commands of Scripture—he or she grows in his or her spiritual life. The Holy Spirit produces fruit, which consists of nine characteristics or attitudes that are linked with each other and are commanded of believers throughout the New Testament.
Let’s unpack
Galatians 5:16-18 NKJV I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.—This is not simply the physical body. It includes the mind, will, and emotions, which are all subject to sin, and refers, in general to our lives before salvation and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit
17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. —The flesh opposes the work of the Spirit and leads the believer toward sinful behavior that he or she would not otherwise be compelled to do.
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. These two things are mutually exclusive so that your pick. Either you live by the power of the Holy Spirit, which results in righteous behavior and spiritual attitudes, or you live by the law, which can only produce unrighteous behavior and attitudes. Which we are going to talk about next.
Galatians 5:19-21 NKJV Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness,lewdness,—These sins characterize all unredeemed humankind, though not every person manifests all these sins nor exhibits them to the same degree. Paul’s list, which is not exhaustive, encompasses three areas of human life: sex, religion, and human relationships.
—The flesh manifests itself in obvious and certain ways.
fornication —The Greek word is porneia, from which the English word “pornography” comes. It refers to all illicit sexual activity, including (but not limited to) adultery, premarital sex, homosexuality, bestiality, incest, and prostitution.
lewdness (v. 19)—The word originally referred to any excessive behavior or lack of restraint, but eventually became associated with sexual excess and indulgence.
20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,
We know what idolatry is and that’s putting anything before God. Then there is sorcery —This Greek word, from which our English word “pharmacy” comes, originally referred to medicines in general but eventually only to mood- and mind-altering drugs,as well as the occult, witchcraft, and magic. Many pagan religious practices require the use of these drugs to aid in the communication with deities.
contentions . . . heresies —Many of these sins manifested in the area of human relationships have to do with some form of anger: “Hatred” results in “contentions” (strife); “jealousies” (hateful resentment) result in “outbursts of wrath” (sudden, unrestrained expression of hostility); the next four (envy, murders, drunkenness, and revelries represent animosity between individuals and groups.
21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. -- drunkenness, revelries is probably a specific reference to the orgies that characterized pagan, idolatrous worship; generally, it refers to all rowdy, boisterous, and crude behavior.
When Paul says used the word practice in his warning the Greek verb that he used was one that described continual, habitual action.
Although believers undoubtedly can commit these sins, those people whose basic character is summed up in the uninterrupted and unrepentant practice of them cannot belong to God.
That’s what he meant when he said they would not inherit the kingdom of God —The unregenerate are barred from entering the spiritual kingdom of redeemed people over whom Christ now rules, and they will be excluded from His millennial kingdom and the eternal state of blessing that follows it.
Galatians 5:22-26 NKJV But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness,faithfulness,
love (v. 22)—One of several Greek words for love, agape, refers to the love of choice, not an emotional affection, physical attraction, or a familial bond, but the respect, devotion, and affection that lead to willing, self-sacrificial service.
joy (v. 22)—a happiness based on unchanging divine promises and eternal spiritual realities. It is the sense of well-being experienced by one who knows all is well between himself or herself and the Lord; it is not the result of favorable circumstances, and even occurs when those circumstances are the most painful and severe. Joy is a gift fromGod, and as such, believers are not to manufacture it but to delight in the blessing they already possess.
peace (v. 22)—the inner calm that results from confidence in one’s saving relationship with Christ. The verb form denotes binding together and is reflected in the expression “having it all together”; like joy, peace is not related to one’s circumstances
longsuffering (v. 22)—the patience to endure injuries inflicted by others and the willingness to accept irritating or painful situations.
Ephesians 4:1-3 (NKJV)1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Colossians 3:12-13 (NKJV)12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
kindness (v. 22)—tender concern for others, reflected in a desire to treat others gently,just as the Lord treats all believers
Matthew 11:28 (NKJV)28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
goodness (v. 22)—moral and spiritual excellence manifested in active kindness
faithfulness (v. 22)—loyalty and trustworthiness (
23 gentleness, self-control.
gentleness (v. 23)—Better translated “meekness,” this is a humble and gentle attitude that is patiently submissive in every offense, while having no desire for revenge or retribution.
In the New Testament, it is used to describe three attitudes:
submission to the will of God
Colossians 3:12 (NKJV)12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;
teachability
James 1:21 (NKJV)21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
and consideration of others
Ephesians 4:2 (NKJV)2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,
self-control (v. 23)—This refers to restraining passions and appetites.
Against such there is no law.—When a Christian walks by the Spirit and manifests His fruit, he or she needs no external law to produce the attitudes and behavior that please God.
Romans 8:3-5 (NKJV)3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh,4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.
24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Paul is not talking about Christ’s crucifixion.
Paul states that the flesh has been executed, yet the spiritual battle still rages in the believer (Rom. 7:14–25).
Paul’s use looks back to the cross of Christ, where the death of the flesh and its power to reign over believers was actually accomplished (Rom. 6:1–11). Christians must wait until their glorification before they are finally rid of their unredeemed humanness (Rom. 8:23), yet by walking in the Spirit they can please God in this world.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
GOING DEEPER
For more insight about what it means to walk in the Spirit, read Ephesians 5:1–16.
Ephesians 5:1-16 (NKJV)1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints;4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.5 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.7 Therefore do not be partakers with them.
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth),10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.13 But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.14 Therefore He says: "Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light."15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
TRUTH FOR TODAY
Because believers have new life in Jesus Christ, they should also have a new way of life. The Spirit never fails to produce some fruit in a believer’s life, but the Lord desires “much fruit” (John 15:8). As an unredeemed person, possessing only a fallen, sinful nature will inevitably manifest that nature in “the deeds of the flesh” (v 19), so a believer, possessing a redeemed new nature will inevitably manifest that new nature in the fruit of the Spirit. But it is always possible for the believer to bear and manifest more fruit if he is receptive to the Spirit. The Spirit’s provision of fruit might be compared to a man standing on a ladder in an orchard, picking the fruit and dropping it into a basket held by a helper below. No matter how much fruit is picked and dropped, the helper will not receive any unless he is standing under the ladder with his basket ready.
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