Galatians 5:13-25 Page 992 in Pew Bibles For you are called to freedom, brothers; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love. GALATIANS

For the entire law is fulfilled in one statement: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. But if you bite and devour one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another. GALATIANS

I say then, walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want. GALATIANS

But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. GALATIANS

Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar… GALATIANS

…about which I tell you in advance—as I told you before—that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. GALATIANS

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. GALATIANS

Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, we must also follow the Spirit. GALATIANS

GALATIANS

GALATIANS The Danger of Slavery Vs. 1 “Christ has liberated us into freedom. Therefore stand firm and don’t submit again to a yoke of slavery.” > GALATIANS

But What About the Danger of Freedom? Can’t freedom be a dangerous thing? People can cast off all moral restraint and call it freedom > GALATIANS

Freedom isn’t a Problem Provided It’s the Right Kind of Freedom Vs. 13 “For you are called to freedom, brothers; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love.” > GALATIANS

Love Drives Everything Vs. 13 “…Don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love.” Flesh is selfish, using and consuming others Love is self-giving and serving > GALATIANS

Only Love Empowers Anything Vs. 6 “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision accomplishes anything; what matters is faith working through love.” > GALATIANS

Love as the Driving Principle is Consistent with the Law Vs. 14 “For the entire law is fulfilled in one statement: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” > GALATIANS

When It’s Legalism Instead of Love Legalism degenerates into scorekeeping Scorekeeping degenerates into rivalries and grudges Vs. 14 “But if you bite and devour one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another.” . > GALATIANS

Two Models for Controlling the Power of Sin in Our Lives Willpower: Keeping the rules in my own strength (flesh) by sheer willpower Relying on the Holy Spirit’s Power… > GALATIANS

GALATIANS By the Spirit Vs. 16 “I say then, walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.” Vs. 18 “But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” Not merely having the direction pointed out by the Spirit (like someone giving you directions) Nor being picked up and carried by the Spirit. . . > GALATIANS

Ongoing Battle; Intense Desires Vs. 17 “For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want.” > GALATIANS

The Best the Flesh Can Do Vs. 19 “Now the works of the flesh are obvious…” Obvious: Manifest, Seen externally > GALATIANS

Flesh Flesh: R. Jewett: The flesh was Paul’s term for everything aside from God in which one placed his final trust (New American Commentary) Us, in our natural condition, apart from the supernatural power of God. John White: “The beast in the basement” > GALATIANS

GALATIANS Works of the Flesh Vs. 19-21 “Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar…” … > GALATIANS

Works of the Flesh: Sensuality Sexual immorality— Word from which we get pornography Moral impurity– Barclay: “Used of… ceremonial cleanness…. Impurity, makes a man unfit to come before God” Promiscuity— Casting off all moral restraint > GALATIANS

Works of the Flesh: Spiritual Idolatry – Worship of man-made gods instead of the true God. The Bible calls materialism idolatry. Sorcery– Using magic potions to control life circumstances instead of trusting the sovereign God > GALATIANS

Works of the Flesh: Interpersonal Hatreds– Personal animosity Strife– Debating & quarrelling, contentious Jealousy– Barclay: “The desire to have what someone else has, wrong desire for what is not for us.” Outbursts of anger– The blow-up kind > GALATIANS

Works of the Flesh: Organizationally Selfish ambitions— Being in it for personal gain and ready to step on another to reach the top Dissensions– Splits, everyone taking a side Factions– Unable to disagree agreeably Envy– Disappointment at someone else’s success > GALATIANS

Works of the Flesh: Organizationally Vs. 26 “We must not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.” This kind of fleshly thing is seen in the lives of false teachers. > GALATIANS

Works of the Flesh: Debauchery Drunkenness— plural, drunkenesses Carousing– Wild parties with drinking and with unrestrained behavior > GALATIANS

GALATIANS A Strong Warning Vs. 21 “about which I tell you in advance—as I told you before—that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” . > GALATIANS

GALATIANS The Fruit of the Spirit Vs. 19 “But the fruit of the Spirit is…” Fruit, not works Is, singular Of the Spirit, not from your human resources > GALATIANS

GALATIANS The Fruit of the Spirit Vs. 22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control…” > GALATIANS

Fruit of the Spirit Inward Love– Ready to meet the other person’s need at my expense Joy— Joy comes from God and not from external circumstances Peace– Not the absence of action, but the absence of anxiousness or guilt > GALATIANS

Fruit of the Spirit Outward Patience– The ability to put up with the annoyances of others without retaliation Kindness– To be pleasantly considerate of others Goodness– A righteous generosity, extended whether people deserve it or not > GALATIANS

Fruit of the Spirit Upward Faith— Faithfulness; staying true to God and being trustworthy with men Gentleness— A submissive and teachable spirit before God Self-control— Living a disciplined life with one’s passions and desires under control > GALATIANS

The Spirit Life Better Than Law Vs. 23 “…Against such things there is no law.” . > GALATIANS

Flesh is the Problem And Must Be Dealt With Decisively Vs. 24 “Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Q > GALATIANS

Sinclair Ferguson What then is this killing of sin? It is the constant battle against sin which we fight daily—the refusal to allow the eye to wander, the mind to contemplate, the affections to run after anything to draw us from Christ. It is the deliberate rejection of any sinful thought, suggestion, desire, aspiration, deed, circumstance or provocation the minute become conscious of its existence. > GALATIANS

Lifestyle Vs. 25 “If we live by the Spirit, we must also follow the Spirit.” Literally, To march in rank -> To keep in step . . GALATIANS

GALATIANS