Exploring The Text
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. "
Understanding Galatians
Written by the apostle Paul
To the churches in Galatia:
Galatians 1:1–2 (NKJV) "Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead), and all the brethren who are with me, To the churches of Galatia"
Purpose: Paul discusses what it means to be God’s people. Although many groups are exclusive and have special membership, the family of God is open to everyone.
Galatians 3:25–29 (NKJV) "But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise."
In Christ, there is an incredible freedom. However, as those who have been set free, Christians are to live like Christ through the Holy Spirit. Jesus has set us free and Christians are to use their freedom to love others.
Galatians 5:1 (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."
Themes: Paul explains how the grace of God and living in step with the His Spirit holds the Church together as God’s people. Christ has brought us to God and through Christ, Christians are freed from the requirements of the Old Covenant
Galatians 2:19–21 (NKJV) "For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”
Salvation and new life are in Jesus, not the Law (ref. 2:19–21; 5:16–24).
Walk By The Spirit
Galatians 5:22–23 (NKJV) "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law."
“[F]ruit of the Spirit” is contrasted to “the works of the flesh” (Gal. 5:18-21)
Fruit of the Spirit is produced in the lives of Christians as we draw closer to God and are led by His Spirit.
Transformed
In Romans, the apostle Paul tells Christians that they are to be “transformed.”
Romans 12:1–2 (NKJV) "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
Purpose
As Christians, our life should be very different than the life we once lived. Being led by the Spirit of God develops Christ-centered character.
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