Background Scripture: Galatians 5:13-26
Lesson Context: The text is from the apostle Paul’s letter to the Galatians, written to address controversy among churches founded on his first missionary journey. He wrote in response to some people’s belief that Christians of Gentile backgrounds had to obey stipulations in the the Law of Moses in order to belong to God’s people (Galatians 1:6; 5:2-6a).
Living in Freedom (Galatians 5:13-18): Fulfilling God’s Law (vv. 13-15). 13a. “For brethren, ye have been called to liberty.” Paul has made the point over and over again-the Christian life is a life of liberty. Jesus came to set the captives free, not to keep them in bondage or put them in bondage over and over again. It is worth asking if people see us as people of freedom and liberty. Often, Christians are seen as people more bound up and hung up than anyone else.
13b. “Only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.” This is the antidote for using liberty as an occasion for the flesh. The flesh expects others to conform to us, and doesn’t care much about others. But when we through love serve one another, we conquer the flesh. It isn’t through an obsessive, contemplative attitude of navel-gazing that we overcome the flesh, but by getting out and serving others.
14. “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” Our service towards one another fulfills the great commandment (You shall love your neighbor as yourself), and it keeps us from destroying ourselves through strife (because lest you be consumed by one another). It’s as if Paul addressed the legalists again, and said: “You want to keep the law? Here you have it: Love your neighbor as yourself and you have fulfilled the law in one word.”
“Choosing God’s Side” (vv. 16-18):
16. “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” Simply put, if we walk in the Spirit (instead of trying to live by the law), we naturally shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. Again, the fear of the legalist-that walking in the Spirit gives license to sin, and that only legalism can keep us holy-is just plain wrong.
1. To walk in the Spirit first means that the Holy Spirit lives in You. Second, it means to be open and sensitive to the influence of the Holy Spirit. Third, it means to pattern your life after the influence of the Holy Spirit.
ll. We can tell if someone walks in the Spirit because they look a lot like Jesus
Rejecting Selfishness (Galatians 5:19-21):
1. Deadly List (vv. 19-21).
19a. “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these.”
19b – 20b. Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies
Deadly Consequences (v. 21):
21c.” Of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” All these evils are contrary to the kingdom of God-that is, to the reign of God brought about by Christ, now and in eternity. If these behaviors had become the mode of the Galatians’ lives, they showed themselves to have returned to rebellion against God’s rule.
Pursuing Godliness (Galatians 5:22-26):
1. A list of Life (vv. 22-23).
22a. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace.” One of the greatest marketing strategies ever employed was to position the kingdom of Satan as the place where the fun is and the kingdom of God as the place of gloom and misery. But the fruit of the Spirit is joy. This is the joy of the Spirit, because it is a higher joy than just the thrill of an exciting experience or a wonderful set of circumstances. It is a joy that can abide and remain, even when circumstances seem terrible. Paul knew this joy personally, he could sing when manacled in a dark prison dungeon (Acts 16:25). Pastor Shirley Caesar coined the statement, “This joy that I have, the world didn’t give it, and the world can’t take it away,”
References: Enduring Word Bible Commentary, Standard Lesson Commentary, KJV 2022-2023