The Way - Day 050 (Galatians 5)

Pastor Tom's Journal on Today's Reading:
Galatians 5
For the first four chapters of Galatians Paul has been exposing the erroneous doctrine of salvation by works and as he nears the end he "states it plainly" for his readers to understand. Jesus Christ has provided liberty and freedom from sin through His death on the cross and given new life through His resurrection. Believers are no longer a slave to the law, as well as it's demands and penalty (5:1). For those who felt the need to follow the law (specifically circumcision), Christ's sacrifice would not profit them anything (5:2); in fact, if a man is circumcised, he is obligated to keep the whole law in order to be saved. Paul was revealing the impossibility of keeping the whole law and cross referencing with other New Testament writings, no man has kept the law. James even says that a person who keeps the whole law, but disobeys one part, is guilty of breaking the whole thing. Any attempts to attain salvation through the law results in rejecting the grace provided through Christ (5:4); furthermore, any works (or lack of works) can never result in righteousness and salvation (5:6a). Only faith can provide salvation and always results in works (5:6b). The churches in Galatia had a great history having received the gospel through faith, but now false teaching was creeping in and they needed to stand for the truth (5:7-10). Paul goes on to say that the result of receiving salvation through grace/faith is that they would love one another (5:13-14). He was not saying that works are not necessary, but Paul was simply putting into perspective the role of works in our spiritual life. Works cannot bring salvation, but are a product of those who have received the grace of Christ through faith.

Paul now begins a conversation with the churches at Galatia which gives them directions as to how to live a life of grace/faith. Life in Christ immediately results in the Holy Spirit entering into a believer and producing within certain, identifiable characteristics. The Holy Spirit provides the power to walk a Spirit-filled life. Paul says "walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh." The word walk implies a continuous action and means that a Christian surrenders to the Spirit's control as he lives his daily life. The Word of God works hand in hand with the Spirit of God to direct our attitudes and actions; in other words, our lifestyle reflects the desires of the Spirit rather than the desires of the flesh. He goes on to say that 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." There is truly a battle which rages between the works of the Spirit and the works of the flesh - they are totally opposite. Paul then ties in the teaching that he has been emphasizing for the first four chapters of Galatians - those who are "led by the Spirit...are not under the law." Those Judaizers who were teaching that salvation comes through the law were being led by the flesh - they felt obedience to the law would result in righteous behavior; however, Paul was stating that righteous attitudes and actions only result from the power of the Spirit (5:18). Circumcision had no power to result in good works, even though this is what the false teachers had been telling the churches at Galatia. Paul's point is very clear - God desires for His followers to walk in the power of the Spirit and not trust our flesh to bring righteous attitudes and actions. Jesus Christ paid the penalty for our sin through His death on the cross and now He has provided us with the Spirit of God, who will enable us to do good works.

Since the flesh and the Spirit are contrary to each other, Paul felt like it was necessary to describe the works of the flesh as well as the works of the Spirit. In Galatians 5:19 Paul gives a list of the works of the flesh and even seems to divide them into three different areas of life: sexual immorality (5:19), spiritual impurity (5:20a), and selfish human attitudes (5:20b-21a). First, Paul mentions the area of sexual immorality and describes those things which characterize a person who lives by the flesh..."adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness." The sexual choices of those controlled by the flesh are evident through all kinds of perversions. Adultery is when a spouse is unfaithful. Fornication encompasses many forms of sexual sin such as premarital sex, homosexuality, and adultery. Uncleanness is a simple description of those who have compromised their sexual purity and whose life is characterized by all sorts of sexual impurity. Lewdness describes uncontrolled sexual desires. Paul's point is clear - a person who is controlled by the flesh will live a lifestyle of sexual immorality. Next Paul enters the area of spiritual impurity. He uses two words to describe those who are in this category..."idolatry, sorcery." Idolatry describes those who worship anything other than the one, true God and sorcery includes magic as well as drug induced contact with spirits. The last area Paul addresses is selfish human attitudes. Out of the three areas, Paul uses the most words to describe this group of people. Most of these attitudes are self explanatory with terms such as "hatred, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, envy, drunkenness." Paul ends his description of those who live by the flesh with these significant words: "those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." The key word is practice. Paul was not saying that Christians do not commit these sins, but he was saying that these things do not characterize their lifestyle; in other words, these sins are not continual without repentance. If a person habitually and continually is involved in sexual immorality, spiritual impurity, and selfish human attitudes he cannot claim to be inhabited by the Spirit and furthermore will not enter God's future kingdom. Why? If a person is living by the Spirit He will produce good works in the life of that person. What are those fruits? We will look at those characteristics in the next few verses tomorrow.

Paul has been clear on the works of the flesh (5:19-21) and has even declared that those whose lifestyle is characterized by these works cannot enter the kingdom of God. So, how are those who are controlled by the Spirit different? Paul begins to list what he calls the "fruit of the Spirit" which implies that these attitudes/actions will be produced in those who have believed in faith. When I think of fruit, I picture something that begins small and grows to full maturity. These fruits of the Spirit begin by the believer taking small steps in life but will grow over time. He lists nine characteristics in Galatians 5:22-23 and I will give a brief description of each so we can honestly examine whether these attitudes/actions are being modeled in our life. Love is a self-sacrificial concern for another which leads to action. Joy is a settled emotion of confidence no matter the circumstances. Peace is firm belief that God is in control and therefore no need to worry. Longsuffering is patience during unfavorable situations. Kindness is simply being nice to others. Goodness is the act of selflessly serving others. Faithfulness is loyalty and being dependable. Gentleness is humility and control over one's response to circumstances. Self-control is the ability to hold back emotions or desires. Paul then immediately says "against such there is no law." He was emphatically declaring that the law could not produce these attitudes/actions, but only the Holy Spirit will produce these things in us when we allow Him to have control over our mind and heart. The reason for this is because "those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." And now "if we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." We are able to demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit because Jesus Christ died for our sin and provided the indwelling Holy Spirit for those who would believe in faith. Although we still struggle with the flesh and the Spirit, one day our flesh will be totally redeemed making us no longer subject to sin. But now we can bring pleasure to God when we choose to walk in the Spirit and evidence the fruit He is producing in us.

Dear God, manifest within me the fruit of the Spirit so I may please You and others would see You through my attitudes/actions.