The Spiritual Fruit of Freedom
Study Scripture: Galatians 5:16 – 26
Background Scripture: Galatians 5:16 – 26
Lesson 13 May 28, 2022
Key Verse
If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Galatians 5:25
INTRODUCTION
Our Lesson Study is an encouragement to Love freedom and to Love freely.
Our Lesson therefore deals with the flesh, the fallen human nature that we inherited from our parents and which they inherited from their parents with its twisted self centeredness and prone to sin position which is opposed by the Spirit which has come to us when we are made free.
Now that believers live by the Spirit and keep in step with the Spirit the overriding theme of life is to love as was stated clearly in the 10 Commandments and which was emphasized by the Lord Jesus Christ when He pointed out that loving God and loving the neighbor are the two commandments on which all commandments hang.
Believers are to love one another. And that of course involves bearing one another’s burden while all the time this spiritual struggle continues.
In this Study we are to focus carefully on the practical lessons that are laid out for us.
The first consideration therefore is to remember, “I am the problem”. As a result self-indulgence was a good place for the flesh to express itself in evil ways. It creates rules for religion and makes it a great place for the flesh to perform.,
We will therefore be looking at the alternative to the bondage of the flesh, the alternatives to the sinful nature knowing that this sinful nature has been executed. This sinful flesh therefore has no future now that we belong to Christ.
This Study is therefore full of applications for daily life. We are taught not to listen to the old voices that come to us over and over again echoing all the details of our failures in our previous life, telling us that we will never be any good, that the bad will always outweigh the good in us, and that nothing will ever change.
In the last two chapters of Galatians, the Apostle Paul emphasized the fact that the Galatian believers had taken on a new identity which would of necessity lead to a changed behavior. They were now born of the Holy Spirit and had great freedom in Christ, having been freed from the ‘curse of the Law’.
We often ask what it is like to live by the Spirit and this Study will begin to introduce us to that situation.
The Apostle warned that the power of the ‘flesh’ was great and posed a danger to the freedom that believers had in Christ. There was constant conflict between the ‘flesh’ and the Spirit. Believers should be careful that their behavior reflected their freedom from slavery under the Law and their walk should show that they were not influenced or overcome by the desires of the flesh.
Believers are in a situation that can be summarized as the ‘flesh vs. the Spirit. As used in today’s Text, ‘flesh’ refers to the carnal, sinful, unredeemed self with its rebellious nature and desires
(Romans 13:13–14). It is a twisted self-centeredness, the being prone to sin. People worship themselves, their pleasures, their exaltation, their successes, their reputation ….
In order for believers to live fully as children of God, the ways of the flesh must die (Gal. 2:19–21). The entire epistle to the Galatians has been building to this Lesson’s Text. With a proper understanding of God’s law and promises (Galatians 3:1–22) and true freedom in God’s Spirit (4:21–5:14), Paul puts all the pieces together in these chapters.
It is important to note that the Scriptures speak of the Law of Christ (Gal.6:2). Jesus gave two commandments that He said summarized the Law (Matt.22:36-40). Of course, God-given codes of law that governed people’s behavior existed before God gave the Law of Moses (Gen. 1:28-30; 2:16-17; 3:14-19; 9:1-17; 26:5). Note there is only one God and one Law! …He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (Rom. 8: 4).
Following his declaration that Christians are the children of the ‘free woman’ and thus of ‘promise’ at the end of Chapter 4, Paul articulated the crucial and practical aspects of justification by grace through faith. He was very concerned with godliness, which the Judaizers might have used to bolster their argument. He however affirmed that holiness before God is not a result of external rules but of a changed heart (Jer. 31:33; Ezek. 36:26,27).
The Holy Spirit gives us the power to live godly lives. He is the supernatural source of Christian freedom. As salvation is a free act of God’s love through Christ, so also is the Christian life through the Spirit. As believers must yield in repentance and faith to salvation, they must yield in repentance and faith to the ongoing leadership of the Holy Spirit in their daily lives.
Paul was also concerned that his readers live moral, upright, service-oriented lives, which he begins to articulate in our Text. The gospel is a call to freedom, but not a freedom that leads to licensed excess (vv. 13-15); one that leads to loving service. The freedom granted at salvation was a freedom from servitude to servanthood. This new mindset was not in evidence and as a result there was strife among the brethren. The importance of these concerns of the Apostle should be obvious to us. One writer reminds us sternly that we must face reality:
“There is no sweet little old lady, or strong virile man, poor boy, or girl who has lived a clean, moral life and is able to stand in the presence of the demands of the Law and the love of God. Therefore, we are ungodly to start with”.
The Apostle points out that the strife among the Galatians was the result of walking in the flesh, rather than walking in the Spirit. Walking in the flesh was one fall-out from the Galatians’ turning to another gospel; a gospel which added law-keeping to grace. Paul sought to solve the practical problem of disunity by exposing its roots: legalism or external law keeping. He attempted to convince his readers that legalism will only promote sin, rather than prevent it, because of a war which is being waged within the soul.
The context of our passage is crucial to our understanding Paul’s words. Chapter 5 begins a new section. Chapters 1 and 2 are primarily written as a defense of Paul’s apostleship and his authority. Chapters 3 and 4 are intended to show the superiority and priority of grace over the Law by developing the priority and superiority of the Abrahamic Covenant to the Mosaic. Paul shows in chapters 3 and 4 that the Law cannot produce righteousness, while chapters 5 and 6 show how righteousness is produced by grace through the Holy Spirit.
The first twelve verses of chapter 5 concentrate on the subject of freedom, one goal of our salvation
(5:1). To be circumcised was to submit oneself to the Old Testament Law, thus exchanging freedom for bondage. In verses thirteen and following, the goal of this freedom in Christ is expounded. Galatians 5:1-12 explains what the Christian is free from, and the remainder of the chapter expounds on what the Christian is free for.
If the broad context is that of the freedom of the Christian, the narrower context is that of the contention and strife which exists within the Galatian churches. We might note that our passage is encircled, as it were, by strife and contention. In verse 15 the Galatian saints were “biting and devouring” each other. In verse 26, there is a final exhortation not to “become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.” The freedom which was granted at salvation was a freedom from servitude to servanthood. The Galatian saints were made free to serve one another. The practical problem was that they were so divided by friction and strife that serving one another was greatly hindered. The unity and harmony of the Galatian churches was disrupted by strife.
Paul claims that such strife was the result of walking in the flesh, rather than of walking in the Spirit. Walking in the flesh was the direct result of the Galatians’ turning to another gospel, a gospel which added law-keeping to grace. Paul seeks to solve the practical problem of disunity by exposing its roots: legalism. He further attempts to convince his readers that legalism will only promote sin, rather than prevent it, because of the war which is being waged within the soul.
It appears the believers who advocated grace and the believers who advocated law bitterly opposed one another in the Galatian churches. Paul cautioned both sides to love one another, or else they would be consumed by each other. Attacking each other is the only sin that Paul warned the Galatians to avoid in this letter and he did not speak of it as a sin that they were committing.
The Apostle will list many of the ‘works of the flesh’, (the old life) and warned that those who did such things would never inherit the Kingdom of God. In contrast to those evil works, the believers should display the fruit of the Spirit.
The apostle described this fruit (singular) as love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance.
Those persons who possessed and lived the fruit of the Spirit would have no fear of the Law. They belonged to Christ, and had crucified the flesh with its evil affections and lusts. There was great and natural freedom in showing the fruit of the Spirit.
Note that the fruit of the Spirit is one fruit, that is, all the qualities indicated in the one ‘fruit’ operate together and must all be evident. They come spontaneously and are shown by those possessing the Holy Spirit.
The fruit of the Spirit must be shown by both Jew and Gentiles believers. Both are called out of the world, designated as a holy people, called to be saints or holy persons, lively stones built up a spiritual house, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Christ. They must both show forth the excellencies of him who called them out from darkness into his marvelous light. There can be no excuses from any believer in Christ.
This is how spiritual life progresses; the daily walk, is achieved in the power of the Spirit. With loving your neighbour as yourself, there will be no biting, devouring, or consuming one another when there are disagreements. There will no violation of the law to “love thy neighbour as thyself”.
THE TEXT
Last week’s Study Lesson which covered verses 1 through 15 was very instructive for they emphasized that true believers are called by God and so they would practice a different bent of life. The warning was given that those that practice the things of the flesh following the old bent of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
Verse 16. Note (vs.13); … the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself… Note (vs. 14).
… walk by the Spirit… here Paul gives the panacea, the cure all, for all that ails the Galatians! He follows his injunctions against living either under the Mosaic Law or licentiously with positive directions about the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Walk in (by) the Spirit… (keep on walking) is a command that means:
a). living moment by moment submissively trusting in the Holy Spirit rather than in self.
b). let your conduct be directed by the Spirit.
c). to be under the constant, moment-by-moment direction, control, and guidance of the Spirit.
‘Walking’ was a metaphor used often in Scripture to denote spiritual progress. Walking was a slow way to cover distance but it showed steady progress. If anyone kept walking, she or he would cover the ground and eventually reach the destination. Further, the ‘walk’ metaphor referred to the ways first-century students might follow in the steps of their rabbis (teachers of the Jewish law). As students did so, they would listen to the teaching and allow it to change their hearts and minds. If the Galatians followed Paul’s exhortation, their whole way of life would change. As the Galatians walked in (by) God’s Spirit, they would avoid defilement that comes from a heart out of tune with the Spirit; a life characterized by the lust of the flesh (Mark 7:18–23; 1 John 2:16).
… fulfil the lust of the flesh… is the contrary way of living to ‘walk in the Spirit’. The flesh is very often used to emphasize the physical part of our being and stands accordingly for that which is opposed to the Holy Spirit. It is characterized by lust, which is the strong, but sometimes evil desires that are associated with bodily living. It refers not just to physical desires but to all desires that put self on the ‘throne’. God’s Holy Spirit empowers us to enthrone Jesus Christ instead. As we walk in the Spirit, we do not desire to return to the old, self-centered life.
But we should not ignore the basic meaning of flesh. One writer digs into the meaning of the word and reminds us. “The word that is used sarx , however we translate it deserves definition. John Stott writes, “Our fallen human nature, which we inherited from our parents and they from theirs, is twisted with self-centeredness, and therefore prone to sin”. Sarx is not physical flesh. It is not the visible part of us as opposed to the invisible. In fact, from the New Testament discussion of this term, it is apparent that both the flesh and the spirit, which are opposed to each other, are incorporeal. Remember, Jesus said you can’t see the Spirit, just as you can’t see the wind (John 3:8). You can tell the wind is blowing only when the trees move. In the same way you can see the spirit and the flesh only by their effects, by what they produce”.
The law-keeping principle excites the flesh (Rom.7:5-8) which is all of you, both the mental, the spiritual and the physical, whereas the Holy Spirit promotes and imparts the power and desire to love our neighbors.
Verse 17. The conflicting entities are God’s Holy Spirit within the believer and the believer’s sinful, human nature (3:3; 4:29; 5:16, 18, 22, 25; Rom. 8:4-6, 9, 13). In othertexts the work of the Holy Spirit is presented as the ‘new self’ in conflict with the flesh or ‘old self’, (Col. 3:9-10; Eph.4:22-24).
They are in conflict with each other …. a person cannot at the same time embrace fully the ways of the flesh and the ways of the Spirit; their ways are contrary … to the other. Still, a believer may experience spiritual failure at times, (Romans 7:17–25). Nonetheless, God’s Spirit has already provided a way out: freedom from the ways of the flesh (Rom.8:10–11, 16). In this sense, the battle has been won and believers are to follow the Spirit (vs. 25). Therefore, Paul’s conclusion is clear: believers are not to do the things that the flesh desires. Instead, believers follow the Spirit’s way of life.
… the things that ye would … may be good or evil. Without the presence of God’s Spirit working against the flesh, a person will act in sinful and selfish ways (vs.19–21).
Now therefore that since we are in liberty the advice is to walk in holy living for walking in the Spirit means the Holy Spirit lives in you.
One practical advice therefore is that you are to be open and sensitive to the influence of the Holy Spirit.
Another practical advice is that you are to pattern your life after the influence of the Holy Spirit.
This of course means that you have to defend yourself against yourself.
Whenever the feeling or the conviction comes up that your pleasure is important, your personal exaltation is important, your success is important, your reputation is important and this means that you should indulge yourself, you will move in the opposite direction to what all of those things are telling you and influencing you to do.
You are therefore to remember the most important information you have which is that you are free. You do not have to follow those old habits.
You therefore remember the life of the great King Solomon. He had all the wisdom, the riches, the smarts, the exalted position, the power, the brilliant intellect, the advantage of good religious training more that one could imagine. He experimented with everything, pursuing knowledge for itself, pleasure for itself,, riches, authority in government, pursued building a family with a tremendous amount of wives and concubines and so on, but at the end of it he concluded, It’s worth nothing!
Note, that we cannot blame Satan and his demons for all the conflicts we experience. Our own sinful nature is responsible for many. Hence this practical advice is extremely important for we know that the sinful nature has been already crucified, executed, and so we do not have to give into it when the Pavlovian Bell of sin rings.
As long as we remain in our present life, we are never free from the spiritual conflict Paul describes here. There is no spiritual technique or so-called second blessing that can propel the believer onto a higher plane of Christian living where this battle must no longer be fought.
Verse 18. … if… this statement is a first-class condition in the Greek text indicating that the writer assumed the statement was true for the sake of his argument.
Paul knew from experience and believed that the Holy Spirit does indeed lead every Christian (24-26; Rom. 8:14). The question is, will we follow His leading and walk after the Spirit (v. 16) or will we walk after the flesh? The “if” in this sentence has the force of “since.” However, we should not conclude that the Spirit forces us to do God’s will.
The Holy Spirit leads us to do the moral will of God. He does this primarily through Scripture by helping us understand the will of God as revealed in Scriptures. Furthermore, He prompts and motivates us to do what we know to be right and He provides the power for us to obey God
(Phil. 2:13). We can overcome the flesh by siding with the Spirit.
“Walking by the Spirit, the antidote to nomism [living by law] of every kind, calls for resolution and staying power, as is made plain by Paul’s frequent use of athletic metaphors for the Christian life.
… led by the Spirit… does not imply passivity but rather the need to allow oneself to be led. Responding to the Spirit is described by three mutually interpreting words in verses 16, 18 and 25, ‘walk’ (RSV), ‘led’ and ‘live.’
Paul’s point was that the Christian cannot overcome the desires of the flesh by remaining under the law. The Judaizers were advocating submission to the law as the way to overcome the flesh, but Paul advocated submission to the Spirit.
Not being under the law sounds to some like a license to do as one pleases, as if “anything goes.” On the contrary, living by the Spirit is in fact the higher standard. God’s Spirit leads people to become like God, not to become more entangled in their own selfishness. It is in being led by God’s Spirit that we actually fulfill the teaching found in God’s law.
Paul’s appeal to be led by the Spirit rather than the law has the force of directing us to what God intends to happen as we follow Him. His opponents were interested first and foremost in a strict obedience to the Law of Moses. Paul challenged them to see, here and elsewhere, that “as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God” (Romans 8:14).
One writer calls for radical submission to the leading of the Spirit. He puts it this way:
“To be led by the Spirit, in the full sense of it, is to be under His benign and powerful influence in all thoughts, aspirations, and acts,–to be yielded up to His government without reserve,–to have no will without His prompting it, no purpose without His shaping it,– is to be everywhere and in all things in willing submission to His control, and always guarding against any insubordination which may grieve the Holy spirit of God….To be led by the spirit is much the same as to walk by the Spirit”.
A believer cannot please God by following detailed lists of rules and checkmarks about what to do and what not to do. Trying to do that will kill you and send you into depression and maybe suicide, for that kind of rules keeping will never help a sinner. The sinner is born too weak, helpless, ignorant and full of self. So, there is to be a daily walk, listening to the Spirit as we put one foot in front of the other.
Verses 19-21. Here Paul provides examples of how the flesh might be made manifest in people. What follows are lists of vices (Galatians 5:19–21) and virtues (5:22–23). Such lists are not intended to be an exhaustive catalog for the readers but were representative (Roman 1:29–31; Colossians 3:5–9).
The deeds of the sinful human nature are as evident as fruit on a tree. Behavior normally demonstrates nature. Paul identified five categories of sins here. He seems to have been saying ironically: “Look at the accomplishments of the flesh”.
Sexual sins (vs. 19). Indulgent and self-gratifying sexual acts with another person outside of a marriage relationship make up adultery and fornication (1 Corinthians 5:1). In addition to hurting others, these acts harm the guilty person (6:18).
Uncleanness results from improper sexual acts. It is a broad term. This term was also used in conjunction with purity codes of the Law of Moses (Leviticus 5:3; 7:21; etc.). God desires that His people acknowledge the holiness of their bodies and act accordingly (1 Corinthians 6:19–20).
Immorality fornication (Gr. Porneia, all types of forbidden sexual relationships).
Impurity, uncleaness (Gr. akatharsia, all moral uncleanness in thought, word, and deed.
Sensuality, licentiousness, indecency debauchery, lasciviousness (Gr. aselgeia, the open, shameless display of these sins).
Lewdness otherwise called licentiousness means “ready to sin at any time”. It is noted in one Bible commentary, “It speaks of someone who flaunts their immorality, throwing off all restraint and having no sense of shame, propriety, or embarrassment. Morris defines it as “a disregard of accepted rules … conduct that knows no restraint”.
A few quick clicks of the mouse and the internet makes pornography accessible (and frequently, unsolicited) for people. Even church-going people also admit to regularly viewing pornography. All society seems saturated with sexuality.
Engaging in watching pornography is often listed by those that investigate Christian behavior as a particularly serious problem among clergy as well as among other members of the church.
Paul’s cultural context was also obsessed with sexuality. Sites of pagan worship, such as temples to the goddess Aphrodite, utilized practices of sexual exploitation. Religious festivals frequently encouraged public and graphic expressions of sex.
Paul called Christians to a life of self-discipline, contrary to the ways of their culture. Indiscipline and excess are not suitable for a life in God’s Spirit.
Religious sins (vs.20)
Idolatry (Gr. eidololatria, worship of anything but God and the practices associated with that worship)
Sorcery, witchcraft (Gr. pharmakeia, attempts to aid the powers of evil and the associated practices.
Morris defines sorcery as “the use of any kind of drugs, potions, or spells”. In the ancient world, the taking of drugs (especially hallucinogens) was always associated with the occult, and the Bible’s association with drug taking and sorcery points out that drugs open up doors to the occult that are better left closed”.
The Apostle’s second grouping concerned idolatrous acts of worship. Idolatry involves replacing worship of the one true God. In essence, this act exchanged God for a lie (Exodus 20:3–6; Leviticus 19:4; Isaiah 44:9–20; Jeremiah 10:14; Romans 1:25).
Modern audiences need not think of idolatry strictly in terms of acts of worship to physical images. Rather, idolatry should be considered in terms of what diverts peoples’ attention, effort, and resources away from the desires of God (see Isaiah 2:8; Jeremiah 1:16; Micah 5:12–13; Acts 17:29).
Societal sins (vs. 20-21) These are called “people sins” because they are seen mostly in how we treat each other.
Hatred which is an attitude of the heart which reflects itself in the following:
Enmities, quarrels, hatred (Gr. echthrai, hostilities).
Strife” discord, variance (Gr. eris, antagonism) this in Greek usage or generally had to do with rivalry for prizes or power.
Jealousy, envy, emulation (Gr. zelos, self-centered animosity) Whis is the desire to have what some one else has. It is wrong. The Holy Spirit will never lead you into that position.
Outbursts of anger, fits of rage, wrath (Gr.thymoi, temper eruptions). This word deals with sudden flashes of anger, losing one’s temper and being unable to control one’s anger.
Disputes, strife, factions, selfishness, selfish ambition (Gr. eritheiai, putting others down to get ahead). This reflects ambition with no intention of service and whose only aim is profit and power. It reflects the, “What’s in it for me? bent of life
Dissensions, divisions, seditions (Gr. dichostasiai, disputes over issues or personalities). It is said to translate the Greek word which means literally “standing apart”. Members fly apart instead of coming together says one commentator.
Factions, heresies, party spirit (Gr. haireseis, divisions over issues or personalities). One Bible commentary states, “We think today of heresies in terms of wrong ideas and teachings; but the emphasis in the word is actually the wrongful dividing over opinions. Heresies can be thought of as hardened dissensions.
Envyings, jealousies (Gr.phthonoi, wrong desires to have another’s possessions). It is really bitter just because someone has something that we don’t. One Bible commentary states that the ancient philosopher Euripedes said it was “the greatest of all diseases among men”.
These kinds of acts are the opposite of the self-giving love initiated by God’s Spirit.
Seditions continue interpersonal strife to the point of causing division (Romans 16:17–18).
Heresies point to false beliefs that lead to destructive differences within the community.
Envyings continue the trend of selfishness that is at odds with the good of others. These acts result in disagreement and conflict.
Murders are the ultimate deprivation of the good of others, life itself!
Paul ends the list of vices by describing two public displays of overindulgence and self-destruction. Drunkenness, intoxication from alcohol harms the body and clouds a person’s mind.
Intemperate sins (vs. 21)
Paul ends the list of vices by describing two public displays of overindulgence and self-destruction.
Drunkenness, drinking bouts (Gr. methai, excessive use of intoxicants)
Carousings, revelings, orgies (Gr.komoi, parties involving excessive eating and drinking)
Drunkenness– intoxication from alcohol / drugs harms the body and clouds a person’s mind. A drunk person might lose control of his or her better judgment and participate in revellings. These are public displays of indulgence, gluttony and immorality (Romans 13:13; 1 Peter 4:3).
The Roman festival Bacchanalia was observed in honor of the gods and celebrated through rampant drunkenness and sexual immorality. This particular festival is celebrated today in similar fashion. Some think that our practice of carnival celebration is harmless but in fact mirrors exactly what went on in these pagan festivals.
Note that though there is much argument about whether a Christian should drink alcohol, and people differ in their beliefs about this, the Scriptures simply forbids drunkenness.
Other sins (vs. 21).
…Things like these (similar violations of God’s moral will)”. That the vice list concludes with such like these confirms that Paul had not compiled a comprehensive list. Rather, he likely wanted to highlight specific works of the flesh prevalent among the Galatians.
The common feature in this catalogue of vices seems to reside not in the precise ways in which these 15 items manifest themselves but in the self-centeredness or egocentricity that underlies all of them.
… those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God … Note that Paul previously and elsewhere warned that those that practised these kinds of sins would not inherit the kingdom of God
(1 Cor. 6:9-11; Eph. 5:5). They are either unbelievers, or masqueraders posing as Christians.
Sadly, many in the church, leaders and members alike seem quite capable of these fleshly indulgencies and like to make excuses for their behaviour, despite the warning of Scripture. These behaviors which are so prevalent today reflects the corruption in the modern as well as the ancient church.
Paul contrasted unbelievers whose lives typically bear the marks of these vices with believers whose lives typically manifest the fruit of the Spirit (vv. 22-23). He said that those who practice these vices will not inherit the Kingdom to warn his Christian readers away from them.
We therefore cannot stress too much that you are in danger when you commit any of these sins for you really are doing the voice of the Holy Spirit telling you to stop. To walk in these works of the flesh is to be in rebellion against God. That will bring God’s wrath on you.
Occasional failure to live in the Spirit was not Paul’s concern here. He was concerned with individuals who mock God’s Spirit as they continually live in the flesh (Galatians 6:7–9). Persistent disregard for the Spirit indicates that transforming faith is not present. A life led by the Spirit will not continue the status quo of living apart from God’s path.
Verses 22 – 23. Listed here are typical behaviors of those led by the Spirit and these form a stark contrast to the condemned behaviors where the sinful nature dominates.
Paul described the Spirit-filled life in agricultural terms, calling the attributes of such a life fruit (Ephesians 5:9; Philippians 1:11, 22; John 15:1–17).
The metaphor alludes to the Spirit’s role in producing this harvest, a shift from human striving to the Spirit’s supplying. Only through submission to God’s Spirit will these fruits be evident in a believer’s life (Matthew 7:16–20).
Mental or God-ward qualities (vs. 22).
We are now looking at a deeply relational life. This means that there are health relationships brought by the fruit of the Spirit.
This fruit of the Spirit is not less envy, anger, lust and less of other behaviors of the flesh. This is totally different. Believers are simply not the same people. They do not have a wistful longing for what was there before the Fall when human beings were exactly the way they were supposed to be. Eden was nice but the New Testament teaches us that we have been given something more than Adam and Eve had and it for we are told that we have the very deep love of Jesus. Christ’s love is not just taking us back to where human beings were at the beginning but He has given us much more than we have lost.
The greatest of all Christian virtues: love (1 Corinthians 13:13). This love is different from the feelings of affection between friends, family members, or romantic partners.
This kind of love demonstrates itself by sacrificial self-giving (John 15:13; Romans 5:8). The entire law was fulfilled by this Love.
One Bible commenter therefore describes this word for us in some detail:
“Love translates the ancient Greek word agape . In that language there were four distinct words for “love”. Eros was the word used for romantic or passionate love. Philia was the word for the love we have for those near and dear to us, be they family or friends. Storge is the word for the love that shows itself in affection and care, especially family affection.
But agape describes a different kind of love. It is a love more of decision than of the spontaneous heart, as much a matter of the mind than the heart, because it chooses to love the undeserving. Agape has to do with the mind: it is not simply an emotion, which arises unbidden in our hearts; it is a principal by which we deliberately live”. (Barclay).
This is therefore not simply natural affection or blood or family loyalty. Agape as one commentator states means loving people who aren’t easy to love; loving people you don’t like.
(Read Galatians 5:13–14; Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 5:43–45a).
So Spurgeon tells us:
“When you wax indignant because you have been badly treated, and you think of returning evil for evil, remember this text, ‘The fruit of the Spirit is love. ‘Ah’, you say, ‘It was shameful’. Of course it was: and therefore do not imitate it: do not render railing for railing, but contrariwise blessing, for ‘the fruit of the Spirit is love’.
It is also helpful to understand that works of the flesh in the light of this love of the Spirit. Each one of the works of the flesh is a violation or a perversion of this great love.
-Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness are counterfeits of love among people.
-Idolatry and sorcery are counterfeits of love to God.
-Hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, are all opposites of love.
— Drunkenness and revelries are sad attempts to fill the void only love can fill.
Joy (Gr. chara, deep-seated gladness regardless of circumstances). A Spirit-filled sense of joy does not depend on circumstances. Rather, this joy remains steadfast and prevalent during difficult situations
(2 Corinthians 8:2; 1 Thessalonians 1:6; Hebrews 10:34; James 1:2–3).
Peace (Gr. eirene, inner quietness and repose regardless of circumstances). Spirit-filled peace does not imply the absence of distress. Rather, peace finds its basis in the conviction of God’s all-sufficiency. Believers demonstrate peace as they work toward taking part in God’s restoration of the world. This begins with the restoration of the relationships within the church (1 Corinthians 14:33; 2 Corinthians. 13:11).
This is positive peace and it brings blessing and goodness. It is a higher kind of peace and it brings, and settled behavior. It brings a calm and tranquil heart.
Interpersonal or other-ward qualities (vs.22).
This grouping of spiritual fruit describes a person’s attitude toward others.
Patience (Gr. makrothymia, forbearance even under provocation). Longsuffering expresses patient treatment of others, even in response to wrongful treatment. It allows you to bear reproach or injury and wait for others to improve and recognize that they have done wrong.
Kindness (Gr. chrestotes, benevolence and graciousness).
Goodness(Gr. agathosyne, constructive action reaching out to others). This attribute marks the collective people of God (Romans 15:14). The concept might imply a willingness to do good for others by acts of radical generosity (Matthew 20:1–16). Such fruit addressed the difficult work of building right relationships among believers and establishing appropriate witness to unbelievers,
(Colossians 4:5; 1 Thessalonians 4:12).
General or self-ward qualities (vs.22-23).
Faithfulness (Gr. pistis, reliability, trustworthiness).
Gentleness (Gr. praytes, acquiescence to authority and consideration of others). This speaks of a person’s loving disposition toward others. People can show this temperament because God’s actions toward humanity provide the ultimate example (Romans 2:4).
Self-control, (Gr. enkrateia, ablity to master oneself).” Self-restraint, even in the midst of a disagreement (2 Timothy 2:25; 1 Peter 3:15–16). Paul would encourage the Galatians to put this fruit into practice as they worked to restore their community (Galatians 6:1). When the fruit of self-control (temperance) is present in a believer’s life, desires and passions do not rule that person.
Note that all of these seem to add up to describe the personality of Christ. They are graces. We are being transformed into the image of Christ by the work of the Spirit. These graces are the product of God the Holy Spirit and thus no law can be against this fruit.
Note the word “fruit” is singular. The Spirit produces all these graces and they are one, not looked at as piecemeal items, with some of them seen in the life of the believer while others are absent. They must all be seen together.
… against such there is no law … the law is not against those who walk by the Spirit because in principle they are fulfilling the law (verse 14). Law exists for the purpose of restraint, but in the works of the Spirit there is nothing to restrain.
Verse 24. Christians are not to be passive while bearing the Spirit’s fruit. While the Spirit has a role in the growth of the fruit, the Christian must end anything that might hinder the growing conditions of the fruit. This requires that Christians put to death selfish desires (Romans 8:13; Colossians 3:5).
…have crucified the flesh … the Christian has crucified the flesh in the sense that when he or she trusted Christ, God broke the domination of his or her sinful nature. While we still have a sinful human nature, it does not control us as it did before we trusted in Christ (Rom. 6:6-7).
Paul said we, not God, have crucified the flesh. We did this when we trusted in Jesus Christ as our Savior (2:20). Therefore, it is inconsistent for us to return to the flesh.
… passions… are the outward expression of inner desires (Rom. 7:5). In another sense we need to continually crucify the flesh by choosing to yield to the Spirit (vs.16, 18, 25; Rom. 8:13; Col. 3:5).
Paul wanted the Galatians to live not for themselves, but for the one who died for them (2 Corinthians. 5:15). As we live in the Spirit, we avoid all sinful tendencies, including the affections and “fleshly lusts, which war against the soul” (1 Peter 2:11).
Verse 25. Since the believer has new life, that person must walk in lock-step with the Spirit. We have to learn to follow the Spirit, day by day, for He has been provided by the Father to enable us to live the victorious life.
Following the Spirit’s lead brings a life of righteousness, demonstrating the transformational fruit of the Spirit (Romans 8:4–5). Walking by the Spirit shows itself in a committed, relational life. It shows love for others. Our love for God shows itself in our love for people.
Note, the Holy Spirit leads every Christian, but not all choose to walk by the Spirit (i.e., follow His leading).
… let us keep… Paul identified with the situation of the Galatians. What he asked of them applied to himself as well.
Verse 26. This verse shows that our conduct to others is determined by our opinion of ourselves.
… become conceited (vain glory) … is to boast of things that are insignificant and lacking in true worth, whether the boaster actually has them or only imagines that he has them or desires to have them.
The key to being fruitful as a Christian is being submissive to the Holy Spirit, following His leading, walking in dependence on Him (John 15:4-5).
Paul’s concern for the Galatians’ unity is evident. If they lived by the flesh, the Spirit’s fruit would be absent and divisions would deepen. The vain glory (conceit) sought by some Galatians would lead to discord among the whole community. When this provocation occurred, people were diverted away from the ways of the Spirit and resulting good works (Gal.6: 9-10; Hebrews 10:24). Selfish acts of our sinful nature are contrary to the humility required of Christ followers, demonstrated by Christ (Philippians 2:3). A life filled with God’s Spirit would show fruit and build unity among believers.
Is the fruit of the Spirit the same as the gifts of the Spirit?
In one sense everything that God gives us is a gift since we do not deserve any, including love, joy, peace, etc. However, in the apostles’ references to gifts of the Spirit the emphasis is on service, abilities God gives us with which to serve Him /others.
The references to the fruit of the Spirit put the emphasis on personal character and general conduct. Personal character is, of course, essential for effective service. Thus, it should be no surprise to find Paul’s emphasis on love, a fruit of the Spirit, in the middle of his discussion of the gifts of the Spirit in 1 Corinthians 12 -14.
CONCLUSION
One writer with a wry sense of humor tells us that the church has a sad indictment against it. “The church is the only Army in the world that has a reputation for deserting its wounded”.
We can hardly argue with that indictment for there is often some justification for it. We must therefore examine ourselves to see what our position is.
We have to according to the meaning of the word for “walking” in verse 16 engage in putting one foot before the other in the ordinary process of “walking”.
But in verse 25 we are told by linguists that the same word “walking” means “to get in line with” or
“to follow after”. Christians are therefore compared to an Army marching in line and we are responsible to care not only for ourselves but for each other for we are to march together and we will only be successful if some are not stumbling, or falling behind to one side. We cannot make progress unless we are walking together in the Spirit for we are responsible for each other.
The fact of the matter is that we are in the bondage of love implanted by the Holy Spirit in our hearts. This is love for Jesus Christ and this kind of love meets the righteous demands of the law. We are in the bondage of love but we are free to love and to serve one another in every way possible. In this kind of freedom we will not fulfill the lust of the flesh and the flesh will not dominate us and have us live according to its dictates.
We are therefore free to become like the Lord Jesus Christ and to reflect His most beautiful and completely incredible life. We move therefore to His compassion, mercy, kindness, long-suffering, gentleness and all Hid beautiful characteristics.
Freedom and love therefore allows us even to love our enemies and be able to relate to them. This kind of relationship will often make them turn to worship the Lord God Almighty.
So we are told to walk when we wake up in the morning, putting one step before the other as we begin each day calling on the Holy Spirit for help. Remember that we start this Christian walk as babies. When we fall when we walk we know that the Spirit cares and is right there with us. He will pick us up and so we will have continuing joy for we know we are called to the liberty of the freedom brought by the Holy Spirit.
Freedom therefore means were not on automatic pilot. We have to know that there is a conflict going on inside us and we must continually judge our thoughts, ask ourselves hard questions, and learn to obey God even when we do not feel like obeying. We would then bite and devour each other less and less. We will less and less angrily demand our rights. We will learn from our everyday experiences. We will learn to listen to the Lord in our day-to-day business.
Remember the story of the Emperor’s new clothes. There was a foolish Emperor who was tricked by his tailors who claimed that they had made him a most beautiful and glorious raiment that was absolutely astonishing and glorious to behold. But when the king looked in the mirror he couldn’t see these new clothes and all he saw was his underwear. But he didn’t admit that because his tailors kept on praising his beautiful new clothes. So when he went for a parade the crowd reacted the same way assuming that there was a problem with them instead of with the Emperor. But one little boy burst out, “The Emperor has no clothes”, and the bubble was burst to the embarrassment of the king for the crowd broke into laughter.
So let us be honest with ourselves and look at things the way they really are and refuse to hide behind clever tricks which the flesh brings.
So remember your destiny. You are free to be with the Lord God Almighty. So follow the leading of the Spirit and serve one another through love.
Pride is out of the question. Selfishness is out of the question, vainglory is out of the question. Walking in the Spirit means you cannot consider yourself to be superior, and others to be inferior to you. There can be no envy, boastfulness, or self- focus.
Flesh and the Spirit are the themes of our Text and presented in natural conflict. Importantly, the Spirit has already won, the resolution of the conflict is complete and Paul wants his hearers and readers to act accordingly.
As followers of Jesus, let us live in step with the Spirit. We will bear the Spirit’s fruit. When this life is demonstrated in a community of believers, the result is a unified people of God. Mutual submission in love becomes the ultimate example of the Spirit’s presence. This narrative is timeless and is as applicable for modern audiences as it was for the first-century Galatians.
There is an antidote to the life of the flesh: God’s Holy Spirit. He empowers a person to overcome the old life that ignores God, adopting attitudes and behaviors that reflect God’s will. The Spirit’s power is sure, but it requires our cooperation so that we fulfill God’s purpose and reflect His grace.
The we therefore must repeat that the Spirit has all the necessary power to help, guide and assist us. We must resist envy, vainglory, boasting in our accomplishments and alleged superiority to others. Rather we must do everything necessary to have others continue to live in the graces of God.
There is divine enablement in the Holy Spirit. He has made believers alive. Every believer must keep in step with the Spirit. The Christian walk must always conform to the Spirit’s direction and empowerment.