SCRIPTURE: GALATIANS 5
MEMORY VERSES:
“Do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.” (Galatians 5:13)
“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 13:22)
FREEDOM IN CHRIST (vs. 1-15)
Christ has set us free, so do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. No one is obligated to let himself be circumcised. For in Christ, Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
While you are running a good race, do not allow anyone to cut in on you and keep you from obeying the truth. Do not let the agitators persuade and confuse you to believe in their false teachings.
Since you were called to be free, do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature, rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
LIFE BY THE SPIRIT (vs, 16-26)
Live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking envy in each other.
The acts of the sinful nature are:
- Sexual immorality
- Impurity
- Debauchery
- Idolatry
- witchcraft
- hatred
- Discord
- Jealousy
- Fit of rage
- Selfish ambition
- Dissensions
- Factions
- Envy
- Drunkenness
- Orgies
The Fruit of the Spirit is:
- love
- joy
- peace
- patience
- kindness
- goodness
- faithfulness
- gentleness
- self-control
THOUGHTS:
Christ died to set us free from sin and from a long list of laws and regulations. Christ came to set us free – not free to do whatever we want because that would lead us back into slavery to our selfish desires. Rather, we are now free to do what was impossible before – to live unselfishly.
We are saved by faith, not by deeds. But love for others and for God is the response of those whom God has forgiven. God’s forgiveness is complete and Jesus said that those who are forgiven much, love much. Now you can check your love for others as a way to monitor your faith.
Love is the essential criteria of church’s unity. If we are not motivated by love, we become critical of others. Instead of looking for good in them, we see only their faults. Remind yourself of Jesus’ command to love others as you love yourself.
Being led by the Holy Spirit involves the desire to hear and obey God’s Word. Then the words of God will be in your mind, the love of Christ will be behind your actions and the power of Christ will help you control your selfish desires.
Paul stated that there are two forces fighting within us – the Holy Spirit and the sinful nature. If we rely on our own wisdom or human effort, we will make wrong choices and fail. Our only way to freedom from our evil desires is through the empowering of the Holy Spirit.
The fruit of the Spirit is the work of the Holy Spirit in us. It is the character traits that are found in the nature of Christ. If we want the fruit of the Spirit to grow in us, we must know him, love him, remember him, and imitate him. As a result, we can fulfill His law – to love God and our neighbor.
As we accept Christ as Savior and turn from our sins, it does not mean that we will never see traces of evil desires again. But we have to commit our sinful tendencies to God’s control daily and draw on the Spirit’s power to overcome them. The Holy Spirit is the source of our new life, so keep in step with his leading. Do not let anything or anyone else determine your values and standards in any areas of your life.