Walking with the Spirit

What does it mean to be free? During the past few weeks, we've talked about the freedom we have in Christ, but now it all comes together in chapter 5 of the book of Galatians.

Paul has been emphasizing the importance of following Christ and the reality that as Christians, we are no longer under the Jewish law. He starts off with some very strong words about the reality of the law. He calls it a "yoke of slavery." He then continues in verse 2,

Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all.

Galatians 5:2 NIV

Circumcision was a mark of commitment to the Old Testament law. By becoming circumcised, the new believers were trying to have both Jesus and the law. This cannot be, however, because circumcision marks a commitment to the entire law. We cannot pick and choose what we follow and what we're free from. Either we accept Christ and his salvation by grace through faith alone. Or we try to earn salvation through following the law.

Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.

Galatians 5:3-4 NIV

Paul preached the true gospel of grace alone to the Galatians, so he saw that some other influence had come in to proclaim a false gospel of legalism.

 You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.”

Galatians 5:7-9 NIV

Yeast makes the whole loaf fill with air bubbles, so it becomes fluffy and big. A little false teaching among young Christians can also puff up and fill people with a false pietism that resembles holiness, but it is really just a lot of worthless hot air. Paul is emphasizing that this teaching of legalism and a works-based faith is not from God and therefore should be rejected.

The condemnation Paul speaks next is not for the lost Christians, but for the one who threw them into confusion.

As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!

Galatians 5:12 NIV

Yeesh! Harsh words from Paul. But this is important because we need to know that it is imperative that we do not lead the Lord's people astray. Even if these false teachers did not know they were teaching falsehood, they still were teaching their own beliefs as gospel without the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. We need to watch out that we don't lead people astray as well.

Here's an important question this inspires me to ask:

Am I forcing someone to follow my convictions that are matters of conscience and not of the law?

There are quite a few secondary and tertiary issues in the Christian faith that are not prescribed in the Bible. Matters like watching rated R movies, drinking alcohol in moderation, what I wear, how much money I give, and what kind of house, car, or phone I have. Though these are a lot less significant than the issue of committing ourselves to the Old Testament law, they can still be issues of legalism.

If I begin to preach a "gospel" of giving 10% to the church and never drinking alcohol to new Christians, I am pushing them to follow a set of rules that are not from Christ. Though they are worthy principles, I could really cause someone to stumble when they see other believers enjoying a beer on a Friday evening. The gospel we preach must be the true gospel. That we are saved by grace alone through faith alone. I know I've said that so many times in the last 4 weeks, but if we take nothing else away from Galatians, we must remember that the gospel is centered around that principle. Once we understand the gospel, gratitude and love for our God flow from that.

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Galatians 5:13-14 NIV

That passage reminds me of a quote from Augustine:

"Love God and do whatever you please: for the soul trained in love to God will do nothing to offend the One who is Beloved." -Augustine

These words illustrate our freedom so well. When we are loving God and filled with gratitude for all Christ has done, we will want to live holy lives. When we love God, we seek to honor Him with all we do. We won't even want to "indulge the flesh" because we know that doing so will make us a slave to our own sinful desires.

Paul then lists off some of the acts of the flesh we may be inclined towards. His list isn't exhaustive, but odds are, we all can resonate with one or more of the sinful desires or actions he lists here:

The acts of the flesh are obvious:

• Sexual immorality,

• Impurity

• and debauchery;

• Idolatry

• and witchcraft;

• Hatred,

• Discord,

• Jealousy,

• Fits of rage,

• Selfish ambition,

• Dissensions,

• Factions

• and envy;

• Drunkenness,

• Orgies, and the like.

I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Galatians 5:19-21 NIV

Even if a sin (like jealousy) is more common and easy to fall into than another (such as witchcraft), it is still sin and it still goes against God's will for our lives. But it is not enough to just commit ourselves to avoiding these sins. We need a battle plan, or the sins will just come back again and again. When we fill ourselves with God's word and allow the Spirit to work in us, our lives fill with the fruit of the spirit:

 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Galatians 5:22-23 NIV

I'm sure we've all heard this verse before many times, but let's commit it to memory this week! When we're faced with a difficult challenge (or person), we can consider our actions and see if our next steps are out of fleshly desires, or an outflow of the Spirit in our lives.

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Galatians 5:24-25 NIV

What is one thing you can do differently this week to die to your fleshly desires and live a Spirit-filled life?

What is something you can do this week to draw you closer to God?

Is there anything the list that you need to repent of today? (see verses 19-21)

Lord, thank you for your word. I am so grateful that we have free access to the Bible so we can learn more about you and love you more each day. Help us to see areas where we are indulging our own fleshly desires and show us the better way to live. I pray for the women reading this that their affections may be stirred, and they may draw closer to you this week. We love you, God.

Amen.