Galatians – Spirit Led Life

Galatians 5:13 “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.”

Paul up to this point in this epistle has been emphasising about living under grace. Through Christ we have freedom and now after he speaks of living in that freedom and ensuring that we do not once again find ourselves yoked under the law, he highlights what that freedom in Christ that grace imparts should look like. A life led by the Spirit.

The Flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit

Paul begins by pointing out what it should not be – freedom in Christ does not mean a liberty to carry out every desire of the flesh. Our earthy nature works contrary to that of the spirit.

Galatians 5:17 “For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.”

God is loving and forgiving, but that does not mean we deliberately sin. Just because we are no longer bound by the law, does not signify that His standards for us have changed or shifted. He has freed us to live for Him and that means to be in accordance to His will and desires. We are set apart for Him, we have the freedom to serve Him and also know that we have grace when we mess up.

Life defined by the Flesh or the Spirit

Paul then goes on to compare what walking by the flesh or the spirit should look like.

Galatians 5:19-21 “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.”

Paul is very clear and descriptive so as to not leave any room for his audience to be subjective in what they deem as right and wrong. Being driven by the flesh can look different for various people. We each can have a different standard and by Paul’s description here, there is a clear call to look not at each of this through the eyes of man but through the lens of God.

For example, Impurity for one person may look very rigid in how they live, for another it might mean being lenient in some ways but not crossing a certain line. Jesus said in Mathew 5:28 “But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Jesus calls us to not only be concerned with our outward actions but instead for our new selves in Him to also think and desire in accordance to what is right in His eyes. As Proverbs 4:23 says, “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.”

Fruit of the Spirit

Paul then goes onto writing what walking by the Spirit will look like, a life evidenced by its fruit.

Galatians 5:22-23 “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.”

The list above can seem impossible to live out in our own strength but that is the point of it all, we do not muster these qualities within ourselves. Our focus is not trying to live out each of these fruit to the best of our ability, but to stay focused on abiding in God. He is the vine and we are the branches. When we remain in Him, we can be assured that He is working in us, transforming us and the fruit will be evident as a result.

John 15:5 ^“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

What will people find?

Grace leads a person to live as God pleases and their desires too, come to be in alignment with Him. From our grace filled position, we also have the opportunity to have an impact on others through the fruit that they experience. What will people find when they look at our lives – a list of do’s and don’ts, being judgemental or a life lived with faith, trust and dependency on God.

Prayer: Lord, we thank you for the grace you freely bestow on us that enables us to live in freedom. We thank you for the Spirit’s work in our lives. We pray for help in areas that need submission and growth. Lord, you have always desired a relationship with us and for us to not feel obligated to live for you but have a heart that desires to do so. And may the effect of the spirit’s work enable us to reflect you in all that we do. Amen.

God Bless.