Living Apart From the Spirit

Introduction

As Christians, we often experience spiritual warfare. Especially in this day and age when there seems to be no glimpse of morality. The world adds fuel to our fleshly desires and temptations. This seems to be true throughout history. The Galatians were no exception and Paul’s teaching to them is no exception for us. It is important for us to understand that we have God’s Spirit to lead and guide us as well as empower us with the freedom to overcome. In today’s passage, we will see words like “sinful nature, desires, and the idea of instant gratification.” However, God’s plan is different. Many times this passage is not looked at too closely. However, it is important for us to understand what pulls us apart or away from the way the God intends for us to live. This passage is not easy to study. But in spite of the guilt that may ensue, in is not long lasting because there’s freedom in this passage. Let’s look at Galatians 5:16-21

Galatians 5:16–21 NIV84

16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17 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. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. 19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 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.

The Source for Living (vs. 16, 18)

Verse 16 and verse 18 provide the answer for us. If we were playing Jeopardy, the category might be “God’s Design.” The answer could very well be, “The Source for Living.” The correct answer in the form of a question might be, “What is the Holy Spirit’s Role?” Paul is quick to proclaim the role of the Holy Spirit and tells his readers so before he lists the aspects of the sinful nature. In giving us the answer, let’s be reminded of the gift of the Holy Spirit.

The Gift of the Spirit

Jesus promised us the gift of the Holy Spirit. John 14:15-17

John 14:15–17 NIV84

15 “If you love me, you will obey what I command. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

In this passage the Holy Spirit is called our Counselor and the Spirit of Truth. The Holy Spirit is a gift from Jesus. The Holy Spirit is the gift that always gives.

The Giving of the Spirit

Let me remind you of the giving of the Spirit. We have already seen from John 14 that the Holy Spirit is called Counselor and the Spirit of Truth. So the Holy Spirit gives us wise counsel. A counselor helps point the direction. The another name reminds us that what the Holy Spirit gives us is truth. As a part of the Trinity of which God the Father, God the Son and God the Spirit all exist, the Holy Spirit will always give us the truth. The Holy Spirit will also give us power.

Romans 15:13 NIV84

13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Counseling Holy Spirit, the Truthful Holy Spirit, and the Powerful Holy Spirit propels the Christian through a gateway that leads to holiness.

The Gateway of the Spirit

When go through that gateway, we live by the Spirit, and Galatians 5:16 tells us that we will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. Verse 18 adds that living by the Spirit alway frees us from the laws of religion. Paul sets the stage for us. In essence he is saying, “What I am about to tell you is hard to hear. However, before I tell you about the sinful nature and all the lies that go with it, I am going to tell you again that the Holy Spirit’s role is to help guide through these obstacles and you, in the power of the Holy Spirit, can overcome and not be consumed by the sinful nature.”

The Sinful Nature Lie (vs. 17, 19-21)

We see in verse 17, that the sinful nature is contrary to the Spirit and the Spirit is contrary to the sinful nature. Paul says they are in conflict with each other. Because of the conflict, we need to understand why so Paul gives us an itemized list. Anyone that does not walk with the Spirit can be consumed by the sins on this list. We can not assume that we are immune.

Sins of Sex

First, he lists sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery. These are acts that work against the plan of God. They are harmful. 1 Corinthians 6:18

1 Corinthians 6:18 NIV84

18 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.

These acts will lead to other harmful areas, but remember, there is a solution that Paul already given us.

Sins of Religion

The next list includes idolatry and witchcraft. These are sins against God and His first two commandments.

Exodus 20:3 NIV84

3 “You shall have no other gods before me.

Exodus 20:4–6 NIV84

4 “You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

Sins of Society

The next list are sins against society. They include hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy. These are all contrary to that neighborly law that we have talked about so much lately.

Galatians 5:14 NIV84

14 The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

We are called as Christians love each other and show that love by serving each other in and through love. Anything less is pure selfishness. My Psychology professor Dr. Godwin said that “selfishness is the sin that stinks all the way to heaven.”

Sins of Self

The next category is a list of substance abuse and what happens when one is not sober. 1 Peter 4:7

1 Peter 4:7 NIV84

7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.

When we become intoxicated or under the influence of some type of drug, we lose our clear mindedness and we lose our self-control.

Lumped in with the sins of self are the words “and the like.” This tells me that this list of the sinful nature is not an exhaustive list but perhaps one that listed some of the current activity of the Galatians. This list leads right to a statement that we must listen to.

The Statement to Listen to (vs. 21)

The latter part of verse 21 says, “I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:21b

A Warning About a Previous Warning

We have a warning about a previous warning. Acts 18:23

Acts 18:23 NIV84

23 After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out from there and traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.

During this time of strengthening all the disciples, Paul warned the Galatians about living ungodly lives.

A Warning About Choices

We also have in this last statement of verse 21, a warning about choices. We see here the implication that one can choose how to live. We can choose a life of the sinful nature or we can live a life by the Spirit. This choice is as old as the Bible itself and as old as mankind. Deuteronomy 30:19

Deuteronomy 30:19 NIV84

19 This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live

Just in case you are not catching it, life by the Spirit is life and blessings. Life by the sinful nature is death and curses.

A Warning About Eternity

The ultimate warning that is given here is about eternal life. Paul says, “Those that live like this will not inherit the Kingdom of God.” What is exactly the Kingdom of God. It is multiple things.

Romans 14:17 NIV84

17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,

Those are things we can have now. But there is also an emphasis as we have mentioned, on eternal life. Matthew 25:34

Matthew 25:34 NIV84

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.

1 Corinthians 15:50 NIV84

50 I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.

This verse tells me that the Kingdom of God is a spiritual place. Matthew 7:21

Matthew 7:21 NIV84

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

As I look at this passage, I feel the weight of sin in my life. I feel the weight of sin from those I have counseled over the years. Perhaps you are feeling the weight as well. The call to live life with the Spirit is also a wakeup call for all of us who have committed some of these sins or every one of them. It is a call to turn from the life of the sinful nature and turn to a life that is lead by the Spirit. Let’s look again and the Spirit’s leading.

The Spirit’s Leading (vs. 16-17)

Remember, before Paul gave the lists of the sins, he gave the answer in how to avoid them. We have the answer before us!

Galatians 5:16–17 NIV84

16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17 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.

Paul is telling us where to walk.

Where to Walk

We need to walk with the Spirit of the Living God! We will see this verse again next week. Galatians 5:25

Galatians 5:25 NIV84

25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

How to Walk

How do we do that? We make a concerted effort to live in the Spirit and not give into the sinful nature. Anything that is contrary to the Spirit needs to be avoided at all costs. It comes down to a choice. So when do we do this?

When to Walk

We do this in all things.

Romans 14:8 NIV84

8 If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

No reason to wait. Recognize what God has done in your life. Thank Him. Praise Him. Live for Him!

Psalm 150:6 NIV84

6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.

Living by the Spirit produces a wonderful victory in your life!