Patience
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Galatians was written because the churches of that region were facing a theological crisis. The essential truth of justification by faith rather than by human works was being denied by the Judaizers—legalistic Jews who insisted that Christians must keep the Mosaic Law. In particular, the Judaizers insisted on circumcision as a requirement for Gentiles who wished to be saved. In other words, convert to Judaism first, and then you are eligible to become a Christian. When Paul learned that this heresy was being taught to the Galatian churches, he composed an epistle to emphasize our liberty in Christ and to counter the perversion of the gospel that the Judaizers promoted.
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
“Walk by the Spirit”
Walk: to walk (behavior) v. — to live or behave in a specified manner.
What is the specified manner?
Specified: identify clearly and definitely
The specified manner is set and established by the Spirit…
The Spirit brings clarity
Clarity is brought through the word of God
It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.
Therefore the word of God teaches us how to walk in the Spirit.
As a believer walks through life he should depend on the indwelling Holy Spirit for guidance and power.
If we will walk in the specified manner
“You will not gratify the desires of the flesh”
Gratify- to satisfy ⇔ perfect v. — to satisfy, conceived of as if bringing something to completion without defect or blemish.
This is why the struggle is real!
Because the gratification is real…
For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.
“For the desires of the flesh”
Desires: to crave v. — to have an intense desire for some particular thing.
For the cravings of the flesh are against what is specified!
The craving of the Sprit are against the flesh…
But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
If you are led by the Spirit!
to be led (directed) v. — to willingly undergo an action or course of action (due to the influence of a moral or spiritual influence).
“You are not under the law”
Remember the law was a mirror but not a savior.. .
Salvation only comes through faith!
And when you follow what is specified… You are fulling the commandments
Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
“will not inherit the kingdom of God”
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
The Bible Knowledge Commentary 5:22–23
It is important to observe that the fruit here described is not produced by a believer, but by the Holy Spirit working through a Christian who is in vital union with Christ (cf. John 15:1–8). The word “fruit” is singular, indicating that these qualities constitute a unity, all of which should be found in a believer who lives under the control of the Spirit. In an ultimate sense this “fruit” is simply the life of Christ lived out in a Christian.
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
to crucify v. — to execute someone by nailing him onto a cross.
How do you crucify the flesh?
And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
We crucify the flesh when we are obedient to what the Spirit has specified!
If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.
Live: to live (supernaturally) v. — to be or become alive in a transcendent manner; especially as characteristic of resurrected life, or life without sin or with sin subjugated.
Transcendent: beyond or above the range of normal or merely physical human experience.
“Keep in step with the Spirit”
Step: to live (carefully) ⇔ process (march) v. — to live in careful observance of requirements; conceived of as walking in a straight line or in file.
I don’t need more patience or anything else!!!
If we walk in obedience / We will live by the Spirit
The Spirit produces the fruit that produces Christ-like characteristics!