Gal 5.16-26
Galatians - Freedom Through Christ • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 39:05
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Main Idea
The desires of the flesh are not absent from believers but threaten them constantly. Nevertheless, believers are now able to conquer the flesh and its desires through the power of the Holy Spirit. Nor is it unclear whether one is yielding to the flesh or the Spirit, for one’s life demonstrates whether the flesh or the Spirit reigns.
Synopsis
By the power of the Holy Spirit, believers may conquer the desires of the flesh, which constantly threaten them.
PRAYER
A - God you are good and your ways are pure and right.
C - We confess that we are guilty before you of many works of the flesh.
T - Father thank you for your Son who took in his own flesh the punishment we deserve and by his sacrifice bought for us the freedom we have.
S - Father as we look to Galatians again this morning encourage and strengthen us for this present evil age is often a drudgery to us. We are often afflicted by principalities and powers and even while we are new creations in you our own sinful flesh yet abides in us. Nevertheless you have told us that we may experience victory over sin not only in Christ and the time to come but today as we live each day in yielding to your spirit. Teach us how anew this day we do pray. AMEN
INTRO
Marching Band - Symphony Orchestra - Military March
unity / solidarity
Mario Movie
Star Power!!
MESSAGE
13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
How do we practice and maintain this freedom?
Walk by The Spirit [16-18]
Walk by The Spirit [16-18]
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
WALK by the Spirit= Verb / Present / Active / Imperative
Verb - action word
Present - an action in process or state of being with no assessment of the actions completion
Active - the subject is performing the action or in a state described by it
Imperative - normally expressing a command, intention or request… expression not of reality but of possibility and volition
Ongoing / Personal / Active / Choice, to yield to the Spirit sec by sec, min by min hour by hour… etc.
Belief AND Behavior
You can lead a horse to water but you cant make him drink
He is the good shepherd he will not force us to go He merely LEADS
Jhn 10:27 “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”
Already / Not Yet = Sanctification Process
Exploring Galatians: An Expository Commentary 1. The Provision for Christlikeness (5:16–18)
Inherent in the concept of “walk” is the idea of making progress. We walk one step at a time. Our progress might not be fast, but it should be steady. We might stumble and fall, but we get up, seek cleansing, and keep moving forward.
This is a promise! - We will not glorify
To Conquer The Flesh.
The Struggle is Real !!!
17 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.
This Present Darkness - Frank E. Peretti
Ashton is just a typical small town. But when a skeptical reporter and a prayerful pastor begin to compare notes, they suddenly find themselves fighting a hideous New Age plot to subjugate the townspeople, and eventually the entire human race.
Powers
Gal 5.8 “This persuasion is not from him who calls you.”
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
Satan / Demons
OT gods
NT demons
People
Gal 5.12 “I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves!”
Personal
TWO natures !!
1 Jhn 1:8-10 “8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us... 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”
18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
Dead in my sin…
Moment by Moment
To Remain Free.
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Gal 3.10 “10 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.””
Gal 3.22 “22 But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.”
Gal 3.25 “25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian,”
Gal 4.2-3 “2 but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. 3 In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world.”
Gal 4.4-5 “4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.”
Gal 5.1 “1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”
Rom 6.14-15 “14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. 15 What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!”
How do we practice and maintain this freedom? = Walk by the Spirit
How do I know if I am walking by the Spirit or by the flesh?
Evaluate the Evidence [19-23]
Evaluate the Evidence [19-23]
The Works of the Flesh
T.R. Schreiner
Identifying the works of the flesh does not demand extraordinary spiritual discernment.
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 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.
Sexual / Spiritual / Social / Celebratory… Warning
Sexual Sins
Immorality / Impurity / Sensuality = any sexual practice outside monogamous heterosexual marriage falls into these categories
This is also a progressive scale… private practice to public parades !!
Pornography / masterbation / fornication / adultery / homosexuality / beastiality / any other sexual sin is characterized here
These things are not NEW!!
Exploring Galatians: An Expository Commentary a. The Sinful Man Revealed (5:19–21)
In the Greco-Roman world of Paul’s day, casual and promiscuous sex was as common as it is today. People thought nothing of it. At Corinth, in particular, immorality was so widely practiced that (like Sodom in the Old Testament) the name of the city became a synonym for vice. To “Corinthianize” was to practice debauchery
Spiritual Sins
Idolatry / Sorcery = Failure to recognize, submit to and worship God as God, rather manipulate the world unto ones own power.
Pharmokia = drug use and abuse / witchcraft / terot cards / horiscopes / palm reading ouiji boards and the like
Idolatry = Money “In God we Trust” = science (knowledge, education) = religion !
Exploring Galatians: An Expository Commentary a. The Sinful Man Revealed (5:19–21)
Even more subtle is the form of idolatry that substitutes men’s own thoughts and philosophies for God
Exploring Galatians: An Expository Commentary a. The Sinful Man Revealed (5:19–21)
Humanism, communism, and rationalism are all forms of this kind of idolatry. All of them are works of the flesh. All of them dethrone God and enthrone man.
Social Sins
8 words describing discord = Things like these…
Exploring Galatians: An Expository Commentary a. The Sinful Man Revealed (5:19–21)
We might dislike the other person’s position, but why should we also dislike his person? That is the flesh at work.
Jealousy = Zealous
Disensions = Dichotomy
Division = Heresies
fits of anger / wrath / etc.
Celebratory Sins
Drunkenness / Revelry = animal house / frat party / intoxicated anarchy
I remember the first “christian party” I ever went to…
Things like these…
Warning
“I warn you, as I warned you before”
Galatians (Explanation of the Text)
Doing the works of the flesh cannot be dismissed as inconsequential, for Paul warns the Galatians that those who make a practice of doing such will not inherit the eschatological kingdom. Instead, they will face judgment on the final day along with the rest of the wicked (6:8).
“those who DO (practice) such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
The Message of Galatians a. The Works of the Flesh (Verses 19–21)
the verb prassontes referring to habitual practice rather than an isolated lapse
We cannot get into the kingdom of God by our own efforts to be good and to keep the Law. But we can certainly be kept out of the kingdom of God by practicing these sins.
Gal 6.8 “8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”
Romans 6:21–22 “21 But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.”
The Works of the Spirit
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
BUT…
Lovely List
Attitudes toward God
Love - first and foremost because out of his springs the rest
Agape = spontaneous un-deserved affections directed at the other
Joy - Beyond “happiness” Believers are called upon to rejoice in all circumstances (1 Thess 5:16), trusting that God is working all things together for their good.
maybe even at times sorrow and joy together
Peace - peace beyond the worlds understanding that should rule the christians hearts
man/god | man/man | man/self
Attitudes toward others
Patience - With one another It is the work of the Spirit of God when one endures difficult situations and people without losing one’s equanimity
Kindness - Believers imitate God and Christ whenever they are generous to others, but especially in extending benevolence to those who are not loving in return.
praying for our enemies / persecutors
Goodness - Those who have the Spirit of God are strengthened to live lives of moral beauty, and their decency shines forth in a world blighted by evil.
Attitudes toward Self
Faithfulness - Those led by the Spirit are loyal and dependable, and one can count on them to fulfill their responsibilities… imitating Christ
Gentleness - Forceful and harsh behavior is not the mark of the Spirit’s work… longsuffering
Self-control - Those who have self-control are able to restrain themselves unlike those who are dominated by the desires of the flesh.
Lacking Law
against such things… NO law !!
How do we practice and maintain this freedom? = Walk by the Spirit
How do I know if I am walking by the Spirit or by the flesh? = Evaluate the Evidence
What hope do I have to live this way?
Continue With Christ [24-26]
Continue With Christ [24-26]
24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
Gal 6.1-2 “1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
Believers Belong to Christ
Believers Possess The Spirit
Believers Practice Piety Together
How do we practice and maintain this freedom? = Walk by the Spirit
How do I know if I am walking by the Spirit or by the flesh? = Evaluate the Evidence
What hope do I have to live this way? = Stop trying harder,… Continue with Christ !!
PRAYER
Father in heaven fill us with your Spirit so we may walk by His power. Grant us to be rich in the works of the spirit and poor in the works of the flesh. Help us to continuously crucify our sinful flesh with its desires by the power of the resurrected Christ we do pray.
Group Questions
Group Questions
Describe the conflict believers have with the flesh.
Compare and contrast this passage with Romans 7:13–25.
What struck you the most in the section on “The Works of the Flesh”?
What lesson or reminder did you need the most in the section on “The Fruit of the Spirit”?
What is the “good news” in this passage?
How might you daily crucify the flesh?
What means or method does this passage teach for becoming like Christ? In what aspects do we not become like Christ?
How does this passage relate to the passages before and after it (5:13–16 and 6:1–10)?
In what ways are you tempted to disobey verse 26? Stop and pray for the Spirit’s work in you to avoid this sin. List ways you might instead love and serve others.
How might the application of this passage change a couple’s marriage?