Led by the Spirit
Notes
Transcript
For Freedom
For Freedom
We are going to look at what is commonly called the Fruit of the Spirit and how that comes to light practically in the lives of Christians.
To do that, we are going to read a bit about what comes before the section on the fruit of the Spirit.
A natural question is:
Why become a believer in Jesus?
Now, I would be remiss if I did not tell you that Galatians 5 is a contentious chapter for some.
Mainly because it could be understood that Paul is saying that a Christian needs to do good works to ‘stay in’ Christ
Others will read this to say that if you do what Pauls calls ‘works of the flesh’ you are not in Christ
The Galatians (the audience) are in a bit of turmoil.
Some of them have been convinced and believe that following the Law of Moses is a mandatory task.
If you fail to follow Moses, then you cannot be in Christ
Again, begging the question, if you can follow Moses, then what need is there for Jesus?
What did the biblical authors say about why, or rather what is the purpose for trusting and being loyal in Jesus?
The Messiah set us free so that we could enjoy freedom! So stand firm, and don’t get yourselves tied down by the chains of slavery.
Galatians 5:1 “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.”
[Why become a believer in Jesus?] 1. So you can be free and enjoy real freedom.
Paul is making a firm statement and using an analogy. The yoke of slavery is Paul’s referral to the Law of Moses.
Which is ironic, since Moses led the nation Israel from slavery in Egypt
Then, he writes the laws of God and directs the people to follow them
There is a difference between physical slavery and mental slavery to perfection.
For in the Messiah, Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any power. What matters is faith, working through love.
Galatians 5:6 “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.”
[Why become a believer in Jesus?] 2. So you can function through faith and love
Paul uses the idea of circumcision, something given to Abraham (preceded Moses), as a method to say that you cannot modify your body and have that be the reason that God accepts you.
God is not seeking a ‘chore’ based relationship
Instead, God is seeing faith through love.
And the Galatians were doing that well…but...
You were running well. Who got in your way and stopped you being persuaded by the truth? This persuasion didn’t come from the one who called you!
Galatians 5:7–8 “You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion did not come from Him who calls you.”
Question: Have you ever noticed how you might decide to dedicate more time to being a better person, a better Christian, and something comes along that disturbs your progress?
Sometimes there is pressure from others
Sometimes you start to believe things that are not true
Sometimes you just run out of energy and give up.
And for Paul, this belief they are adapting too is not something that God sent.
Paul is going to turn his attention to how this works out between others.
When God called you, my dear family, he called you to make you free. But you mustn’t use that freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, you must become each other’s servants, through love. For the whole law is summed up in one word, namely this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’
Galatians 5:13–14 “For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.””
[Why become a believer in Jesus?] 3. To be free and freely serve others.
Notice what Paul does here:
Christ has set you free, so be free!
Don’t be yoked again to slavery
God’s summon made you free
Don’t misuse that freedom
Instead, become a servant to each other (slavery)
On account of love.
Paul is instructing his readers to not give in to following the law of Moses so that God owes you his affection.
Instead, you must follow the law of Christ, “love your neighbour as yourself.”
But if you bite each other and devour each other, watch out! You may end up being destroyed by each other.
Galatians 5:15 “But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.”
The freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, Paul clarifies, is not an opportunity to point out the deficits in each other.
Truth is, you can do that just fine by yourself, thank you very much!
Let me say this to you: live by the spirit, and you won’t do what the flesh wants you to.
Galatians 5:16 “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.”
[Why become a believer in Jesus?] 4. To be free from the desires of the flesh. (we will learn about this next week)
So, for Paul, becoming a Christian, following Jesus, is to live by the spirit and reject what we would call ‘natural’ desires.
For Freedom
For Freedom