Spirit or the Flesh?

Introduction (1:1-2:10)

‘A Church with a Problem’ (Gal. 1:1-12)

‘Setting the Table’ (Gal. 1:13-24)

‘Looking Back’ (Gal. 2:1-10)

‘A Church with a Problem’ (Gal. 1:1-12)

I. The Prayer of Paul (v1-5)

Defense; Disposition; God’s Deliverance Praised

II. The Perversion of the Gospel (v6-9)

The Gospel has been Perverted (def) transmuted, corrupted, distorted from it’s true use and end.

Write this down: “It’s either All by Grace, or it’s not at all by Grace” - Me. It’s either by Faith, or it’s by Works.

The Church had been Effected (v6-7a); the Offenders Cursed (v8-9)

III. The Preeminence of Christ (v10)

A Choice v10a); a Consequence (v10b)

IV. The Providence of Christ (v11-12)

Not Received by Man (v11-12a); Given by Christ (v12b)

‘Setting the Table’ (Gal. 1:13-24)

I. Times Past (v13-14)

A Religious Man; a Self-Righteous Man; a Man of Renown

II. Transformation & Tutelage (v15-19)

A Calling (v15); A Change (v16a); A Cause (v16b); a Communion (v17-19)

III. Testimony Observed (v20-24)

Truth Exposed; Change Evidenced; God was Exalted

‘Looking Back’ (Gal. 2:1-10) - (At the ‘Counsel of Jerusalem’ meeting - Act. 15)

I. Following the Call (v1-2)

Faithfulness in Service (v1a); Fellowship in Ministry (v1b); Following the Spirit (v2)

II. False Brethren Emerge (v3-5)

Tension (v3); Tares (v4); Resistance (v5a); Reason (v5b)

III. The Furtherance of the Gospel

No Partiality of Persons (v6); A Perception of Purpose (v7-9); A Plan for the Poor (v10)

Repudiation (2:11-4:31)

‘Apostles at Odds’ (Gal. 2:11-14)

‘The Doctrine of Justification’ Pt. 1&2 (Gal. 2:11-21)

‘A Confrontation of Questions’ (Gal. 3:1-5)

‘The Seed of Abraham - pt. 1’ (Gal. 3:6-18)

‘The Seed of Abraham - pt. 2’ - (Gal. 3:19-29)

The Contention of False Doctrine - (Gal. 4:1-20)

‘The Inferiority of a Fleshly Gospel’ - (Gal. 4:21-31)

‘Apostles at Odds’ (Gal. 2:11-14)

I. The Person (Peter)

Loved by Christ; Labored for Christ; In the Lineage of Christ

II. The Problem

A Confrontation Over Cowardice; A Confrontation that was Correct; A Confrontation that was Not Concealed

‘The Doctrine of Justification’ Pt. 1&2 (Gal. 2:11-21)

I. The Prelude

The People had been Troubled; The Gospel had been Perverted; The Church had been Parted; Paul Confronted Peter

II. The Position (v16)

Justification is a Judgment of Innocence Rendered; It’s Not a Pardon; It’s God who Justifies; It’s an Act, not a Process; It’s Obtained by Faith, not by Works

III. The Power (v15; 17-20)

A Testifying Power; A Transformative Power; A Transitioning Power; A Transfiguring Power

IV. The Proof (v21)

Either Grace is Important; Or the Sacrifice was Ineffective

‘A Confrontation of Questions’ (Gal. 3:1-5)

I. Who hath Bewitched You? (v1)

They were Spellbound; They Rejected Truth; They Should have Known Better

II. How was the Spirit Received? (v2)

What Work did you Do to Merit the Spirit?; Didn’t you Receive when you Believed?

III. Has your Flesh Made you Better? (v3)

He Marvels at their Mindset; He Acknowledges their Beginning; He Illustrates the Absurdity

IV. Have you Suffered for Nothing?

Their Faith brought Persecution; It Meant Nothing if Faith is Abandoned

V. How is God’s Work Completed? (v4)

Keeping the Law Yourself doesn’t Manifest the Spirit in Others; Keeping the Law doesn’t Produce Miracles

‘The Seed of Abraham - pt. 1’ (Gal. 3:6-18)

I. A Progenitor to Consider

His Condition [Righteous] (v6); His Children (v7); His Covenant (v8); Paul’s Conclusion (v9)

II. A Premise to Understand

Those Under the Curse (v10); The Law is Contrary to Faith (v11-12) - FOR SALVATION; The Curse of the Crucified (v13); The Cause of the Crucified (v14) - FOR US

III. A Promise to Claim

The Surety of the Promise

Whether Confirmed by Man (v15)

Or Especially by God (v17)

The Subject of the Promise (v16); The Simplicity of the Promise (v18)

‘The Seed of Abraham - pt. 2’ - Gal. 3:19-29

The Insufficiency of the Law

It’s Dependent (v19a); It’s Determinate (v19b)

It’s Deficient

It Requires an Intermediary (v19c-20)

It’s Insufficient for Righteousness (v21)

The Intent of the Law

The Condemnation of the Law (v21-22a); The Cooperation of the Law (v22b-23); The Counsel of the Law (v24); The Conclusion of the Law (v25); The Children are by Faith (v26)

In Identification in Christ

A Baptism is Required (v27); A Balance is Found (v28); We’re Beneficiaries of the Promise (v29)

The Contention of False Doctrine - (Gal. 4:1-20)

Sonship Examined

Progression Assuymed (v1-3); Redemption by Christ (v4-5a); Adoption Enjoyed (v5-7); Inhabitation Experienced (v6)

Stunted Growth

A Regenerate Position (v8-9a); A Regressive Mindset (v9b-10); A Restless Under-Shepherd

A Forsaken Servant

A Plea for Unity (v12); Their Previous Devotion (v13-15); Their Present Distain (v16)

A Sorrowful Situation

They were Negatively Affected (v17-18); Paul was in Angst (v19-20)

‘The Inferiority of a Fleshly Gospel’ - Gal. 4:21-31

The Allegory

There was Intention; Intervention; a Celebration; Contention & Separation

The Application

Two Covenants:

Mosaic (Hagar) v. Abrahamic (Sarah)

In Bondage < at Liberty; of Man < of God; was Added < was Intended; Barren < Fruitful

Two Children

The Law (Ishmael) v. Grace (Isaac)

Of Flesh < of Promise; brings Bondage < brings Freedom; was Cast Out < is the Only Heir

Two Creations

Old Nature v. New Nature

Born of Flesh < born of the Spirit; Condemned < Cleansed; Enslaved < Free

Application (5:1-6:18)

Liberty or Law? (Gal. 5:1-15)

‘Liberty or Law?’ - (Gal. 5:1-15)

Living in Liberty (v1-6)

The Contrast w/ Bondage (v1); The Curse of the Law (v2-3); The Change in Lifestyle (v4-6)

Leaven’s Effect (v7-12)

Confronting the Cause (v7-8); The Consequence of Pollution (v9); Condemning the Offender (v10-12)

The Love of Liberty (v13-15)

Liberty not Licsentiousness (v13a); Love Fulfills the Law (v13b-14); The Lack of Love Leads to Destruction (v15)

Today as we conclude Chapter 5, we are going to examine the Works of the Flesh & the Fruit of the Spirit.

The question today for you is: are you being led by the Spirit or the Flesh. It’s an important question to consider.

First, if you’re being led of the flesh, you must ask yourself if you’re truly in the faith.

I must remind you of a verse that we mentioned last week: Hebrews 12:8 “But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.”

That word bastard (def) illegitimate son. From the outside looking in, there are a lot of people under the roofs of churches today that appear to be sons, but they are illegitimate. Are you one of them?

Secondly, if you ARE truly a son of God, heir of God co-heir with Christ, and you’re NOT producing the fruit of the Spirit, WHY NOT?

So, first as we begin we look first at Foundational Truths

I. Foundational Truths

The Cause and Effect (v16)

I believe I could preach a message on this verse alone… but given time constraints, let’s break it down.

“This I say then…”

Remember, Paul had already spoken in great length concerning:

The errors of a perverted Gospel (Jesus +)

The Truth of Justification (by Grace through Faith we’re deemed ‘Innocent’)

Two illustrations: Abraham’s justifying Faith & Sarah & Isaac v. Hagar & Ishmael

The Liberty that’s found in Christ vs. the Bondage found in the Law

Then he makes the important statement in: Galatians 5:13 “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.”

Church, write this down, as it will be relevant later: Grace is not an Enablement or Excuse for sin, but an Encouragement to Live in Obedience

(Ill.) If someone has shown you grace and you truly realize that, you’re not going to abuse that grace - you’re going to appreciate it and desire to be a blessing to them as well. Let’s say that you encounter a homeless man & decide to take him in. You feed him & bless him with food & shelter. If that man has been touched by your grace, they’re not going to leave the refrigerator door open and poop on the carpet. Your grace will prompt them to act with appreciation, not contempt. WHAT I’M SAYING IS, THAT IF SOMEONE TRULY REALIZES WHAT CHRIST DID TO MAKE THEM FREE AND HAVE BEEN BORN AGAIN BY THE GRACE OF GOD, THEY WILL BE POOPING ON THE CARPET!

And because all that… It’s with all that in mind when he gives this advice: ‘WALK IN THE SPIRIT’

“…walk in the Spirit,…”

To walk denotes movement, repetition, action.

It denotes Consistency

(Ill.) Back when I would walk outdoors I would set my apple watch so it could keep track & make me feel good about my workout. But inevitably things would happen on my walk. I might see & stop & talk to people, or my dogs would have to stop & pee on something… It was then that my watch would ask me ‘Are you still walking?’. You see, even a dumb smart watch knows that walking indicates consistency

It directs a Path & Person

IN the Spirit - that means that it’s not just that the Spirit is in YOU, but YOU in the Spirit

It demonstrates a yielding

In other words, you are deferring to what the Spirit desires you to say, act & go

It denotes a DECISION

It’s a deliberate choice that one must make.

“…and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”

That’s the result, church! If Christians would just yield to the Spirit of God, be consistent in their walk in Him, you WON’T fulfill the lust of the flesh.

I’ve spoken with people many times that have struggled with sin. Do you know what the answer is if you’re struggling with sin? Walk in the Spirit.

We see the Cause & Effect

A Crippling Conflict (v17)

Two words used three times that we must note: ‘AGAINST x2; CONTRARY’. That’s the words you need to understand when it comes to the Flesh & the Spirit

These two things are in constant opposition, do you know why? Because they are competing against each other.

I want to take a moment and define what the Bible means by ‘the Flesh’. It’s not speaking about the body directly. The body itself is neutral. When the Bible speaks of ‘the Flesh’ it’s speaking of the Carnal / Natural Mind & Impulses. The Spirit on the other hand is God Himself. They are in constant opposition one with the other for CONTROL OF THE BODY.

The flesh desires to sleep in on Sundays

The Spirit desires to be at the House of God - conflict

The flesh desires to watch the TV

The Spirit desires to Read the Bible - conflict

The flesh desires to talk about the weather

The Spirit desires to witness of God’s Plan of Salvation

SO THE VERSE CONCLUDES ‘So that he cannot do the things that ye would’ - in other words, the flesh prevents the Spirit from doing what we know to be right.

(Ill.) Has anyone here known that they should have done something, but was compelled not to? Maybe tell someone about Jesus, testifying of Him, etc? That’s your flesh overruling your Spirit

We see a Crippling Conflict

A Cure for the Condemned (v18)

When we walk in the Spirit, we see that we’re not under the Law

In other words, there is no law that condemns us - no law that we will be guilty of breaking. It’s a Cure for condemnation

A Cure for the Condemned

Foundational Truths

II. Works of the Flesh

Then we see that Paul begins to explain what he means by the the flesh & the effects thereof. What does the flesh’s works manifestations look like?

Sensual Sins (v19)

Adultery / Fornication (def) sex outside marriage / YOUR marriage

Uncleanness (def) impurity

Lasciviousness (def) looseness; irregular indulgence of animal desires; lustfulness

This is a big one - especially - but certainly not exclusively for men. There’s a reason why the porn industry generates in the US alone between 15 & 97 billion dollars annually.

These aren’t learned behaviors - Sodomy is, but that’s another story. They are the manifestations of our carnal minds. This demonstrates the depravity within mankind.

Sensual sins

Spiritual Sins (v20a)

Idolatry & witchcraft

Idolatry (def) putting anything before God is an idol

This is a big one for many Christians (and professing Christians). Idols. Your idol might be:

Your house, your job, your car, your boat, your your hobby, your children… anything and everything can be an idol in your life.

Witchcraft can be viewed a few different ways:

In the practical sense: The practice of tarot cards, mediums, psychics etc.

In the root-word sense: The original word is where we get our word ‘pharmacy’ from. From that sense it’s speaking about escapism & intoxication.

Both of these can be viewed as Spiritual sins, obviously for the first, but consider the second. Why do people take drugs? To escape their reality, to deny their responsibilities.

I’m not saying that all medicines are bad, what I am saying is that there’s entirely too much dependence on Johnson & Johnson & not enough on God. NOT ALL BATTLES CAN BE WON BY TAKING A PILL - WHETHER BOUGHT ON THE STREET CORNER OR AT THE PHARMACY!

Spiritual Sins

Social Sins (v20b-21a)

The way we treat & interact with others.

Hatred

Variance (def) to quarral; contention

Emulations (def) Rivalry; desire for superiority

Wrath

Strife

Seditions (def) divisions

Heresies (def) disunion

Envyings

Murders; drunkenness, revelings AND SUCH LIKE - (in other words, there’s more, but you get the idea)

This is the way the flesh - the carnal mind - acts toward others.

Warren Wiersbe said: We are to worship God, love people, and use things, but too often we use people, love self, and worship things, leaving God out of the picture completely.

These church are the works of the flesh. But then he follows that up with a stern warning

A Stern Warning (v21b)

One thing that he’s not saying here is that if you commit these sins that you’re going to Hell. What he’s saying is that if this is your lifestyle, then you are.

The Works of the flesh & fruit of the Spirit are in large part evidentiary.

Remember what I said? Grace is not an Enablement or Excuse for sin, but an Encouragement to Live in Obedience If you’ve truly been born again, there most certainly will be some change in your life. Remember the Words of Christ: Matthew 7:16–20 “Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”

If the fruit of the Spirit is not evident in your life, if you are and have been exuding the works of the flesh, then you better have a check up to see whether you’re truly in the faith, or if you’re bastard and not a son.

A Stern Warning is given

Foundational Truths; Works of the Flesh

III. Fruit of the Spirit

The Description

Notice how the Word of God contrasts the word WORK for the flesh, but it doesn’t say ‘WORK’ when speaking of what is being produced by the Spirit. It’s not a ‘Work’ but a ‘FRUIT’.

IF you have the Spirit, and the Spirit has some liberty, then you will produce fruit.

The Description

The Deployment

(Ill.) We were a little over 6 months ago blessed with a house over on Smith St. Hebron I call it. The woman who owned that property before us was by all accounts a wonderful woman who displayed the fruit of the Spirit toward my wife & daughter when they met her years ago. But one thing that she was good at was gardening. When it came spring time, all over the property flowers began to bloom. We had rose bushes, and all kinds of different flowers come up. (My favorite is the lilies). But do you know why? Because at some point, the seeds were planted. BECAUSE THE SEEDS WERE PLANTED, THE PLANTS GREW AND PRODUCES BEAUTY.

Church, if the Spirit dwelleth within you, if He has planted that there by you being born again by Faith in Christ, then do you know what’s going to take place? Fruit.

Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance - those things will begin to manifest itself in your life - IF YOU YEILD TO THE SPIRIT! If we yield a little, it’ll present itself a little, a lot, then a lot. But that’s what will come forth from your life - TREASURES OF BEAUTY FOR ALL TO BEHOLD!

We see the deployment

The Duplication

The wondrous thing about fruit is the manner in which it duplicates.

(Ill.) Last year we had a garden out here. I don’t know how many remember, but my wife planted a Sunflower on the corner of it. It grew into this huge tree / flower w/ dozens of sunflowers on it. Winter came and we culled the garden. But this spring, do you know what happened? It reproduced. 5-10 sunflower plants began to grow out there.

This principle was something that God laid during the foundation of Creation: Genesis 1:11 “And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.”

The more you yield to the Spirit, where you have a little faith, in will grow more faith - it will duplicate. Where you have some love, MORE will grow, Joy - same thing… Works don’t grow, they produce. Fruit produces and then multiplies!

We see the Duplication

Foundational Truths; Works of the Flesh; Fruit of the Spirit

IV. Freedom in Christ

A Submissive Position (v24)

A few things to consider here.

First, we see that some people have Crucified the flesh - the qualifier is ‘they that are Christ’s’. In other words, TRUE Christians.

Here is the third point in this message where we see that there is EVIDENCE concerning those who are going to Heaven, and those who are not.

Church, saying a little prayer is NOT Salvation. There’s a lot of people who are counting on reciting a prayer after a preacher to get them to Heaven. (This is why I’m VERY carful concerning leading children to the LORD). Salvation is not speaking a few magic words, Salvation is CONVERSION. It’s a seismic change that happens when one puts their faith in Christ. It changes us.

(Ill.) Church, when I got saved, I got a new perspective. I DESIRED to be like Christ. Was I perfect? No. Did I mess up? Yes. But my flesh was Crucified in the sense that it was immobilized and did not have the power over me that it did. As I’ve grown in Christ, the Fruit of the Spirit has produced and duplicated - and the less power the flesh has in my life.

But church, you have to submit yourself to the Salvation that is found in Christ, and then submit yourself unto the Spirit of God’s leading in your life.

A Submissive Position

A Sensible Plea (v25-26)

IF - THEN.

IF we live in the Spirit - if the Spirit of God live in you, THEN let us walk in the Spirit - let us live through the leading of Him.

It’s sensible, right?

Listen, God can do a whole lot more for my life than I can. It’s sensible to walk in Him so that I may live my best life now.

A Sensible Plea

Conclusion

Church we’re going to partake of Communion today. The qualifier for those to partake are two things:

Saved

In a right relationship with God

If you aren’t either of those, I emphatically urge you to get right while you still can.