What does it look like to live as a follower
Notes
Transcript
Our Freedom is defined by Christ!
Our Freedom is defined by Christ!
Good Morning! I want to start with a scary question. Imagine what happens tomorrow morning when a scary man appears at work, or at school, or at home. He knocks on the door and he says “I’m here to shadow you”. - What do you mean? You ask - sensibly? Shadow me why?
Well - I want to see what it looks like to live as though we follow Jesus?
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What do you do that day? do you continue as you normally would?
What would you do tomorrow if you were going to live a day as though Jesus was coming back the day after? What would you do if someone said they were using you as an example of what it looks like to live a Christian life..
Would tomorrow look different?
Brothers and sisters, today we turn to Galatians 5:1, 13–25, where Paul shows what it looks like to live as people set free by Christ — a freedom rooted in His grace, not our performance.
The Story so Far…
The Story so Far…
Let’s remember where we’ve come so far in this powerful letter:
Remember:
In chapters 1–2, Paul defended the gospel of grace — we’re saved by faith, not works.
In chapter 3, he called the Galatians “foolish” for starting with faith but trying to finish by law.
In chapter 4, he contrasted slavery under the law with freedom in Christ.
chapter 5, Paul brings all of these arguments to a climax by declaring True freedom comes from following the Holy Spirit, who leads us to love, overcome sin, and live like Jesus.
Galatians 5:1, 13–15 — Freedom Is for Loving Service, Not Selfish License
Galatians 5:1, 13–15 — Freedom Is for Loving Service, Not Selfish License
At the close of an important speech to Congress on January 6, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt shared his vision of the kind of world he wanted to see after the second world war was over. He envisioned four basic freedoms enjoyed by all people: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear.. We see the rise in fascism, a rise in violence, a rise in political extremism, a rise in loneliness… We need… our world still needs another freedom, a fifth freedom. Humanity needs to be free from themselves, free from Sin.
Paul reminds us in Galatians 5:1 that we have that freedom when we allow the Spirit to work within us.
You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.
The word here for indulge is Aphorme. And it suggests a military base of operations. A Base camp. a powerful image: our flesh seeks to turn freedom into a launching pad for sin. And so we can be afraid that if we offer people freedom they will fall into chaos. Yet Paul says, no. Paul is writing to a place where false teachers have followed and started whispering ‘but what does that freedom look like…’ This grace you talk about will lead to Chaos. You need control, order, violence, aggression. But Paul answers that when freedom is shaped by Love, it leads not to licence to sin, but a desire to serve.
For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Galatians 5:14
Paul agrees with Jesus (Matt. 22:37–40) that love sums up God’s law. Paul shows it’s not by law-keeping but by the Spirit’s love poured into our hearts (Rom. 5:5) that we fulfill it.
And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
Paul doesn’t call them out harshly but gives a warning: “If you bite each other, be careful — you might destroy each other.” He’s not talking about actually biting; he means when we hurt each other with angry words or actions.
When we gossip, fight, or hold grudges, we do real damage to each other’s hearts — and that’s worse than physical pain. Paul’s point is simple: if we keep attacking each other, we’ll tear our community apart. But if we let the Spirit lead us, we can build each other up instead. A lesson that we as church can teach to the world.
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh
Here Paul gives the key to Christian living: walk by the Spirit — a present imperative calling for continuous, daily dependence on the Holy Spirit. “Gratify” translates the idea of fulfilling sinful cravings; the only antidote is Spirit-empowered living.
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.
Paul describes the inner battle every believer faces. The “flesh” (sarx) doesn’t mean our physical body, but our old, sinful nature that wants to live apart from God. In contrast, the “Spirit” (pneuma) refers to God’s Holy Spirit living in us, giving us new desires and power to follow Jesus. This conflict — sarx pulling us back into selfishness and pneuma leading us toward Christ — mirrors Paul’s struggle in Romans 7:15–25, a fight we can’t win by willpower alone, but only by relying on the Spirit.
For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.
Imagine Someone snaps at you over something small. Immediately, your first instinct, the “flesh”, is to snap back with cutting words. But in that same moment, you sense a prompting to pause, respond gently. You feel a tug-of-war inside: one side wants instant payback to feel in control, but the Spirit reminds you that a soft answer can turn away anger (Prov. 15:1).
Or think about scrolling through social media and seeing someone brag about a success you wanted for yourself. Your flesh wants to stew in jealousy or post something passive-aggressive; the Spirit, however, urges you to rejoice with them instead. This is the daily battlefield Paul describes — the flesh and Spirit pulling in opposite directions, each vying for your heart.
But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Paul is saying that when you follow the Holy Spirit, you don’t need a long list of rules to keep you in line, because God changes you from the inside out. The Spirit “writes God’s law on your heart,” meaning He gives you new desires that match God’s heart — you start to want what He wants. Instead of obeying out of fear or duty, you live out of love for God, guided by His Spirit.
What this looks like in real life:
It’s like when you no longer need your parents to remind you to say “thank you” because you’ve truly learned to be grateful; gratitude just flows from who you are. In the same way, the Spirit shapes your character so that honesty, kindness, and forgiveness become part of you — you don’t act rightly because you’re afraid of breaking a rule, but because God’s Spirit has changed what you love and value.
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.
In Galatians 5:19–21, Paul doesn’t hold back: he lists sins like sexual immorality, jealousy, anger, selfishness, and envy — and these aren’t just ancient problems. Look around: we see them in the gossip that destroys friendships, the rage that explodes in online arguments, the jealousy that eats us up when we compare ourselves to others on social media, and the selfishness that ruins trust at school or work.
Paul is clear: if we let these habits become normal in our lives, if we keep choosing them day after day, it shows our hearts are far from God. This isn’t about a single mistake — it’s about a pattern of living that chooses to take us away from the freedom Jesus offers.
But here’s the good news: the Holy Spirit wants to break these patterns and set us free. He can replace anger with peace, jealousy with joy, and selfishness with love. Choosing to follow the Spirit isn’t just a “nice idea” — it’s the only way to live a life that’s truly free and full of purpose.
Don’t settle for the world’s way of living. Let the Spirit lead you into the kind of life that changes you and makes you a light to everyone around you.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
We sometimes think some people are just naturally kind or patient. But Galatians 5 teaches that when we follow the Holy Spirit, He grows all these qualities in us — not just one or two.
When we let the Spirit lead, He makes us people who love generously, stay joyful through struggles, live in peace, show patience, act kindly, choose goodness, keep our promises, speak gently, and practice self-control.
Don’t settle for less — let the Spirit shape your whole life so you can show Jesus to the world.
And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.
Paul’s words in Galatians 5:24–25 remind us that walking in step with the Spirit isn’t just a good idea — it’s the only way to experience real freedom and lasting change. Why settle for the same old patterns of anger, jealousy, or fear when the Spirit offers a life full of love, joy, and peace? Why keep letting sin control you when Jesus has already broken its power through the cross? When we choose to align our thoughts, words, and actions with the Spirit, we don’t just avoid sin; we become people who radiate God’s kindness and integrity. Walking with the Spirit doesn’t trap us in rules — it frees us to live with purpose and show the beauty of Jesus to a world desperate for hope. Don’t miss out on the life you were created for: Let Jesus love you.
In Galatians 5, Paul shows there are only two ways to live: the life of the flesh or the life of the Spirit. The flesh chases what feels good now — jealousy, anger, selfishness — but always ends in brokenness and slavery to sin.
The life of the Spirit is completely different: it leads to kindness, faithfulness, peace, and real freedom. It changes not just us, but every relationship we have.
So what would that day look like if someone showed up tomorrow, determined to shadow you as the model of a life that follows Jesus? Would they see you living in the freedom Paul describes in Galatians 5 — or would they see the same old patterns of impatience, bitterness, envy, or selfishness? Would your words at home, your attitude at work, or your thoughts behind the wheel show a life led by the flesh or a life led by the Spirit?
Here’s the truth: when you walk by the Spirit, people don’t just see fewer mistakes — they see Jesus. They see patience, kindness, goodness, and self-control. They see a life that serves humbly instead of demanding its own way. They see a freedom so different it can only come from God.
Paul’s message couldn’t be clearer: we can’t walk both paths — we must choose. But here’s the incredible news: if you belong to Jesus, the Holy Spirit already lives in you, longing to fill your life with His love, peace, and strength. You don’t have to keep striving to prove yourself or carry the burden of having it all together. Be kind to yourself — let go of the need to control everything and stop feeling like you have to know all the answers. Instead, trust the Spirit, step by step, and discover the freedom and joy of living the life you were created for — a life overflowing with kindness, purpose, and the love of Christ that can’t help but spill out to everyone around you.
Lord Jesus, thank you for setting us free. Fill us with your Holy Spirit so we might walk in love, overcome the flesh, and grow lives full of your beautiful fruit. Keep us in step with you, that we might point others to your grace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
