Response

Recap

Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

Ephesians 4:17 “Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds.” A list for believers: Speak the truth with neighbors, be angry and sin not, let the thief steal no more, don’t allow corrupt talk come out of your mouth, do not grieve the Holy Spirit, be kind to one another, forgiving one another

Background

The letter was likely written around AD 48–55 by the Apostle Paul to the churches of Galatia, The book of Galatians, particularly chapter 5, is a powerful passage that contrasts life in the Spirit with life in the flesh. It provides a framework for understanding the difference between Christian and non-Christian responses to moral and spiritual challenges.

Galatians 5 is the theological and practical climax of the letter. It contrasts two ways of living: life in the flesh (human sinful nature) and life in the Spirit (empowered by the Holy Spirit).

Flesh vs Faith

Galatians 5:1–4 “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.”

Galatians 5:5–6 “For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.”

A little leaven

Galatians 5:7–9 “You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion is not from him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump.”

Confidence in God

Galatians 5:10 “I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view, and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is.”

Galatians 5:11–12 “But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves!”

Emasculate - to deprive a person or thing of strength, effectiveness, or vigor - in the physical sense it could also mean castration or making a man feel less masculine or powerful

Freedom through love

Galatians 5:13–15 “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. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.”

Walk in the Spirit

Galatians 5:16 “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”

Desires of the Flesh

Galatians 5:17–18 “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. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.”

Non-Christian Response (Life in the Flesh)

Bondage to Sin: Those not walking in the Spirit are bound by the “works of the flesh”

Galatians 5:19–21

Works of the Flesh: Paul lists behaviors such as sexual immorality, idolatry, hatred, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, and drunkenness. These reflect a life dominated by self-centered desires rather than God’s Spirit.

Paul warns that those who persist in such lifestyles “will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:21)

Christian Response (Walking by the Spirit)

Galatians 5:22–23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

Belonging to Christ

Galatians 5:24–26 “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. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”

Christian obedience is to be the response to our acceptance, not the reason for it.

John Blanchard