Holy Spirit Filled Life

INTRODUCTION: The Christian Life Is Not Self‑Powered

• Paul has argued throughout Galatians that salvation is by grace, not law.

• Now he shows that sanctification is also by the Spirit, not self-effort.

• The question: How do believers actually live free? Walk by the Spirit.

J.I. Packer “ The Christians life in all its aspects-intellectual and ethical, devotional and relational, upsurging in worship and outgoing in witness-IS supernatural; only the Spirit can initiate and sustain it. So apart from Him, not only will there be no lively believers and no lively congregations, there will be no believers and no congregations at all. But in fact the Church continues to live and grow, for the Spirit’s ministry has not failed, noe ever will, with the passage of time.”

Conflict Arises-Battle Begins

Spirit V Flesh

Born again...new nature....now the two are in you and it’s time to fight because the conflict is between old and new...flesh and Spirit....it is different for Christians, and evidence of the new life

John Stott said “We do not deny that there is such a thing as moral conflict in non-Christian people, but we assert that it is fiercer in Christians because they possess two natures, flesh and Spirit-in irreconcilable antagonism.”

positive language and negative,...active and passive

walking or gratifying, led by the Spirit or under the law, works and fruit, keep in step or become conceited etc. inheritance

If the Spirit leads we produce fruit, if the Law leads we produce sinful works

Works of the Flesh-Old Nature Produce

list of 15+ works — not exhaustive, but representative.

A. Categories of the Flesh

• Sexual sins: immorality, impurity, sensuality-any unbiblical sexual behavior-

• Religious sins: idolatry, sorcery

• Relational/ Societal sins: hatred, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, divisions

• Self-indulgent sins: drunkenness, orgies

B. The Warning

“Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (v. 21). This kind of lifestyle is proof that they are not in Christ...SIMPLE NOT EASY

Not occasional failure, but habitual, unrepentant lifestyle. Young lady who recently turned 18...she was a child star...good wholesome programs and teachings...legally an adult and turned to Only fans with the public statement “I will make a million dollars” she did...in the first hour she made 1 mil and a total of 3mil her first day....public says good for her make all that money and retire....sell your body and your soul so you can live in a material comfort and spiritual hell for the rest of your life....jealous people

Application: Examine your life honestly. Confess quickly; walk in the Spirit intentionally.

THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT — WHAT GOD PRODUCES IN US (v. 22–23)

A. One Fruit, Nine Flavors

• “Fruit” (singular) — the Spirit produces a unified character.

• These are not “goals” to achieve but graces to receive.

B. The Ninefold Fruit

• Toward God: love, joy, peace

• Toward others: patience, kindness, goodness

• Toward self: faithfulness, gentleness, self-control

C. “Against such things there is no law”

• The law cannot produce this fruit, but it never condemns it.

Battle Plan Crucifying the flesh Walk by the Spirit/Keep in Step

Passive and Active voice...

Passive-has been done for us-to us...Gal 2:20

Galatians 2:20 ESV

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Active- I must continue-by continuing to believe and walk- Gal 5:24

Galatians 5:24 ESV

And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Walk in v 25 is not the same as v 16 -(peripateo) which signifies the literal moving of limbs and metaphorically the activity of living. in 25it is -(stoicheo) and that carries the thought of walking in line, holding to a rule, and thereby proceeding under another’s personal direction and control.

Being “led by the Spirit” means the law is no longer the controlling system The Spirit produces what the law demands but cannot empower.

B. “Keep in Step with the Spirit” (v. 25)

• Military term: stay in formation.

• The Spirit sets the pace; we follow.

C. Avoiding Spiritual Pride (v. 26)

• Spirit-filled people are not conceited, provoking, or envying.

in Corinthians Paul; writes to them to say knock off the spiritual pride...”They despised fellow worshipers and pastors who struck them as less gifted or mature as themselves and tried to outdo one another in showing off their gifts whenever they met. Paul rejoices in that they were knowledgeable and gifted, but tells them at the same time that they are carnal and babyish, behaving in ways that are inconsistent for Christians and cause for shame, They valued gifts and freedoms above righteousness, love, and service....”

• True spirituality produces humility, not superiority.

John Owen put it like this “There can be gifts without graces, one may be capable of performances that benefit others spiritually and yet be a stranger oneself to the Spirit-wrought inner transformation that the true knowledge of God brings. The manifestation of the Spirit in charasmatic performance is not the same thing as the fruit of the Spirit in Christlikeness in character....you can have genuine gifts and no genuine grace.”

All through the NT when the work of God in a person is spoken of, the ethical has priority over the charismatic. Christlikeness (in love, humility, submission to the providence of God, and sensitiveness to the claims of people) is seen as what really matters. LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF

Paul is not describing “elite Christianity.”

He is describing the life every believer is called and empowered to live.

Walking in the Spirit is not about perfection but direction —

and the Spirit Himself ensures the victory.