The Spirit Filled Life

Summary

Purpose: Galatians was written to accomplish three purposes. First, Paul defended his authority as an apostle of Jesus. Second, he argued the doctrinal case for salvation by faith alone and refuted a works-based salvation (Judaizers). Third, he showed that everyday Christian living is based on freedom from the law in the power of the Holy Spirit.

There is only one true gospel

Faith in Jesus is the only way we are declared righteous

Not by our own works

Because of our faith in Jesus — we are adopted by God into his family

In Christ there is freedom — freedom allows us to live in truth and love others

READ 5:16-24

Paul transitions from the freedom we have in Christ, to the opportunity we have to live for Christ.

“For you were called to be free, brothers and sisters; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love” (5:13)

You and I have the freedom to choose to live how we want..

Paul charges the Galatians to do one thing in this passage:

1. Walk by the Spirit (16)

Paul says walk by the Spirit!

Word for “to walk” is Paul’s favorite way of describing how one lives their life

Ephesians 2

Ephesians 2:1–2 ESV

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—

Ephesians 2:2 ESV

in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—

Ephesians 5:2 ESV

And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Colossians 1:10 ESV

so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Colossians

Live your life by the Spirit!

This is unnatural.

You naturally drift away from God. You will never grow in your relationship with Jesus unintentionally.

We love our flesh — independence and pride

If you are not vigilante in your walk with Jesus, you will find yourself further and further from God

But if you live by the Spirit, you will grow closer to God

The concept of walking by the Spirit was something that came up in a few of Paul’s letters, he challenged the church at Rome in a similar way.

Why was this so important to Paul?

Romans 8:1-11

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus,

2 because the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 What the law could not do since it was weakened by the flesh, God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh as a sin offering, 4 in order that the law’s requirement would be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their minds set on the things of the Spirit. 6 Now the mind-set of the flesh is death, but the mind-set of the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind-set of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit to God’s law. Indeed, it is unable to do so. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 You, however, are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to him. 10 Now if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then he who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through his Spirit who lives in you.”

-- (CSB)

Two major components that Paul keeps talking about:

The Spirit — the Spirit of God (HS) that lives in those who are followers of Christ

The Flesh — the part of a person that is opposed to God

Your actions are determined by what you set your mind on (8:5-6)

Followers of Jesus mature as they make conscious decisions about how they ought to live

Setting your minds on the flesh results in death (6)

Setting your mind on the Spirit results in life and peace (6)

There are implications for our obedience

IF you love your flesh more than you love Jesus, you may not have truly come to know Jesus as Lord and savior

Growing and vibrant followers of Jesus choose the Spirit over and over again.

Standard isn’t perfection but faithfulness

What kind of pattern do you have in your life?

Paul begins to unpack this same idea present in

He describes what is looks like for those who live by the Spirit:

READ 5:16-18

1. Refuse to satisfy their flesh (5:16)

They understand the battle between the Spirit and the Flesh

Its one or the other — they are mutually exclusive

You can not serve both the Spirit and the Flesh

Their desires do not always dictate their actions (17b)

They leverage their freedom for the gospel (18)

What does it look like to live in the flesh? What are these fleshly desires?

READ 5:19-21a

Each of these oppose the very character and nature of God

Those who act in opposition to God will not spend eternity with God (21b)

If the pattern of your life is to act in ways that do not reflect God’s character...

His good…perfect…loving…just…righteous....pure…character

Then you stand in opposition to God

Paul describes those in opposition to God as objects of wrath...

You stand in need of the good news of the gospel...

God never leaves us in the condition that he found us!

Repentance of Sin… Faith in Jesus… you are declared Righteous by God

No longer in opposition to God, instead you are his child!

2. Produce Spiritual Fruit (5:22-23)

God himself is pure and blameless

The natural result of the work of Christ is the fruit of the Spirit

Ever experienced someone who you just know has been with the Lord?

Give testimony of God’s work in their life through their actions

They look dramatically different than those living in the flesh

sexual immorality — love

impurity — self control

idolatry — faithfulness

hatred — peace

anger — kindness

How do I know if this is me? How do I know if I am living by the Spirit?

“Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (5:24)

Are you following in the example of Paul and crucifying yourself?

Dying to self lays the foundation to live for God

Crucifying the desires and passions of the flesh allow you to live in the Spirit

You cant have both...

Application

- Recognize that you will always naturally drift away from God.

- Set your mind on the Spirit – determine to live by the Spirit

- Ask yourself, do I value Jesus more than the desire of my flesh? Do your actions show that?

- Are you producing Spiritual fruit? Does your life look different than those around you who are apart of God?