Galatians 5:16-26

Galatians 5:16–26 ESV

16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 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. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 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. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Three sections

Walk by the Spirit

Galatians 5:16–18 ESV

16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 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. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

We need to trust in the Spirit

The law itself cannot help us to overcome sin. Our faith in Christ and being empowered by the Spirit can.

When we trust the Spirit, we will not give in an live by the Spirit. We may slip, but it the living in and continually indulging in.

Passions vs Affections

Desires of the flesh vs desires of the Spirit.

Against each other. They cannot live together. The holy being in the presence of the unholy.

This does not mean that flesh itself is easy. It is the fallenness. We cannot place the flesh in the bad category and Spirit in good. It is the broader concept of the pleasures of the fallen world vs the blessings of God.

Cautioned Against the Flesh

Galatians 5:19–21 ESV

19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 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.

This passage warns against specific acts of the flesh.

Notice, this says that the works of the flesh are evident

It its summary, its giving to our base pleasures as opposed to what God has called us to.

Do not be legalistic

Not to be a checkmark

Not a list of things that will lose salvation. Instead these are signs of someone outside of the faith.

Fruits of the Spirit

Galatians 5:22–26 ESV

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Here we see the other side of this argument. The flesh vs the Spirit.

Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians & Colossians D. Contrast of the Acts of the Flesh and the Fruit of the Spirit (vv. 19–23)

Notice the fruit in this passage is called the fruit of the Spirit, not the fruit of self-effort.

These are things by and through the Spirit. Not by our own work. We may seek to develop them, but it is through the Sanctification that they are developed.

Love

Joy

Peace

Patience

kindness

goodness

faithfulness

gentleness

self-control

There is no law against these things. They are what should be saught. These are the Affections.

Crucified in the flesh, the fallen desires, the Passions.

Live by the Spirit, keep in step by the Spirit. In otherwords we are to follow the direction and guidance of the Spirit.

Do not over spiritualize this

Dont become conceited. We are to not provoke based on where we are vs where they are, or envy one another. Do not wish for someone elses gifts.