Galatians chapter 5 verses 16 to 26 - The Triumphant Christian
Problem of the Galatians:
False teachers had come in (1:8;3:1;5:7,10), preaching the gospel with a difference. If had invited them to speak would have agreed so far.
These false teachers at Galatia preached Jesus Christ and something else:
- Good Works in General – “works of law” (2:16)
- Religious Activities in Particular (4:10)
- Circumcision Specifically (5:1-4)
A case of addition = subtraction.
Paul is going to tell them they are “not under the law” as Christians, stated it in the past (Rom6:14) going to reiterate it in the present (5:18).
This would perhaps leave things a little up in the air.
How then are we to live as Christians? Free to do what we want?
In a sense yes we are free to do what we want but what we want to do ought to be what the indwelling presence of the Spirit of God wills (5:17).
What the Christian will want to do is what the Spirit will will him to do (5:17b). There is an impediment to the will in the presence of the flesh.
Where we have a Christian who needs constantly corrected by external rules & where we have a Christian who when given a little lee way always tends to the works of the flesh, he’s surely not a Christian at all (5:21); “they which do such things”…”those who habitually practice such things” (Boice).
Observe what has happened:
The one who gave the law at Sinai
The one who expounded the law in (Matt5,6,7)
The one who affirms the righteousness of the law
Has taken up residence in our hearts (Eph3:17;6:6)
Therefore the seemingly impossible is possible fulfil Matt5:20.
The righteousness of God is worked out in our lifes (Gal5:14): the fruit of the Spirit is almost an exposition of this principle:
“love” – “love, joy, peace”
“thy neighbour” – “longsuffering, gentleness, goodness”
“thyself” – “faith, meekness, self control” – the whole self brought under the authority of the Spirit of God.
5:1-6:
The Person: The Tangled Christian (v1) – with the false teachings.
The Problem: Legalism
The Plea: “Stand fast” (v1)
5:7-15:
The Person: The Troubled Christian (v10) – with the false teachers.
The Problem: Leaven (v9)
The Plea: “Ye did run well” (v7)
5:16-26:
The Person: The Triumphant Christian (v22-25)
The Problem: Lust (v16-21)
The Plea: “Walk in the Spirit” (v16)
“Walk in the Spirit” (v16): “walk” – present, imperative, active
Present – means now – keep at it!
Imperative – means do it!
Active – means your responsible for it!
These verses are very practical!
“walk”
“Even though walking was slow & unspectacular, walking meant progress. If anyone kept walking, she or he would certainly cover the ground & eventually reach the destination.” (Morris p167)
Looking for steady progress. Not dramatic Christianity. Not so interested about what happened 10/20yrs ago, how are you doing today?
“lust of the flesh” – various learned definitions, usually something along the lines that the “flesh” is the desires of our fallen human nature. Would add something to this thought, not simply to be pedantic or legal but to be practical. Notice from the list (v19-21) often perfectly normal, natural, ‘good’ desires but moving outwith God ordained limits or boundaries. Practical point often certain sins are justified because they have as their motive he fulfilment of a God given natural desire, esp. first 4 works of the flesh. Unequal yolk might be justified in these terms. Note God gives certain desires but He also sets certain limits or boundaries & to go beyond these is also a “work of the flesh.”
The Works of the Flesh (vs19-21)
Group1 (adultery…lasciviousness)
Group 2 (idolatry, witchcraft)
Group 3 (hatred…murders)
Group 4 (drunkenness, revelings)
Group1 (adultery…lasciviousness)
Sins against Self
“adultery” – sexual relations involving a married person
“fornication” – a relationship with someone we’re not married to.
“uncleanness” – “ajkaqarsiva” – general word but often in sexual context
“lasciviousness” – ‘lack of restraint’ almost always in NT associated with sexual excess.
Describe these sexual sins as sins against self, maybe never thought of them in this way. Perhaps seen problems with sexual sins: the effect upon someone’s marriage, STD’s etc. These are relatively secondary issues. Primarily sexual sins are sins against our own body (1Co6:18).
Something very important happens when become Christian, the Spirit of God takes up residence in our body, becomes His temple (1Co6:19), our body now belongs to God (1Co6:20; Rom12:1-2). A temple is a Holy thing, must be very careful what we do with that body & where we take this body. Certain paces where God is given no place, where drunkenness, cursing swearing and immorality are to the fore. We have no place there as believers: clubs, pubs, cinemas. If we have the Spirit of God won’t be long in finding this out.
“Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body” (1Co6:18)
Despite the flesh being so self interested, self indulgent, self centered and selfish, yet it is paradoxically self destructive? It is driven by Satan (1Jo2:12ff; Eph2:1-3).
The Corruption of Sexual Desire
Notice basically a ‘good’ God given desire (Heb13:4; 1Co7:2) but moving outwith prescribed limits.
Group 2 (idolatry, witchcraft)
Sins against God
Praise & worship which ought to be assigned to God is being given to false Gods & the occult.
“witchcraft” – “farmakeia” – from – “farmakon” – a drug. Used also in Rev9:21 & 18:23. It may be that in translating the word as “witchcraft” the translators have done so according to history but perhaps in prophecy we are really looking not so much at the occult in general but at this specific product of it in particular – drug abuse. The control & the subjection of men by the use of drugs. If this is the case perhaps we can see the final stage already being set.
The Corruption of Spiritual Duty
Group 3 (hatred…murders)
Sins against Others
“variance” = “discord”; “emulations” = ”jealousies”; “strife” = “selfish ambition”; “seditions” – “divisions”
Some of these whilst condemned by God would be seen in modern society as positive virtues: “selfish ambition”
See them as contrasting with the Christian & not complementary.
A real need for us to examine everything the world’s teachings & value system, explanations in the light of God’s word, too many Christians swallow everything they’re told.
The Corruption of Social Harmony
The workings of the flesh constantly brings us into conflict with others. The flesh delights to exalt itself & if there are 2 in the room at the same time you’re in big bother! (5:26).
Group 4 (drunkenness, revelings)
Unrestrained, unbridled sin
Contrast with “self control” (5:23)!
The Corruption of Self Control
Often these lusts go hand in hand: pagan feasting & drunkenness & drunkenness & sexual immorality.
The Fruit of the Spirit (vs22-23)
“Fruit” is produced (by the Spirit) whereas “works” are practised.
“Fruit” is the product of spiritual life whereas “works” are the product of spiritual death.
“Fruit” is singular whereas “works” are plural:
Are all simply expressions of the first “love”?
More likely its grapes we’re dealing with and not melons! All 9 are a product of the indwelling Spirit of God in our lifes. When the Spirit takes up residence all 9 come together as a bunch/package. We don’t choose 1 or 2 from the list, the Lord wants to see all 9.
Group 1 – The Principles (love, joy, peace)
Group 2 – The Practices (longsuffering, gentleness, goodness)
Group 3 – The Product (faith, meekness, self control)
Group 1 – The Principles (love, joy, peace)
All 3 are irreducible spiritual principles. Illust: vulgar fractions
Derived directly from the nature & character of God, the basic raw materials from which the 9 fold fruit develop:
“Love” - 1Jo4:7,8,12,16 - The antithesis of “lust”
“Joy” – Jo15:11 – ‘a deep abiding inner rejoicing in God Himself’ – ‘happiness depends on circumstances whereas joy does not’ (Boice).
“Peace” – Jo14:27; 20:19,26, surpasses mere human understanding (Phil4:7).
Group 2 – The Practices (longsuffering, gentleness, goodness)
Derive from an application of the first 3 in experience
Used to think the only really important things in the Christian life were the Bible & prayer, beginning to appreciate the importance of experience, even apparently trivial & incidental experiences, through such experiences, often difficulties, with work, family, assembly that our character is moulded & shaped & this fruit for example is brought out.
“longsuffering” – “makrothumia” – patience with people, displayed as we exercise love towards difficult individuals whilst enjoying the peace of God in the circumstances & being able to rejoice in the midst of adversity itself.
“gentleness” – “kindness” – possible because of our love for those we don’t like!
“goodness” – “readiness to do good”
Group 3 – The Product (faith, meekness, self control)
The whole person is being brought under the authority of the Spirit of God
“faith” – Godward
“meekness” – Manward – “the person who is so much in control of himself that he is never angry at the wrong time and always angry at the right time.” (Boice)
“self control” – Selfward – note the contrast with v21.
“have crucified the flesh” (v24). In Rom6:6 & Gal2:20 the crucifying is performed upon us but here it is performed by us! At conversion, when we repent of our old deeds & life we put an end to the old way of living.
How can I have this “fruit”? God will bring it forth, not by works or self effort (Eph2:10; Phil1:6)
Have we just to sit back passively & wait for it to happen? No:
We are expected to recognise that we now “live in” a different sphere “in the Spirit”, to recognise His influence & the effect of the Spirit in our life and “walk” or live in harmony with His Spirit (5:25)
Expected to “crucify” (5:24; Col3:5) practically the flesh, that’s a painful thing and a practical thing. Putting away and putting to death anything which would encourage us along a path of performing the works of the flesh: social contacts, pubs, clubs, alcohol etc.
Notes from our series of bible teaching ministry expounding the meaning and application of Paul's letter to the Galatians, a series of systematic expositions of the text of Galatians. Free to download, or listen to the sermons online.
Yours by Grace in Christ
Dr J Stewart Gillespie
