Galatians 5

Grace to you and peace,

In Galatians chapter 5, Paul deals with freedom and fruit; who we are in Christ and how that should (or should not) be reflected in our lives.

The memory passage for chapter 5 is

Galatians 5:1,16,22-24 (ESV)
¹ For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

¹⁶ But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

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.

The outline theme is the Gospel of Freedom and Fruit

One of the main themes is stated in the first sentence, ‘For freedom Christ has set us free’. Free from what? It seems that some of the believers were enslaving themselves back into a form of Judaism or other legalistic practice that was contrary to their freedom in Christ. Paul’s firm rebuke of them included phrases like ‘severed from Christ’ and ‘fallen from grace’. There is no advantage to circumcision (Judaism) or anything else that you try to add to Christ. Only through the Spirit, by faith, do we have access to the true righteousness (5) which works itself out through love.

Even if they were ‘running well’ in their Christian faith, someone was allowed in to derail their growth. While Paul, or anyone else, could not fully punish these false teachers, we are assured that God will.

Verses 11 and 12 are convicting. The offense of the cross of Christ is by nature a stumbling block (GK ‘skandalon’) to unbelievers. It creates a clear line between those who trust and follow Christ and those who do not. It practically invites persecution and opposition, just as Jesus Himself did. Where Paul to mix in some Judaism or anything else (for concession), it might lessen the persecution but would betray Christ. “So, for those of you who think that you can add to the cross by circumcision, wouldn’t it follow naturally that castration would add even more?” I wonder if there were any takers on this line of reason.

The source of our freedom is Christ, but the outlet for our freedom is serving others. Freedom in Christ is not license for the flesh, but the conduit for obedience to the heart of the law; ‘love your neighbor as yourself’.

The second main theme begins in verse 16; ‘walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.’ Paul skillfully contrasts the workings of the Spirit versus the nature of the flesh. They are constantly opposed to each other at the deepest level; one to enslave us in sin, the Other to free us through sanctification.

The following list containing the works of the flesh include sexual, religious, societal, and social sins. Paul covers his list with the blanket of inclusion, ‘and things like these’, to avoid justification for a sin not specifically mentioned. The truth is that the works of the flesh are evident, or obvious. The warning is the same as in 1 Cor 6; ‘those who practice these will not inherit the kingdom of God’.

The next few verses speak for themselves;

Galatians 5:22-25 (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 walk by the Spirit.

How does this affect my worship?

Worship, whether leading or participating, can easily become more about me and less about Him. The desire of the flesh is to draw attention to ourselves; how talented I am, how well I sing, how much I ‘really mean it’, or how I get into it. Works of worship that do not glorify God and God only are works by the flesh, for the flesh. I feel like a CD stuck on repeat (broken record for those of you older than 30 J) but the only true expression of worship MUST come from God. Only walking in the Spirit, yielding to His guidance and relying on His power, can we truly offer a worthy sacrifice of praise.

How does this affect my discipleship?

My form or system must not be ‘added to’ the cross as I disciple others. God may use a form or system as a tool, but that is not the source or the measure of a disciple’s growth. Only He changes a heart, and only He grows us in maturity. Lord, please help me never rely on or hold tightly to a system or form that adds to ‘Christ and Him crucified’.

May you walk more in the Spirit and less in the flesh today,

Ethan