Galatians 5:16

I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

Gal. 2:20

"the life I now live in the flesh..."

James 2:14-28

Galatians 5:16 - Context

For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an

opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For all the law is

fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!

Galatians 5:16 - Context

The concern for walking in the Spirit involves relationships in the Church.

We cannot love as we are commanded to without the Spirit's power.

Galatians 5:16

It is only as we live our lives by faith, with a mind set on the things of the Spirit, that we

can overcome the flesh.

What we do, we do by faith.

Galatians 5:17

For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are

contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.

Galatians 5:17

We cannot do what we want without the Spirit.

We have an internal war going on that we lose without the Spirit.

That internal war becomes external in our relationships with others.

Galatians 5:18

But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

__________________________________________

When we live by the Spirit's power, the law-inspired flesh doesn't control us.

Galatians 5:19

Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication,

uncleanness, lewdness, _______________________________

"evident" as coming from our flesh and not from the Holy Spirit

Galatians 5:19

This first group of sins are primarily sexual:

1) adultery

2) fornication = broad term; sexual

immorality

3) uncleanness = in thought, word, deed

4) lewdness = open, shameless display of

these evils

Galatians 5:20

The second group includes two sins probably involved with worship:

5) idolatry = worshipping (bowing) to idols,

in context may have involved male/female

prostitution.

6) witchcraft = may have involved use of

drugs to create trances in false worship

Galatians 5:20

Third, there are eight interpersonal sins:

7) hatred

8) contentions - result of # 7

9) jealousies - not the godly form

10) outbursts of wrath - often from jealousy

Galatians 5:20-21

11) selfish ambitions = working to get ahead

at the expense of others.

12) dissensions and 13) factions - the result

of quarreling over issues or personalities

which causes hurtful divisions.

14) envy = the wrongful desire to possess

what someone else has.

Galatians 5:120-21

It is the flesh that is the cause of the breakdown of relationships in the home, the

church, and our society.

Galatians 5:21

Finally, two sins associated with alcohol:

15) drunkenness = excessive use of alcohol.

16) orgies - probably = drunken carousing

associated with pagan worship.

Galatians 5:21

"and the like..."

This was not meant to be an exhaustive list.

Galatians 5:21

of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who

practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Galatians 5:21

"will not inherit"

The sins listed in vv. 20-21 are the types of sins that caused Reuben, Simeon, and Levi to forfeit their inheritance, birthright, and

blessing

Gen. 49:3-7

Genesis 49:3-7

 3 “ Reuben, you are my firstborn,      My might and the beginning of my

strength,       The excellency of dignity and the

excellency of power.

Genesis 49:3-7

 4 Unstable as water, you shall not excel,      Because you went up to your father’s bed;

      Then you defiled it—       He went up to my couch.

Genesis 49:3-7

 5 “ Simeon and Levi are brothers;      Instruments of cruelty are in their

dwelling place.

 6 Let not my soul enter their council;      Let not my honor be united to their

assembly;       For in their anger they slew a man,

      And in their self-will they hamstrung an ox.

Genesis 49:3-7

7 Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce;      And their wrath, for it is cruel!

      I will divide them in Jacob       And scatter them in Israel.

Galatians 5:21

We enter the Kingdom by believing in Christ for eternal life

John 3:1-16

Galatians 5:21

To inherit the Kingdom involves being faithful and ruling with Christ

Matt. 19:29; 2 Tim. 2:13-14; Rev. 2:26

Galatians 5:21

Believers who have lifestyles typical of these sins will enter the Kingdom, but not

inherit, have ruling rights, with Christ.

Matt. 5:1-12

Galatians 5:21

Unbelievers do not enjoy the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.

Believers have the Holy Spirit, but are also in the flesh and may produce its works.

Galatians 5:22-23

"fruit" suggests something that is natural.

This is something that every believer can and should produce.

Galatians 5:22-23

1) love - the goal of Christian living

2) joy - esp. with regard to others who are

walking in the Spirit; not produced by

legalism

3) peace - with God and others

4) long-suffering - patient toward others

Galatians 5:22-23

5) long-suffering = patient toward others

6) kindness = a spirit of good will toward

others

7) goodness = uprightness of soul and/or

an action reaching out to others to do

good even when it is not deserved

Galatians 5:22-23

8) faithfulness = trustworthy, reliable

9) gentleness = humble, considerate, meek

toward others

10) self-control = self-mastery only possible

by the Spirit's work; involves vv.20-21

Galatians 5:22-23

"no law" at all against behavior such as this.

Possibly understatement; "no one would make a law against behavior like this".

Galatians 5:24

And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Galatians 5:24

Statement of our status as believers.

Romans 6

Believers have been "severed" from the power of the flesh, but may still live in it.

Galatians 5:25

If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

All believers have been made alive in the Spirit and should daily walk in the Spirit.

Galatians 5:26

Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

As family in Christ, we need to be careful to not live by the flesh and so see its works.

Galatians 5:26

Just as for us as individuals, the only hope for real church growth and to avoid

divisions is the power of the Holy Spirit.