Galatians 5:13-26

Galatians 5:13-26

^"13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. ¹⁴ For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁵ If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
¹⁶ So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

¹⁹ The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; ²⁰ idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions ²¹ and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ²⁴ Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. ²⁶ Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other."

 
We are called to be free. The first two verses tell us this: we are free, and do not abuse that freedom. We are encouraged to no give into the patterns of this world, and do the opposite-show our neighbors love.

This passage is a great example and encouragement of living life by the spirit.  There is some back-ground history that you need to know, though. In verse 14, “the entire law” is used referring to the first 5 books of the Bible, this is called the “Torah”. In the Torah are many commandments given to the Israelites by God. Many know of the Ten Commandments:

1. You shall have no other gods but me.
2. You shall not make for yourself any idols.
3. You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.
4. You shall remember and keep the Sabbath day holy.
5. Respect your father and mother.
6. You must not murder.
7. You must not commit adultery.
8. You must not steal.
9. You must not bear false witness.
10. You must not covet.

However, these are just ten out of the numerous commandments given to God’s chosen people.  But the second half of verse 14 says “Love your neighbor as yourself.”, and then the entire law is fulfilled. How crazy and easy does that sound? But then again how often do we grow angry with our brothers and how easy is it to do something with that anger? That is why this passage was written, to help encourage the readers to walk humbly in life and faith. If you walk by the spirit you feel happier, healthier, and your walk with God will be stronger; you won’t even think twice about which decision to make when temptations present themselves.

Verse 22 “The fruit of the Spirit…” refers to the result of living and walking by Spirit:

Love            Joy                   Peace                Patience       Kindness             Goodness                         Faithfulness                    Gentleness                      Self-Control

When you accept Christ, your old self, your old ways, die, and you are born again; having God’s grace and love for us as our focus. “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for sending your Spirit to guide us on our paths of faith on towards righteousness. Please show us in depth the fruit that the Spirit bears, work in our hearts to show us and others how great your love is for us. Please help us to not lose focus or abuse our freedom that you have given us. Thank you so much for giving us something that we do not deserve.

Amen.

♥ Mer