Life in the Spirit - Galatians 5:16-26
By David Woods
Discussion: I would like for us to brainstorm and describe the walking pattern of each of the following people. Then I would like a volunteer to illustrate that walk for the class.
1. The successful businessman
2. The gang-banger
3. The newly married couple
4. The elderly person suffering from much physical pain
Discussion: Are these people who they are because of their walk-styles, or is their walk-style a result of who they are?
The scripture text we are studying today is a very familiar passage. It is a popular scripture. It teaches us important truths about "walking in the Spirit." But what does it mean to walk in the Spirit? To interpret our scripture properly, I believe we should study the context in which this scripture passage was written.
Discussion: Why did the apostle Paul write this letter to the churches of Galatia?
(Teacher: If students are uncertain or do not know, have them read the following scriptures. You may even want to have them read these scriptures anyway. Galatians 1:6-7, 2:15-17, 3:1-5. Answer: The Christians in this region had been misled by false teachers who taught them that Christ's provision of grace through faith was insufficient for one's salvation. Rather, they said the believers must obey all Jewish laws and traditions in addition to faith in Christ in order to be saved.)
Discussion: Are there Christians/churches today that teach something very similar to this false philosophy? If you think so, give examples.
"Under the Law"
Read Galatians 6:18
Study Galatians 2:18-19, 3:10-14, 3:19-26, 4:1-9, 21-23, 5:1-4, 13-15
(Write down every verse number in which Paul talks about being under the law, enslaved to the law/sin. Also write down the clauses containing those words.)
Discussion: What does it mean to be "under the law"?
(This is the person who is trying to gain salvation by works-righteousness, but fails, fo course, on his/her own to live an absolutely perfect life.)
Discussion: Why is one under the law?
(He/she is trying to gain salvation through complete adherence to the Law.)
Discussion: Can the Christian place himself under the law again?
(Yes, though in that state his salvation becomes tenuous as his relationship is no longer on the basis of grace through faith.)
Read Galatians 2:16
Discussion: How does a person become a Christian, according to scripture?
"Crucified the Flesh"
Read Galatians 2:19-20; Romans 6:6
Discussion: What is the "flesh" that Paul has crucified?
(Incorrect Answer: the carnal nature. Correct nature: the old self/life of sin. Note: this is very important in order to properly interpret this scripture. In Romans 6:6 Paul says the old self was crucified "in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing (destroyed)." The body of sin is the carnal nature. The old self is the old life of sin that existed before regeneration.)
Discussion: What practical application(s) can we make from the fact that the Christian has crucified his old life of sin?
(It points to the 180 degree turn he makes. The Christian makes a complete separation from the old life of sin. We cannot live in sin and serve the Lord simultaneously.)
The Desire of the Flesh
Read Galatians 5:16
Discussion: Why are the desires of the flesh not gratified?
Read Galatians 5:19-20
Discussion: Can the Christian commit these sins and remain a Christian? Why or why not?
Read Galatians 5:22-23
Discussion: What is the significance of these acts/qualities of character being referred to as "fruit"?
Discussion: In order to love someone or to be kind, you necessarily have to do (or not do) something? Is that not works? Why does Paul say, "the fruit of the Spirit"?
At the beginning of the lesson, we talked about the different walk-styles of different people. I asked, "Are these people who they are because of their walk-styles, or is their walk-style a result of who they are?"
Now, let us put this in the spiritual realm.
Discussion: Is the Christian the person he/she is because of his/her lifestyle, or is his/her lifestyle a result of the person he/she is?
(The Christian's lifestyle is the result of who he/she is - a Christian. Or said differently, our lifestyle is the result of our relationship with Christ. Our lifestyle is the result of receiving grace through faith in Jesus.)
Discussion: What then does it mean to "walk in the Spirit"?
(This phrase is talking about maintaining and deepening one's relationship with Christ.)
Let us conclude this lesson now. The main point I have been trying to teach is:
Big Idea: The benefits of a relationship with Christ far outweigh works-righteousness.
There are three wonderful truths the person who has a personal relationship with Christ enjoys.
- The Christian's Power - You have victory over habits of sin.
- The Christian's Position - You are righteous and holy before God (through the grace of Christ).
- The Christian's Peculiarity - You have made a complete separation with the old life of sin.
These blessings are not true for the person who tries to be righteous through his/her own works. The Galatians had accepted Christ as Lord and Saviour. But then, they began trying to be righteous through works.
The result was defeated living. I do not want to live in spiritual defeat. I do not want to be enslaved to rules and regulations. I want to enjoy the freedom that only is received by grace through faith in Jesus.
Let us be careful to live our Christian lives as a relationship with Christ, rather than a rigid conformity to rules and regulations!
Commentary:
It is tempting to teach this scripture from the standpoint of entire sanctfication. Indeed, the truths in these verses apply to the entirely sanctified Christian. However, I believe Paul's intent in this text was not to describe the sanctified life. Rather, he was telling the Galatians the benefits of a relationship with Christ as opposed to the works-righteousness they were seeking. The truths in this text are true for the entirely sanctified Christian, but they are also true for the "unsanctified" Christian.
What are those truths?
- The Christian's Power - You have victory over habits of sin.
- The Christian's Position - You are righteous and holy before God (through the grace of Christ).
- The Christian's Peculiarity - You have made a complete separation with the old life of sin.
While we must be careful to emphasize the destructiveness and power of the carnal nature, we must also be careful not to teach a regeneration less powerful than it is.
When we are born of the Spirit, we are given power to be victorious over sin. We have power over sin! Yes, the carnal nature works to sabotage our efforts to live holy lives. However, if we maintain our relationship with Christ, we can be victorious over sin.
Furthermore, regenerated person has been made holy before God. Yes, the unsanctified Christian has a nature that is carnal. Scripture says that without holiness we will not see the Lord. If we then say that the unsanctified Christian is not "holy", we make salvation to mean nothing. They will not go to Heaven, according to that definition. The regenerated person is made holy.
Finally, we must be careful not to make excuse for the carnal Christian to live in sin. If you are a Christian, you must make a complete break with sin. Scripture is quite clear on this. The apostle John says, "Whoever says 'I know him' but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him." (1 John 1:4)