Bible Study Galatians 5: 16- 26

 

Bible Study Galatians 5: 16- 26

Our text: 

Walk by the Spirit

16 But I say, walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh [a]sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you do not do the things that you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. 19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, [b]factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 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 Now those who [c]belong to Christ Jesus crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also [d]walk in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become those with vain glory, challenging one another, envying one another.

Verse by verse commentary

Verse 16: “But I say, walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.”

The Holy Spirit’s dwelling within the believer is a sign that the believer is a part of the body of Christ and an heir of the covenant promises given to Abraham. The Greek word translated “walk” is a present tense verb in the imperative mood. This means that the action is to be continuous as opposed to singular action. By imperative, this means the verse is a command. Walking in the Spirit is not an option for the believer. It is required and all true believers know this and this is how they live their lives. When you dedicate each moment to the Lord, you will have no desire for the lusts of the flesh.

Verse 17: “For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you do not do the things that you want.”

The word “flesh” is used at least three ways by Paul: (1) Refers to humanness; (2) the physical body.; and (3) sinful human nature, which includes the mind and soul. If the Galatians were to abandon Christ and place their confidence in the law and their works, they would be turning back to reliance on the flesh, and thus to a place under the law’s curse. The Law reveals sin but never cures it. There is hope as well as warning in Paul’s words. Although the desires of the flesh oppose the Spirit, the desires given by the Holy Spirit deliver us from the flesh and the law. While we live in our earthly bodies we will have an inner conflict with our flesh until we begin living a Spirit-filled life. A Spirit-filled life is one that is fully surrendered every moment to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. When one is fully surrendered to Christ, the flesh will become weaker and weaker everyday.

Verse 18: “But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.” 

You have a choice; these are mutually exclusive. Choice 1: you live by the power of the Holy Spirit which results in righteous behavior and spiritual attitudes or Choice 2:  you live by the law which can only produce unrighteous behavior and attitudes. The Law never saves. It never has and never will. The Greek word translated “led” is a present tense (means continuous action) passive voice (means that the person is receiving the action) verb. It tells us that the Holy Spirit will bring you to a place He wants you to be. This is not about being led to a new job, house, or relationship, but instead being led to mortify (put to death) sin at every occasion. When someone tells me that God led them, my response is: “what sin did He tell you to crucify?”

Verse 19: “Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,”

Paul will not leave his readers in doubt, he will now get very specific. Paul creates four categories of sin: Sensual, Religious, Social and Personal. This verse discusses sensual sins. The flesh manifests itself in obvious and certain ways. The Greek word translated “sexual immorality,” is porneia, from which the English. word “pornography” comes. It refers to all illicit sexual activity, including (but not limited to) adultery, premarital sex, homosexuality, bestiality, incest, and prostitution and pornography. The word translated “impurity,” describes a state of moral filthiness, especially sexual sin. The word translated “sensuality”originally referred to any excessive behavior or lack of restraint, but eventually became associated with sexual excess and indulgence. It is clear that there is an emphasis on sexual sin. Sexual sin is against the body and it has always been one of Satan’s best plots to destroy human beings. Let us be ever mindful and attentive to avoid all intentional sin, especially sexual sins. 

Verse 20: “idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions,”

Paul continues with a specific list of sins. Examples of religious sins include: idolatry, sorcery (witchcraft), hatred, contentions. Examples of social sins include: jealousy, wrath, strife, divisions, and envyings. Paul lists gross sins that the legalists would condemn, but follows them with the very sins they were guilty of.

Verse 21: “envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

Paul gives a list of personal sins: drunkenness and carousing. Paul concludes the thought by stating clearly that people that practice these sins will not inherit the kingdom of God. Paul’s point is that those who do not practice the graces of the Spirit in their lives will not take part in God’s eternal kingdom. The opposite is true as well. Those that practice sin will not go to Heaven. We are saved to exhibit the grace we have received not to earn salvation, but because we are saved.

Verse 22: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,”

Paul uses the metaphor of fruit to describe the conduct of the believer in Romans 6:22; Ephesians 5:9; and Philippians 1:11. John the Baptist likewise claimed that true repentance would produce the “fruit” of concrete ethical behavior. The love produced by the Spirit is like the love of Christ. It goes far beyond the performance of legalistic self-righteousness and comes from the heart. The Greek word translated “love” is agape.  This type of love is the love of choice, referring not to an emotional affection, physical attraction, or a familial bond, but to respect, devotion, and affection that leads to willing, self-sacrificial service. It is the type of love that gives another what they need, not necessarily what they want. The word “joy” means happiness based on unchanging divine promises and eternal spiritual realities. It is the sense of well-being experienced by one who knows all is well between himself and the Lord. Joy is not the result of favorable circumstances, and even occurs when those circumstances are the most painful and severe. Joy is not dependent on circumstances, it is based on your relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Peace is the inner calm that results from confidence in one’s saving relationship with Christ. The verb form denotes binding together and is reflected in the expression “having it all together.” Like joy, peace is not related to one’s circumstances. Patience which refers to the ability to endure injuries inflicted by others and the willingness to accept irritating or painful situations. Kindness is tender concern for others, reflected in a desire to treat others gently, just as the Lord treats all believers. Goodness is moral and spiritual excellence manifested in active kindness. Faithfulness is loyalty and trustworthiness. 

Verse 23: “gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

Gentleness could also be translated as “meekness.” It is a humble and gentle attitude that is patiently submissive in every offense, while having no desire for revenge or retribution. This can only be accomplished under the power of the Holy Spirit. One that can endure offenses well is truly a Spirit-controlled individual. Self-control refers to restraining passions and appetites. Again, this can be done only in the power of the Holy Spirit. When a Christian walks by the Spirit and manifests His fruit, he needs no external law or rules to follow. What he possesses will flow out of his belly like “rivers of living waters.”  

Verse 24: “ Now those who belong to Christ Jesus crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”

For those that belong to the Lord Jesus Christ, i.e. the elect, the Cross broke the grip of the law (2:19) and also the grip of the flesh. By faith the believer recognizes the reality of his or her union with Christ in His death. So, too, they have been raised to new life in the Spirit of Christ and therefore walk in the Spirit. We are ambassadors of the kingdom. Everyday we are at work, answer a wrong number, get cut off in traffic, or experience rudenes and unkindness directed toward us, we must remember who we belong to and represent Him the way we have been instructed in His Word to do so to bring Him the Most Glory.

Verse 25: “If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk in step with the Spirit.”

The word translated “walk” literally means “following in line.” I like the idea of walking in line with the Holy Spirit. How might this change how you treat your family, co-workers, friends, and church members? To walk in line with the Spirit means every action is to be in accordance with the revealed will (The Bible) of God. To live in the Spirit is to walk in the Spirit.

Verse 26: “Let us not become those with vain glory, challenging one another, envying one another.”

Now, Paul cautions them against being desirous of vain-glory, or giving way to an undue affectation of the esteem and applause of men, because this, if it were indulged, would certainly lead them to provoke one another and to envy one another. The glory which comes from men is vain-glory, which, instead of being desirous of, we should be dead to. People pleasers are never good for the kingdom of God and the body of Christ. People that seek glory for themselves will always lead to strife and in-fighting. Let's seek the smile of God on our lives and not the applause of men.