STUDY THEME: GALATIANS: THE CHARTER OF GRACE. 7-27-03

"GOOD NEWS: CONTROLLED BY THE SPIRIT. GAL. 5:16-26; 6: 7-10.

GALATIANS 5: 16-18, 19-21, 22-26; 6: 7-10.

PLEASE OPEN YOUR BIBLE TO GALATAINS 5.

In last Sunday’s lesson Paul said in Ch. 5 that "Legalism takes all." Legalism will take your liberty, will waste your profit and blur your focus. When Dr. Finley Tinnin was our interim pastor at Immanuel Baptist Church he preached a sermon from Gal. 5: 13-15 titled "Responsibilities of Freedom." His first point from Vs. 13 was that "We Have the Freedom not to Indulge but to Serve." From Vs. 14 "One Has the Freedom Not to Ignore but to Serve; and from Vs. 15 "One Has the Freedom Not to Criticize but Compliment."

As we approach this final study of the series "Galatians, the Charter of Grace," we find the final lesson titled, "Good News! Controlled by the Spirit."

The N.T. provides a rich description of the Holy Spirit and His work in our lives. One of the richest of these teachings is found in Paul’s letter to the churches in Southern Galatia.

Let’s begin by looking at the choice of lifestyle presented in Vs. 16-18.

We can choose to live by the Holy Spirit or we can gratify the desires of our sinful nature. We need to remember two things: (1) These desires are incompatible. (2) Our choices shape our lives. It is important to remember that when God saves us he does not destroy the carnal nature that we received at our natural birth. The new birth does not imply the elimination of that old carnal nature. Neither does it imply a change in it; but rather the impartation of an absolutely new nature born of the Holy Spirit of God. And these two natures abide side by side in the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. This explains the conflict that many of us have known since we have been converted.

That old nature is so corrupt, so vile, that it can never be sanctified, and the new nature is so pure, so holy, that it does not need to be sanctified. So there is no mention in Scripture of the sanctification of the old nature. What is it then that needs to be sanctified? It is the man himself, and he is sanctified as he learns to walk in accordance with the dictates of the new nature. He is directed by the Holy Spirit of God, for the believer is not only born of the Spirit but indwelt by the Spirit.

Now since Pentecost, upon believing, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit of God. He creates the new nature, and then comes to indwell the one who is thus born again. Paul exhorted the Galatians to walk by the Spirit. The person who walks by the Spirit would not carry out the desires of the flesh. The flesh and spirit are in opposition to one another. Because the Spirit opposes the flesh you may not do the things that you please to do. One who is led by the Spirit is not under the law.

Note that Paul called on the Gentile Christians to "walk by the Spirit." Paul was talking about the Christian daily life. Walk refers to the Christian’s way of life. While Christians are never completely free from the temptation to walk according to the flesh instead of by the Spirit, the Holy Spirit dies empower us to do the right if that is our choice.

While, as a Christian, you are no longer under the law, you will find that the law is ever to you the blessed rule by which you judge your conduct, but it is not the law of condemnation to you, neither are you seeking salvation by it.

If we choose to gratify the desires of our sinful nature, and walk according to the flesh instead of the Spirit, Paul lists the "deeds" of the flesh instead of the Spirit Paul lists the "deeds of the flesh" in which we may become involved.

Of the acts of the sinful nature the first three words are described as SENSUAL sins. Paul used the next two words to describe SPIRITUAL sins. The last ten words describe the SOCIAL sins.

The first two sins named in Vs. 20 are associated with false worship, (Idolatry, sorcery , or witchcraft.) Idols are those things that claim our devotion and allegiance instead of God. The second sin in SPIRITUAL sins (sorcery or witchcraft), was widespread in Paul’s day, and is becoming increasingly popular in our day.

The New American Standard Bible lists eight sins that reflect broken relationships. These are enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes; dissensions, factions, and envyings. In verse 21b drunkenness and carousing may be called sins of intemperance. Drunkenness was a real problem in the ancient world and hurts many lives today. No child of God should allow himself or herself to be controlled by alcohol or any substance. Persons who constantly practice the deeds of the flesh do not belong in the kingdom of God. Those who practice these sins show that they have not yielded their lives to Christ in faith. They are still slaves to the flesh. In contrast to the acts of the sinful nature; Paul then listed the fruit of the SPIRIT.

3. PLEASE READ GALATIANS 5:22-26.

Most of the vices mentioned by Paul require not explanation. As he observed, there are obvious. To our contemporary culture, however, which excuses many of these as mere foibles of human nature, some of the items listed may appear surprising. Unfortunately, even many believers today apparently see no conflict with their faith and the practice of bold sexual immorality.

"Fornication, uncleanliness, lasciviousness," that is, vile, filthy thoughts indulge them. You cannot hinder evil thoughts coming into your mind, but you can help indulging in them. People sometimes say, " evil thought come to me, even when I am praying, and I wonder sometimes whether I am really converted or not." That is the flesh manifesting itself. These things may come to you, but do you indulge in them? A Welshman said, " I cannot help it if a bird alights atop of my head, but I can help it if he builds his nest in my hair," and so you may not be able to help it if evil thoughts come surging into your mind, but you can help indulging in those thoughts.

When believers live by the spirit (that is, when they are "lead by the spirit"), the fruit produced in their lives will exemplify the nine characteristics enumerated in verses 22-23. All nine of the virtues listed have their source in God. In fact, God is often described by the virtues. So "the Fruit of the Spirit" is the true test of God’s work in a person’s life. The sure footprints of the Spirit are the fruits, not the gifts. The "Fruit of the Spirit" is different from the "Gifts of the Spirit." Each person receives a spiritual gift, but every Christian should bear the "Fruit of the Spirit."

The Holy Spirit manifests himself in our relationship with God in love, joy, and peace. The Holy Spirit manifests himself in our relationship with others in patience, kindness, and goodness. The Holy Spirit manifests himself in our relationship with ourself in faithfulness, meekness and self control. What a wonderful cluster of grapes we have here. "The Fruit of the Spirit" as if all these were but one after all; Many luscious berries forming one great cluster.

The Galatians should choose to live in the Spirit because that is part of what it means to be a Christian. When we make this choice, and enjoy this fruit, we should not boast. It is not us; it is God.

Paul concluded that against such things there is no law. There is no restriction or restraint placed on the practice of these virtues. Paul knew that the production of the Fruit of the Spirit is a genuine possibility because those that belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. While the purpose of the law is to restrain evil, there is nothing to restrain in the works of the Spirit.

Since Christians have been crucified with Christ, the sinful nature has been removed from the throne of their lives and replaced with the Lord Jesus Christ. The sinful nature has not been obliterated or annihilated; believers must still contend with its lies and attempts to exercise dominance. This is the perpetual conflict to which Paul referred in verse 17.

Since believers receive spiritual life by means of the Spirit’s work in their lives, Paul said to keep in step with the Spirit or let us also walk with the Spirit. Those who derive spiritual life from the Spirit are to follow the Spirit’s guidance and control by keeping in step with His pace.

Paul concluded this paragraph by addressing some of the particular problems existing in the churches of Galatia. He gently exhorted his readers; let us not become conceited, provoking, and envying each other. This exhortation calls to mind the unloving behavior of the Galatians toward one another.

PLEASE TURN TO GALATIANS 6.

In verse 7 Paul issued a command, "Do not be deceived," which is followed by an explanation for the command. From what we might call the principle of "giving and receiving" in verse 6 that the Holy Spirit directs our attention to the kindred law of "sowing and reaping."

It never pays to be forgetful of the future. He who acts for the present moment only is like one who is indifferent to the coming harvest, and so either thinks to save by sparse sowing or else recklessly strews obnoxious seeds in his field, sowing wild oats, as people say, and yet hopes to reap a different kind of harvest, or praise for a crop failure. We reap as we sow.

Elsewhere our Lord has laid down the same principle. He asks, "Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?" And in Matthew 7:16-17 He declares that "Every good tree bringeth forth good fruit, but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit." Israel sowed the wind, the prophet Hosea explained (Hosea 8:7), and he predicted they would reap the whirlwind. Men who sow wickedness reap the same, asserted Eliphaz. (Job 4:8). Now this is so self evident, that is needs not emphasis. Yet how easily we forget it, and how readily we hope that in some strange, unnatural transformation our sinful folly will be so overruled as to produce the peaceable fruits of righteousness.

But whether it be in the case of the unsaved worldling, or the failing Christian the inexorable law will be fulfilled---we reap what we sow. How important then that we walk carefully before God, not permitting ourselves any license which is unbecoming in one who professes to acknowledged the Lordship of Christ. "For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit shall reap life everlasting."

It is not that we earn everlasting life by our behavior; we receive it as a gift when we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (John 3:36). But we now have eternal life in dying bodies, and in a contrariety, where everything about us is opposed to that new and divinely-implanted nature which we were given in regeneration. Soon at our Lord’s return, we shall enter into life in all its fullness, and then at the judgment-seat of Christ, we shall reap according to our sowing. They who live for God now will receive rich reward in that day. And they who yield now to the impulses of the flesh and are occupied with things that do not glorify God will suffer loss.

How timely then the admonition; "Let us not be weary in well doing," coupled with the sure promise, "for a new season we shall reap if we faint not." We are so apt, having begun in the Spirit to seek to finish in the flesh, as in the case of these Galatians. But only that which is of the Spirit will be rewarded in the day of manifestation. That which is of the flesh-even though seemingly religious-will only produce corruption and bring disappointment at last.

In closing this section, the apostle reverts to the general principle of verse 6, now extending it to include all men everywhere. The spiritual man is one who sees things from God’s standpoint therefore he cannot insular, self-centered, or indifferent to the needy sows all about him. "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith." Thus we will imitate Him whose life was laid out in doing good, both to the unfaithful and the godless, and to the little flock who waited for the Consolation of Israel. As we seek, by the power of the indwelling Spirit, to maintain the same attitude toward our fellow-men, whether sinners or saints, we fulfill the righteousness of that law which says, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." We do not need to put ourselves under the law to do this. We only need to recognize our relationship to the glorified Christ, who is the Head of that new creation to which, by grace, we belong.

Are we ever on the watch for such opportunities to manifest the goodness of God to those with whom we come in contact, and thus magnify the Lord, whose we are and whom we serve? Having been so wondrously dealt with ourselves, how can we do other than seek to exemplify in our dealings with others the mercy and lovingkindness which has been shown toward us?

This is indeed the live on a higher plane than law. It is the liberty of grace, which the Holy Spirit gives to all who recognize the Lordship of Christ. The reader of this letter would likely recall Paul’s injunction in Galatians 5:13, "to serve one another in love." One cannot scoff at God. The law of the harvest will hold true.

NEXT SUNDAY WE BEGIN A FIVE WEEK STUDY OF JOSEPH, ONE OF THE LOVLIEST CHARACHERS IN GOD’S WORD AND ONE SO MUCH LIKE JESUS IN HIS DIFFUCULT LIFE. AV DAUGHERTY 7-27-03