Galatians

Salvation by grace! Justification by faith! Sanctification by faith!

The Life Of Christian Liberty!

1. Living without the Law – 5:1-12

2. Living without License – 5:13-15

3. Living by the Holy Spirit – 5:16-26

Verse 16:

“walk…” – forward progress through life

“by the Spirit…” – by means of the Spirit

“will not…” – a Greek double negative

“lust…” – passionate desire

“flesh…” – Greek, sarx – 151 times

1. The physical body

2. The sensuous nature of man

3. A living creature, human beings

4. The human nature, the earthy part of man apart from God

Verse 17:

“lusteth…” – ‘to be passionately set’, ‘to set one’s heart on’

“you may not do the things that you please”

– Believers may not simply do something because they will it as though there was no conflict going on within them between the flesh and Spirit.

Issue: Are you expressing the

mind of the flesh or the mind

of the Spirit?

(Diagram from The Passion War

by Ron Merryman)

Verse 18:

“But if…” – Greek 1st class conditional, assuming that it is true.

The Spirit of God will never lead the believer into the dominion of any law system! The ‘Spirit life’ is absolutely incompatible with ‘Law life’.

Verses 19-21: The deeds of the flesh… KJV – 17 , NASV – 15

Four general categories:

1. Sensual passions: Adultery (KJV only), Immorality, Impurity, Sensuality

2. Religious passions: Idolatry, Sorcery

3. Destructive passions: Enmities, Strife, Jealousy, Outbursts of anger, Disputes, Dissensions, Factions, Envying,

Murders (KJV only)

4. Hedonistic passions: Drunkenness, Carousing

“…and things like these…” – not an exhaustive list!

“…shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” – occurs three times:

1. Galatians 5:19 2. I Corinthians 6:9 3. Ephesians 5:5

Verses 22-23: The fruit of the Spirit

Nine mental attitudes that express themselves both toward God and toward man.

‘Fruit’ is singular, it’s a package deal!

Law has nothing to say against the fruit of the Spirit. The production comes because of life, not law!

Verse 24:

“have crucified the flesh…”

“knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, that our body of sin might be done away with, that we

should no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin…Even so consider yourselves to be dead to

sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” Romans 6:6-7, 11

Verse 25:

“If…” 1st class, assumes it is true

“let us also walk by the Spirit…” – as opposed to relying on the flesh or a law system to live a life pleasing to God.

“walk…” – ‘to advance in line’, ‘to keep step’

(Diagram from Spirituality…

Maturation… Retrogression…

By Ron Merryman)

Verse 26: The result of not walking in the Spirit - A believer can choose to walk in the flesh!