Study of Galatians

Week 11

Galatians 5:13-18

 

This week, we celebrated Veteran’s Day here in the United States. It is a day where we honor all those who have served our country and their sacrifice for the common good, for our freedom.

 

These men and women know the cost of freedom. They’ve lived it. Many bear the scars. Yet, when asked, most would tell you that they would fight, serve, and defend our freedom again, and for one simple reason. They have seen life without it.  

 

Yes, life without freedom isn’t really life at all. It is life dictated, not lived.

 

While this is true in the physical realm, Paul recognized the reality of this in the spiritual realm.

 

Last week, we read his charge in Galatians 5:1, “It was for freedom that Christ set us free, therefore, keep standing firm.”

 

But Paul couldn’t stop there. “For you were called to freedom…do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh (carnal human nature), but through love, serve one another.” (v13)

 

“Through love, serve one another.”

 

That statement came from a veteran, a spiritual veteran.

Paul knew the cost of freedom. He had been imprisoned, beaten with rods, stoned, and shipwrecked in his life.  

 

Yet here is his assessment. “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh (human body), I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

 

Paul was teaching them how to walk out their faith in Christ.

He referenced Jesus’ words from Matthew 22:39,  “Love your neighbor as yourself.”(v14)

 

Then Paul shared an interesting warning, “But if you bite and devour one another, take care lest you be consumed by one another.”(v15)   He stressed that fighting with one another would greatly compromise their spiritual freedom.  Think of children who constantly bicker with one another. If left unchecked, it can destroy the fabric of a family.

 

Paul was teaching the Galatians that there is a conflict between the Spirit man, and the flesh (carnal nature) man. He exhorts them with this:

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the deeds of the flesh (carnal nature).

For the flesh (carnal nature)  sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh(carnal nature),  for these are in opposition to one another. If you are led by the Spirit; you are not under the Law.” (v 16-18)   

 

This mindset, no, this heartset, is how Paul can testify, “And the life I now live, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me.”  

It was not just a yielded mind, but a yielded heart, and a yielded heart is a yielded life.

A life of freedom.  

 

Freedom to stand firm.

Freedom to love.

Freedom to serve.

Freedom to walk by the Spirit.

jeannaswann

#nowuntohimwhoisable

Question for discussion (your email is never posted or shared)

What are some practical ways we can walk by the Spirit daily?