Galatians Chapter 5

Galatians 5:  A look at the Works of the Flesh, the Fruits of the Spirit and what it means to "inherit the Kingdom of God".

Outline:

• My Law Is Different Than Your Law
• Love Your Neighbor As Yourself
• The Flesh vs The Spirit
• Why Do People Sin?

Scriptures:

• Galatians 5:1-12
• Romans 14:1-6
• Galatians 5:13-15
• Leviticus 19:17-18
• Galatians 5:16-26
• Romans 14:17

Can we go to hell if we believe in the gospel, but don’t keep the law?

• No, everyone who believes will be saved.
• This is the major theme of the book of Galatians
• Salvation by faith alone

Review of Galatians Chapter 4

• Many people will become in life what their parents invision them to be

• If their parents saw them as a doctor they became a doctor
• If their parents saw them as a failure they became a failure

• Similarly we should allow God’s opinion of us to shape what we become in life
• If God is the center of our life we are gradually becoming more like our image of God

• Christians who see God as judgmental and critical are becoming judgmental and critical
• Christians who see God as a loving father are becoming more loving

• We see judgmental and critical  Christians in the church because they have the wrong image of God
• Paul warned the Galatians not to go back to their old ways of worshipping idols and demons and following pagan customs
• We looked at how some of our American customs like Christmas trees and Yule logs actually have pagan origins
• Paul used an allegory of the story of Sarah and Hagar to represent us being either slaves to the law or free through grace
• We are children of God and free and no longer slaves to the law
• We should trust in God alone and not depend on our own efforts
• We then examined some methods of interpreting the bible

• One method is to read a bible story and find morals or applications that apply  to our everyday lives
• Another method is to focus on the literal message that the author was trying to convey to the readers in his time period
• Another method is to examine how the bible text fits in with similar historical texts from the same time period
• The final method is to try to find secret hidden meanings within the text

• We discussed the dangers that are encountered when we try to apply meanings to a biblical text that the original author didn’t intend to convey.
• We discussed that we receive salvation when we accept that Jesus died for us
• We need to remember that our good works:

• Didn’t save us
• Won’t keep us saved after we become Christians
• Don’t prove that we are saved

Introduction

When we teach the law, we should always teach the gospel in combination with the rules

• Otherwise, if you only focus on the rules, people will start thinking that when they obey they are accepted, and when they disobey they’re rejected
• If people see God as a rewarder for good and a punisher of wrong they will lose faith if they consider themselves good and something bad happens in their life

This is the method Paul employs, he starts Galatians teaching the good news and the freedoms, and then speaks to the restraints of that freedom.

In Galatians 1 - 4, Paul made it extremely clear that our salvation is by faith alone.  

• He has hammered in the point that we are free from the law

Now that he has established that groundwork, he is going to discuss restraints that we need to put around our freedom.  We shouldn’t use our freedom as a license to sin.   We need to live our lives by following the leading of the Holy Spirit within us.

My Law Is Different Than Your Law

Galatians 5:1-12

1 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.
2 Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you. 3 And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law. 4 You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.

5 For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.

7 You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion did not come from Him who calls you. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough. 10 I have confidence in you in the Lord that you will adopt no other view; but the one who is disturbing you will bear his judgment, whoever he is. 11 But I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross has been abolished. 12 I wish that those who are troubling you would even mutilate themselves.

• Paul is saying that those who are telling you that you need to become circumcised to become Christians, He wishes they would castrate themselves...whoa!

Who Must Keep the Law?

All Israelite males entered the Old Covenant by being circumcised on the eighth day of their lives

• Circumcision symbolized your covenant with God
• Paul is again explaining to these Gentiles converts that to become Christians they don't need to be circumcised

Gal 5: 3 And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law.

Paul is saying that if a Christian believes He must keep the Old Testament law to be saved then he can’t just pick and choose which laws to follow

• He must follow all of them 
• He’s not saying they must follow the 10 commandments
• Circumcision isn't one of the 10 commandments
• They must follow all 613 of the Jewish laws

A broader implication of this is that what you believe influences how God will judge you

• Someone who does not get circumcised to be saved isn’t required to follow the law
• Someone who gets circumcised thinking that it saves them must follow the law
• If that’s what they believe then Paul says they are required to follow the Jewish law
• Implying that it’s a sin for them not to follow the law

This means that there are Christians who are required to follow the law

• Can one Christian have a different requirement than another?  ... Yes
• 
  

Romans 14:1-6

1Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions. 2One person has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only. 3The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him. 4Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

      5One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind. 6He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God.

• One person doesn't eat certain foods for religious reasons.

• Another person eats everything
• Neither one should judge the choice of the other

• One person honors the sabbath and another doesn’t

• Neither one should judge the choice of the other
• That means that there are some Christians for whom not keeping the sabbath is a sin
• And there are others for whom not keeping the sabbath is not a sin

What is a sin for one person may not be a sin for another

• The bottom line is that if the Holy Spirit convicts you of something as a sin then it is a sin for you
• That is the danger of having a wrong understanding of the bible

• You may be creating judgment for yourself that God didn’t put on you
• You may make something a sin for yourself that God didn’t consider a sin

This applies for items which the bible doesn’t give clear instruction

• The bible doesn’t say that it is a sin to drink alcohol, but if the Holy Spirit convicts you of it then it’s a sin to you

If you are indwelt by the Holy Spirit He will convict you.  

• The Holy Spirit may tell one person that it’s wrong to drink and not another.
• This implies that what might be a sin for me may not be a sin for you

You can’t  take what the Holy Spirit has dictated for you and make it a rule for everybody

If the Holy Spirit isn’t convicting you in any area then you’re not filled with the Holy Spirit

--Bryan Loritts

How does this apply to:

• Murder
• Homosexuality
• Adultery

If it’s spoken of as a sin in the New Testament then it’s a sin for everyone

• Most Christians consider all of the 10 commandments sins

Love Your Neighbor As Yourself

Galatians 5:13-15
13 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.

Is this implying that you have to love yourself before you can love someone else?

• no

Let’s look at the actual law that Paul is quoting...

Leviticus 19:17-18

17 ‘You shall not hate your fellow countryman in your heart; you may surely reprove your neighbor, but shall not incur sin because of him. 18 You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord.

The spirit of the command is saying: if you were in the same situation as your neighbor how would you want to be treated?

• It’s not saying love them  “as much as” you love yourself
• It means love them  “in the same way” that you love yourself
• What you want for yourself you should want for your neighbor

It’s saying

• When you are hungry you want to eat?

• So you should want  your hungry neighbor to be fed

• If you were lost you'd want someone to give you directions
• If someone caught you in a sin how would you want them to handle it?
• If you were in the hospital you’d want someone to visit

• Some people would rather not have visitors in that situation for some reason.  In that case it's not saying they should go visit others.
• Unless you know that your neighbor wants visitors

Example: car stuck in road

• I had recently had my car stop
• Embarrassed because she was broke
• Not car problems, but money problems

Some tests to determine if you’re loving someone like yourself:

• Are you easily irritated by them?
• Are you willing to be  inconvenienced for them?
• Are you willing to sacrifice for them?

The Flesh vs The Spirit

Paul makes a comparison between the “works of the flesh” and the “fruits of the Spirit”

Galatians 5:16-26

16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 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 may not do the things that you please. 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: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, 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 belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. 26 Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.

If you are led of the Spirit you're not under the law
The Holy Spirit will convict you as to what is sin and what isn’t
You don’t need the list to know what is a sin and what isn’t
This isn’t a list of all possible sins [it says and things like these]

The Spirit and the flesh are in opposition to each other

Example:

• two dogs fighting (flesh and Spirit)
• Which one are you feeding?

Desires (Idols)

Our flesh is fueled by desires that want to be satisfied

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

epithymía – passion built on strong feelings (urges). These can be positive or negative.

--HELPS Word Studies

• So “desires of the flesh” can also be good things

These are things that can lead you away from God.  Referred to as idols.

Three categories of desires:

1. Control
2. Comfort
3. Significance  

Control

A need to be in control of situations and environments

• You've heard the team “control freak”

This can show up

• At work
• In a relationship

This desire is often driven by fear of the unknown

Anger is a reaction to not being in control

• Anger is often a reaction to fear

We should replace fear with trust in God

Significance

Excessive focus on:

• Position at work
• Money in the bank
• Adoration and praise of others
• Recognition
• Status
• Being in a Relationship

You should have your identity in your position in Christ

Comfort

Excessive need to maintain physical ease or relaxation

• Don’t want stress
• Fear of Responsibility
• Hiding from obligations 

Turn to consumption when stressed

• Food
• Pornography
• Sex
• Alcohol / Drugs
• Video Games

Turning to Escapes

• Go from vacation to vacation
• Live for the weekend

Grouping of Sins

The sins Paul lists can be put into 4 groups

1. Immorality [porneia], impurity, sensuality

1. Porneia is any sexual thought or act done outside of a marriage relationship

2. Idolatry, sorcery

1. Literally Worshipping anything other than God
2. Seeking to have something good happen or gain knowledge using a supernatural source other than God (i.e. demons, angels, dead saints, fortune tellers, psychics, the stars, witchcraft, etc.)

3. Enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes (rivalries), dissensions, factions (e.g. political parties), envying
4. Drunkenness, carousing (orgies)

Some of these sins are considered “big sins” by religious people.

• Sexual immorality, orgies, sorcery

Some of these are not considered “big sins” by  religious people.

• Jealousy, anger, envy, strife

Notice that category 3 is the largest category

Paul doesn’t point out one as being worse than the other here.

• All of these are criteria for not inheriting the Kingdom of God

Do you think Paul is saying that you won’t go to Heaven if you are jealous or envious?

Inheriting the Kingdom of God

Gal 5:21 those who practice [prássō] such things will not inherit the kingdom of God

prássō – the active process in performing (accomplishing) a deed, and implying what is done as a regular practice – i.e. a routine or habit

• This is why some teach that if you regularly do any of these you won’t go to Heaven

Is Paul saying that if a Christian partakes in any of those sins that they won’t go to Heaven?

• Is Paul saying that those who are habitual sinners won’t go to Heaven?
• Even if they have faith in Jesus?

He just spent the previous 4 chapters explaining that we are saved by faith alone, and that we are not saved by the works of following the law.

• Is he now saying that our works can make you go to hell?

When we come to contradictions like this we must examine our theology.

Paul clearly says that those who do those sins will not inherit the Kingdom of God.  

But we know those with faith will go to Heaven and have eternal life.

So either:

1. Those with faith can’t commit those sins, or
2. “Inherit the Kingdom of God” doesn’t mean go to Heaven

What does it mean to “inherit the Kingdom of God”?

Our first clue is that neither Paul nor Jesus talk about inheriting the Kingdom of God as something that is in the future.

• Jesus said the Kingdom of God is upon us

Jesus prayed “Thy Kingdom come, they will be done as it is in Heaven”

• He was talking about now

Romans 14:17

17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

• The Kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy
• So the Kingdom of God is not a place
• The Kingdom of God is not Heaven

The Kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy

• So those who inherit the Kingdom of God inherit righteousness
• Those who inherit the Kingdom of God inherit peace and joy

The Kingdom of God is a life subjected to the kingship/rule/authority of God

• You become a subject of the Kingdom of God when you choose God as the ruler over your life

“The kingdom of God is a spiritual rule over the hearts and lives of those who willingly submit to God’s authority. Those who defy God’s authority and refuse to submit to Him are not part of the kingdom of God; in contrast, those who acknowledge the lordship of Christ and gladly surrender to God’s rule in their hearts are part of the kingdom of God. “

  --gotquestions.org

The Kingdom of God is also love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  The Kingdom of God is having the fruits of the Spirit.

When you submit and allow God to rule your life you receive the fruits of the Spirit.

Those who fornicate, those who are envious, those who are drunkards haven’t submitted to God’s rule over their lives, and therefore are not part of the Kingdom of God.   When you habitually take part in these activities you will not have all of the fruits of the Spirit in your life.  You will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

Jesus didn’t only come  to allow us to go to Heaven

• Jesus’ death also gave us access to the Holy Spirit while we are here on earth
• When Jesus died He sent the Comforter back for us.
• The Comforter gives us the power to live righteously.
• The Comforter, the Holy Spirit, is what allows us to inherit the Kingdom of God

We choose who’s rule we want to be under

• Do we want to submit to God’s rule or do we want to rule ourselves

• Following under our own rule is submitting  to our flesh

• We have the choice to submit to God or we can submit to our flesh
• When we submit to the flesh we are submitting to satan

Each day we choose which kingdom we want to belong to

• Do we want to represent God’s kingdom of satans?

Paul is saying that a Christian who continually commits any of these sins are not living under God’s rule

• You do not know Jesus as Lord
• You have wasted the gift of the Holy Spirit living inside of you
• You are not fully utilizing the power that we have received through Jesus’ death
• You have not received the inheritance that you are entitled to

Whenever you commit sins like this you are not living under God's rule

• You are not living as a child of God
• You are not inheriting the Kingdom of God

So inheriting the Kingdom of God does not mean going to Heaven

• It means voluntarily living under the rule of God
• Only those who have the Holy Spirit can do this
• Only those who are children of God are entitled to this inheritance
• But you can forfeit this inheritance by your decisions and actions

Walking in the Spirit

Paul first tells us what actions will prevent us from inheriting the Kingdom of God.  Next he tells us what the Kingdom of God consists of.

Inheriting the Kingdom of God is to have the fruits of the Spirit

• To do this we must walk in the Spirit

Walking in the Spirit means allowing yourself to be led by the Holy Spirit

• It means to come into agreement with the Holy Spirit
• Obeying the nudging of the Holy Spirit
• This is something that you grow into

The Holy Spirit lives inside of us

• It’s purpose is to aid us in communicating with God
• It aids us in knowing the will of God
• It aids us in obeying the will of God

If you are filled with the Holy Spirit you should exhibit its fruit

• If you are living in the Kingdom of God you will have the fruits of the Spirit
• If you don’t have the fruits of the Spirit you are not living in the Kingdom of God
• That doesn’t mean you aren’t saved; it means you aren’t fully surrendered

We may not be there yet, but..

• You should have more fruit today than you had last year
• You should have more fruit next year than you have this year

Why Do People Sin?

How can we tell if someone is filled with the Holy Spirit

• Paul has hammered in the fact that it’s not by how closely you follow the law
• Some denominations feel that speaking in tongues is evidence of the Holy Spirit
• The Bible teaches us to measure things by their fruit
• Since we know what the fruit (singular) of the Holy Spirit is, we can determine if someone is walking in the Spirit by whether the fruit is exhibited

If you squeeze an orange what comes out?

• Orange juice

If you squeeze an apple what comes out?

• Apple juice

If you squeeze a Christian what’s supposed to come out?

• The Fruits of the Spirit

squeeze = being put under pressure
• traffic jam, laid off, someone you love treats you badly, someone disrespects you

When we accept Jesus as our Savior we receive the Holy Spirit.  

If someone doesn’t feel the presence of the Holy Spirit what could be the cause?

Not Convicted When You Sin

Meaning the Holy Spirit doesn't make them feel bad when they sin

1. Not indwelt with the Holy Spirit
2. Could also be because your conscience is seared

• You’ve done the sin so long you have completely blocked out the voice of the Holy Spirit in that area
• You can never lose the presence of the Holy Spirit but you can lose His power

If this is the case for you you can pray to be indwelt with the Holy Spirit

• Pray to become sensitive to the Holy Spirit

Not Healed

• Childhood trauma

• Pray that God heals you or seek a Christian counselor

• occult activity (horoscope, fortune tellers, witchcraft, secret societies)

• You need to repent

• generational curses (uncontrolled anger, fears, addictions, behaviours)

Emotional agreement with the lies of the enemy

• Unforgiveness
• Rejection
• Fear
• Loneliness
• Depression

We may have a future lesson on inner healing to get into details of the solutions.

Conclusion

In Galatians 5, Paul teaches us what it looks like to “walk in the Spirit”.  We see that it is the leading of the Holy Spirit that should dictate our Christian lives.  There is no complete listing of everything we should and shouldn’t do.    The Holy Spirit will convict us and there are things that we know in our spirit are against God.

The gift we receive of living a life free from the law, needs to be accompanied with the restraint of living by the direction of the Holy Spirit.   We cannot lose our salvation by not following the law, but we can lose the opportunity to receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit.  We can lose the opportunity to inherit the Kingdom of God which living under the rule of God and receiving the fruit of the Spirit.

God loves us as we are

• if we could clean ourselves up we wouldn’t need a savior

• If we could follow the law on our own Jesus didn’t need to come die for us

• We need the power of the Holy Spirit to live right

But in order for the power to work, we need to submit to it.

• We need to obey what the Holy Spirit tells us to do

The question isn't have you been victorious

The question is are you still fighting

Have you accepted the lie that says “that’s just who I am”, or the lie that says “well everyone does it”

Are you still in the fight?

It’s not about reconciling all your sins from the past. We have all done things that we don’t want to talk about.  

The next time the Holy Spirit convicts you of something, are you going to obey?

You don’t have to be perfect, but stay in the fight?

Let’s walk in the way, seek the truth, and live the life that Jesus promised us...

Taught by:  Michael Leadon

References

Galatians 5:1-2

https://youtu.be/keHO6iwSFAI

Galatians 5:3-12

https://youtu.be/kjXY0sXoMIc

Galatians 5:13-26

https://youtu.be/1DYiCy5DJf4

Inheriting the Kingdom of God

https://www.goodnewsarticles.com/Aug05-3.htm

Know Your Enemy (Galatians 5)

https://youtu.be/5w9SgxBGJFw

The Fruit of the Spirit vs. The Works of the Flesh (Galatians 5)

https://youtu.be/inm2FYuWTvw

What Is the Kingdom of God?

https://www.gotquestions.org/kingdom-of-God.html

Extra

Romans 9:30-32

30 What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; 31 but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness, have not attained their goal. 32 Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone.

How to Fight Sin

Armor of God

• Our struggle is against Satan

Ephesians 11:11-17

11Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, 15and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; 16in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Works of the Flesh

1 Corinthians 9:9-10

9Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.