By Teman Knight
Adjunct Professor of Old Testament and Hebrew, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
PURPOSE LIVED
Galatians 5:16–26
Paul gives the believers advice on how to live out our purpose by living the Spirit-filled life. Paul reminded them in chapter 3 that they had received the Holy Spirit at their conversion. The presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives had been demonstrated by the great things He had done. Paul now gives them the mandate that they must live “in the Spirit.”
The problem was that the constant bickering among the Judaizers (legalists) and libertines was destroying the church and ruining their witness in the community.
Paul declared they were free from the law but only so they can “serve one another through love” (v. 13). True freedom in Christ avoids the extreme views of both legalism and lawlessness.
Walking by the Spirit keeps us from fulfilling sinful desires. (16–18)
Paul tells them to pay attention and then tells them to walk by the Spirit. The term “walk” is a frequent term in the Old Testament that implies someone is following or living before God. Paul uses the term “walk” to describe the Christian life 32 times in his epistles. Remember that our purpose is to live in relationship with God.
Sin is the great enemy of our relationship with God, separating us from His holiness. The constant battle between the Spirit and the flesh is a struggle that believers must fight. As a new creature in Christ, our desire is to please God. Leading into this passage Paul told them, “Don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh” (v. 13).
The term for “opportunity” is a military term meaning “a place where an offensive is launched or a base of operation.” We can’t make sin our base of operations for life.
Instead, Paul tells us that the base of operations for our lives must be the Holy Spirit. Instead of just following a code of laws, we are guided by the Holy Spirit who lives in us and directs our paths.
Walking in the flesh leads to sinful behavior. (19–21)
One can easily see the difference in behavior of someone walking in the Spirit or someone living in the flesh. Paul describes that sinful lifestyle.
He first lists sexual sins and then the sins of false religion.
Paul next lists social sins of the flesh and then sinful addictions. Society tells us if we have these sinful desires we should act on them. For the believer, however, these sinful behaviors must be crucified with Christ (v. 24).
I decided a long time ago that instead of acting on my own desires I was going to live my life to a higher standard — the standard of God’s holy Word as revealed through His Holy Spirit.
Walking by the Spirit produces Christlike character. (22–26)
After describing what a believer’s life should not look like, Paul describes the qualities that should be obvious in a believer because of the presence of the Holy Spirit. Our relationship with God produces the fruit of love, joy and peace.
The Holy Spirit also impacts our relationships with others by producing the fruit of patience, kindness and goodness. The Spirit impacts our character with the fruit of faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Share with others: