Galatians 5 (New American Standard Bible)

Walk by the Spirit

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".

--- Christians have been set free from sin's dominion. They have been supernaturally regenerated and made alive to God through union with Christ in His death and risen life. The desire of their heart now is to serve God in righteousness. Sin's dominion involves not only constant acts of disobedience, but also a constant distregard for God's moral law, rising sometimes to resentment or even hatred towards the law. Now, however, being changed in heart, motivated by the thankfulness for the gift of grace, and energized by the Holy Spirit, Christians "serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter".--- "Christian Liberty" from The Reformation Study
Bible. NKJV.

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. 14For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." 15But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another. 16But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17For 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. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. 19Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21envying, 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. 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. 26Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another".

12"Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts", Romans 6:12" (New American Standard Bible)

---- Although it is true that believers are no longer constantly living in sin, this does not mean that sin has ceased to be an opposing force in their lives, a reality to be taken in account.

No one acquainted with the story of David would deny that he was indeed a child of God; in fact, "a man after God's own heart" (1 Sam. 13:14). In ever so many ways Scripture proves this point. And David is no exception. It is therefore understandable that the apostle urges believers constantly to be on guard against this great danger of surrendering to evil passions, passions which, as also in the case of David, are often associated with the body and it functions, a body which, in man's fallen state, tends toward sin and death (hence "mortal" bodies)

Paul becomes more specific as he continues, 13"and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God".

What Paul is saying then is this, "Do not continue to put your bodily parts at the disposal of sin, as weapons of wickedness. Stop doing this; and instead, righ now, completely and decisively, put yourselves at God's disposal. Offer yourselves to him!"

When individuals offer themselves to God, their "bodily parts" constitute a portion of this offering. Result: weapons of righteousness replace weapons of wickedness. This righteousness indicates uprightness of conduct, the very opposite of wickedness.

The reason Paul gives for this exhortaion is: 14"For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace".

Law is able to do many things: it commands, demands, rebukes, condemns, restrains, even points away from itself to Another. There is, however, one thing law can never do. It cannot save. "By law-works will no flesh be justified" (Gal.2:16). Does this mean then that the exhortations directed to believers in verses 12 and 13 are useless? Does it mean that everyone has to perish in their sins? The answer is found in Rom. 8:3, and it is an encouraging answer indeed, in complete accord with the passage we are now considering. Not how despair is replaced by hope, darkness by light: "For what the law was powerless to do...God did by sending his own Son... in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fulfilled in us..."That sending of the Son is the very essence of God's grace. And this grace not only pardons but also cleanses. Grace dethrones sin. It destroys sin's lordship and enables the believer to offer himself, and whatever pertains to him, in loving service to God! The child of God is able to do this because he is not udner law but under grace, since in his infinitely condescending love and mercy Christ has redeemed him from the curse of the law, having become a curse for him (Gal. 3:10-14). Truly, "there is now no comdemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (8:1). ---- from the "New Testament Commentary" on the Romans by William Hendriksen.

Y.B.I.C,

Dave.

Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. - Galatians 2:16