The Book of Galatians – Part 3
Chapters 5-6
(Scripture version - New Living translation)
The occasion of Paul’s letter to the Galatians was that false teachers had come into the churches there. These teachers promoted legalism and tried to require Christians to observe the Old Testament rules, laws, and ceremonies, especially circumcision. Paul, in no uncertain terms, says that “for freedom Christ has set us free” and that Christians should not be placed back under the law’s yoke of bondage. The law’s purpose was to reveal our sinfulness and to bring us to Christ.
Paul puts it best in 5:1: "Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure you stay free, and don't get tied up again in slavery to the law." With the last two chapters of the letter, Paul continues to state faith in Christ and a life in the Spirit's power. Christians must avoid the desires of sinful nature and let the Spirit lead in the fruits of following Christ. Let these things guide your life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
“Only Christ Sets You Free”
Galatians 5:1-15
Key verses: 1 - “So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.”
13-14 – “For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Meditation – Use your freedom in Christ it serve one another in love, not to pursue self and desires of the flesh. We can all become so wrapped up in our lives that we forget to serve others. What can/could/should day to day serving be in like? Everyday, in all you do… how can you be serving others? What does it mean to “serve in love”?
“The Spirit is Our Guide.”
Galatians 5:16 – 26
Key verses: 16 – “So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.”
22-23 – “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!”
Meditation – In one of Paul’s more well know teachings he guides his readers to seek a life lead by the Holy Spirits guidance. In that, you can’t go wrong! God’s Spirit will lead you in in life that produces joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
How are you at letting the Holy Spirit be your guide in all aspects of life?
Reflect on the list of “fruits of the Spirit”:
--What do you see evidence of in your life?
--What might you be lacking in?
“You Reap What You Sow”
Galatians 6
Key Verses: 2 –“Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.”
8-10 – “Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.”
15-16 - “It doesn’t matter whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation. May God’s peace and mercy be upon all who live by this principle; they are the new people of God.”
Meditation – Truly, we all will rake in a harvest based on what and how we plant (or sow) in this life. Paul compares the Christian life to tending a farmer’s field. As believers, we can sow seeds into one of two fields: the flesh or the Spirit. As we make decisions, we must realize that everything we do will either be an investment in the flesh or the Spirit. The fruit we produce depends on which field we choose to sow into and what we sow.
Sowing to our flesh means cultivating and developing our sinful desires and there we receive a harvest as such. (see 5:19-21). When we sow to the Spirit we stop letting our sinful nature control our minds; a mind controlled by the flesh leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.
PRAYER – Take time to thank God for Paul’s writings, including his emphasis on Christ setting us free. Ask God to help you let go of anything you have that moves you to “be” or to “accomplish” in order to receive His gift so that you can be fully free to be His child. God loves you no matter what you do, yet in that relationship, He wants you to then live in that love and serve in that love. Ask God to give you the daily opportunities to do so.
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