Read Galatians 5-6
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+5&version=NIV
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+6&version=NIV
Being free, Paul wrote in Galatians 5:1-12, believers should not attempt to become slaves again. Christ set those who believed free from slavery to sin. Attempting to be justified by the works of the Law caused them to fall from grace and be severed from Christ. It is through the Spirit, in faith, that they awaited the hope of righteousness. Paul did not preach justification through the works of the Law. If he did, he would not have been persecuted as he was.
In Galatians 5:13-6:10, Paul lets the believers know that having been made free in Christ, they have a responsibility brought on by that spiritual freedom. Their responsibility is to not turn to fleshly pleasures, but to serve one another in love. They must take care to not fight amongst themselves. Their responsibility is to walk by the Spirit to avoid carrying out the will of the flesh. The Spirit battles the flesh to prevent one from doing what one wills. There are some things that if one practices them will prevent them from inheriting the kingdom of God. Those who live by the Spirit show fruit of that in their lives. If a brother is caught in sin, the spiritual brothers should gently restore that brother and share each others’ burdens. Each of us has to carry his own load and take pride in his own actions without comparing himself to others. Those who live to please the sinful nature will die by it, but those who continue to live to please the Spirit will live eternally.
In Galatians 6:11-18, Paul warns his readers to pay special attention. The false teachers want believers to have an outward appearance of following the Law so they will avoid persecution for the cross. Outward appearances do not matter, only being born again matters. He closed with a blessing of peace and mercy upon the believers and Israel, warning that no one should bother him further because HE carries the signs of being Christ’s on his body as proof that he believes what he preaches. Finally, he wishes Christ’s grace upon the Galatian brothers.
These two chapters are packed with powerful messages for all of us. What verses impacted you as you read them? Why?
Personal reflection questions
Which fruits of the Spirit are blossoming in your life right now?
Reflect on what you have sown this year. Do you think it has been pleasing to God? What can you do this week to sow seeds that will glorify God?
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I would think obviously that the Great Commandment in Chapter 5 would be the powerful verse to jump out at us as to how to live our life. However, I think 5:16 is extremely important - "live by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of a sinful nature". If we follow the teachings of the Spirit, we will drive away the temptations of our sinful nature. Sounds easy in principle, but is very difficult to always follow in our daily lives.
ReplyDeleteVerse 5:13 spoke to me strongly as it talks about us being set free but we are not to use our freedom to indulge a sinful nature rather serve one another in love. It made me think of people in my life that I have no problem serving in love but then there are those people who I encounter daily that I don't know but do not reach out to in love.
ReplyDeleteAlso verse 21 that gives a warning that living a life of a sinful nature will cause us not to inherit the kingdom of God. We are told what we need to do but it is so hard not to get caught up in the things of the flesh.
There are several that speak to me from these two chapters. 5:1 reminds us to stand firm in Christ so we will not be burdened by slavery. For me slavery are all thoses sinful things that we are tempted to do in our culture. We should stand firm with Christ and truly be free from them. I also am drawn to 6:7 where Paul tell the Galatians that we reap what we sow. This is such an important concept that we should always remember. The ripple effect of positive or negative seeds that are sown can be tremendous.
ReplyDeleteVerse 9. A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough. I actually see this as either good & bad. I think if you work on faith & being christlike that it will carry over to daily life. To work & try to live by Verses 5 & 6. But also means bad items. To stay awat from & try to avoid possible set backs. To not set yourself up for bad things but the good.
ReplyDelete22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful yardstick for the manifestation of what is inside us. We can all recognize these qualities quite readily.