Galatians 5:16-26

content/bible_journal/galatians_5:16-26.md

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+title = "Galatians 5:16–26"
+date = "2023-08-20"
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+
+### [Read the passage.](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Galatians5.16-26)
+
+In most of Paul's letters, he teaches theology in the first section and then
+instructs the readers in the practical application of that theology in their
+lives. The letter to the Galatians is no exception, and this is the turning
+point. "Because of all that I have just told you," Paul could say, "always and
+continuously be doing these things."
+
+The first command he gives is to "walk by the Spirit". The meaning of "walk"
+indicates a pattern of behavior or a lifestyle. "Spirit" is contrasted with
+"flesh" not because our phyiscal bodies are evil, as some Gnostics claimed, but
+because God is holy and we are not. Paul often uses "flesh" and "physical man"
+as a metaphor for our sin-cursed natures, but in other letters he affirms that
+we will get new, glorified, and still physical bodies when we are resurrected
+in Christ, just as He was. So then, if we pattern our lives according to the
+Holy Spirit, we won't satisfy the evil urges of our old nature. Holiness and
+sin are opposed to each other, and they cannot dwell in the same place.
+
+The list of sinful behaviors in verses 19–22 are, of course, not exhaustive. If
+the Judaizers heard them, they would be nodding along because they never would
+do such things. But then the middle of the list rolls up: "enmity, strife,
+jealosy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy…" and we
+can tell that they are condemned. Examine yourselves, beloved, and be certain
+you have nothing to do with these practices either. But if you do (spoiler
+alert: you certainly do), then repent of them and ask the Lord Jesus for
+forgiveness and His grace. And if you stubbornly think, "I can check off all of
+those; I've never done any of them," then I point out the catch-all Paul puts
+at the end. Only God is good and sinlessly perfect; He is the standard we are
+measured against, not anyone else around you. Pay particular attention to verse
+26.
+
+The fruit of the Spirit list is well-known, and for good reason. I would like
+to say it is not an exhaustive list either, but I can't come up with anything
+that wouldn't fall under one of the existing items. Notice that unlike the
+works of the flesh list, none of the fruit of the Spirit are things you do.
+Instead, they are attitudes that you have while you are walking in the Spirit.
+This is because even "good deeds" can be done in the flesh, even such things as
+preaching ([Phil. 1:15–17](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Philippians1.15-17))
+and praying ([Luke 18:9-14](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Luke18.9-14)).
+Remember, we are to walk in the Spirit, which drives out the selfish desires
+and motivations of the flesh.
+
+* * *
+
+There is no one like You, holy and perfect.