THE HOLY SPIRIT GUIDES THE CHRISTIAN LIFESTYLE
(Galatians 5:1-6:3)
BY: Frank Tunstall. D. Min.
Circumcision held a near stranglehold on the people of Israel. This brutal chocking was the big issue Paul had to overcome in his ministry to the Galatian believers. The Holy Spirit guided and empowered Paul so that the stronghold could be broken and the church could be born. The Spirit did it with four keys.
- “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free,” Paul wrote. “Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1)
- “By faith we eagerly await through the Holy Spirit the righteousness for which we hope” (Galatians 5:5.”
- Love your neighbor as yourself” (Galatians 5:14).
- “Walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16 KJV).
The Judaizers simply could not imagine any other way of life than the law and circumcision, and they showed it by generously sowing their seeds of discord. After all, Jews had practiced circumcision, faithfully starting with Abraham, for about 1800 years before Paul preached in Galatia. Many Jews in the modern era continue the practice.
Paul reasoned from the death and resurrection of Jesus that a cut of the foreskin had no efficacy at all when viewed beside a Savior who died on a cross and walked out of His tomb on the third day.
The crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus meant the era of the Law was over and salvation in the New Covenant was all about the grace of God. Nobody could earn the freedom Jesus graciously offered at Calvary.
Ah! “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.”
Some Galatians had started out in faith, believing in the sufficiency of Jesus and His sacrifice on the cross. But in time they came to believe a price tag had to be hidden somewhere. They found it very hard to accept salvation could be solely a gift of God’s grace. So, they gave a sympathetic ear to the Judaizers who demanded circumcision.
Paul was blunt: “I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law,” even though it simply was not possible (Galatians 5:3). No one could be saved by trusting in a cut of circumcision. If they could, Jesus death on the cross would be of no value. In addition, if circumcision could save the soul and bring peace with God, then Jesus’ horrible death by crucifixion was worse than foolish. Further, if circumcision could save the soul, the Galatians had been fooled into believing in and experiencing the gift of the Holy Spirit, who would then be proven to be a farce (Galatians 5:2-5).
Indeed! The Holy Spirit had filled the Galatians with such joy, as well as the great hope of standing redeemed before God in righteousness on the great judgment day. The Holy Spirit did it solely because they believed in Jesus and His sacrifice on the cross (Galatians 5:5). But some Galatians were walking away from the gift. To call them back, Paul was emphatic:
“In Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth?” (Galatians 5:6-7).
Then Paul showed his utter exasperation with the agitators: “I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!” (Galatians 5:12) [render themselves impotent].
Paul continued:
“You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other” (Galatians 5:13-15).
Judaizers were convinced the Law was essential for loving God and for loving one’s neighbor; how else would a follower of Jesus know right from wrong?
Paul had an answer for that objection to the gospel too. “Live by the [Holy] Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature” (Galatians 5:16). The Holy Spirit is the perfect guide for knowing right and wrong, and the person who is “led by the Holy Spirit” is guided by the agape love of God – the love that will do what is best for a neighbor. That love, supremely revealed by Jesus on His cross, is far-and-away a greater motivator and guide for Godly living than was the Law for loving God and one’s neighbor. It is in this context we can understand what Jesus said to the Jews who “believed on Him…. You shall know the truth and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32).
Paul went on to list the kinds of temptations that spring from the carnality of Adam’s seed. The sanctifying grace of the Holy Spirit had to be able to overcome each of them – and the Spirit did it then, and still does now.
“The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19-21).
The fruit of the Spirit overcomes carnality.
It is not enough to know what not to do in order to live a Godly lifestyle; it is also essential to know what to do, and Paul proceeded to identify the fruit the Holy Spirit grows.
“The fruit of the [Holy] Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other (Galatians 5:22-26).
This understanding of the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit who grows this fruit in people’s lives was known both to Moses and King David. Moses endured, seeing Him who is invisible (Hebrews 11:27). King David saw the Lord always before his face and on his right hand (Acts 2:25; Psalm 16:8-11).
Ah! To live a lifestyle of walking in the Holy Spirit. Paul was never alone. Instead of the Law, the Holy Spirit guided him in his moral and spiritual choices
This was also true for King David. How else could David say, “I will fear no evil, for you are with me?” (Psalm 23:4).
Galatian followers of Christ are to “carry one another’s burdens” and in doing so they will “fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:3).
Freedom, faith, agape love. walking in the Spirit – four keys to holy living.
“Breathe on us
Holy fire fall.
Come and fill this place with
Your presence.
Like a rushing wind
Send Your Spirit here.
Breath of Heaven breathe on us.
Breath of Heaven breathe on us.”By: Kare Jobe
October 20, 2022 6:40 pm|
Always very enlightening and note worthy! Great topic.