Galatians 5
THE LAW AND GRACE
WHAT MESSAGE FOR TODAY?
Galatians 5
 We have been studying Paul’s writings to four different
Churches,
 Galatians is a young church. First journey.
 Ephesians is an older church, but subject to sin.
 Philippians is an older Church, full of friends.
 Colossians is a Church of believers Paul does not
know well.
Galatians 5
 Chapter 5 of Galatians brings the Book’s argument to a
head.
 Verses 1-9
 Paul addresses his audience’s misunderstanding
about circumcision.
 Verse 1 begins the thought. It is for freedom you
have been set free.
 Do not fall to the yoke of slavery. Don’t fall under
the law.
Galatians 5
 Verses 2-4
 People
often claim these verses support the loss of
salvation.
 Look at the words. If you receive Circumcision,
Christ is of no benefit.
 Verse Four– Fallen from grace.
 Verse 3– If you follow Circumcision, you are
obligated to the Whole Law.
 Verse 4– Severed from Christ
Galatians 5
 Do these verses mean you can lose your salvation?
 No–
they underscore that the Law does not bring
salvation.
 It underscores the Freedom we have in Christ.
 It underscores that Christ is all sufficient for our
salvation.
 We cannot add to that salvation by any action we
take.
Galatians 5
 Galatians 5:5-10
 Paul
clarifies his position on Christ.
 Faith is the center of our Life in Christ.
 What is Righteousness? Why are we waiting for it?
 Verse 6– faith working through love. Circumcision is
not Love.
 Circumcision was causing the church to falter.
Galatians 5
 Verses 10-16, Paul now addresses this freedom we
have in Christ. He continues the thought begun in
Verse 1.
 Do we have complete freedom to do anything we
want? This was an early heresy of the Church and
persists today.
 Paul points out that circumcision was never part of
his gospel– or else he would not have conflict with
the synagogue.
Galatians 5
 Verse 13– our freedom is not an opportunity for the
flesh– don’t use the salvation to make yourself the
center of life. Serve one another.
 True freedom comes when you surrender self and seek
the benefit of others.
 Notice that Paul does not denigrate the law but seeks
to fulfill it. (V. 14)
 Verse 15– this should sound familiar. Some problems
in the church never go away.
Galatians 5
 The thought comes to its conclusion in Verse 16
 Walk in the Spirit and you will not fulfill the desires of
the Flesh.
 How do we walk in the Spirit?
 We surrender to the Will of Christ
 We seek the benefit of others
 We seek to fulfill the Law of Christ
Galatians 5
 Walking in the Spirit
 Recognize
that there is a difference between Spirit
and Flesh
 Desires of the Spirit
 What Does the Spirit Desire?
 What does the Flesh desire?
 How are we Led by the Spirit?
Galatians 5
 What are the Deeds of the Flesh?
 Deeds–
actions taken by the Flesh.
 Deeds are a decision– a desire.
 What are these deeds?
 Sins against Marriage– the First Type of Christ
 Sins against Relationship with God.
 Sins against others
 Sins against self.
Galatians 5
 Fruit of the Spirit
 Fruit
is a Product of an action.
 The Spirit works in our lives produces fruit.
 What are the Fruits?
 Fruit relating to God (Love, Joy Peace)
 Fruit toward others (Patience, Kindness, Goodness)
 Fruit to self (Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-control)
 If we Live in the Spirit, we Walk in the Spirit
Galatians 5
 The Spirit
 Produces Fruit
 Creates Life
 Leads us in our Walk
 Let us walk together, not challenging, not boasting.