Freedom in Christ
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
2 Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. 3 Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. 4 You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
Verses 1-6
Go back and read Verse 1 again because that is the theme of the entire book. Make sure you know what it is.
Why did Paul say, "I Paul" in Verse 2?
What does Paul say about circumcision, faith and the law?
What does Paul conclude in the previous verses?
Those Who Preach Circumcision
7 You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? 8 That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. 9 “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.” 10 I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion, whoever that may be, will have to pay the penalty. 11 Brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. 12 As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!
Can you explain Verse 9?
What does Paul conclude in Verse 12?
Life by the Spirit
13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Verses 13-18
We no longer have to live by the 613 Old Testament laws. The entire law is fulfilled by one commandment. What is it?
Think about what Paul means by walking by the flesh and walking by the Spirit? The two will be further explained in Verses 19-25.
Acts of the Flesh
19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 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.
Verses 19-21
Paul lists the acts of the flesh in the above verses. Those who do those acts will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Many people overlook the acts of the flesh in the above verses and think they will receive the fruit of the Spirit at the same time.
Acts of the Spirit
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Verses 22-26
Verses 22 and 23 list the fruit of the Spirit. Notice that there is no "s" on fruit. Also, notice that the "S" is capitalized because the fruit comes from the Holy Spirit. When you see spirit written with a small "s" that the spirit of man. When it is written with a capital "S" it is in reference to the Holy Spirit.
The fruit of the spirit starts out with love. Without love, nothing else can please God. There is only one that we can really control. Which one is it? Try to remember all nine of the fruit of the Spirit.
Go back and read Verse 16a. Now read Verse 25a. Notice the difference.
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