You can
watch the video of this study tonight, the 22nd of July, at 8pm AEST
on YouTube here.
Or at any point after that time you can watch the replay.
Passage
English
Standard Version
Christ Has
Set Us Free
“1 For freedom
Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again
to a yoke of slavery.
2 Look:
I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be
of no advantage to you. 3 I testify again to every man who accepts
circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. 4 You
are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the
law; you have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit,
by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. 6 For
in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for
anything, but only faith working through love.
7 You
were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This
persuasion is not from him who calls you. 9 A little leaven
leavens the whole lump. 10 I have confidence in the Lord that you
will take no other view, and the one who is troubling you will bear
the penalty, whoever he is. 11 But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why
am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has
been removed. 12 I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate
themselves!
13 For
you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an
opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the
whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as
yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out
that you are not consumed by one another.
Keep in
Step with the Spirit
16 But I
say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the
flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit,
and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to
each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But
if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the
works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry,
sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness,
orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before,
that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of
God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against
such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ
Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25 If we
live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let
us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
Bible
Study: Galatians 5 – Do Not Feed the Flesh
Introduction
The fifth
chapter of Paul’s letter to the Galatians stands as a powerful manifesto of
Christian freedom and spiritual transformation. Paul wrote to a church
struggling with legalistic teachings that insisted on adherence to Jewish laws,
like circumcision, for salvation. Paul stands against this and delivers a
passionate plea for grace-centred living instead. The chapter divides into two
main sections: first, a vigorous defense of justification by faith alone apart
from the works of the law (vv. 1–12), and second, an exhortation to live out
that freedom not in selfish indulgence but in loving service and Spirit-led
obedience (vv. 13–26).
Paul begins
with a memorable declaration, “For freedom Christ has set us free.” This
freedom is not merely political or social, but a liberation from the enslaving
power of sin and the silly attempt to earn God’s favour through the Mosaic law.
He warns that turning back to ritual observance as a means of righteousness
actually severs a person from Christ and this causes them to fall from grace. He
encourages people that what really counts is “faith working through love.”
The latter
half of the chapter paints a powerful contrast between life dominated by the
“flesh” and life guided by the Holy Spirit. Paul lists the obvious “works of
the flesh”, sinful actions and attitudes that destroy our fellowship with
one-another, lead us to destruction, and reflect a heart alienated from God.
Over against these, he presents the “fruit of the Spirit”, a character
transformed to reflect the very nature of Christ. He wants us to bring our
lives into spiritual alignment with the ways of Jesus, “If we live by the
Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.”
Galatians 5
remains profoundly relevant today, how can it ever not be relevant in this
fallen world. It challenges any form of legalism that adds human requirements
to the gospel, and any license that confuses freedom with selfishness. It
invites believers into the dynamic, sometimes challenging, journey of allowing
the Spirit to produce His fruit in us, empowering us to love and serve others
as the true fulfillment of God’s law.
Study
Questions -
- What does it mean that “Christ
has set us free” (v. 1)? How is this spiritual freedom different from the
idea of “doing whatever I want”?
Cross-references: John 8:36; Romans 6:18 - Why does Paul speak so strongly
against accepting circumcision for salvation (vv. 2–4)? What principle
does this teach about adding requirements to the gospel?
Cross-references: Acts 15:10–11; Philippians 3:2–3 - What does Paul mean that “faith
working through love” is what counts (v. 6)? How does genuine faith
express itself?
Cross-references: James 2:17; 1 Thessalonians 1:3 - Paul uses the metaphor “a little
leaven leavens the whole lump” (v. 9). How does false teaching spread and
damage a community of believers?
Cross-references: 1 Corinthians 5:6–7; 2 Timothy 2:16–17 - In verse 13, Paul warns against
using freedom as an “opportunity for the flesh.” What are some modern
examples of turning Christian liberty into license?
Cross-references: 1 Peter 2:16; Romans 6:1–2 - How does “serving one another
through love” (v. 13) fulfill the law, as stated in verse 14?
Cross-references: Romans 13:8–10; Matthew 22:37–40 - What is the connection between
being “led by the Spirit” and not being “under the law” (v. 18)?
Cross-references: Romans 8:14; 2 Corinthians 3:6 - Examine the list of “works of the
flesh” (vv. 19–21). Which of these are more evident as actions, and which
are internal attitudes? Why are both dangerous?
Cross-references: Mark 7:21–23; Colossians 3:5–8 - Contrast the “works of the flesh”
with the “fruit of the Spirit” (vv. 22–23). Why is one described as
“works” and the other as “fruit”?
Cross-references: Matthew 7:16–20; Ephesians 5:9 - “Against such things [the fruit
of the Spirit] there is no law” (v. 23). What does this reveal about the
nature of God’s character and His will for us?
Cross-references: 1 Timothy 1:9; Romans 8:4 - What does it mean practically to
“have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (v. 24)? Is this
a one-time event or an ongoing process?
Cross-references: Romans 6:6; Colossians 3:5 - How can we “keep in step with the
Spirit” (v. 25) in our daily decisions and relationships?
Cross-references: Ezekiel 36:27; Romans 8:5–6 - Paul ends with a warning against
conceit, provocation, and envy (v. 26). How do these specifically
undermine a Spirit-filled community?
Cross-references: Philippians 2:3; James 3:14–16 - Reflect on your own life. Which
aspects of the Spirit’s fruit do you see growing? Which “works of the
flesh” do you need to consciously reject by the Spirit’s power?
Cross-references: Ephesians 4:22–24; 2 Corinthians 13:5
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