*Galatians 5:13-26
Paul contrasts living for the flesh with living for the Spirit, urging believers to walk by the Spirit.
- Call to Freedom and Service:
- Paul emphasizes that while believers are called to freedom, this freedom should not serve as an opportunity for self-indulgence but rather for serving one another in love.
- The entire law is fulfilled in the single commandment to “love your neighbor as yourself.”
- Warning Against Fleshly Desires:
- He warns against the dangers of the flesh, which are in conflict with the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh, preventing believers from doing what they want.
- Acts of the flesh are explicitly listed, including sexual immorality, impurity, debauchery, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, and envy, drunkenness, orgies, and the like.
- Consequences of Fleshly Behavior:
- Paul starkly warns that those who live by such practices will not inherit the kingdom of God.
- Fruit of the Spirit:
- In contrast to the acts of the flesh, the fruit of the Spirit is detailed as love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
- Against such things, there is no law.
- Living by the Spirit:
- Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
- Paul exhorts the believers to live by the Spirit and to keep in step with the Spirit, avoiding becoming conceited, provoking one another, or being envious.
Galatians 5:13-26 teaches us to live with love and kindness by following God’s Spirit instead of selfish desires. When we let God guide us, our lives show love, joy, peace, patience, and other good qualities. But if we focus only on ourselves, it leads to negativity and harm. This reminds us that true freedom comes from serving others with love. We can apply this by choosing kindness, being patient with others, and letting God shape our hearts so that our actions reflect His goodness.
Galatians 5:13-26 (WEB)
5:13 For you, brothers, were called for freedom. Only don’t use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love be servants to one another. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, be careful that you don’t consume one another.16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you won’t fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, that you may not do the things that you desire. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the deeds of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these; of which I forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit God’s Kingdom.22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, 23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts.25 If we live by the Spirit, let’s also walk by the Spirit. 26 Let’s not become conceited, provoking one another, and envying one another.