Down-to-Earth Spirituality: Live by the Spirit (Gal.5:15-26)                                      2008.08.03    Pastor Richard Yu  

When Paul wanted to teach the Galatian believers how to live out their new life in Christ, he did not quote Moses or Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount for some moral guidelines; instead, he taught that the essence of Christian living is freedom in the Spirit, that true living before God is a life in the Spirit and a life of spiritual freedom. A true expression of the Christian life, Paul says, is a life in the Spirit against the flesh and a life demonstrates freedom from the flesh (vv. 13-18).

Life in the flesh is a life of anxious self-centeredness and self-seeking. It depends on the world for identity and recognition, and for satisfaction of its creaturely instincts, which enables sin to exert its power through the flesh. But, the great freedom for the believer is to be “led by the Spirit” (v. 18) which takes away his bondage under the law, and the enslavement to the sinful nature to which the Law makes its appeal. Paul also says that the proper expression of the Christian freedom comes from a heart full of grateful love, and is shown through mutual service (v. 13).

This prescription of mutual service is perhaps particularly pertinent to the Galatian believers for it seems that their relationship with one another at the time was just the opposite (vv. 15, 26) The inclusion of certain aspects of the Law into the practice of their faith and the misuse of their freedom in Christ in indulging personal desires instead of serving others’ needs, have caused strife, bickering, and lack of concern for each other.

Therefore, as a counterbalance to the possibility of expressing one’s “sinful nature” through freedom, as well as the reintroducing laws into the believer’s life, Paul asserts that living “by the Spirit” (v. 16) will characterize true freedom.

In order to help believers distinguish the life in the Spirit from the life in the flesh, Paul provides a practical contrast of attitudes and actions which can be a test for their (and our) life orientation. By finding oneself on either list of vices and virtues, one could also identify whether one was living by the Spirit, led by the Spirit, or living according to the sinful desires (vv. 19-26).

Paul mentions fifteen works of the flesh for illustrative purpose, with the insistence that the list is not exhaustive (vv. 19-21). Some of the vices appear to relate directly to the pagan life-styles the Galatian believers once practiced (idolatry, witchcraft, orgies) while others appeared to be a result of their adoption of legalistic life-style (biting, devouring, jealousy, dissensions, factions).

In contrast to the plural vices, the singular “fruit” (indicating a harmonious unity) of nine virtues is clearly the production of the Holy Spirit in the believer’s life; and it promotes a Spirit-oriented expression of activities and attitudes that strengthen and improve one’s relationship with God and fellow man.

 Love, joy, and peace reflect the resulting attitude of a believer who is under control of the Spirit. Patience, kindness, and goodness reflect how a Spirit-led individual will conduct interpersonal relationships. Faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control seem to focus primarily on a person’s inner life as he walks with the Spirit.

One way to appreciate and apply this passage is to focus on the individual dimensions of the fruit of the Spirit and to seek to make this list a character-building instruction. While this is fine, I am also convinced that such an approach may not be what Paul had in mind when he penned this letter. It is more likely that he had in mind this list for a church that is full of conflict resulting from a legalistic mid-set—the key issue behind the whole letter!

The final exhortations of the chapter indicate that while the reality of the fruit is a gift from the Spirit, the believer’s responsibility is to actively “live by the Spirit,” and “keep in step with the Spirit.” The Christian does not sit idly by with the power of the Spirit within. He is called to active participation, in accordance with the new reality of his identity in Christ Jesus.

  As we reflect upon our identity, we must confess our failing in many aspects. Why is it that Christians claim to have the Spirit but show little of His power and His love? Why is it that Christians claim to live in the Spirit but spend so much of their time “out of step” with the Spirit? It is my prayer that God will renew His work of the Spirit in us through our obedient walk with Him and by willing services to one another.