Galatians 5:2-26 Lesson 366

Galatians 5:2-26
Lesson 366

Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."

In this lesson:

Jesus saves us. We cannot save ourselves.

A tug of war between Satan and the Holy Spirit (5:16-17).

How should believers live (5:13-26)?
Walk in liberty.
Walk in love.
Walk in the spirit.

The "fruit of the Spirit" (the gifts from God) listed (5:22-24).

This lesson begins the third and final segment of Galatians.
Freedom in Christ, application of the Gospel, and only God can lead us from sin.

By the Flemish artist Sir Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640).

What is -

Adultery (5:19) - Adultery is unfaithfulness, disloyalty, or infidelity. Illicit sexual relations between a married person and someone other than their spouse.

Fornication (5:19) - Sexual relations outside of the marriage vows. Any form of immoral sexual behavior.

Uncleanness (5:19) - Religiously impure, sinful, guilty of moral corruption.

Lasciviousness (5:19) - Sexual lewdness, debauchery, erotic behavior.

Idolatry (5:20) - Worshipping idols, images, objects, or people other than God. Devotion or obsession with false gods. Some people make money and material possessions their idols. Others worship nature or powerless false deities.

Witchcraft (5:20) - The practice of black magic, sorcery, wizardry, or demonic arts.

Hatred (5:20) - A strong dislike, hostility, or aversion with malice towards others.

Variance (5:20) - Dissension, discord, disagreement, contentiousness, quarreling, infighting.

Emulations (5:20) - Rivalries, jealousies, competitions.

Wrath (5:20) - A heightened anger, rage, fury, or ire leading to retribution.

Strife (5:20) - Intense rivalry leading to divisions, struggle, or even violence.

Seditions (5:20) - Riots, dissension, plots against authority, troublemaking, rabble-rousing, actions or words leading to rebellion.

Heresies (5:20) - Beliefs in false doctrines. Unorthodox views of religion that contradict God. Sacrilege.

Envyings (5:21) - Resentment against another's possessions, success, education, job, etc. Wanting what belongs to another.

Murders (5:21) - Deliberately killing another out of malice. Except when done in war, murder was punishable by death (if two witnesses could be found).

Drunkenness (5:21) - Frequently intoxicated, inebriated.

Revellings (5:21) - Carousing, partying, wild living.

Study Tip:

"It shall greatly help to understand scripture if thou mark, not only what is spoken or written, but of whom, to whom, with what words, at what time, where, to what intent, and with what circumstances, considering what goes before and what follows."

(Miles Coverdale 1488-1569)

The Epistle of Paul The Apostle To The Galatians

The King James Bible

Galatians 5:2-26
Freedom in Jesus

2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.

3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.

4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.

6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?

8 This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.

9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.

10 I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.

11 And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.

12 I would they were even cut off which trouble you.

13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.

16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

Margin notes:

"If ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing." (5:2) - The religious rite of circumcision, and all the other rites and ceremonies of Judaism, are immaterial to salvation.  Despite this, Judaizers taught that circumcision was necessary (Acts 15:1). Salvation only comes through faith in Jesus Christ (Galatians 2:16).

"He is a debtor to do the whole law." (5:3) - "He is bound to the whole Law." If you seek salvation by trying to obey the Mosaic Law, you must abide by all of its rules (Galatians 3:10). You cannot pick and choose which laws to obey.

"Whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace." (5:4) - Whoever seeks salvation through the Mosaic Law will never find it through grace.

"Neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision." (5:6) - There is no religious benefit in being circumcised or uncircumcised. It doesn't matter either way.

"Faith which worketh by love." (5:6) - All we need to ensure our salvation is faith in Jesus Christ. This faith expresses itself through love.

"This persuasion." (5:8) - "This belief," that salvation comes via our earthly works.

"Leaven." (5:9) - A yeast or other fermenting agent used to make dough rise. A small piece of dough from each baking session was put aside to make the next baking rise. Jesus used the analogy of leaven to show, that just as a small piece of leaven affects dough, one sinner can influence an entire church (Matthew 16:5-12). Paul used the same analogy of leaven in this passage and 1 Corinthians 5:6-8.

"Be none otherwise minded." (5:10) - "Have no other view."

"But he that troubleth you." (5:10) - "But the false teachers who confuse you."

"If I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution?" (5:11) - It seems the false teachers were claiming that Paul agreed with them on circumcision. So why were they still trying to discredit him?

"Use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another." (5:13) - "Don't use your (Christian) liberty to sin, but to serve one another (1 Peter 2:16)." Some Christians believed, since their sins were forgiven, they were free to sin again.

"Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." (5:14) - This is a quote from Leviticus 19:18 and
repeated by Jesus in Matthew 22:39. We should love our neighbor without asking, "what's in it for me?" But who is our neighbor? See Luke 10:29-37.

"Take heed." (5:15) - "Beware."

"Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh." (5:16) - Following the Holy Spirit gives believers the strength to resist temptation and leads to righteousness (Romans 8:5-14).

"For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit." (5:17) - Our sinful nature conflicts with the Holy Spirit, a spiritual tug of war.

"The works of the flesh are manifest." (5:19) - "The evil deeds of our sinful nature are clear."

"They which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." (5:21) - Paul made the same point in 1 Corinthians 6:9.

"The fruit of the spirit." (5:22) - The fruit of the Holy Spirit was meant to be eaten and enjoyed. Are you taking full advantage of the nine benefits of your faith?

"Love." (5:22) - The first of nine benefits the Holy Spirit produces in the lives of believers. Love is a strong affection and compassion, adoration, devotion, passion, appreciation, and deep enthusiasm for something or someone else.

"Joy." (5:22) - The second of nine benefits. Joy is great happiness, delight, or bliss. The type of ecstasy or elation that gives a thrill.

"Peace." (5:22) - Calm repose, tranquility, serenity as in eternal rest. Peaceful harmony with others, especially God.

"Longsuffering." (5:22) - Patience. Quietly enduring provocation.

"Gentleness." (5:22) - The fifth benefit granted by the Holy Spirit. Gentleness is kindness, mildness. A calm, tender, or placid nature.

"Goodness." (5:22) - Kindness, virtuous, decent, honest, righteous. The quality of being good or morally correct. Resisting evil to follow that which is right.

"Faith." (5:22) - To have a firm devotion to a person or belief without logical proof. Loyalty to, trust in, and reliance on God. Confidence, conviction, commitment, dedication, allegiance, fidelity.

"Meekness." (5:23) - Gentleness, quietness, humbleness. A calm state of mind, not easily angered.

"Temperance." (5:23) - The ninth benefit produced by the Holy Spirit. Temperance is the virtue of self-control or moderation. Abstinence, self-restraint, self-discipline.

"Against such there is no law." (5:23) - "There is no Mosaic Law against these things."

"They that are Christ's have crucified the flesh." (5:24) - "Those who belong to Christ have killed their sinful desires."

"Affections and lusts." (5:24) - "Passions and lusts."

"Let us also walk in the Spirit." (5:25) - Paul is repeating this from Romans 8:4-5.

"Let us not be desirous of vain glory." (5:26) - "Let's not be conceited."

New Living Translation

Galatians 5:2-26

2 Listen! I, Paul, tell you this: If you are counting on circumcision to make you right with God, then Christ will be of no benefit to you.

3 I'll say it again. If you are trying to find favor with God by being circumcised, you must obey every regulation in the whole law of Moses.

4 For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God's grace.

5 But we who live by the Spirit eagerly wait to receive by faith the righteousness God has promised to us.

6 For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, there is no benefit in being circumcised or being uncircumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love.

7 You were running the race so well. Who has held you back from following the truth?

8 It certainly isn't God, for he is the one who called you to freedom.

9 This false teaching is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough!

10 I am trusting the Lord to keep you from believing false teachings. God will judge that person, whoever he is, who has been confusing you.

11 Dear brothers and sisters, if I were still preaching that you must be circumcised-as some say I do-why am I still being persecuted? If I were no longer preaching salvation through the cross of Christ, no one would be offended.

12 I just wish that those troublemakers who want to mutilate you by circumcision would mutilate themselves.

13 For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don't use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.

14 For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."

15 But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.

Living by the Spirit's Power

16 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves.

17 The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.

18 But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.

19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division,

21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.

25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit's leading in every part of our lives.

26 Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.

This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."

Today's question:

1. How can you enjoy "the fruit of the Spirit" described in verses 5:22-23?

These lessons are not meant to convert unbelievers.
Instead, to introduce them to Jesus so He can work on their hearts and minds.

Answer: (Do you agree?)

1. The "fruit of the spirit" is the amiable nature and behavior (see verses 5:22-23 for a list of nine fruits) created within us when we invite the Holy Spirit into our lives. It is a gift given to Christians after they nail their evil desires to the cross (5:24) and ask God into their hearts.  Once invited, the "fruit of the spirit" grows weekly, year by year, as faith grows, and we allow God to rule our lives' (Colossians 3:12-17).  To live in the Spirit, we must make the Spirit part of our life (5:25-26).



Application thought for the day:

"Faith which worketh by love" (5:6) means faith showing itself through love.
A practical application of faith is serving family and friends. Especially those who have wronged you.

Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; the "Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies;" "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers, published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Everyday Bible" published by World Wide Publications, Minneapolis, Minnesota; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Testament" translated from the Latin Vulgate, published by Guild Press, New York, New York; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course the "King James Bible." All were critical in putting these lessons together.
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