Galatians chapter 5

The Lord Jesus Christ has set us free! We are to walk with the Holy Spirit. From each believer, nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit are meant to arise naturally.

 


 

JESUS CHRIST HAS SET US FREE!

 

VERSE 1. Stand firm therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and don’t be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from the Letter to the Galatians.

Stand firm therefore in the liberty. Once we are liberated from a particular religious system, it is important to not fall back into it. When Christ freed us, he meant us to remain free.

don’t be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Being a member of a religious system means entanglement and slavery. The Lord Jesus Christ came to set us free!

 

VERSE 2. Behold, I, Paul, tell you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will profit you nothing.

if you receive circumcision. The issue is that these Gentile Christians had been told that in order to be saved, they must also follow all the Jewish laws.

Christ will profit you nothing. How is it that a Christian is saved? The mainstream Christian teaching is that we are saved because of Jesus Christ.

But the people in Galatia rejected that teaching. Instead, they embraced another message: they are saved if they obey all the Old Testament laws.

What is at stake in this verse is an important theological teaching called soteriology.

 

VERSE 3. Yes, I testify again to every man who receives circumcision that he is a debtor to do the whole law.

 

VERSE 4. You are alienated from Christ, you who desire to be justified by the law. You have fallen away from grace.

You have fallen away from grace. What does that mean?

 

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

 

VERSE 6. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision amounts to anything, nor uncircumcision, but faith working through love.

neither circumcision … nor uncircumcision. Which Christian denomination we belong to is not an important consideration.

faith working through love. The priority is having faith in Jesus Christ, and living out that faith by loving deeds.

 

VERSE 7. You were running well! Who interfered with you that you should not obey the truth?

 

VERSE 8. This persuasion is not from him who calls you.

 

VERSE 9. A little yeast grows through the whole lump.

 

VERSE 10. I have confidence toward you in the Lord that you will think no other way. But he who troubles you will bear his judgment, whoever he is.

 

VERSE 11. But I, brothers, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross has been removed.

 

VERSE 12. I wish that those who disturb you would cut themselves off.

 

VERSE 13. For you, brothers, were called for freedom. Only don’t use your freedom for gain to the flesh, but through love be servants to one another.

called for freedom. Jesus Christ calls us into freedom.

Here is how to use our freedom:

don’t use your freedom for gain to the flesh. We should not squander our freedom on self-indulgence.

through love be servants to one another. Christians often act as though they are the lords and masters of their nation’s culture. But the Bible calls us to be the least of all people. And the servants of everyone. Read more »

 

VERSE 14. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The Lord Jesus said this is the second greatest commandment of all. Read more »

 

VERSE 15. But if you bite and devour one another, be careful that you don’t consume one another.

bite and devour one another. Many local churches find that a few of their members are constantly starting arguments.

These members are constantly snapping at each other and tearing each other to pieces.

consume one another. Local church leaders often find themselves squandering a great deal of their time and energy dealing with these conflicts.

The conflicts never seem to end, and they do not help the cause of Jesus Christ. The leaders need to manage these conflicts, lest the whole community be destroyed.

 

WALK WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT

 

VERSE 16. But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you won’t fulfill the lust of the flesh.

This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from the Letter to the Galatians.

walk by the Spirit. As we grow in the spiritual life, God will grant us the wherewithal to grow in victory. As we grow in godliness, we will not gratify the desires of our sinful nature.

 

VERSE 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.

 

VERSE 18. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

led by the Spirit. The Holy Spirit leads us to the greatest freedom.

 

VERSE 19. Now the deeds of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness,

 

VERSE 20. idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies,

 

VERSE 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.

 

THE FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

 

VERSE 22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith,

This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from the Letter to the Galatians.

the fruit of the Spirit. The FRUITS of the Holy Spirit are meant to arise naturally in every Christian believer. They are a different thing altogether than the GIFTS of the Holy Spirit.

The GIFTS are given for the purpose of ministry, and are tailored to the specific individual.

love. The Greek word is ἀγάπη (“agapē”). It means love, benevolence, good will, esteem.

joy. The Greek word is χαρά (“chara”). It means joy, gladness, a source of joy.

Some Christians have a sad face and a somber demeanor. We wish they could know the joy of their Lord. Holiness is marked by joy. Joy equals strength! Read more »

peace. The Greek word is εἰρήνη (“eirēnē”). It means peace, peace of mind, wholeness.

patience. The Greek word is μακροθυμία (“makrothymia”). It means patience, forebearance, longsuffering.

kindness. The Greek word is χρηστότης (“chrēstotēs”). It means goodness, excellence, uprightness, kindness, what is really needed, meeting real needs in a godly way.

goodness. The Greek word is ἀγαθωσύνη (“agathōsynē”). It means intrinsic goodness, inherently good, the goodness that comes from God, showing itself in spiritual and moral excellence.

faith. The Greek word is πίστις (“pistis”). It means faith, belief, trust, confidence, fidelity, faithfulness. It is a gift from God and cannot be produced by people.

 

VERSE 23. gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from the Letter to the Galatians.

gentleness. The Greek word is πραΰτης (“prautēs”). It means mildness, gentleness. It can be compared to meekness.

self-control. The Greek word is ἐγκράτεια (“enkrateia”). It means self-mastery, self-restraint, self-control, dominion within.

It can only be accomplished by the power of the Lord within; hence, it is called a fruit of the Holy Spirit.

 

VERSE 24. Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts.

 

VERSE 25. If we live by the Spirit, let’s also walk by the Spirit.

walk by the Spirit. As the Holy Spirit zigs and zags, our job is to keep in step.

 

VERSE 26. Let’s not become conceited, provoking one another, and envying one another.

 


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GALATIANS

CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06

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Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.