Galatians 5: 13-26.
Studying the Doctrine Of Holy Spirit:
First: The Person Of The Holy Spirit | God Himself: John 14:
Jesus Promises The Holy Spirit:
We Are Not Alone: The Holy Spirit Dwells Within Us.
We Are Linked To Christ: The Holy Spirit Sanctifies Us.
We Are Made Righteous: The Holy Spirit Guides Us.
Then:
The Presence Of The Holy Spirit: God With Us: Acts 2:
The Birth Of The Church:
The Coming Of The Holy Spirit:
Peter's Sermon At Pentecost:
Peter Speaks To All Who Are In Jerusalem.
Peter Proclaims The Death, Resurrection, And Exaltation Of Jesus.
Peter’s Call To Repentance And Receive The Gift Of The Holy Spirit.
Then:
The Purpose Of The Holy Spirit: Romans 8: 1-13: God For Us:
Deliverance Through The Spirit
Romans 8:1-4
THE BLESSING OF JUSTIFICATION BY HIS ARRIVING SPIRIT:
OUR SPIRITUAL LIFE BEGAN AT SALVATION: WE WERE GIVEN A NEW NATURE.
THE SIN NATURE WAS DEFEATED AND WE WILL EXPERIENCE A PROGRESSIVE VICTORY OVER SIN.
SO,
TO FINISH WHERE WE WERE LAST WEEK:
2. WALKING AFTER THE SPIRIT:
ROMANS 8:5-13:
THE BLESSING OF SANTIFICATION BY HIS INDWELLING SPIRIT:
What Are The Answers To These Major Questions:
The Walk Of The Saved And The Walk Of The Unsaved,
What Is The Practice Of The Unsaved ?
What Is The Position Of The Saved ?
Why Is There A Practical Command To Perseverance ?
The Walk Of The Saved And The Walk Of The Unsaved,
The State And Practice Of The Non-Christian
VERSUS
The State And Practice Of The True Christian.
The Apostle Paul Found Himself In A Mighty Spiritual Struggle.
He Loved The Spiritual Requirements Of The Mosaic Law.
He Had A Genuine Desire To Keep The Law,
Because Of Indwelling Sin Still In Him,
He Found Himself In A Spiritual Struggle.
He Wanted To Do Right,
But Found Himself Sometimes Doing Wrong.
WE DISCOVER THAT A CHRISTIAN LIVES
BY A HIGHER LAW THAN THE MOSAIC LAW,
AND THAT IS:
“THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS”.
(ROM. 8:2).
THE HOLY SPIRIT:
GIVES THE CHRISTIAN THE POWER TO LIVE THE CHRISTIAN LIFE,
ENABLES US TO KEEP THE SPIRITUAL DEMANDS OF GOD’S LAW.
A Saved Man, Indwelt By The Holy Spirit, Can And Does Fulfill The Spiritual Requirements Of The Mosaic Law.
(Rom. 8:3,4).
A Person Who Walks According To The Spirit
Is One Who Is Saved And Dominated By The Spirit.
Does That Mean A Saved Person Is Always Submissive?
NO, BUT:
They Do Have A Leaning Towards Spiritual Things.
The Goal Of Their Life Is Towards Christ.
The
Desire Is To Walk In The Spirit.
THE
SAVED PERSON:
Is Dominated In Their Thinking By The Things Of The Spirit.
God’s Will Is Given Consideration In All Decisions,
They Long To Have Christ As Master Of Their Life.
The Main Thrust Of A Christian:
Is Towards Christ.
Is Towards The Things Of The Spirit.
? WHAT IS THE PRACTICE OF THE UNSAVED: VERSES 5-8:
For Those Who Are According To The Flesh
Set Their Minds On The Things Of The Flesh.
The Unsaved Person Is Dominated By The Sin Nature.
The Unsaved Person Walks According To The Flesh Always.
The Predominate Influence In Their Life Is:
How To Feed The Flesh Or Sin Nature.
How To Live For Self.
How To Direct All Actions Toward Building Their Human Ego.
A Person Who Walks According To The Flesh Is One Who:
Is Unsaved And Dominated By The Sin Nature.
Cannot Fulfill The Righteous Requirements Of The Law.
The Non-Christian Shuts God Out Of Their Thinking
Because They Are Interested In Fleshly Pursuits.
They Are Always Trying:
To Get Something They Desire,
To Do Something They Want,
To Pursue Carnal Objects As A Way Of Life.
The Unsaved Person Cannot Act Differently
The Unsaved Person Is Operating Totally On The Flesh.
The Unsaved Person Has A Lifestyle Should Not Surprise Us.
All They Can Do Is Sin!
The Unsaved Person:
Is An Enemy Of God. And Is Alienated From Him.
Is Alienated From God.
Is Seeking To Shut God Out.
Is Not Interested In The True God Of Scripture.
Is A Rebel Toward God's Justice.
Is A Rebel Even Toward God's Love And Mercy.
Is A Rebel Because Of The Idea Of Submission To God.
Is A Rebel Who Does Not Want To Be Ruled Over By Anyone.
An Unsaved Person May Outwardly Seem To Keep The External Letter Of The Law.
While All The Time Hating The God Who Gave The Law.
He Cannot Keep The Spirit Of The Law Without Loving God,
For The Law Is A Reflection God’s Character.
And Those Who Are In The Flesh Cannot Please God.
The Natural, Unsaved Man Has No Ability To Please God.
The Unsaved Man May Be Good, Kind, Nice, And Even Religious, And He Most Certainly Will Please Men,
But The Unregenerate Man Cannot Please God In Any Way.
Man Has No Ability In Himself To Please God;
? THE POSITION OF THE SAVED: VERSES 9-11:
However, You Are Not In The Flesh But In The Spirit,
If Indeed The Spirit Of God Dwells In You.
BUT THE MIND SET ON THE SPIRIT IS LIFE AND PEACE.
The Saved Person Pursues The Things Of The Holy Spirit,
The Saved Person Experiences God’s Life And Peace.
LIFE AND PEACE BELONG TO GOD’S CHILDREN ALONE.
SO, When A Christian Stops Submitting To The Spirit,
They Will Experience Submission To The Sin Nature.
They Will Lose A Sense Of God’s Life And Peace In Life.
BUT EVEN THEN:
They Will Never Pursue The Flesh As He Did In Unsaved State.
Because The Mind Set On The Flesh Is Hostile Toward God.
There Are Just Two Mind Sets:
That Of Those Who Are Saved And Spiritually Minded;
And That Of Those Who Are Lost And Fleshy Minded.
? WHY THE PRACTICAL COMMAND TO PERSEVERANCE:
VERSES 12.
SO The True Christian Is Not A Debtor To The Sin Nature And Is Not Under Obligation To Obey It.
Why? God Has Positionally Judged The Sin Nature, A Guaranteed Progressive As Well As Ultimate Sanctification From Sin.
NOW,
THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT:
IN SANCTIFICATION: GROWING IN GRACE AND KNOWLEDGE:
Galatians 5: 13-26:
The Holy Spirit Provides Us Power To Live The Fullness Of The Christian Life.
This Power Works For Two Primary Purposes:
TO SANCTIFY US FOR PROPER WORSHIP OF GOD.
TO EMPOWER US FOR THE MISSION WHICH GOD HAS GIVEN THE CHURCH.
How Does The Holy Spirit Makes Us Holy ?
How Does The Spirit Progressively Makes Us More Like Christ ?
BY ENABLING US
TO OFFER OUR ENTIRE LIVES
AS PLEASING SACRIFICES UNTO GOD:
(ROMANS 12:1).
BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT:
WE CAN OVERCOME THE DESIRES OF THE FLESH,
WE CAN CONTINUALLY GROW IN MANIFESTING THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT.
SO, HERE IS A POSSIBLE OUTLINE TODAY:
UNDER THE THEME OF SPIRITUAL FREEDOM:
A. THE POWER TO LOVE LIKE CHRIST: VERSES 13-15.
B. THE POWER TO LIVE LIKE CHRIST: VERSES 16-26.
THE HOLY SPIRIT PROMISES VICTORY OVER SIN:
THE HOLY SPIRIT PROVIDES VICTORY OVER SIN:
WE CAN LEARN THIS TRUTH BY LOOKING AT THESE FOUR COMMANDS:
A. THE POWER TO LOVE LIKE CHRIST:
It Is Directed By Love: Galatians 5:13-15.
FIRST COMMAND: SERVE ONE ANOTHER THROUGH LOVE:
The Believer Is Called To Liberty.
The Believer Uses This Command To Serve Others.
The Fulfillment Of The Law Through Love.
Paul Reminds His Readers That They Were Called To Freedom.
Freedom Is Not To Be Used As An Opportunity For The Flesh.
Freedom In Christ Should Not Be Used For The Indulgence Of The Flesh.
Believers Are To Serve One Another Through Love.
Paul Declares That The Whole Law Is Fulfilled In The Command:
You Shall Love Your Neighbor As Yourself. (Leviticus 19:18).
SECOND COMMAND: WATCH OUT FOR THE CONSEQUENCE OF DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOR:
What Is The Result Of The Lack Of Love ?
Paul Writes That, If You Bite And Devour One Another, Watch Out Lest By One Another You Might Be Consumed.
B. THE POWER TO LIVE LIKE CHRIST:
It Is A Walk In The Spirit, Not In The Flesh:
Galatians 5:16-23.
The Holy Spirit PROMISES Victory Over Sin.
THIRD COMMAND: WALK IN THE SPIRIT CONTINUALLY:
We Know There Is A Contrast Between:
THE OUTCOME /FRUIT OF THE FLESH.
VERSUS:
THE OUTCOME /FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT.
THE BELIEVERS IS TO WALK CONTINUALLY IN THE SPIRIT.
This Command Is Followed By The :
Walking By The Spirit And You Will Never Gratify The Flesh.
What Is Relationship Between The Desires Of The Flesh And The Desires Of The Spirit ?
THESE DESIRES ARE OPPOSED TO ONE ANOTHER:
WORKS OF THE FLESH AND WARNING:
Paul Offers A Detailed Description Of The Evident Works Of The Flesh.
These Works Include The Sexual, Religious And Relational Realms.
Includes The Repeated Warning That Those Practicing Such Things Will Not Inherit The Kingdom Of God.
FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT:
Nine-Fold Fruit Of The Spirit.
Note: The Word “Fruit” Is A Singular Noun.
NOTE:
It Is A Fruit That Would Look More Like A Cluster Of Grapes Than A Single Fruit Like An Orange.
The Fruit Of The Spirit Is A WORD PICTURE Of What The Holy Spirit Produces In The Life Of The Believer.
Paul Observes: There Is No Law Against The Fruit Of The SPIRIT.
Society Never Needs A Law To Protect From The Outcome Of Those Who Walk By The Spirit.
Society Should See The Benefits Of What The Spirit Producers In Believers.
Those Belonging To Christ Have Crucified The Flesh With Its Passions And Desires.
Paul Stresses That, If We Live By The Spirit, We Should Walk In The Spirit.
THE HOLY SPIRIT PROVIDES THIS VICTORY OVER SIN:
FOURTH COMMAND: AVOID CONCEIT:
Let Us Not Become Conceited Or Boastful,
Let Us Not Provoke Or Challenge One Another,
Let Us Not Envy One Another.
So, What Have We Learned In This Study?
THE NATURE OF FREEDOM IN CHRIST:
We Could Call This CHRISTIAN LIBERTY.
Christian, You Are Free.
Free From Law.
Free From The Dominion Of Sin.
Free From Good Works To Gain Approval From God.
Free From Condemnation And Free From Eternal Judgment.
You Are Spiritually Free In Christ.
Galatians 5:1: It Is For Freedom That Christ Has Set You Free.
Stand Firm, Then, And Do Not Let Yourselves Be Burdened Again By A Yoke Of Slavery.
Also, Freedom In Christ Means Liberty To Serve Others Because Christian Liberty Is Service Not Selfishness.
Everywhere People Are Crying For Free Rights,
Free Love And Free Living, Apart From Any Restraints.
Yet These Same People Are Becoming Slaves To Their Own Sinful Appetites To Which They Give Free Reign,
Simply Because They Cannot Control Them.
And, Freedom In Christ Is Fulfilling The Law Of Love.
The Entire Law Is Summed Up In A Single Command:
Love Your Neighbor As Yourself:
Love Is The Basis For A Whole New Way Of Life For Us.
This Love Is All Tied Up With The Law Of Christ.
And, Freedom In Christ Means:
We Are Not Under The Law Of Sin And Death,
We ARE Under The The Law Of Christ.
This Law Of Grace And Life.
WE ARE NOT FREE FROM GOD'S LAW BUT ARE NOW UNDER CHRIST'S LAW !!
A NEW LAW OR COMMAND I GIVE YOU: LOVE ONE ANOTHER,
AS I HAVE LOVED YOU, SO YOU MUST LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
And, A PROMISE OF A NEW RESTRAINER FROM SIN:
Freedom In Christ Means We Are Surrendered To And Submitted To Christ.
The Result Is That We Keep The Mosaic Law.
To Walk By Means Of The Spirit Is To Be Dependent Upon The Holy Spirit By Faith.
And This Involves Submission To The Spirit's Divine Will.
The Holy Spirit Will Always Lead Us To Honor God, Advance The Kingdom, Love One Another, Run From Performing The Desires Of The Sin Nature.
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