New Testament 6
Lecture 28
Galatians 5: 13-26
Introduction
•	In these verses Paul will deal with Christian Responsibility that results from ______________found in Christ.  He will talk about using freedom for license in 5: 13-16. In 5: 16-18 he will talk about the struggle for ______________ in the Christian life. From here he will show the natural results of human nature (5: 19-21) as contrasted to the Harvest produced by the Spirit (5: 22-26).
The Danger of Freedom: License (5: 13-15)
•	Verses 1-12 of Chapter 5 Paul developed the theme of ______________ in Christ. Now, he takes up the opposite tendency: license.  
5: 13-16
•	13) As for you, brethren, you were called to ______________. Only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love be servants of one another.  14) For the whole law is summed up in one precept, namely, Love your neighbor as yourself. 15) But if you bite one another and tear one another to pieces, take care lest you destroy your fellowship altogether.
The Possibility Exists
•	That someone will assume since he is free from the ______________, that he does not have to consider the ethical ramifications of life. He will elect to live as if he has no law over him.  He will become self-indulgent and sensual.  This extreme says, “Being free from the law, I am free to do as I wish.” This attitude is most unchristian! Verse 13 says that the freedom must not be abused!
Why the Freedom?
•	As one commentator said, “Christians are not ______________ to ______________, but are become free in ______________to  not sin.” Paul wanted to insist that Judaic Law has no claim over the Christian, but he wants to emphasize that the Christian must maintain his freedom with responsible living. 
Paul’s Adversaries Thought
•	The only effective deterrent to sin would be ______________.  Other men who had been saved out of paganism might have a very low standard of morality and these would clash.  Both could assume that since the Christian was free of the claims of the law, that the were to partake in the undisciplined indulgence of immorality (Rom 6: 1-2, 15).  
Paul’s Solution to License?
•	He reminded them that there was one law that summed all the other laws and everyone was bound to keep it. What law is this? The ______________ of ______________!  If one obeys that law, then he will fulfill God’s moral requirements. See 5:14.
The Law of the Christian Life
Introducing such a paradox is fairly characteristic of Paul.  He has been insisting on liberty and now he turns to insist on law.  Yet, here we see the true relationship between ______________ and ______________l______________  The gospel does not cancel God’s moral law; it shows how man can fulfill it.  The Gospel not only offers forgiveness through grace, but it creates love in the hearts of men so that with gladness they do the will of God. ______________The True Standard of Christian Freedom
•	Is not to serve the body and its appetites, but to love our neighbor by serving him/her.  The Greek verb for “______________” is the corresponding word for “______________”.  The word “opportunity” refers to the staging place of a military unit before it springs on its enemy.  So, Paul says, “Don’t let you body be the staging place for immorality”. Here he rules out not only sexual immorality, but all other self-centeredness.
It is a True Statement:
•	“Christians are free from God’s ______________ law, but are not free from God’s ______________ law.”  While the Ten Commandments might be thought of in this passage, Paul’s mention of love is an even higher moral law.  The motivation behind the Christian is not the 10 Commandments but the indwelling Holy Spirit (Jer 31: 31-34).  Those led by the Spirit will keep the 10 Commandments without thinking about them. 
So, What Principles Ought to Guide our Lives?
•	Paul will deal with this question. Many Christians want to moralize, but the real secret is to let the Spirit ______________ and ______________ the life.  Before Paul gets to far into his argument, he reflects on the fact that we will have inner struggles (5: 16-18).
5: 16-18
•	This is what I say: let the ______________ ______________direct your lives, and you will not gratify the cravings of your earthly nature. For the cravings of the earthy nature conflict with the Spirit and the Spirit with the earthly nature.  The two are opposed to each other, so that you are unable to do what you would like to do. But if they Holy Spirit lead you, you are not subject to the law.
  The True Gospel/Christian Ethic
•	It has a source, but it is not the Law, but a Person, the Holy Spirit.  He takes the lead in the person’s life in controlling thoughts and behavior. Notice Paul’s promise in verse 16. What is it? Write it out here:
•	________________________________________
•	________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Do you believe this?
The “earthly nature”
•	Is a Greek word that means “______________”.  It refers to all aspects of unregenerate human nature, not just the physical.  It can be used to mean the physical flesh (1 Cor 15: 39). Galatians 1:16 Paul used it to refer to a person. He he used it to refer to the kind of living that is opposed to living under the direction of the Spirit.
Verse 17
•	Shows the fact of a human nature/Spirit clash.  Paul develops this more in Romans 7:15-25 as he pictures his own ______________struggles.  
Verse 18
•	Shows that there is a third way to live life. The Judaizers felt there was only two: under the ______________or under the ______________.  Paul shows that the Christian can live under the Spirit.  Christians are not to be passive, but to be active in choosing to let the Spirit lead.  The Holy Spirit will be sure to follow the commands of God and to please God.  Paul now seeks to illustrate the unbridled results of an uncontrolled nature in 5:19-21.
The List of Sins
•	Doubtless the list provided by Paul in 5: 19-21 were to be found in all the region of Galatia as well as every else.  These ______________deeds are merely distortions of impulses which are not wrong in themselves, but which when exercised wrongly, have great destruction attached to them.  Paul does not think the physical side of man is inherently evil.  
William Barclay’s Discussion on “Flesh”.
•	“The flesh is man as he has allowed himself to become in contrast with man as God meant him to be. The flesh stands for the total effect upon man of his own sin and of the sin of his fathers and of the sin of all men who have gone before him. The ______________ is human ______________ as it has become through______________.” (Barclay, ______________, p. 22).
He adds insight for us
•	As he describes how our earthly nature is what gives sin its opportunity in our lives:
•	“No army can invade a country from the sea unless it can obtain a bridgehead. Temptation would be powerless to affect men, unless there was something already in man to respond to temptation. Sin could gain no foothold in a man’s mind and heart and soul and life unless there is an enemy within the gates who was willing to open the door to sin.” (Barclay, ibid., p. 21)
Four Categories of Sin listed:
•	1. Sexual
•	2. Worship
•	3. Social relations
•	4. Intemperance
•	Sexual Sins listed:
Paul begins with sex. There is nothing inherently wrong with sex. It is one of God’s beautiful gifts to mankind.  It is essential for humanity to survive. Rightly used is a blessing, wrongly used, it becomes a great curse.  Misuse brings tragedy into human life.
v. 19 – sexual immorality
Is translated “fornication” in KJV. It means promiscuous sexual relations, whether pre-marital or extra-marital.
Impurity
Is a broader term, literally meaning, “______________” Here it denotes moral depravity.
Licentiousness
Means absolute debauchery, complete abandon in relation to sexual actions.  There is no sense of shame or decency.  This person no longer cares what others think of them or their actions. 
2. Worship Sins listed
Verse 20 mentions “______________”.  This is often connected to sexual immorality.  IT refers to worshipping man made idols.  It is not a deity, but men insist that it be worshipped and venerated as a god.  
Sorcery
This means the magical arts that are practiced in connection with idolatry.  The Greek word used here is ______________, where we get our word ______________.  In the beginning it meant to take drugs. Later it came to refer to one who mixed poisons, a magician who used drugs for witchcraft.  This allows natural objects to be viewed as having supernatural power.  False views of God and his world were fostered.
3. Social Relation Sins listed
Paul includes______________ ______________ here.  Each one shows a heart that is not controlled by love.  The sins are signs of extreme self-centeredness.  
The First Four Words
“Enmities”
Originate from hatred.  “______________” refers to “quarreling or wrangling”. “______________” shows a “strong desire to possess what someone else has.”  “Outbursts of ______________” might be better understood as “outbursts of ______________ or passion.”  Each of these originate from a spirit of control.
The Last 4 Words
These are very similar.  “Disputes grow out of the eager and selfish strivings for position and power. “Dissensions” are ______________.  “Factions” highlight a divisive spirit and favor of one group over another.  “Envyings” seeks the ill will of another.    
4. Intemperance Sins listed
Paul mentions “drunkenness” and “______________.”  These represent appetites that are out of control.  Paul brings this to a close and adds, “and the like.”  This shows that Paul did not think his list was total and complete.  He could have added many to the list. He shows the extremes that men can go to with an unchecked human nature. 
The Warning:
How does Paul end this section? “Persons who practice such things will not have a share in what?”
____________________________________.
The verb is in the present to keep someone from saying, “Well, so and so did that. He isn’t going to be in God’s ______________.”  The present tense means that it is a way of life, a lifestyle from which they will not repent.
The Harvest of the Spirit (5: 22-26) 
Paul now lists nine lovely qualities that can be produced in the life of a Christian who is ______________ to the ______________. Let’s look at them quickly:
The Harvest
The word “______________” in the KJV is the word for “______________”.  It suggests the work of the HS in the Christian personality is produce a harvest of God’s nature.  It is an internal work, rather than outward like the Law.  Since the goal of the Christian is to become more like Jesus, his only help is the Holy Spirit.  How does John 15: 5 relate to this idea?
•	Christ-like Character
1. Love – 
heads the list and this is as it should be. It is the most God-like of all the characteristics listed.  Matthew 5: 41-48; 1 Jn 4:7; 1 Cor 13:13.  The emphasis seems to be on the attitude toward others.  ______________ love is not ______________ love, mere sentimentality, but a matter of the will.  It is the deliberate effort we can make with the help of the HS (Barclay ).
2. Joy –
Comes from the same root as “______________”.  It is not found in earthly circumstances, but on one’s relationship to God.  It grows out the redemptive experience with Jesus Christ.  It includes the knowledge that one is a child of God and has eternal hope. Paul demonstrates this: Phil 1:4; 4: 10-13.
3. Peace –
Is based on the Hebrew word “______________”.  It denotes the quality of general well-being.  It implies a tranquil spirit.  The emphasis is peace with God that is based on a right relationship with Him. God is called the God of peace in Rom 15:33; 16:20 et al.  Inner peace is the gift of Christ (Jn 14:27, 20:19, 21, 26).   
B. Christian and Fellow men
Patience – 
Can be translated as “______________”.  A better term might be “long tempered.” This is God’s attribute toward sinful men.  (Ex 34:6; Neh 9:17, Psa 103:8).  Putting up with people under pressure is part of this quality. As Paul put it in 1 Cor 13: 4 & 7  -  “love bears ________ things and endures ______ things.
Kindness – 
Resembles ______________in that it implies a benevolent disposition toward those around us.  It leads a Christian to forgive those around them when they harm them (Eph 4:33).
Goodness –
A very wide term referring to one’s attitude toward others. Some of its synonyms could be benevolent or generous.  It is ______________ –love in action. 
C. Christian and His Conduct
Faithfulness –
The Greek word is the same as “______________”.  It can be translated as faith, but many translators feel it is better understood in context as fidelity, trustworthiness, loyalty to Christ.  This is one of the great words about God’s nature: 1 Thess 5:24; 2 Thess 3:3; Heb 10:23.
Gentleness –
Or meekness. The idea is akin to ______________ and ______________.  It connotes a consideration for the feelings of others.  It does not imply weakness at all, but means strength under control.  It can be used to show a wild animal which has been tamed.  What is said about Jesus in Matthew 11:29?
Self-control –
The last quality in the list.  It is often used as a special word of the man who controls his sexual urges.  Here, it means more than self-controlled. Here it means Spirit controlled, because it is the Spirit who enables the Christian to control his ______________, ______________, ______________, and ______________. It is the Spirit who can regulate Christian conduct.
Finally: A Challenge (v 23)
What is said here?  No ______________ is made to deal with such ______________. Why? Why would you need a law? Law cannot create these qualities and it cannot destroy them.  
Verse 24 – The Principle
What does Paul say in this verse? This is a principle: Christians, through their identification with Christ, are done with the ______________of the flesh. The sinful past, by God’s grace, is dead and buried.  Final victory comes when we arrive in heaven, but for now, consider ourselves dead to the old nature.
One Old Oriental Christian
Said, “I am not what I ought to be and I am not what I shall be; but I am not what I was, and I mean to be like him (Christ.).”
•	So, what should we do? “Walk by the ______________”.  “______________” refers to the way we behave and live our lives, the way we conduct ourselves.