Lesson 62 November 3, 2002

Review:

Back to Gal. 5:15 The Result of a lack of Love

But if you bite and devour one another, take care lest you be consumed by one another.

If since this is a 1^cc Paul assumes the reality of the condition he details here.

Then a Strong Warning!

take care lest you be consumed by one another.

Summary 5:15

1. A church which tolerates or promotes legalism or even the opposite extreme of antinomianism, (no standards at all) will deteriorate into veritable jungle.

2. One "animal" attacks another verbally for not living up to their particular false system of legalistic standards.

3. Legalism like the law does nothing to restrain sin, here the sins of the tongue, and gives rise often to illegitimate boasting.

4. The gossiper and maligner operating under a cloak of human good and self-righteousness will destroy a local church if they go unchecked.

5. What was occurring in these churches was a far cry from what Paul has been teaching to this point that should characterize the relationships within the local assembly.

- vs:6 faith working through love

- vs:13 through love keep serving one another

- vs:14 you shall love your neighbor as yourself.

6. The solution to their situation is found only through true spirituality. That is making order out of chaos by living life according to the Spirit.

Gal 5:16 - 26 Since we are in the Spirit as believers we are to walk by the Spirit

Intro:

Here we find once again the central importance of the Holy Spirit in our life as believers.

5:16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.

Here is the antidote to the rulership of the Sin nature!

Focus of the phrase is the normal Christian life, being empowered by the Holy Spirit

Then Paul makes a most profound statement:

and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.

Point is Paul has drawn absolutes here, your either walking by the Spirit or your dominated by your OSN.

Note: some passages that give us a handle on the sin nature, the lust of the flesh, and its impact on the life of the believer if not dealt with by walking by the Spirit!

- 1 Pet. 1:14

- 1 Pet. 4:1-3

- 2 Pet 2:18

- Eph. 4:22

- Rom. 6:12

- Titus 3:3

- 2 Tim 3:6