Lesson
17 May 26, 2002
Intro Review:
In Romans chapter six, Paul makes
it clear that everything the unbeliever does comes from the sin nature. The
unbeliever is born enslaved to this sin nature. It is only after salvation that
the believer is able to make a choice.
The contrast between flesh and
Spirit is not the only contrast in Galatians, or in Romans. The juxtaposition
of these categories demonstrates the unique characteristics of the spiritual
life of the Church Age believer.
Law - Grace
Works - Faith
Slavery - Freedom
Flesh - Spirit
Both our spiritual life and growth in that life, the apostle bases on the
vastly superior ministry of the Holy Spirit.
The argument Paul uses can be presented in the
form of a syllogism: [deductive reasoning]
1)
Everything the unbeliever does derives from his position in bondage to
the sin nature and proceeds from the sin nature (Isaiah 64:6; Romans 6:6, 17,
18);
2) The
unbeliever can live a moral, ethical life; therefore,
3) Simple
human morality can be the product of the sin nature.
Conclusion: A supernatural means is necessary to produce the
virtues and Christ-like character unique to the Christian life.
In Galatians
5:16 it becomes clear why Paul
makes dependence on the Holy Spirit an important facet to the spiritual life.
The highest of these virtues is love. Paul reminds the Galatians of this standard
in Galatians 5:13-15.
The Lord liberates each believer
from the self-serving orientation of the sin nature so that we are now free to
love as Christ loves.
Notice the differences between the
commands in Leviticus 19:18 and John
13:34-35.
Lev. 19:18
John 13:34-35
What's the new standard?
Must
ask ?? How can the believer love in this way? How is this accomplished?
Some observations need to be made
regarding Galatians 5:16-5:25.
1st
this passage should be considered as one unit, whose purpose is to
demonstrate how the believer can produce this love. This explains the priority
of love among the fruit of the Spirit.
2nd
the apostle makes four parallel statements that help clarify the
subject: walk by the Spirit
(Galatians 5:16), led by the Spirit
(Galatians 5:18), live by the Spirit,
and walk [follow, stay in step
with, be in line with] by the Spirit (Galatians 5:25).
3rd
it is when the Christian maintains the condition of walking by the
Spirit that the Holy Spirit produces character transformations in the believer.
The Holy Spirit against the Flesh
The grammatical construction of
Galatians 5:16 is crucial to understanding the dynamics of spiritual growth.
Walking by the Spirit should be the ongoing,
habitual lifestyle of each believer. The nature of the verb itself, to walk,
even in its metaphorical use, "to conduct oneself," involves action
on the part of the subject.