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.

1^st 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.

2^nd 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).

3^rd 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.