Keep in Step with the
Spirit!
Galatians 5:16-25
Introduction: D.L. Moody held a glass up and asked the
crowd, how can I remove all the air from this glass? After several suggestions
of ways to suck out the air, Moody went over, took a water pitcher, and filled
the glass. “There,” he said, all the air it out of the glass!” Galatians has
talked about our justification by grace alone through faith alone in Christ
alone. But how does that impact the way we live? Can we live a victorious
Christian life? This passage calls on believers to walk by the Spirit, in
contrast to living a life that manifests the works of the flesh. The
question before us today is, how do we live a Spirit led, Spirit empowered,
Spirit-filled life? How do we “decrease” so that Christ can “increase” in
us? That is the “heart question” at the “heart” of this passage.
Two
parallel imperatives bracket this pericope. This passage begins and ends with
an exhortation to “walk by the Spirit.” What does that mean? And how do
we do It? We’ll see that we are not simply trying to remove “sin” from our
lives with some kind of vacuum. That is like trying to follow the mere outward
requirements of the Law without a changed heart. Instead we need to allow
the Spirit of God to fill us and control us, renewing our mind and transforming
our heart.
This passage in Galatians is addressing the heart
of the Christian life. It relates to what Paul meant in Galatians 2:20 when he
said, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but
Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in
the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” That new life lived
by faith is described in this passage in chapter 5 by three parallel phrases in
5:16,18 and 25… “Walk by the Spirit… if you are led by the Spirit… let us
also keep in step with the Spirit…” In this context, these three different
verbs reflect aspects of this new life of faith. Since the first and the last
are commands, we don’t want to miss the emphasis on human responsibility.
“Walk” in v.16 is translated “live” in some versions. The Greek word peripateo
has that idea of walking along the path of life. The Hebrew word halak has
that same force in passages like Ps 1:1, “Blessed is the man who does not
walk in the counsel of the wicked…” But notice the means by which we walk
that walk, the power by which we live that life: by the Spirit. That is
implied in 5:18 when Paul refers to being “led by the Spirit.” The
Spirit who empowers us to live the life of faith, also leads us, guides us
along the way. One writer said: “In its most profound, yet simple definition,
the faithful Christian life is a life lived under the direction and by the
power of the Holy Spirit…” (J. MacArthur). The Bible emphasizes the presence
and power of the Spirit.
The BIG* Idea: Walk by the Spirit and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh!
I. Believers are exhorted to walk by the Spirit (16-18).
But I
say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of
the flesh. 17 For the desires
of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against
the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the
things you want to do. 18 But
if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
This passage begins with an imperative, a
command: “Walk [by] in the Spirit…” The students of Aristotle were known as the “Peripatetics”
because of their habit of following the philosopher around from place to place
as he dispensed his teachings. Rabbinic students would also follow their
teacher around, asking questions and learning on the way. We see that reflected
by Jesus teaching His disciples. In Paul’s vocabulary, to "walk in the
Spirit" or be "led by the Spirit" means to go where the Spirit
is going, to listen to His voice, to discern His will, to follow His guidance.
The ESV translates the Greek dative (there is no preposition in the original)
“walk by the Spirit.” That fits the context, it is not only being in the
sphere or the presence of the Spirit, but being capacitated, enabled by the Spirit
of God, to live a transformed life.
The second part of 5:16 shows the consequence
of walking by the Spirit: “…and you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.”
The phrase is written as an emphatic negative, “you will by no means
fulfill the lusts of the flesh.” Our English word “lust” conveys the
idea of sexual desire, but the Greek word used here would include that idea,
but is even broader in scope. Tim Keller
suggest that it refers to an “all-controlling drive and longing.” He said that
The main
problem our heart has is not so much desires for bad things, but our
over-desire for good things. When a good thing becomes our “god”, it creates
“over desires” (see Ephesians 2:3; I Peter 2:11; I John 2:16). Paul says that
sinful desires become deep things that drive and control us. Sin creates in us
the feeling that we must have this, or that, or the other.
Keller refers to Christian counsellor David Powilson who
reflected on the term as used in this context,
“If
‘idolatry’ is the characteristic and summary Old Testament word for our drift
from God, then ‘desires’ (epithumia) is the characteristic and summary
New Testament word for that same drift … The New Testament merges the concept
of idolatry and the concept of inordinate, life-ruling desires … for lust,
craving, yearning and greedy demand (Ephesians 5:5; Colossians 3:5).” (The Journal of Biblical Counseling, page 36)
And notice the conflict described in 5:17, “The
flesh sets its desire against the Spirit and the Spirit the flesh…” This
parallels pretty closely Romans 7 in describing the struggle believers have
against sin. Do you ever sense that struggle? “I know what God wants me to do
here, but …” You
fill in the blank. “This is an exception, don’t I have the right to be happy,
to have a little fun after all I’ve been through…” etc. We have an amazing
capacity for justifying our actions! That is part of the battle. Learning to
call our sin, sin. Learning to trust God, and take Him at His word.
So,
while our flesh glorifies and adores and yearns for all kinds of created things
and conditions and people, the Spirit glorifies and adores and yearns for
Jesus. The Spirit speaks of the beauty and greatness of Christ… The Spirit,
then, longs to show us Christ and to conform us to Christ. And ultimately, this
is what the Christian wants, too…
This is a battle that won’t be won by mere human
effort to conform ourselves to a system of rules. We need divine intervention! The
just shall live by faith! And so, walk by the Spirit, trusting Him to guide
and empower you, and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh!
II. A life lived to gratify the flesh will be exposed
by its acts (19-21).
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual
immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20
idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries,
dissensions, divisions, 21
envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you
before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Paul
starts the list in v.19 with sexual sins… “…sexual immorality, impurity,
sensuality…” The first term in the list, “sexual immorality,” translates
the Greek word porneia, from which we get the English word
“pornography.” It refers broadly to any illicit sexual conduct outside of
marriage. The world has embraced a casual, no-fault, anything goes idea about
something God designed to be exclusively and specifically enjoyed in the
context of a lifetime commitment between a man and a woman. We have some
long-term, 50 plus year marriages in our church family. That is not so common
today.
Next Paul turns to a couple of overtly “religious”
sins: “…idolatry, sorcery…” Idolatry in its broadest sense is anything
that we put before God, something that we give the affection or worship that
only God should get. The word translated “sorcery” surprised me a bit when
I looked it up. It translates the Greek work pharmakeia, from which we
get our word “pharmacy.” The connection might be that drugs of some sort were
used in process of evoking spirits. That has been true in at least some pagan
cultures.
Finally,
the greater part of the works of the flesh he describes relate to our
relationships with fellow humans: “…enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger,
rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21
envy, drunkenness, orgies [partying], and things like these.” Some
of these, if you think about it, will probably be a little convicting. Strife?
Jealousy? Envy? Divisions? Things like these? You get the idea. We should be
peacemakers, as we saw last week, people marked by love for one another. Think
about this: While you were still a sinner, Christ willingly took your place
and died for you on the cross. You didn’t deserve it. You might think, “Do you
know what that so-called brother/sister did to me?” God forgave you,
right? If your brother has something against you, go to him. If he listens,
you have won your brother. Let’s strive to preserve the unity of the Spirit
in the bond of peace! If God so loved us, we ought to be able to love one
another right? If that isn’t convicting enough, let me remind you that the
world is watching. They are also reading your Facebook posts by the way. We are
His witnesses, for better or for worse!
“Those who practice such things shall not
inherit the Kingdom…” Paul is not saying that if someone sins in one of
these areas he is not saved. If that were the case, I dare say we’d all be in
trouble! He does say “those who practice [prasso] such
things will not inherit the kingdom…” The word Paul uses speaks to
actions and attitudes that are regularly showing up in our life, the kind of
thing by which we are known. He is talking about being given to things like
these, having them characterize your life. Read this list, and be honest with
yourself. The BIG Idea is that if we walk by the Spirit, we will not
fulfill the lust of the flesh!
III. A life lived in submission to the Spirit will be evident
by its fruit (22-23). Now in contrast
to the “works of the flesh” Paul relates a series of characteristics
that he describes as “fruit of the Spirit.” Let’s let the text speak for
itself…
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no
law.
Again,
this is not intended as an exhaustive list, “…against such things there is
no law…” The difference in terms should capture our attention. The works
of the flesh vs. the fruit of the Spirit. You don’t make fruit grow. You
can provide the right environment, adequate sunshine, water, good soil, maybe a
little fertilizer, but you need a healthy plant. Fruit comes forth from the
life that is in the plant or the tree. It’s a metaphor Paul’s readers would
have grasped. Spiritual life brings forth spiritual fruit. These are the
character traits that increasingly become evident in the life of a believer,
these are the “marks” of a Spirit-filled life. This isn’t something we “put on,” it is the
result of the transforming power and presence of God in a believer’s life. God’s
character is increasingly evident in our life. Do you see these kinds of things
increasingly in your life?
Do you
love others? The brethren, your family, your neighbors? Do you have joy
and peace that goes beyond the circumstances of the moment? Do you treat
others with kindness and gentleness? Is self-control something
that God is producing in you? Walk by the Spirit and you will not fulfill the
lust of the flesh!
IV. Empowered by the Spirit we are urged to exemplify
faithful living (24-25).
24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have
crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let
us also walk by the Spirit. 26
Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
Again, Paul begins with an indicative
statement: “…those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the
flesh…” (see 2:20-21!). Notice first of all that we “belong to Christ.”
Wherever we are, whatever the battle we are facing, if you have trusted Christ
as Savior, you are His. The enemy may try to exploit your weakness and
discourage your spirit and entice your heart, but the God who is has spoken, He
has looked down among humans and said, “No, this one is mine!” Let that
sink in for a moment. No one can snatch you out of His hand. Our standing
before God comes not from works of righteousness which we have done, but
according to His mercy he saved us. So, we come confessing our sin and
struggles, crying out to Abba, Father, resting in His power and trusting
in His presence. In Christ alone, my hope is found! Tim Keller describes what
is means to crucify the flesh:
“Crucifying
the sinful nature” is really the identification and dismantling of idols. It
means to put an end to the ruling and attractive power that idols have in our
lives, and so to destroy their ability to agitate and inflame our thoughts and
desires. Crucifying the sarx [“flesh”]
is about strangling sin at the motivational level, rather than simply
setting ourselves against sin at the behavioral level.
John Stott made a good observation about this. He said
that crucifixion, as a means of execution, did not produce death instantly, it
was slow, gradual death. Believers “have crucified” the flesh. The Greek tense
indicates a completed action. But the flesh dies slowly, and our sanctification
will only be complete when this corruptible puts on incorruption, this
mortal, immortality. So, repentance and faith must go together, and be
renewed daily. But there should be growth, progressive sanctification, as
Christ is formed in us.
The imperative: “…let us also walk…”
This is a different word from the word “walk” in 5:16. Some translations have
“keep in step,” like soldiers marching in a parade, moving in lock-step in the
same direction. Could a better translation bbe, “Keep in step by the
Spirit…”? That idea actually fits well with v.26, “…not conceited, provoking
one another, envying one another…” The objective in a parade is to stay in
step, not to draw attention to one’s self! Gordon Olson translated this, “Let
us keep in step with one another” by the Spirit. When you think about
the divisiveness that the works of the flesh brings to the church and to our
relationships, that fits the context. The Spirit empowers us and leads us, even
as we are being transformed, to keep moving in the right direction. So, God
gets the glory, and the world sees something authentic, something attractive,
in our relationships. Jesus said, “By this men will know you are my
disciples, if you love one another.”
What is God saying to me in this passage? That is the BIG* Idea: Walk by
the Spirit and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh!
What
would God have me to do in response to this passage? If you are standing in the foyer drinking a cup of
coffee, and someone bumps into you, what is going to come out of the cup? It is
not a trick question! Not tea… not water… coffee! That is what was in the cup.
When we run into bumps in life, we come up against moments or situations that
shake us, what spills out? It depends on what fills us. Outburst of anger?
Impatience? Anger? Or, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness… You get the
idea.
Let’s end where we started, how do we
live like this, walking in the Spirit… led by the Spirit… keeping in step
with the Spirit? It seems to me that it comes back to believing God, taking
Him at His Word. Paul wrote Ephesians and Colossians during his first Roman
imprisonment. There are several parallel passages in those letters, but I want
to focus one, and the slight change in its parallel. I’m talking about
Ephesians 5:18, and Colossians 3:16…
Ephesians 5:18-20 And do not get drunk with wine,
for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in
psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord
with all your heart, 20
giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our
Lord Jesus Christ..
Colossians 3:16-17 Let the word of Christ
dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom,
singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts
to God. 17 And whatever you
do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks
to God the Father through him.
Notice
the opening imperative, “…be filled with the Spirit…” (Eph 5:18) is
parallel with “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly…” (Col 3:16). How
are we filled with the Spirit? We let God’s Word abide in our heart, we
receive what He said, and we take Him at His Word. Your daily reading and
study and meditation on the Word, coupled with prayer, leads you deeper,
closer, into more intimate fellowship with God Himself. Learning with other
believers, in a small group or Sunday School class, or even one-on-one, we grow
deeper together. Iron sharpens iron. We need fellowship, so we can benefit from
the gifts of others, and hopefully they can benefit from our gifts. That means
embracing opportunities to serve God by serving others. And soon, you start
thinking God’s thoughts more consistently. Before you know it, guess what comes
out of the cup when someone bumps into you? To God be the glory! Think about
that. AMEN.
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