Galatians 5 Commentary
Paul has written quite extensively on the subject of the Spirit. This term must be used even more frequently than the term Jesus! Jesus was a physical man who interacted with physical people for a short period. But He still interacts with people through His Spirit – the Holy Spirit.
It all comes back to Jesus; Immanuel, and God with us!
During his earthly pilgrimage, He called men and women to follow Him. Come post-Calvary years, the instruction is the same: walk by the Spirit. Success depends on the extent to which you walk by the Spirit. Verse 16 underlines this injunction.
One important highlight is the contrast between the Spirit and the ‘flesh’. The Flesh comes with “slavery”. You won’t do anything godly even if you want to. The flesh is in charge! Sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.
The Flesh is a never-ending thirst; a bottomless pit of demands!
On the other hand, is the Spirit. With the Spirit is freedom. Love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Freedom to live as the LORD Jesus determines.
The Law achieves its purpose by punishment. A Law that doesn’t include punishment for violations isn’t a law at all. It is useless. The burden of obedience lies on the individual. You are on your own until you transgress. Then the Law shows up to punish you.
The Spirit stays with you, empowering you in all godliness. You are never alone. He helps you keep your speed at 60km/h! He loves it when your baby steps turn into sprints! Love is written all over the Spirit! He is the Law!
The Spirit is the “rule book”. Verse 25. We live with and by and for the Spirit! Try this space. It is all love, freedom, and life!
Here is the picture, albeit rough: because of your love for your own family and the families of others, you won’t probably drive 80km/h on a road marked 40km/h – endangering others! The thought is focused on love and care and not the punishment you might receive. Life in the Spirit and under the Spirit is love-based. Verse 6.
The power behind the Law is punishment. The power behind the Spirit is love.
Without punishment or any prospect of punishment, or in the absence of the thought that punishment is eminent now or in the future, the following flow unchecked: Sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft…
The word love is not to be likened to the word “like”. It is both a quality (when the Spirit manifests it) and the actual person of the Spirit. You can never love without the Spirit! Ponder.
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LOVING SCRIPTURE 