Scripture

For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead use your freedom to serve one another in love.

Observation

We have been called to freedom, but it is a freedom to do right not freedom to sin. Our flesh fights against the Spirit, so that we are not free in ourselves to carry out our good intentions. But when we live in the power of the Holy Spirit, we are not under any obligation to the Law of Moses or to the desires of the flesh.

The sinful nature manifests itself in all kinds of sexual immorality, idolatry, anger, ambition and such like. The Holy Spirit produces Christ- like actions in us such as love, joy, peace, and so on.

As people living in the power of the Holy Spirit, we should let the Spirit dominate in every part of our lives.

Application

Christ has brought us freedom from every kind of bondage. Now we are called to live lives of freedom. But it is not freedom to sin. That would be just the same kind of “freedom” the world offers.

The Good News is that we do not have to be good enough to prove we are acceptable to God. We are saved by grace because God loves us.

This is not an excuse to sin. We are not saved by good works, we are saved for good works.

The freedom we have in Christ is not freedom to do as we please. It is freedom to do what pleases God. Before Jesus came into my life, I had no alternative to self- centred sin. But in Christ I now have the freedom to do what is right, not by compulsion, but in joyful surrender to the Holy Spirit.

This freedom in the Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self- control. What a wonderful gift!

Prayer

Holy Spirit come and direct every part of my life. I surrender all of me to you. Amen.

Scripture

You are all sons of God trough faith in Christ Jesus.

Observation

The law was a kind of prison which held people captive until Christ came. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.

We are all sons of God, for having gone through the waters of baptism we have put on Christ. There are no identities to separate us into different groups or tribes. We all heirs of the promises given to Abraham.

Application

I am a son of God because I have clothed myself in Christ.

Paul says here that the law is obsolete because it is Christ who teaches us the was of righteousness.

Sons of God (and daughters of God) means that we have a direct relationship with God. We have been brought into God’s family, and we are heirs to everything God owns- which is everything in all creation.

I am a son of the living God! What an awesome privilege that is!

We no longer need priests and other mediators to stand between us and God. We are the priests. We are the ones who relate to the Father.

This places on us the responsibility to grow in that relationship. I need to learn who my Father is by reading the Scriptures. I need to take time to build my relationship with Him in prayer.

If my christian brothers and sisters are also sons and daughters of God, then I must express my love for our Father by loving them. There is no room for envy, gossip, back stabbing or name calling amongst the sons and daughters of God.

Prayer

Thank you Father for calling me your son. Please take hold of me and make me more like you in my character. Amen,

Passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+6.1-18

Scripture

Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ.

Observation

We are to do al that we can to restore a sinning brother or sister. This is one way that we can bear one another’s burdens and fulfil the law of Christ. We must all judge our own works rather than those of our neighbours.

Those who are taught must share all good things with their teachers.

We reap what we sow, so we must be careful to sow into the Spirit not the flesh. This should encourage us to keep on doing good things.

Finally we must stand firm against the “circumcisers”- the people who want to add legalism to the gospel. This just leads to boasting and pride. Circumcision or uncircumcision mean nothing. A new creation in Christ is everything.

Application

these final points in Paul’s letter cover a lot of ground- church discipline, tithing, legalism, good works.

In all of them, Paul is directing us to look to Christ. We must sow in the Spirit not in the flesh so that we can harvest God’s reward in the future.

We must not add anything to the gospel as this would bring aobut a works mentality. While seeming to be holy, these things subvert God’s grace.

Prayer

Thank you Lord that in you I am a new creation. Help me to live out the gospel in all that I do. Amen.

Passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+5.13-25

Scripture
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace,patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. There is no law against these things.

Observation
Let the Holy Spirit guide your life and you won’t be walking in sin. Our sinful nature opposes the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit gives us desires that counteract our human nature. So, if we obey the Spirit we don’t need external agencies such as the Law of Moses to keep us on the path of righteousness.

The works of the sinful nature are evident: sexual immorality, selfishness, fighting and witchcraft. These things have no part in God’s kingdom. But the Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Those who belong to Christ have nailed these things to the cross. As people of the Spirit, we must live by the Spirit in every part of our lives.

Application
The true follower of Christ is constantly advancing, changing to become more like Christ. The Holy Spirit is transforming us away from our sinful self-directed ways and towards the Spirit-directed was.

We must be careful to yield every part of our life to Christ- home, family, work, leisure, friendships and so on. Every part of my life must be nailed to the cross, handed over to Christ. My repeated prayer must be, “Lord have your way in this aspect of my life.”

Sometimes the changes seem slow and imperceptible. Sometimes we face challenges that seem to throw us back into selfishness. As we daily seek to yield everything to the Lord, change will come and we will be people of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer
Holy Spirit, grow your fruit in my life. Please help me to turn away from my own desires and to let your desires grow in me. Amen.

Passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+2.15-21

Scripture
My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who lives but Christ lives in me.

Observation
Paul is a Jew by birth but he knows that it is faith in Christ, not the Law that makes him right with God. No one will ever be made right with God by obeying the Law.

Sin is not in following Christ but in seeking to rebuild the old system of Law. The Law condemns; Paul died to the Law and stopped trying to meet its demands.

His old self was crucified with Christ. He no longer lives but Christ lives in him.

Application
Many christians want to re-introduce various Old Testament laws and ordinances to make them super-christians, different and better than ordinary christians.

Paul makes it clear that the Law only brings condemnation and judgement. He should know as He was the Pharisee’s Pharisee, the champion of law-keeping.

There is nothing that we can add to grace to make God live us more. There is nothing we can do that will earn God’s favour. We already have it all through Christ our Lord.

Prayer
Thank you Lord for your deep and eternal love. I can do nothing to grow your love for me so I simply receive it in Jesus’ name. Amen.