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The Epistle to the Galatians Chapter 5:1-21 The Fruit of the Spirit 5.22 - 23. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. The word fruit is singular, that is one. Some consider this fruit to be the first named, love and that all the others are the outworking of that love. Others consider it to signify that all nine fruits are the results of the life of the Spirit. In one sense both are correct. Without love the rest cannot be and without the Holy Spirit there cannot be any fruit. In John 15: 1 - 8 where Jesus likens Himself to the true vine He says that "he who abides in me, and I in him, bears much fruit". Taking the first thought, love being the fruit, Porter Barrington comments thus: The fruit of the Spirit is love and it is expressed as 1. Joy is love's strength. 2. Peace is love's security. 3. Longsuffering is love's patience. 4. Kindness is love's conduct. 5. Goodness is love's character. 6. Faithfulness is love's confidence. 7. Gentleness is love's humility. 8. Self-control is love's victory. There is no law that can enforce this fruit and no commandment against evil can ever produce these blessed results only the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. 5.24 - 25. Now those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also behave in accordance with the Spirit. Those who belong to Jesus Christ have but to death the old nature (Rom. 6: 6). If by the Holy Spirit we have our life in God then let our lives be controlled by the Spirit (Rom. 8: 4 - 5). 5.26. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, being jealous of one another. We are not to allow ourselves to become puffed up, think too highly of ourselves, or to challenge one another in a provocative way that will lead to jealousy but to allow the Holy Spirit to work out His fruit in our lives.
Bearing and sharing burdens These verses show how walking in the Spirit is applied to our relationship with fellow believers. 6.1. Brothers and sisters, if a person is discovered in some sin, you who are spiritual restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness. Pay close attention to yourselves, so that you are not tempted too. If a brother should be overtaken in misconduct or sin of any sort those who are spiritual who are walking in the Spirit, should seek to set him right and to restore him. Having no feeling of superiority but gently dealing with such a one being very careful to watch out for yourself in case you are tempted also by the same sin. 6.2. Carry one another's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. We are to help (endure, carry) each other’s burdens (Joseph Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon interprets this word burdens as "troublesome moral faults"). By so doing we fulfil the Lord's command to "love one another" (John 15:12). 6.3 - 4. For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Let each one examine his own work. Then he can take pride in himself and not compare himself with someone else. In John 15:5 Jesus said "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing”. Without Christ we are nothing therefore we cannot boast of our spirituality for we are completely dependent upon Him. Let us carefully examine and test our own conduct and work so that we can find a true satisfaction in what we do for the Lord Jesus Christ without boasting about ourselves. 6.5. For each one will carry his own load. This is not a contradiction of verse two. Everyone must be responsible for himself before God. There are some burdens that we are called to bear alone that no one else can fully share (John Wesley). 6.6. Now the one who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with the one who teaches it. Those who are taught the word of God should contribute to the support of their teacher (1 Timothy 5:18).
Sowing Right 6.7 - 8. Do not be deceived. God will not be made a fool. For a person will reap what he sows, because the person who sows to his own flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. We may be able to deceive one another or fool ourselves but we certainly can't God. He will not allow Himself to be mocked by any pretence of profession of faith. Whatever we sow, that is whatever things we do, we will bear the fruit of them. If we do things according to the desires of the
sinful nature then we can only reap fruit that will rot and die away. If we do those things according to the will of the Spirit then we will reap everlasting life. 6.9 - 10. So we must not grow weary in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who belong to the family of faith. We are not to lose heart or grow weary in doing those things according to the Spirit for in due time we shall reap the eternal rewards (Rev. 22: 12). Whenever we can we should be kind to everybody especially to those who are our fellow brethren in Christ.
Glory in the Cross only 6.11. See what big letters I make as I write to you with my own hand! Some believe that Paul refers to his eyesight here (Gal. 4: 15) but in Marvin Vincent's Word Studies he translates the words "mark carefully these closing words of mine". In other words he is emphasizing that they pay special attention to these closing verses. 6.12 - 13. Those who want to make a good showing in external matters are trying to force you to be circumcised. They do so only to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. For those who are circumcised do not obey the law themselves, but they want you to be circumcised so that they can boast about your flesh. The reason why the false teachers had come amongst the Galatians trying to compel them to be circumcised was that they might escape persecution for preaching the cross. They do not nor can they keep the law themselves although they were circumcised. Their purpose was that they might boast about the converts they had made for themselves. Today the issue may not be circumcision but there many other things that are being introduced into the church by those who only what to boast in how many they are converting to their own way of thinking. Here is Paul’s answer to such people. 6.14. But may I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Paul says "far be it from me to boast in anything or anyone except in the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ." We too should echo his words for it is not by works of righteousness that we have done but by His grace alone (Titus 3: 5). It is through the cross of Christ that we are dead to the world and the world is dead to us. The Lord Jesus Christ and He alone is to have the pre-eminence and glory in all things. 6.15. For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that matters is a new creation! It doesn’t matter whether you are circumcision or not the most important thing is being a new creation in Christ.
The Blessing 6.16. And all who will behave in accordance with this rule, peace and mercy be on them, and on the Israel of God. Paul's blessing upon those who walk in the Spirit (5: 25) is that the peace and mercy of God shall be, not with them but upon them. The true Israel of God is the Church of Christ that includes Jew and Gentile. 6.17. From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear the marks of Jesus on my body. Having written his letter Paul tells them that he doesn't want anyone to trouble him anymore about these matters by making it necessary for him to defend his apostolic authority or the truth of the Gospel. He bears the marks in his body of his sufferings for the sake of Christ and the Gospel message and these testify to Christ's ownership of him. 6.18. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen. His last words to them is that the grace (unmerited favour) of the Lord Jesus Christ should be with their spirit. AMEN. © Derek Williams 2014 Bible Studies Online UK www.biblestudiesonline.org.uk You may copy, print or distribute our studies freely in any form, just so long as you make no charges. Sign up today for our FREE monthly Bible study magazine “Living Word” Scriptures taken from the NET Bible www.bible.org