Read Galatians 5:1–25
Questions from the Scripture text: In what does the apostle command them to stand fast (Galatians 5:1)? Who has given us our freedom? What does the apostle again call submission to the Jewish church calendar and ceremonies? What are they considering doing, according to Galatians 5:2? How much will Christ profit them, if they seek spiritual value in circumcision? And if a man is circumcised because he feels a religious obligation to, what else is he indebted to do (Galatians 5:3)? What two things does Galatians 5:4 say have happened to those who attempt to be justified by law? Through Whose power did we come to faith (Galatians 5:5)? What do we eagerly expect to receive by this faith? What two things avail nothing, according to Galatians 5:6? What, in Christ Jesus, is effective? How does the apostle describe their former Christian walk in Galatians 5:7? What question does he now ask? From whom does the apostle say that their new ideas have not come (Galatians 5:8)? What does Galatians 5:9 call additions to the Christian religion that do not come from God? What do such additions do to the rest of one’s Christianity? What does the apostle have confidence will be their response to his letter (Galatians 5:10a)? But what does the apostle say will happen to the one who holds to these additions? What have some, apparently, been saying that Paul still teaches (Galatians 5:11a)? But what is he suffering for preaching as sufficient without circumcision? To what does the apostle equate the idea that circumcision has spiritual value (Galatians 5:12)? What does the apostle call them in Galatians 5:13? To what does he say they have been called? What does he warn them against using their liberty as? For what should they use their liberty? Through what may we serve one another? Does Galatians 5:14 argue for disregarding the law? How does it say to fulfill the law? What does he warn them against doing to one another in Galatians 5:15? What does he warn them will happen if they do this? Looking back at verse 15, what would be the outcome of walking according to the flesh? By what (Whom!), instead (Galatians 5:16), does the apostle urge them to walk? What would they then not fulfill? Against what does the flesh set its desire (Galatians 5:17)? Against what does the Spirit set His desire? What is the relationship between the flesh and the Spirit? What does the believer end up not doing? What are believers not under, if they are led by the Spirit (Galatians 5:18)? Which works are evident (Galatians 5:19)? What sixteen specific works do Galatians 5:19-21 mention? How does Galatians 5:21 end the list? When does the apostle say that he is telling the church? Before what—of what event is he speaking? Is this the first time that he tells them? About whom is he especially speaking at the end of verse 21? What will they not do? Which works had been covered in Galatians 5:19-21? Whose desires are against these (cf. Galatians 5:17)? What does Galatians 5:22 call the list in these verses? How many aspects of the (singular!) fruit are named? Which aspects are conditions of the heart? Which govern relation toward others? Which govern one’s relation to himself? How do these relate to God’s laws? To Whom do some people belong (Galatians 5:24)? What have those who genuinely belong to Christ done? In Whom do those who belong to Christ live (Galatians 5:25)? What must they also do in the Spirit?Next week’s Call to Worship, Prayer for Help, and Confession of Sin come from Galatians 5 in order that we will see that we are singing God’s thoughts after Him with Come, O Come, Thou Quickening Spirit.
This chapter highlights that it is Christ who has freed us, and the Spirit who is applying Christ to us by producing love in us (Galatians 5:1–6). Manmade rules or rituals bring us back into slavery, because they take us away from Christ’s cross to self-trust and self-atonement (Galatians 5:7-15).
Contrary to this, the Spirit does not indulge our flesh but opposes it, and we must also (Galatians 5:16-21), trusting in Him and trusting in Christ, Whom He applies to us. As the Spirit applies Christ to us, the first principle of the fruit that He produces in us is love (Galatians 5:6, Galatians 5:14, Galatians 5:22), together with all of the other aspects of Christ’s character in one whose life is the Spirit-fruit of Christlikeness (Galatians 5:22-23).
A Christian can be neither one who trusts in self or lives for self, but rather one who is Christ’s (Galatians 5:24), trusting in Him and walking with Him by the Spirit (Galatians 5:25)!
To which do you think you are more prone: trusting in self or living for self? How is each of these inconsistent with how God saves/sanctifies? For your own particular spiritual/theological weakness, of what about Jesus or His Spirit do you need to be reminding yourself?Suggested songs: ARP23B “The Lord’s My Shepherd” or TPH391 “Come, O Come, Thou Quickening Spirit”
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