Session 6 True Fruit Galatians 5:13-26 October 7, 2018

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1 Session 6 True Fruit Galatians 5:13-26 October 7, 2018 Summary and Goal: Life is about choices. The Christians in Galatia had to choose how to live their life daily. We have the same choice to make today. Christ followers are called to freedom, which includes freedom of choice. Are we going to choose, in Paul s terminology, the spirit or the flesh? If you think of the spirit and the flesh as trees, each has fruit. Our goal is to walk in the spirit daily which would be evident by the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Main Passage Galatians 5: 13, For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, selfcontrol; against such things there is no law. Session Outline 1. Called to Freedom (Gal. 3:13-15) 2. Walk by the Spirit (Gal. 5:16-18) 3. Fruit of two Trees; Flesh and Spirit (Gal. 5:19-25) Session in a Sentence We are called by grace (Gal. 1-6) and freedom (Gal. 5:13). It is by God s grace that we experience freedom. With grace and freedom comes purpose, power and responsibility to live our live by the Spirit and not by the Flesh. Christ Connection Jesus told his disciples that he would leave a helper (John 14: 16-17, 26), the Holy Spirit to help us navigate this life daily. Missional Application God calls us to freedom through grace because of the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ and through the power of His Spirit. However, it is up to us to choose to walk by the Spirit daily as we serve one another through love. 1

2 True Fruit Galatians 5: God Created the Light, the Seas and Oceans, the Moon and Stars, God created the Vegetation. God created Man and Woman in the Image of God. And it all started in a Garden. Genesis 2: 8 The LORD God planted a garden toward the east, in Eden; and there He placed the man whom He had formed. 9 Out of the ground the LORD God caused to grow every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Everything that was needed was in the Garden. In fact, it wasn t just items provided out of necessity, but God took the time to make it pleasing to the sight and good. And we are told there are 2 Trees. The Tree of Life; in the midst of the garden The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil; in the midst of the garden. Adam and Eve lived in the midst of the garden. You and I.LIVE in the midst of the garden. And to this day in 2018 there are Two Trees Tree of Life Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Listen to how the story continues in Genesis 2 Genesis 2: 15 Then the LORD God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it. 16 The LORD God commanded the man, saying, From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; 17 but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die. Notice what was in the midst of the garden FREEDOM From the very beginning of creation; from the moment man and woman were in the midst of the garden there was FREEDOM! God always has wanted us to have FREEDOM!God even said, From any tree of the garden you may eat freely It s like God was giving them a tour of the garden. See that Tree You are Free to Eat! See THAT Tree..You are Free to Eat! See that Plant.You are Free to Eat! See that Vegetable.You are Free to Eat! In the garden there was this Tree of Life that was good and free and pleasant to the eyes and accessible. And there was a Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. 2

3 And with the two trees in the midst of the garden God allowed Adam and Eve freedom to choose. God had laid out the parameters and the consequences. It was now up to Adam and Eve to choose for themselves. Tree of Life or Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil Choose that which is Right vs. that which is Almost Right All these centuries and millenniums later, God still allows us to choose. As we have been studying Galatians we have seen the Intensity in which Paul has been Writing. Paul is Passionate about Freedom! Paul knew what it was like to choose that which was Almost Right. Paul knew what it was like to choose the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil Paul ALSO knew what it was like to Choose the Tree of Life! This entire letter has been based on the fact Paul knows what it is like on both sides. And the Christ Followers in Galatia have seemed to turn from that which they had embraced. In Galatians 1: 6 we are told that Paul was amazed at their choice. Galatians 1: 6 I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; These Christ Followers in Galatia had embraced the Grace of God through Jesus Christ. They were living in the midst of the garden; and had chosen the Tree of Life! And Now they were being distracted by the Judaizers and focusing on the almost right vs. the right. They were settling for the Knowledge of Good and Evil rather than the Grace of Righteousness. They had gotten Pulled into Legalism and Paul is reminding them throughout this letter about Freedom. 1. Called to Freedom And in these verses today he is letting them know they have a Choice in the Midst of the Garden. Galatians 5: 13 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF. 15 But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another. In the context of these verses, let s think about the Garden of Eden again and the Two Trees in the Midst of the Garden. 3

4 Remember in Genesis, you were called to freedom, God said you may eat FREELY ; you have access to the Tree of Life; pleasant to the eyes, good and satisfying. In Galatians 5, Paul says, in vs. 1 Only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh. Now back in the Garden, we must go no further than Genesis chapter 3 to see how seemingly quickly that happened for Adam and Eve. And we must look no further than probably the last 24 hours.to see how seemingly quickly it can happen to each of us. Our Freedom can so quickly turn into an opportunity for the flesh. That was not exclusive to Adam and Eve; nor was it exclusive to the Galatians, nor is it exclusive to you or me. It is a battle each of us face, every day. We are called to Grace (Gal. 1:6) We are called to Freedom (Gal. 5: 13) Only do not turn your Freedom into an opportunity for the Flesh (Gal. 5: 13) And yet because of the choices we make, so often we live in bondage. There are many Christians who understand what they are freed FROM. But they don t understand what they are freed FOR. Our freedom in Christ is TRUE freedom; but it is freedom with a purpose! Notice the end of vs. 13 But Through Love Serve One Another Many of us tend to forget the importance of this challenge. However, this is not a challenge, it is a command. Paul is using a present active indicative when he says serve one another. Jesus talked about it the last night he had with His disciples; the night He was betrayed, the night before He would be crucified. One of the final lessons Jesus would teach His disciples was to serve one another through love. (John 13: 12-15) Paul wrote about it to the Romans, Ephesians, and Galatians Paul wrote about it to Timothy James wrote about it John wrote about it Jesus modeled it throughout His ministry We are to serve one another through love. Not serve in our own strength. Not serve to get recognition. Not serve to get something in return But to serve one another through love. And that word Paul uses for Love is of course Agape. God-Kind of Love/ Sacrificial Love. Paul is letting them and us know that freedom is not without purpose, responsibility and parameters. We have a purpose to serve one another. We have a responsibility to love one another with Agape.God-Kind of Sacrificial Love for Others. And there are parameters not to bite and devour one another (Gal. 5: 15); remember we still live in the Midst of the Garden. 4

5 There are always and will always be TWO TREES. We will always have choies that are completely black and white; right or wrong. And we will always have choices that are completely right vs. almost right. If we go back to the Garden of Eden knowing that Adam and Eve took a bite from the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. There was separation from God shame, guilt, nakedness and hiding. God provided covering for them and the relationship was restored; but there would be consequences for their choice. They had 2 sons, Cain and Abel, and one (Cain) devoured the other (Abel) killing him. There are always consequences to choices, some more dramatic and long lasting than others. Paul is presenting a foundation for us who have been called by grace and freedom. However, with that grace and freedom comes purpose, responsibility and parameters. In fact, with the very next verse Paul Bottom Lines it for us. 2. Walk by the Spirit Gal. 5: 16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. This statement is the foundational bottom line of the living life in the midst of the garden. One: Walk by the Spirit Two: You will not carry out the desire of the Flesh The phrase walk by the Spirit ; the picture is living life day by day. AS You Walk.. In our Terms it would be As You Walk.Drive.Ride Run.Work.Rest.. As you live your life.do it By the Spirit! NOT BY.Your Own Strength NOT BY.Your Own Understanding NOT BY.Your Own Emotions NOT BY.Your Own Goodness One of the things some Christ Followers miss out on is the fullness of God, including His Holy Spirit. In the brief six chapters of Galatians, Paul mentions the Holy Spirit 14 times. 5

6 There some who even tend to cringe when they hear Holy Spirit mentioned. There is POWER in the HOLY SPIRIT There is UNDERSTANDING in the HOLY SPIRIT The Holy Spirit is part of the fullness of God. It would be like having a brand-new Mercedes S-Class given to you as a Gift. The Entire Car is Yours to Drive, but you Choose to not put gasoline in it. You can sit in it. You can sleep in it. You can turn on the A/C. You can even move it, but you have to put it in neutral and push it; but it will move. You are missing out on the power provided by the fuel to make the engine run. We limit God when we ignore the Holy Spirit or put the Holy Spirit on the back burner of our lives. Paul is saying walk by the Holy Spirit in everything we do and everywhere we go. And as we keep reading we understand why; we happen to be in a battle. Look at vs. 17 Gal 5: 17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. Make no mistake about it we are in a battle. The Spirit is against the Flesh The Flesh is against the Spirit It has always been like that in the midst of the garden. There is freedom in Christ, but freedom with purpose, responsibility and parameters. There is always going to be tension between the Law and Grace; between Flesh and the Spirit. LEGALISM LIBERTY LICENSE We are to live in liberty(freedom). We tend to go to One Extreme or Another. In Galatia they were moving towards legalism. If we focus on legalism we miss out on Freedom and Faith; we miss out on the Grace and Redemption. We are limiting ourselves and God. HOWEVER, if we focus on the license and live as Bond, James Bond; License to Kill. We miss out on the Freedom, Faith, Grace and Redemption. We miss out on what God wants for each of us; a relationship with Him through Jesus Christ. We are to live in Liberty/Freedom. And yet, we tend to go to one extreme or another. 6

7 In Galatia they were going towards Legalism. They focused on the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil instead of The Tree of Life. 3. Fruit of two Trees; Flesh and Spirit Paul gives us a Contrast between the Two Choices. Law vs. Grace Flesh vs. Spirit Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil vs. The Tree of Life Galatians 5: 19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 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. The Contrast is very clear. It is a battle is being played out in the midst of the garden. Paul gives 15 concrete examples of the deeds of the Flesh. Paul didn t expand on any of them, nor will we, because as Paul said, they are evident. The word Evident is the Greek Word : Pharanos ----Apparent/ Obvious/ In the Light But you could categorize them in sections: Sexual Sin: Immorality, Impurity and Sensuality Religious Sin: Idolatry, Sorcery, Enmities Social Sin: Strife, Jealousy, Outbursts of Angers, Disputes, Dissensions, Factions Personal Sin: Envying, Drunkenness, Carousing And Paul lets us know this is not an exhaustive list, when he writes, and things like these Paul says, Those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God He is not saying that Christians who struggle in these areas will lose their salvation or are not Christians. He is saying that people who value these things as a life style embracing it openly with no regret are those who have rejected Christ and not living/ walking by the Spirit. Remember Paul is writing to Christ Followers and he is saying THOSE who do this, those who are NOT Followers of Christ live by the deeds of the flesh. Then we come to vs. 22, the word BUT, Paul gives us a clear contrast. vs. 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. 7

8 Notice that Fruit is singular and then you have this list of fruit. This is different from gifts of the Spirit. The Fruit of the Spirit is something that is produced in and through your life! As You Go; As You Walk; as a Christ Follower Walking in the Spirit there is Fruit! That is good news, but remember in the midst of the garden.both trees have fruit. The Tree of Life..Relationship with God through Jesus Christ empowered by the Holy Spirit.AS YOU WALK..Fruit of the Spirit The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil Separation from God. Remember with FREEDOM comes Purpose, Responsibility and Parameters. It isn t only about what we are Freed FROM but what we are Freed FOR. Gal. 5: 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. We are living in the midst of the garden and there will be battles and there will be choices to make. As Christ Followers we do not face these battles or choices alone. We have the Presence and Power of the Holy Spirit! So as we Walk where will Your Focus Be? For us we make that choice every day in Different ways. Faith or Fear? Grace or Law? Spirit or Flesh? Let us walk in the Spirit..let the Fruit of the Spirit be plentiful in every season of our life. David put it this way in Psalm 1. Psalm 1: 1 How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers. 8