Galatians 5:13-26
February 11, 2024
preached by Pastor Ryan Bouton
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Time of Reflection Quotations

“Self-justification and judging others go together, as justification by grace and serving others go together.”

~ Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945), German theologian and pastor, executed for his opposition to Hitler

“By flesh Paul means earthly thoughts that are apathetic and careless. It is not a condemnation of the body but a reproach to the apathetic soul. The flesh is merely an instrument, and nobody blames an instrument, only the one who plays it badly.”

~ John Chrysostom (c. 347-407), archbishop of Constantinople, from “Homily on Galatians 5:17”

“Paul does not call these ‘works’ of the Spirit but gives them the nobler designation of fruits, because those who have them give glory to God and by their virtues point others to the teaching and faith of Christ.”

~ Martin Luther, Second Lectures on Galatians

Sermon Passage

Galatians 5:13-26 (ESV)

¹³ For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. ¹⁴ For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁵ But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.

¹⁶ But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. ¹⁹ Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, ²¹ envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do 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. ²⁴ And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

²⁵ If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. ²⁶ Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.