OUR FATHER WHO MAKES US A NEW CREATION IN CHRIST

In the book of Galatians chapter 6 verses 11 - 18, the Apostle Paul, approaching the end of his letter to the Galatians, notes that his personal handwriting is in large font but he turned his focus back to the primary issue that the Galatians were being confounded by.

They were being persuaded by false teachers that to attain righteousness, they needed physical circumcision. Paul attributted this conduct to the instinct of avoiding persecution for the cross of Christ which asserts that there is no route to righteousness other than faith in what Christ did for us there. The cross is the sentence of death upon our flesh so that the things of the world are dead to us as well.

Paul notes that even those who were circumcised did not keep the law in full and were only using their influnce over those who they were compelling to be circumcised as a badge of honor for themselves.

He tells the Galatians that that in Christ, circumcision or otherwise gains nothing. In Christ, there is only the new creation in which the categories of physical circumcision are irrelevant.

11 See with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand! 12 As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh, these would compel you to be circumcised, only that they may not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. 13 For not even those who are circumcised keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. 14 But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.

16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.

17 From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.

18 Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

Paul blesses those who are ensconced in truth of salvation by faith alone and he blesses the Israel that is in God.

Paul then concludes his letter by instructing the Galatians that they should not trouble him because he had bourne the sufferings of the cross upon his body and blesses them by asking that the grace of the Lord Jesus be with their spirits.

Amen.

10

OUR FATHER WHO IS NOT MOCKED

In chapter 6 of his letter to the book of Galatians from verses 1 - 10, the Apostle Paul changes subjects. He had been talking about the need to walk in the spirit to avoid fulfilling the works of the flesh and now he adresses those who are successfully walking in the spirit on how to help those who are being influenced by the flesh.

He first advises them to gently take the responsibility for the care of their fellow believers but to be cautious lest because it makes them vulnerable to temptations.

He advises them not to think too highly of themselves because they could mis-value themselves but he tells them to examine their own work to make sure they are fulfilling the things they were called to do for each person has a set of functions that they are expected to fulfill as individuals.

For those receive insight into the ways of the spiritual walk from others, Paul advises them to share all good things like encouragement and support.

 1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 5 For each one shall bear his own load.

6 Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.

7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Paul warns the Galatians not to be deceived into thinking that there is no consequential difference between walking in the flesh and walking in the spirit. If a man invests his time on the things of the flesh, he will reap corruption. If on the other hand he invests in the things of the spirit, he will reap eternal life.

His encouragement to them is not to stop doing what is good even when it looks like nothing is being gained by it especially good towards the faithful believers.

Amen.

8

OUR FATHER WHO IS PLEASED WHEN WE WALK IN THE SPIRIT

In the book of Galatians chapter 5 verses 16 - 26, the apostle Paul clearly makes the distinction between the works of the flesh and the works of the spirit.

16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.                

Paul lists the works of the flesh and the works of the spirit

 Flesh                                                     Spirit

Adultery                                                 Love

Fornication                                           Peace

Uncleaness                                           Longsufering

Lewdnes                                               Kindness

Idolatry                                                  Goodness

Sorcery                                                  Faithfulness

Hatred                                                    Gentleness

Contentions                      

Jealousies    

Outbursts of wrath

Selfish Ambition

Dissensions

Heresies

Envy 

Murders

Drunkeness

Revelries

Conceit

Paul writes that the believers should walk in the spirit because doing so leads to conduct against which there is no law.

If we find ourselves bearing the fruit of the flesh as listed, we can be sure that we are walking in the flesh. In order to yield the fruit of the Spirit, we must live from our spirits.

In the book of Romans chapter 8 verses 5 - 7, Paul writes that a person whose is governed by the flesh will physically do the things of the flesh and yield sin and death while conversely, a person whose mind is governed by the Spirit will desire the things of God and yield life and peace.

5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.

With the understanding that the flesh is not the physical body but rather the spirit of a person that was corrupted by inheritance from Adam, we who born-again are encouraged to displace the influence of the flesh on our minds with the influence of our new spirita on our minds. 

This means that we must daily connect to our new spirit and perform the functions that nourish and strenthen our new spirits because when we centering our identities in our new spirits rather than letting ourselves operate in the flesh by default, we will find ourselves automatically doing the things that please God rather than being led into the things that our flesh wants to do.

Amen. 

140

OUR FATHER WHO GIVES US LIBERTY

Galatians chapter 5 verses 7 - 15 captures the Apostle Paulˋs challenge to the believers in Galatia to cleave to the truth of the gospel of faith and not to heed the ones who were bringing in contrary doctrines of obligations to follow the law.

Paul told them that the law they were to follow was the law of love which was the ultimate aim of the Mosaic law anyway. 

He introduces the concept of the ˋoffence of the crossˋ to them to show them how following the truth will necessarily evoke persecution from those who are not following the Spirit. He points out to his readers that if he were preaching the law, he would not have incurred the persecution he was recieving.

7 You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 10 I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is.

11 And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased. 12 I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off!

13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!

Paul urges the believers not to use their freedom as an opportunity to pursue the purposes of the flesh but rather, to use their freedom to love and serve one another.

He warns that in a culture that eschewed love and instead fostered conflict and exploitation would result in everyone being consumed.

Amen.

6