Galatians Bible Study Series - Joel H. Linton Week ? Galatians 5:16-26 REVIEW: Last week we noticed that Paul was dealing with the Judaizers' argument that if you only are saved by faith, then you will end up sinning all you want since it does not matter what you do. In verse 15, we can see that actually trying to earn salvation by following some kind of law and ignoring grace actually leads to sin... biting and devouring... not loving other people. In contrast, believing the gospel leads to a more holy life. So now Paul is focusing on how it is that actually being saved by grace leads us to do in actuality keeping God's moral law, real holiness. Opening Thought: In Taiwan, what is something in your house that you try to keep out, and get rid of, but never quite totally free your house from it? A: Mosquitos and Roaches... When we see mosquitos, we do not give them a space, but we have those electric tennis rackets to kill them as soon as we find them. But somehow more always seem to come in. We keep our house mostly mosquito free by quickly killing those that get in, but it is a constant battle... some days none, some days four or five... Same with roaches, though you have to use spray or your shoe. What would your house be like if you never killed any of them... but actually began to feed them? What would it be like if you did not notice that your house had roaches or did not know that having roaches is aweful. A: aweful. The Spirit of God comes to live in us and change us and give us a new heart when we believe in Jesus. What we use to not be aware of, we not do not tolerate, but go to war against sin... because of the new nature and work of the Holy Spirit. 1. What does it look like to have the sinful nature at work in you... vs. 16 (feel evil desires and then gratify them) vs. 17 (do things and will to do things contrary to God's word...) vs. 19-21 (specific acts...) take a little time to discuss how this looks like in modern world... vs. 21 (separated from God, and from the coming kingdom of God) 2. What does it look like if you "live by the Spirit"? vs. 16 (not gratifying sinful nature desires) vs. 17 (warring against your sinful desires, not being satified with letting them have a hearing or place in your life... but whenever they come up, attacking to destroy them and cast them away from you... its a war) vs. 18 ("led by the Spirit" i.e. The Holy Spirit convicts us and guides us... if we submit and follow and repent... that is being led by the Spirit (see also John 16:5-15) vs. 22-23 specific list... take some time to discuss what that looks like... vs. 24 (crucify/put to death (again attack to destroy) those things... Knot living or tolerating them, in one sense, if you belong to Christ, you have crucified it... definitively...you are a new creation... but there is a remnant of the sinful nature still at war in you...) see... we live by the Spirit... keep in step with the Spirit.... Note... the list of the fruit of the Spirit.... Is the fruit singular or plural? ("singular") That is... if the Spirit is at work in you, you will begin to see changed in all areas... they come together, not separate "fruits"... but are an overall characteristic of a new creation... Q: Do you think the Pharisees would put any of this list high on their priorities of "do's" (A: No). They focus on circumcision... or what not to do... but not on a changed nature and heart... I love the way Paul says this... "there is no law against such things..." 3.Can You share from your own life about keeping in step with the Spirit or living by the Spirit... how easy/hard is it... what does it feel like when you are victorious? etc.... 4. Pray for each other and for the church members on this.