The Fruit of the Spirit, (Galatians 5:22-23) is produced by the Holy Spirit in those that live to (in or following) the Spirit. To walk or keep up with Spirit (Galatians 5:24) is more than just speaking in tongues and being “spiritual.” (As we use the term “spiritual” for being truly spiritual has to do with every area of life!) As we walk in the Spirit we should live with the following as our guide in dealing with others.
Galatians 5:26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Our life and promise is in Christ. What we have in Christ is the gift of God, (Ephesians 2:8-9) and has nothing to do with who we are or how we think that we should be and be seen. It certainly has nothing to do with what is happening in another’s life! We are to desire for others to be blessed and to live in the fullness of God. If someone has, then praise God but do not compare yourself to them or it will draw you in to the works of the flesh! (Galatians 5:19-21)
James 3:13-16 (-18) Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
Galatians 6:3-5 If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, 5 for each one should carry his own load.
(We go to verse three to keep in thought.) When we compare ourselves to others and feel conceited or mistreated we are being selfish or thinking of ourselves above others. Jesus came to serve, not to be served. His life is about our need not His need but yet His desire is fulfilled in meeting our need! (See Mark 10:41-46) Our lives should be spent in lifting others to the fullness of Christ. When we love we are truly receiving love!
1 John 4:15-16 (See 4:7-23) If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. (See also Romans 13:9-10)
The Holy Spirit leads us into the life of love not into a life consumed with being seen, known, or being the center of attention! We each are only charged with fulfilling what God has given us to do and to be and we will be judged before Christ, (2 Corinthians 5:10), to give account of how we lived to Him, not how we compared to others. If we desire greater responsibility then we should faithfully carry out what God has given us to do without worry over the assignments of others and believe God to bless us based on His promise rather than our works! (See Matthew 25:14-30, 2 Corinthians 1:20)
Our life is to be about Christ, not us. Those that were pushing the Galatians to turn to the Law were using comparisons that created jealousies. As all righteousness is of Christ, (See Philippians 1:9-11), then we have no reason to try to live up to anyone! We live in the fullness of Christ and are complete in Him (See Colossians 2:9-12) and have no need to worry over the standing, blessing, and ministry of others! In Christ we are a body and part of one another so that we all care for one another and rejoice with one another. (See 1 Corinthians 12)
Fruit in Action – The Heart
Galatians 6:1 Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.
Love is such a powerful force!
1 Peter 4:8 (Amplified) Above all things have intense and unfailing love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins [forgives and disregards the offenses of others]. [Prov 10:12.]
Under the Law one is sent away for their sins, completely cast out, or even put to death for their sins. In Christ we do not have the rule of sin and consequences but the rule of love. (See Romans 8:1-4) [Yes, in the Church we must deal with people that do not turn quickly, but it is always to the aim of restoration and not elimination. In the Church we base all on the heart - not the sin! (See 1 Corinthians 5 and 2 Corinthians 2:1-11)] The Galatians were turning from the rule of love to the rule of Law where one could outwardly be praised or punished completely on appearances. Living by appearances creates a system of envy and conceit, (Galatians 5:26), but love establishes the Law of the Spirit and shows the world the true life in Christ! (See John 13:35)
The Church is about preaching the Gospel to those that have not heard, strengthening one another in the truth and love of God, and restoring those that slip away. Because the work of restoration is a work of love and love is more than emotion, (love without truth gives excuse and creates disorder), only those that are truly spiritual – those led by the Spirit and therefore able to rightly discern the truth of the situation and follow the Spirit’s lead in matters, should engage in the work of restoration. Yet even those that are not considered spiritual can pray for those that they know have failed and God will hear them! (1 John 5:16) [If only the Church would grasp the concept of the Body, (1 Corinthians 12), understand the place, purpose, and authority of the ones given to lead and bring us into completion, (Ephesians 4), and the difference between possessing the gifts of the Spirit and being mature and spiritual! (1 Corinthians 3) If only the Church would fully grasp the Grace, Love, and Truth in Christ, oh what glory we would see!]
Galatians 6:2-3 Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
We should be helping one another, bearing with one another, and understanding that we all have our weaknesses, irritating ways, and have had different experiences that have shaped our lives in different ways. (1 John 5:20-21) Yes, upon coming to Christ we should let all of our past life go and quickly take care of present situations; but we are not always quick to cast all on Christ. (1 Peter 5:7) When we are too judgmental and too self – focused we can’t even trust one another with our burdens, faults, and heavier needs! (James 5:16)
When the Church is truly spiritual – Spirit led and controlled not only in direction but in every aspect of life (Galatians 5:13-25), then there will be true unity which will bring full power and will witness the fullness of the grace and love of God in Christ to the world. Such is not unobtainable but is readily found as we walk in the Spirit.
Sowing and Reaping
In the Law there is blessing and cursing. In Grace there is sowing and reaping. In the Law all depends on your action or lack of action while in Grace all is dependent upon whether you live to the flesh or to the Spirit. The blessing of Abraham already belongs to those that believe on Christ, (Galatians 3:14), yet we can also plant towards a harvest. In grace we do not harvest according to our seed but from our motives and desires.
Galatians 6:6 Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor.
(The word translated “share” is translated “distribute” in Romans 12:13, see also 1 Corinthians 9:13-14, 1Timothy 5:17.)
In the Law the support of the Levites and Priests was plainly established. Prophets lived by gifts and/or through lodging with others. (1 Kings 17:10-16) Whether under the Law or Grace, the method of support for those that God calls to service as well as those that are placed in service is that their support comes from those that they serve. This principle is clearly laid out in scripture and should need little instruction. Those that have received from the Lord to minister in the Word and ministry of laying on of hands, those being in the office gifts of Ephesians 4 have freely received and as such they should freely give yet it is the responsibility of those that they minister to see that they are supplied in all things. (Matthew 10:5-16, Hebrews 13:17) To do less is to make the very Word taught us unprofitable to us and will keep us in bondage to the flesh.
Galatians 6:7-8 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
Under the Law we fulfill our obligations. In Grace we live to the Spirit or to the flesh. As we live we will sow and as we sow we will reap. Sowing here is in giving and in deeds. (Compare with 2 Corinthians 9:5-15 and Hebrews 13:16 but not to be compared with the parable of the sower – Matthew 13, Mark 4, and Luke 8 where the sower sows the Word not money or works.) When we sow out of love we will reap blessings beyond what the flesh could ever desire, but when we sow out greed, desire for worldly things, recognition and such, we will only reap what the flesh can provide which is destruction. As we live in the grace of God we should live lives of grace, knowing that God will provide for, care for and, reward us. We should be so far from the Law that we can live ready and unafraid to give our lives to the Spirit of God in every situation, request, and need!
Matthew 7:7-12 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”
2 Corinthians 9:10-11 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
The question arises from some, “When will I receive from what I have sown?”
Galatians 6:9-10 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (See also 1 Corinthians 15:58 and 2 Thessalonians 3:13, and look into 1Timothy 5:8.)
To stop is to not believe. To not believe means that we will receive nothing. Only make sure that you are always following and sowing to the Spirit - as the Spirit has directed and leads, for all of the giving and good deeds in the world sown to the benefit and desires of the flesh will never bring true blessing, reward, or life.
Outwardly or Inwardly?
Galatians 6:12-13 Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 Not even those who are circumcised obey the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your flesh.
Colossians 3:1-4 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
“The flesh profits nothing.” (John 6:63) If righteousness depended on the work and performance of our outer man, (which is to say “us”), then why would Christ need to die for our sins? The conformity and workings of the flesh are only useful when we want to categorize others or grade ourselves in comparison to others. The approval of God has nothing to do with how we stand in the flesh in comparison to others and everything to do with our faith in Christ.
Romans 3:21-24 (- 28) But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
Those that demand an outward work do so to count us as their “work”. We are not anyone’s work but the work of God. In Christ we count only the Grace of God and the work of Christ. We cannot boast of anything we have done for all is from Christ. That the message is given is one thing, but the message is Christ. Therefore we can only say that we have given the message and Christ has performed the work. The work is the work of faith which can only come from God. (Ephesians 2:8) Man can only give us rules of behavior, which kills the life in us, but the Holy Spirit gives us life! (2 Corinthians 3:6)
Galatians 6:14 May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
There is no salvation but in Christ. (Acts 4:12) The cross was our altar of sacrifice where the Lamb of God was offered without blemish to make payment for our sins! (See 1 Peter 1:17-21 compare with Colossians 1:21-23)
Galatians 6:15-17 Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation. 16 Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule, even to the Israel of God. 17 Finally, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.
What counts is that we are changed by Christ, not that we conform to man. When one has been beaten, stoned, starved, chased, lied about, put away everything they knew and had, and imprisoned for the message of the cross, then they will be very jealous for that message! If there was another message, then why would they continue to suffer?
When we believe on Christ, we will seek His life and to please Him in everything. In Christ, through faith in His blood, we have peace with God and we have a new life to live that the Law can never produce. In Christ we have a life of grace and truth – the more abundant life.
Galatians 6:18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.
