Bracket of Galatians 5:13-26
Galatians 5:13-26
Serve each other in love through the leading of the life-giving, flesh-opposing Spirit.
#Spirit
#flesh
#love
Published April 22nd, 2019
Main point summary
5:13-26
notes
Main point summary
The way to serve each other through love , instead of destroying each other, is to follow the leading of the life-giving, flesh-opposing Spirit.
5:13-26
editing
NT
Galatians 5:13-26
esv
For you were called to freedom, brothers.
q Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh,
but through love r serve one another.
negativepositive
For s the whole law is fulfilled in one word:
t “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
ideaexplanation
ground
But if you u bite and devour one another,
watch out that you are not consumed by one another.
conditional
concessive
But I say, v walk by the Spirit,
and you will not gratify w the desires of the flesh.
For x the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit,
and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh,
alternative
for these are opposed to each other,
y to keep you from doing the things you want to do.
actionpurpose
But if you are z led by the Spirit,
a you are not under the law .
Now b the works of the flesh are evident:
sexual immorality,
impurity,
sensuality,
idolatry,
sorcery,
enmity,
strife,
jealousy,
fits of anger,
rivalries,
dissensions,
c divisions,
envy, 1
drunkenness,
orgies,
and things like these.
series
I warn you... that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
... as I warned you before...
comparison
actionresult
But e the fruit of the Spirit is f love ,
joy,
peace,
patience,
g kindness,
goodness,
faithfulness,
h gentleness,
i self-control;
j against such things there is no law .
And those who belong to Christ Jesus k have crucified the flesh
with its l passions
and desires.
If we live by the Spirit,
m let us also keep in step with the Spirit.
n Let us not become conceited,
provoking one another,
envying one another.
actionmanner
inference
I could have connected 15-16 more closely, on a lower level, since they show contrast. But it looks like there's a division between 15 and 16, so that 16 starts a new section.
Even though you are free, don't use freedom to please your flesh but to serve each other through love.
Follow the leading of the life-giving, flesh-opposing Spirit, and you will fulfill God's law instead of your damning, sinful desires.
The works of the flesh are obvious and damning to those who practice them; the fruit of the Spirit, however , is a fulfillment of God's law.
Those in Christ have life through the Spirit, having crucified their flesh; therefore , they should keep in step with the Spirit.
The flesh and the Spirit, which are present in believers, are opposites and are completely opposed to each other; but since we live by the Spirit, we must walk by his leading.
Notice how sin relating to interpersonal relationships both begins and ends this section (15, 26). Also note that love is contrasted with flesh in 13, the main verse of this section, and then "flesh" is discussed in detail afterward.
discourse
Comments
Disclaimer: The opinions and conclusions expressed on this page are those of the author and may or may not accord with the positions of Biblearc or Bethlehem College & Seminary.