Paul in this section of his Galatians Epistle is revealing how it is to walk as spirit beings once again. This is missed by so many who lesson to men of "renown" or so they claim. I have found that to lesson to the Spirit often contracts what these people say as I have grown in the LORD, or should I say that the LORD has grown in me, just as he is to also do in you.
Galatians 5:16-24, 25-26 "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the Law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no Law. And they that are Christ's have (acknowledged their co-circifixion in Christ's humanity) crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another." (KJV)
Galatians 5:16-24, 25-26 "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 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. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 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. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no Law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have (acknowledged their co-circifixion in Christ's humanity) crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another." (ESV)
Galatians 5:16-24, 25-26 "I conclude: let spirit be the dominant influence in your daily walk and see how it defeats the cravings of the flesh. (Spirit is satisfied by the agape law, the revelation of grace; flesh craves to prove and gratify itself by the old DIY Law. Faith defeats flesh works.) While the Law of works still features in your mind, it is a catalyst to disaster; you are caught in the middle of a war zone, wanting to do the things that you desire by the Law's design, but finding the flesh is strong resistance to what the re-genesised spirit desires. (The two trees, the flesh and the spirit, represent two opposing systems or forces of influence, two separate mind-sets; while the tree of life represents the inner-life of our original design, the "I-am-not" tree or what I call the DIY-Tree is external to the real person; but while hosted, like a virus, its influence becomes unavoidable and very visible. Paul compares the fruit of righteousness (our original innocence) by faith working through agape versus the works of the flesh and guilt performance based on obligation, guilt and sheer willpower. Look at Romans 3:27 and 7.) Those who are led by the spirit (of faith awakened) are free from the Law (of personal performance. [look at 3:3]) The typical lifestyle wherever a legalistic judgmental attitude prevails is one where sexual sins are rampant! Anything goes: adultery, filth, and outrageous licentiousness. Then there is the worshipping of a distorted image of oneself, which is what idolatry is all about; drugs, hatred, constant conflict, jealous suspicions, violent outbursts of rage, everyone for himself in a cut-throat competitive world, trampling on others to get to the top, dissensions, heresies, and manipulating of people's minds with false teachings. (The flesh is not our "lower nature;" it is the fruit of the "I-am-not" tree system; it is a mind-set governed by a sense of lack and desperation trying to do life by sheer willpower, independent of our Source.) This is such a sad picture of a life consumed with envious self pity, murder, drunken stupor, intoxicated licentiousness and lust, with all the quarrels and jealousies it ignites. As I have stated before those who are practicing this kind of lifestyle have nothing in common with the inner Kingdom of GOD. (The authority of the Christ-life opposes and defeats the dominance of the flesh.) Spirit effortlessly bears the rich harvest of agape, joy, peace (overwhelming prosperity of soul), patience, kindness, goodness, integrity, gentleness and self control; all these individually reveal the irresistible attraction of the inner-life of our (origin by) design. (They are not fading, fragile emotions produced by willpower. This is the fruit of what we know in your spirit to be true about us (you and me). Fruit is the effortless, spontaneous expression of the character of the tree. Rest in the awareness and assurance of who we really are!) Legalism can neither match nor contradict this. There is no law against Agape! (Love does not compete with Law; Love is extravagant in its exhibition of the Christ life restored to life within.) Those who understand that their righteousness is of Christ and that it does not come as a reward for their abilities to keep a Law, have discovered that their flesh with its dictates and lusts were co-crucified with Christ. (Galatians 2:20 and 5:18)
Because faith defines us and not our flesh, we take our lead from the Spirit in our daily conduct. There is an authority in our step; we are marching in rank like soldiers! (The Christ life is the dominant authority in the universe!) Quit your efforts to try and impress one another. The Law of works reduces your life to envious comparison and petty competition, while agape only always seeks the advantage of the others good! (This means total freedom from any external superficial Law!) (The Mirror)
This brings us to the end of chapter 5, we shall the LORD willing begin chapter 6 with our next visit. Until then may the LORD increase your and yours understanding of this revelation of Christ within us.
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