Galatians: Part 4 - Ch. 5-6

An Encouraging Ending

As we close Paul’s letter to the Galatians and prepare to open up his letter to the Ephesians, we see a stark difference between how Paul opens this letter to how he now closes it. If you have been with us from the beginning of this month, when we first opened this book, you remember how Paul immediately starts off his letter by discussing how the Galatians have started following a different gospel. Paul does not hold back on his criticism of the church in Galatia because of this and makes sure they understand that there is only one true gospel, the gospel of Jesus Christ. And as we have moved through this letter, we now come to the final two chapters where Paul addresses the Galatians in a much more loving tone in an attempt to encourage them to live out their lives glorifying Christ in all that they do. This is why in these last few chapters, Paul encourages the Galatians to walk by the Spirit and bear each other’s burdens because they have finally been set free in Christ. As Joe Rigney beautifully puts it, “As Christians, we wake up every day in the midst of a war. Fleshly desires pull us in one direction; the desires of the Spirit pull us in the other. The status quo is a frustrated stalemate in which we are kept from doing what we want to do. Spiritual desires frustrate fleshly desires, and fleshly desires frustrate spiritual desires.” We must lean on the Spirit that Christ has given us in all that we do because this is the sole purpose God has given Him to us. The Holy Spirit came into our lives once we believed so that we may fulfill in our Christian lives what God has willed for us to do, and Paul understands this perfectly. With this in mind, let’s dive in and see what closing thoughts Paul has to share with the Galatians. 

Freedom In Christ By The Spirit

To begin, Paul starts off chapter 5 by reminding the Galatians in a loving way that they are all set free because of Christ. Paul communicates this by stating to the church that the Law no longer has any power over their lives, therefore, they should strive to follow Christ since He has done what the Law never could. Galatians 5:13-14 says, “For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” I love how Paul says this in this passage. We were called to freedom, but don’t turn this into an opportunity for the flesh. What does this mean? Paul is simply saying here, don’t take the freedom that Christ has purchased for you and turn it into something that you now try to earn. You cannot earn the gift of salvation or forgiveness of sin by anything that you do, so stop trying! When you attempt to look good in God’s eyes apart from Christ, you are robbing Jesus of His glory and attempting to glorify yourself instead. We must not fall into this trap. 

Furthermore, Paul expounds on this even more by stating to the Galatians how they can live as free men and women by walking by the Spirit that Christ has given them. Paul makes this unmistakably clear in Galatians 5:16-18 when he states, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the desire of the flesh is against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, in order to keep you from doing whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.” It is obvious that when we walk by the Spirit, we will be denying our flesh what it desires, however, Paul also makes it clear that this is a battle. Our flesh wants the opposite of the Spirit, and the Spirit wants the opposite of our flesh. How do we make sure that the Spirit can win this battle inside of us? Paul also makes this clear just a few verses later. Galatians 5:24-25 says, “Now those who belong to Christ Jesus crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let’s follow the Spirit as well.” Notice the language Paul uses here. He says if we belong to Christ, our passions and desires in the flesh have been crucified. He doesn’t say that they will be crucified or that one day, if we pray hard enough, they will start to flee. Paul is clear that if we have truly repented and believe in the gospel, our lives are changed because the Spirit has crucified our fleshly desires on the cross with Christ. What a beautiful image and reminder the Church can always lean on! 

Bear Our Burdens

The final point Paul makes in his letter in chapter 6 is that the church must bear each other’s burdens. This is a point that I believe every church in America today could definitely be reminded of. We don’t just go to church for ourselves, we go so that we may fulfill the duties of the body of Christ, which include taking care of one another. Paul says it this way in Galatians 6:9-11 “Let’s not become discouraged in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not become weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let’s do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith. See with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand!” Our Lord wants us to do good to all people, but especially those who are members of the local church. We must take care of our brothers and sisters in Christ because we are one body. What type of body and family would we be if we ignored the needs of our own people? The church should always show love and kindness to everyone, even those outside of the church. But when it comes to our own members, we must make it a priority to help our fellow believers. I hope and pray that as we close Paul’s letter to the Galatians today, you are reminded that you are set free in Christ. We are no longer bound by the Law or our own fleshly desires, but rather we are led by the Spirit that Christ has given us. May remember this truth and walk by the Spirit so that we may bear each other’s burdens and glorify Christ as the church He’s designed us to be. 

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Sources

[1] Blue Letter Bible. (n.d.). Blue Letter Bible. https://www.blueletterbible.org/

[2] Rigney, J. (2023, October 6). Walk the war before you: what it means to live by the spirit. Desiring God. https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/walk-the-war-before-you