Galatians 5:13-26
The key words are: freedom, sinful nature, Spirit. Paul contrasts life by the sinful nature with life by the Spirit. He includes two contrasting lists - the first, a list of the fruit of the sinful nature: sexual immorality, impurity, debauchery, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkeness, orgies. Second, a list of the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. The idea of discord, provoking each other and destroying each other is a theme through this passage.
Paul is saying that we have been set free but not free to indulge our sinful nature. Rather, we've been set free to a new of living - a way that serves the other rather than envies and tears down the other, a way that looks out for the others interests in humility rather than promotes my own interests in pride. He makes it clear that the only way to live out this new way is to keep in step with the Spirit. He provides a diagnostic check list to help us determine if we are living by the sinful nature or by the Spirit. Paul also makes it clear that until Jesus comes, we will not live completely in one camp or the other - that there is war between the sinful nature and the Spirit.
In the past, the fruit of the Spirit has been seen as morals or values that we, as followers of Jesus, need to work on. For example, I am lacking in patience so i am going to work harder at being patient. This is not the message of Paul. He points out that in my sinfulness I can't be patient and my lack of patience shows that I am not in step with the Spirit. To become more patient, I must not just work on being more patient, I must create space for the Spirit to do his work so that he can produce patience in me. If I work hard at being patient, then I get the glory but if it is the Spirit that produces patience in me, then Jesus gets the glory.
I am very self-reliant - I try to produce these morals and values in my own life by my own effort. This leads to pride and not humility and pride is the most deadly of all the sins.
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Blevos is the name we came up with for web-logging-devotions. It all started with a discussion about the role of community and the role of "private" devotions. It was decided this was a great mix.
1 comment:
Jer, I have never really looked at it this way, but it makes so much more sense. I was always taught that it was a checklist of spirituality and you had to work harder at each one, but it is a life lived in the spirit that will bring out these results in your life. Amen brother, amen!
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