What's Your Indulgence? Galatians 5:13-16

Hello all:

This is a Scripture lesson I first presented on April 25, 2010, but it seems rather appropriate today as well. The lesson is on Galatians 5:13-16 and discusses our freedom to indulge our flesh or to follow the Spirit. The contrast between fleshly living and Spirit-led living are given. If you have any questions or would like to add a comment or two, that would be great!

What’s Your Indulgence?

Galatians 5:13-16

Introduction

When you think of the word “indulgence,” what comes to mind?

How do you define “indulgence”?

What is a favorite indulgence of yours?

A good cup of coffee, some rich dark chocolate, good conversation, and a good book are some of my favorite indulgences

We typically engage in indulgences when we have freedom
Indulgences spring from desire and opportunity

Today’s passage talks about freedom and indulgence

Some background: Gentiles, Jews, and Galatians!

Liberty is both freedom from and freedom to

Galatians 5:13-16

1. Called to Freedom

Galatians 5:13

“Called to freedom”: eklathate/kaleo, eleutheria—Paul indicates that all Christians have a call on their lives, a vocation to live in liberty

In verse 1, Paul reminds his Gentile readers that Jesus has “freed you unto freedom;” that is, Christ paid the price for our salvation/freedom so that we could live as free individuals

Now we are reminded that we are “called” to a vocation, to a ministry of freedom ( John 8:36; 2 Cor. 3:17; cf. 2 Cor. 3:4-6; 5:15)

Liberty gives freedom for us to “indulge” in luxuries or pleasures
“Indulgence” or “opportunity” here refers to a base of operations, a starting point, or an opportunity to pursue something

Paul reminds us that freedom heads toward two different indulgences:

a. A fleshly indulgence

b. A spiritual indulgence

2. Fleshly Indulgence

Galatians 5:13a, 15
Paul claims that we can use our freedom (the one we received from Christ) to indulge or to satisfy our fleshly desires

What is the flesh?

a. Sinful nature (Rom. 8:6-8)

b. That which opposes God (Rom. 7:18-23)

c. Flesh is the opposite of what Christ would want from us

d. Bottom line, Flesh is selfish

To engage the flesh, Paul says, is to “submit again to a yoke of slavery” (Gal. 5:1b)

If God has called me to freedom and I use that freedom to indulge my flesh, I am essentially returning to bondage to sin (to which I am supposedly dead, cf. Rom. 6:6-9)

Paul commands us to avoid using our freedom to indulge the flesh

Since the flesh tends to selfishness, it also tends to divisive behavior

“Bite and devour”—refer to the actions of wild animals who hunt one another or prey on each other in an effort to find sustenance or to protect territory

Living in the flesh usually manifests itself in an attempt to build up myself by making others look bad (“biting and devouring”)

Living in the flesh means viewing my needs or my position as more important than others (cf. Phil. 2:3-4)

The warning is that if we live in the flesh, we will destroy ourselves; we will be consumed

3. Spiritual Indulgence

Galatians 5:13b-14, 16

Paul claims that we should use our new-found freedom in Christ as an opportunity for spiritual indulgence

Verse 16: “Walk in the Spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh”

a. “Walk in the Spirit”—allow the Spirit to guide your everyday behavior; learn to act in ways that are in keeping with the character of God

b. “Carry out the desires of the flesh”—fulfill or complete the desires of the flesh; the flesh is our sinful aspect that fights to keep us living opposite of God’s plans

Freedom should be used to serve one another in love

“Serve” (doulete/doulew)—to be a slave, to serve as a slave“Serve one another.” But the language is really stronger—“be slaves to one another.” Christians are “not to be masters with a lot of slaves, but each should be one poor slave with a lot of masters.” (Stephen Neill)

No wonder some translations soften the phrase from “slaves” to “servants.” It’s hard enough to act like a “servant,” but “slave” sounds even more demanding.

The word “slave” is all about service

a. Slaves don’t consider themselves more important than the masters they serve. They don’t act superior!

b. Slaves serve whether they feel like it or not

c. Slaves do whatever job their Master gives them; no matter whether it’s hard or easy, dirty or clean

d. Slaves don’t expect recognition or reward or even a pat on the back for their service

e. Slaves serve because that’s what slaves do

Paul is calling us to be slaves in loving one anotherRomans 12:9-13

Fulfill (complete) the law by loving each other (Rom. 13:9b-10)

How do we do this?

Being a servant begins with proper attitude.

a. Love is the foundation of a life of a servant

b. Humility is a necessity

c. Determination to do what needs to be done is a part of it

Being a servant requires sensitivity or discernment

a. We must be aware of opportunities around us

b. We need to learn to act, not react

c. We need to develop the habit of listening

To God

To others

As Nike reminds us, we need to “just do it.”

Application

Now what?

We are left with a choice, we know we have freedom and that this freedom provides us the luxury of indulging desires

So, what desires will we choose?

Will we carry out or complete our selfish desires?

Will we walk by the Spirit?

If you desire to walk by the Spirit, here are some suggestions for this week:

a. When you are tempted this week to “put someone in their place” or to “speak the truth in love” by gossiping about someone, instead take a few minutes to make a list of the good things God has done in that person’s life. List the positives and then pray specifically for that person that God will give a blessing.

Look for a specific opportunity to “love your neighbor”

b. Go out of your way to serve someone this week and do it with no expectation of recognition or payment in exchange

c. Share the love of Christ by serving: make some cookies, clean a room, pick up some trash, volunteer to a charity, or simply tell someone how Jesus changed your life

Discussion Questions

a. Read Romans 13:8-10. How are all of these commandments from God summed up by Paul?

b. Jesus loved us enough that he died for us. Look at Philippians 2:5-11. How can we imitate Jesus’ love when we love others?

c. Read Jeremiah 31:31-33. How does this passage relate to Paul’s discussion about freedom and the law in Galatians 5?

d. Where do we get the power to live godly lives that include loving our neighbors? See 2 Peter 1:3-9

e. How can your life be characterized as “walking by the Spirit”? What will need to change?

f. How can you love your neighbors this week in such a way as to reveal God’s love to them?

Thanks for reading!

Counter Culture Christians, 1 John 5:1-5, Theology Matters Series

Hello all:

I teach an Adult Bible Community at Thomas Road Baptist Church called the G.A.P. (for Graduates and Professionals), and each week I post the outlines and discussion questions from my lessons on the G.A.P. page on Facebook. A while back I started posting these notes on the blog too. So, here is the outline for our meeting on May 30, 2011. A while back we started a new series on 1 John entitled "Theology Matters." This lesson looks at 1 John 5:1-5 and discusses the idea that Christians should live a lifestyle that is counter to the values and desires of the world. This lifestyle manifests itself in a new birth, a radical faith, and an obedience that puts Christians at odds with the world. If you have any questions or would like to add a comment or two, that would be great!

Counter Culture Christians
1 John 5:1-5
Theology Matters

Introduction
My childhood
When I was a kid, being counterculture usually meant being a “hippie” or resisting the “establishment”
In the 60s and 70s, that had a lot to do with drugs, rock and roll, and sex

What do you think of when you hear the words “Counter Culture”?

How about the words “Counter Culture Christians”?

1 John 5:1-5 speaks of Christians as being world beaters, those who overcome the world

John describes them (in a sense) as counter culture

To be born of God is to oppose the world’s culture

Let’s take a look at 1 John 5:1-5

I’m going to approach this passage in a different manner than I have in the past
I’m going to let you help me with the exegesis a bit

How many times do the following words (or their equivalents) appear and where?
1. Born of God (3 times)
2, Faith or believe (3 times)
3. Love (5 times)
4. Commandments (3 times)
5. Overcome (3 times)
6. Obey (2 times)

Here is a copy for you to consider

1 John 5:1-5
Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

“Born of God”
“Born of God”, “born of him” appear in verses 1 and 4
In verse 1, those who are born of God are those who believe in Jesus as the Messiah
In verse 4, those who are born of God overcome the world

Verse 5 gives us further information: Those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God (i.e., the one “born of him” mentioned in verse 1?) are also described as those who overcome the world

Faith in Jesus as Messiah/Son of God results in being born of God and being an overcomer

Born of God=overcoming the world
We’ll come back to this later

Before we unpack this further, let’s define faith

What is “faith”?
John uses the word “faith” or “believe” three times in verses, 1, 4-5

What is faith?
Hebrews 11:1-3
Romans 10:8-17
James 2:14-26

Faith is active—it acts on the object on which it relies—faith acts on the trustworthiness of its object and responds to that trustworthiness

“It is not the size of the miracle of faith that matters, but the size of our God.” Dr. Jerry Falwell

“Faith is putting everything in God’s hands and then letting Him tell us what to do. What’s the essence of faith? It’s doing what God wants us to do, not what we desire.” Dr. Jerry Falwell

Faith works—our faith that overcomes the world is something we do

The Result of Faith: Obedience
If faith is active, what kind of action does John expect as a result of faith?

Two words to consider here: “Love” and “obey”
“Love” appears five times in verses 1-3
Some form of “obey” appears twice in verses 2-3 (i.e., “observe” and “keep”)

What do “love” and “obedience” have in common in 1 John 5:1-3?
Verse 3 tells us
Loving God equals keeping his commandments (“Commandments” used three times in verses 2 and 3, right along with the words for “obedience”)

What does John mean by “commandments”?
May be a reference to the whole Law or just the 10 commandments

According to Jesus, what are the two most important commandments?
Matthew 22:34-40—on these two commandments rest the whole Law and the Prophets
Love God with all you are, and love others as yourself

Active faith keeps God’s commands and loves

John’s Argument
John’s argument here seems to be something like this:
1. Those who believe in Jesus as Messiah are born of God, and that birth results in faithful activity in loving as God loves
2. Loving as God loves equals keeping God’s commandments
3. When we love, we are obeying
4. When we love, we are acting in faith

Those who believe that Jesus is Messiah/Son of God are born of God, love others, keep the commandments, and overcome the world. Being “born of God” equals “overcoming the world” in some sense, so loving as God loves is victory

So, those who believe that Jesus is Messiah/Son of God are born of God and by that birth of faith they overcome the world.

Those who act upon the truth of the Incarnation (i.e., the “our faith” of verse 4) are born of God and that birth results in victory

Now, let’s consider some questions before we come to our conclusion

Some Questions
1. According to 1 John 4:21 and 5:1-2, those born of God love, but what do they love?
They love what God loves

2. What does God love?
Those who are born of him—our brothers and sisters

3. According to 1 John 5:2-3, how do we love God?
We love God by observing and keeping his commandments
This means we must be reading and obeying his Word
This means we must be spending time in the Scripture in order to observe and obey it

4. What are the commandments we should keep?
Love God (by obeying his Word) and love others (as a result of obeying his commands)

5. According to 1 John 5:4, what overcomes the world?
Our faith

6. What does that look like?
It is a reliance on what God has accomplished in the Messiah, the Son of God, the Incarnation
Faith is active and obedient, not passive and mental

How does faith overcome the world?

Conclusion
Faith acts in opposition to the world’s values and that is our victory over the world. Jesus, the self-sacrificing Messiah/Son of God, God incarnate who comes to die for sins (two things God had never experienced—death and sin), set the standard for a love that the world does not understand and cannot comprehend (John 1)—love is sacrificial, it is active. 

Belief in the Incarnation makes us victorious.

John returns to his first chapter here with an emphasis on Incarnation and faith. In fact, 1 John 5:1-5 is almost a summary of the first four chapters of 1 John
Verses 1a and 5 represent chapter 1, verses 1b-3 represent chapters 2 and 4, verses 4-5 are chapter 3

John says here, “Faith that acts on what God has accomplished in Jesus is antithetical to and overcomes the world.”

Overcoming the world then is living in a way that is “counterculture” to the world’s approach

The world is that which is in opposition to God
It is selfish, vain, and arrogant

1 John 2:15-17
“lust of the flesh”—selfish and desiring its own gain
“lust of the eyes”—vain and focused on appearance
“boastful pride of life”—arrogant and self absorbed

Those who have been born of God and overcome the world by their faith will live in opposition to these
They will be selfless and sacrificial in their lives
They will not stake their lives on reputation or titles
They will not put themselves first (Phil 2:3-8)

Victory over the world comes by faithfully obeying God’s Word—there is no other means
Romans 8:37; 2 Corinthians 2:14-16

What do we do now?
If we are to overcome the world by our faith, then we must act on the trustworthiness of the object of our faith; namely, Jesus Christ, the Incarnate God
To act on his trustworthiness requires us to know him and to spend time with him
The first step of application is to be born of God by placing our faith in what he has accomplished in Christ

For those of us who are Christ followers, there are things we can do (acting in faith) to live as victors over the world.

1. First, we need to know what we believe. If faith is acting on what we believe, then knowing what we believe is a starting point. This requires us to spend time with the One who saved us and reading the things he has told us in his Word. This week spend an extra 10 minutes a day with Christ reading his Word. In fact, use that time to read 1 John or the Gospel of John or even Psalm 119 (a praise of God’s Word)

2. We need to put our faith into action by obeying what God says in Scripture. We cannot claim to have faith if we do not act, so we must obey. This week set aside time to share the truth of God with a friend. Find someone who needs the love of God and be creative in sharing that love. Be exuberant, be extravagant in your obedience. God doesn’t need “secret Christians.”

3. Finally, we need to be intentional in living against the world’s purposes. We need to follow the sacrificial example of our Lord and put the needs of others before our own. We need to pray for those who mistreat us, we need to show Christian concern for those who do not reciprocate, we need to be “counterculture” to the world and its intentions. What can you do this week to show that you are “born of God” and not a part of this world’s culture?

Thanks for reading!

What Jesus Wants: Love One Another, Theology Matters Series 1 John 2:7-11

Hello all:

I teach an Adult Bible Community at Thomas Road Baptist Church called the G.A.P. (for Graduates and Professionals), and each week I post the outlines and discussion questions from my lessons on the G.A.P. page on Facebook. A while back I started posting these notes on the blog too. So, here is the outline and questions for our meetings on August 29-September 5, 2010. A couple of weeks ago, we started a new series on 1 John entitled "Theology Matters." This lesson looks at 1 John 2:7-11 and discusses the necessity of loving one another as an example of being obedient to Jesus. If you have any questions or would like to add a comment or two, that would be great!

What Jesus Wants
Love One Another
1 John 2:7-11

Introduction

Our study of first John until now
1. The importance of a good theological foundation via the Incarnation (1 John 1:1-4)
2. The importance of living in God’s spotlight (1 John 1:5-10)
3. The importance of knowing Jesus and keeping his commandments (1 John 2:1-6)

Last week we took a brief side trip to look at the greatest commandments and to consider the importance of loving God and others (Matthew 22:34-40)

This week John brings us to a description of what keeping Jesus’ commandments looks like

If 1 John 2:1-6 describe how we love God (by keeping his commandments), then 2:7-11 explains how loving each other perfects God’s love in us and reveals God’s life and light in us

This week, we look at what Jesus wants according to John

1. The Commandment
1 John 2:7-8

The first six verses of 1 John 2 remind us to love God and to see God’s love perfected in us

These next verses (7-11) teach us how to make that love obvious in our lives—it is by loving others that God’s love is perfected in us

A couple of weeks ago we spoke about knowing Jesus and how that relationship is expressed by doing what Jesus tells us to do—by keeping Jesus’ commandments

In today’s verses, John says that he is writing this letter to give his church an old and new commandment

Questions
What is the difference between old and new?
How can something be old and yet also be new?

What does Jesus want?
Jesus wants us to keep his commandments

The description of this commandment
a. Something old—it is not brand new or just made up
b. Something they had from the beginning—probably a reference to what they learned early on as Christians as opposed to something that is being taught as a recent doctrine or a “new revelation”
c. Something that they heard—it was taught, preached, talked about
d. Something new—the Greek word here means “fresh” as opposed to “recent”—this command is “new in kind” not “new in time”
e. Something true—it reflects the true Light of God (remember our discussion about the spotlight of God?)

This old/new commandment is true in Jesus and it is true in his followers

How is it “true” in Jesus? How is it true in His followers?
It is truly revealed in the life and ministry of Christ and it is proven in the experience of his believers

It is Light that causes the darkness to fade away
It dawned with Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, and it continues to push the darkness back as the children of God continue to live it

This command is clear—love one another (John 13: 34-35 cf. vv. 1-17 and the footwashing)—this is the specific test of true obedience—God’s love is perfected in us as we learn to love one another (more on this in a minute)

What does Jesus want?
Jesus wants us to love one another

Side Note: What does John want?
John is writing to help the church become a loving, caring, sincere family where each member is intimately and genuinely concerned about others. He wants a church where truth and living co-exist. John envisions a church in which brothers and sisters are slow to take offense, quick to forgive, ready to accept one another (warts and all), and quick to encourage.

John was no doubt profoundly influenced by Jesus’ love and ministry. He probably recalled Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:44, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” The words of Jesus concerning the second greatest commandment (Matthew 22:39), “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” were still ringing in John’s ears. John wants a church that looks like Jesus.

2. The Contrast
1 John 2:9

In the verses above, John contrasts (and combines) old and new, but also includes true (and by implication) versus false. Now he distinguishes these further by the contrast of light and darkness in the lives of people

What does John say characterizes light?
a. Light is true in Christ (v. 8)
b. Light shines and causes darkness to fade (v. 8)
c. A person walking in the light (i.e., fellowship with God—1 John 1:6-7; speaking truth—1 John 1:7-8; confessing sins—1 John 1:9-10) is one who does not hate
There is no wiggle room here—John sees light as love and darkness as hate—no middle ground
d. If you are in the Light you will not hate your brother

What does John say characterizes darkness?
a. Darkness is false
b. Darkness does not comprehend Jesus (John 1:5)
c. Darkness does not fellowship with God, does not speak truth, and does not confess sin
d. Darkness hates

The contrast is pretty clear here—we cannot claim to walk in God’s light and continue to live in any way that does not reflect God’s love
To hate others is to reject God’s command and to remain in darkness

What does Jesus want?
Jesus wants us to walk in his light

1 John 2:10-11
John continues his restatement of the command as a contrast between love and hate (or light and darkness)

Characteristics of one who walks in darkness/hate
a. The one in darkness does not know where he is going (i.e., he is “lost” in the night)
b. The one in darkness stumbles over obstacles
c. The one in darkness is “blind” and unable to see (cf. John 9 and the healing of the blind man—who is really blind?)
d. The one in darkness hates his brother and does not look out for his brother—the main concern is probably selfish but certainly is not focused on the needs, encouragement, or improvement of his neighbor’s life

Characteristics of one who abides in light/love
a. The one in the light knows where he is going (i.e., he can see to follow Christ)
b. The one in the light does not stumble nor causes others to stumble
c. The one in the light is not blind but able to see what God is doing and to rejoice in God’s work
d. The one in the light loves his brother and looks out for the needs, encouragement, and improvement of his neighbor’s life

What does Jesus want?
Jesus wants us to walk in love for one another

Loving One Another
What does it mean to love other believers? In 1 John 3:16 John defines it, “We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”

Love is characterized by being willing to give up everything, including life itself, for the sake of another.

Jesus loved us in this way (cf. Phil. 2:5-8). He willingly, of his own free will, gave up his life for us when we were yet sinners and enemies of God (Rom. 5:8-10). This is the example of love we have been given! This is how we should love each other.

What does Jesus want?
He wants us to love as he loves

Side Note 2: What about John?
Church history tells us that when John was old and unable to walk, members of the church where he lived would pick him up and carry him to the meeting place, so that John could address his beloved brothers and sisters. On the way, John was often heard saying, “Little children, love one another.” In fact, the testimony of the early church was that they did love one another. Tertullian notes that the love of the early church was so obvious that it impressed even those who did not believe in God. Tragically, this spirit disappeared, and in view of the controversies of the fourth century, a non-Christian writer named Ammianus would state, “The enmity of the Christians toward each other surpassed the fury of savage beasts against man.” Something changed from the first century to the fourth century. Controversies arose in the church, and instead of treating one another with love, factions developed, and with factions came anger and hatred, so much so that by the time of the Reformation those who claimed to be followers of Jesus Christ were killing each other over doctrinal disputes and differences. (W. Robertson Nicoll, commentary on 1 John)

Sad, but true. How are we like this today?

Application
In 1 John 2:1-6 we were encouraged to keep Jesus’ commandments and have God’s love perfected in us. This week we are told more directly that Jesus’ commandment is that we love one another.

How can we do this?
Do we really need instruction?

This week:
1. Ask the hard question—where is the evidence in my life that I love others? Other Christians? Other people (non-Christians)? What do I do that looks like God’s love in Christ? We need to search our hearts and ask for God’s conviction about this situation. Is there a relationship we need to improve? Do we need to show love by reconciling? This week ask God about it and act on what he tells you.

2. Spend time in God’s Word—get out a concordance and look up the word “love” and read the passages. Go on-line to http://www.blueletterbible.org/ and search the word “love” in the Gospel of John and 1 John (it occurs 26 times in the Gospel and 36 times in 1 John). Learn about love from God’s Word.

3. Go out and love others. Give a larger tip than usual, encourage a friend, write that note you intended to write, be kind to one another and even to strangers, share your faith with someone, or simply give your time to helping others. Make it a priority to do love. It isn’t just about words, it is about actions
Love one another and walk in the light—that’s what Jesus wants

Discussion Questions
1. Give some reasons why it is impossible to walk in the light and hate others at the same time.

2. In what practical ways have you been showing love to other Christians? To other people? Do such acts define or motivate your goals in life?

3. What priority do the commands of God have in your life?

4. What is different about the new commandment compare to say the 10 commandments?

5. The person hating his brother apparently has a stumbling block in him. How may hating a brother cause him to stumble?

6. What affect does this have on the world's perspective of Christianity?

7. What would the church look like if we took seriously Jesus’ command to love one another?

8. Who needs God’s love this week? How will you show it to them?

Thanks for reading!

What's Your Indulgence? Galatians 5:13-16

Hello all:

I teach an Adult Bible Community at Thomas Road Baptist Church called the G.A.P. (for Graduates and Professionals), and each week I post the outlines and discussion questions from my lessons on the G.A.P. page on Facebook. A while back I started posting these notes on the blog too. So, here is the outline and questions for our meeting on April 25, 2010. The lesson is on Galatians 5:13-16 and discusses our freedom to indulge our flesh or to follow the Spirit. The contrast between fleshly living and Spirit-led living are given. If you have any questions or would like to add a comment or two, that would be great!

What’s Your Indulgence?
Galatians 5:13-16

Introduction
When you think of the word “indulgence,” what comes to mind?
How do you define “indulgence”?

What is a favorite indulgence of yours?
A good cup of coffee, some rich dark chocolate, good conversation, and a good book are some of my favorite indulgences

We typically engage in indulgences when we have freedom

Indulgences spring from desire and opportunity

Today’s passage talks about freedom and indulgence
Some background: Gentiles, Jews, and Galatians!
Liberty is both freedom from and freedom to

Galatians 5:13-16

1. Called to Freedom
Galatians 5:13

“Called to freedom”: eklathate/kaleo, eleutheria—Paul indicates that all Christians have a call on their lives, a vocation to live in liberty

In verse 1, Paul reminds his Gentile readers that Jesus has “freed you unto freedom;” that is, Christ paid the price for our salvation/freedom so that we could live as free individuals

Now we are reminded that we are “called” to a vocation, to a ministry of freedom ( John 8:36; 2 Cor. 3:17; cf. 2 Cor. 3:4-6; 5:15)

Liberty gives freedom for us to “indulge” in luxuries or pleasures

“Indulgence” or “opportunity” here refers to a base of operations, a starting point, or an opportunity to pursue something

Paul reminds us that freedom heads toward two different indulgences:
a. A fleshly indulgence
b. A spiritual indulgence

2. Fleshly Indulgence
Galatians 5:13a, 15

Paul claims that we can use our freedom (the one we received from Christ) to indulge or to satisfy our fleshly desires

What is the flesh?
a. Sinful nature (Rom. 8:6-8)
b. That which opposes God (Rom. 7:18-23)
c. Flesh is the opposite of what Christ would want from us
d. Bottom line, Flesh is selfish

To engage the flesh, Paul says, is to “submit again to a yoke of slavery” (Gal. 5:1b)

If God has called me to freedom and I use that freedom to indulge my flesh, I am essentially returning to bondage to sin (to which I am supposedly dead, cf. Rom. 6:6-9)

Paul commands us to avoid using our freedom to indulge the flesh

Since the flesh tends to selfishness, it also tends to divisive behavior

“Bite and devour”—refer to the actions of wild animals who hunt one another or prey on each other in an effort to find sustenance or to protect territory

Living in the flesh usually manifests itself in an attempt to build up myself by making others look bad (“biting and devouring”)

Living in the flesh means viewing my needs or my position as more important than others (cf. Phil. 2:3-4)

The warning is that if we live in the flesh, we will destroy ourselves; we will be consumed

2. Spiritual Indulgence
Galatians 5:13b-14, 16

Paul claims that we should use our new-found freedom in Christ as an opportunity for spiritual indulgence

Verse 16: “Walk in the Spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh”
a. “Walk in the Spirit”—allow the Spirit to guide your everyday behavior; learn to act in ways that are in keeping with the character of God
b. “Carry out the desires of the flesh”—fulfill or complete the desires of the flesh; the flesh is our sinful aspect that fights to keep us living opposite of God’s plans

Freedom should be used to serve one another in love

“Serve” (doulete/doulew)—to be a slave, to serve as a slave
“Serve one another.” But the language is really stronger—“be slaves to one another.” Christians are “not to be masters with a lot of slaves, but each should be one poor slave with a lot of masters.” (Stephen Neill)

No wonder some translations soften the phrase from “slaves” to “servants.” It’s hard enough to act like a “servant,” but “slave” sounds even more demanding.

The word “slave” is all about service
a. Slaves don’t consider themselves more important than the masters they serve. They don’t act superior!
b. Slaves serve whether they feel like it or not
c. Slaves do whatever job their Master gives them; no matter whether it’s hard or easy, dirty or clean
d. Slaves don’t expect recognition or reward or even a pat on the back for their service
e. Slaves serve because that’s what slaves do

Paul is calling us to be slaves in loving one another
Romans 12:9-13

Fulfill (complete) the law by loving each other (Rom. 13:9b-10)

How do we do this?
Being a servant begins with proper attitude.
a. Love is the foundation of a life of a servant
b. Humility is a necessity
c. Determination to do what needs to be done is a part of it

Being a servant requires sensitivity or discernment
a. We must be aware of opportunities around us
b. We need to learn to act, not react
c. We need to develop the habit of listening
To God
To others

As Nike reminds us, we need to “just do it.”

Application
Now what?
We are left with a choice, we know we have freedom and that this freedom provides us the luxury of indulging desires
So, what desires will we choose?

Will we carry out or complete our selfish desires?
Will we walk by the Spirit?

If you desire to walk by the Spirit, here are some suggestions for this week:
a. When you are tempted this week to “put someone in their place” or to “speak the truth in love” by gossiping about someone, instead take a few minutes to make a list of the good things God has done in that person’s life. List the positives and then pray specifically for that person that God will give a blessing.
Look for a specific opportunity to “love your neighbor”

b. Go out of your way to serve someone this week and do it with no expectation of recognition or payment in exchange

c. Share the love of Christ by serving: make some cookies, clean a room, pick up some trash, volunteer to a charity, or simply tell someone how Jesus changed your life

Discussion Questions
a. Read Romans 13:8-10. How are all of these commandments from God summed up by Paul?

b. Jesus loved us enough that he died for us. Look at Philippians 2:5-11. How can we imitate Jesus’ love when we love others?

c. Read Jeremiah 31:31-33. How does this passage relate to Paul’s discussion about freedom and the law in Galatians 5?

d. Where do we get the power to live godly lives that include loving our neighbors? See 2 Peter 1:3-9

e. How can your life be characterized as “walking by the Spirit”? What will need to change?

f. How can you love your neighbors this week in such a way as to reveal God’s love to them?

Thanks for reading!