Day 123, Galatians 5
Today Paul gets specific in his instructions to his spiritual children in Galatian churches. The Judaising influence is swaying many, but Paul is clear: have nothing to do with it. If you accept a requirement of the Law in order to earn salvation, then the weight of the whole Law falls on you. Notice how Paul veers into graphic language to illustrate his point with hyperbole in verse 4 and verse 12.
You were not called to legalism, but to freedom. Not the false freedom of doing whatever you choose or desire, but the true freedom of yielding to the Holy Spirit and walking in Him. Our flesh (Greek: sarx) has desires that will lead us astray, but we are no longer bound to be led by the sarx because we are now led by the Spirit.
Note: sarx (flesh) is not the physical body, but the natural, fallen aspect of our being. The part that belongs to this world. Greeks at this time believed the body (soma) was evil but that is unbiblical. It is the flesh that seeks to lead us away from our freedom, but Holy Spirit will bear fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. No law exists to pull us away from those qualities. Holy Spirit gives us life. Let’s keep in step with him today!
Have a great day!
Mark.