Fruit of the flesh
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is too often reduced to being only a way to avoid God’s punishment for our sins. The Gospel doesn’t just help us to die in peace, it empowers us to live in peace, in love and in joy. When we don’t realise this, we’re prone to looking elsewhere, whether in legalism, liberalism or any other “ism”. Jesus Christ is enough for all our lives and for every aspect of our lives. He came that we may have life and life in abundance - and that doesn’t mean material wealth or prosperity or a life of ideal circumstances - it means a life of love, joy and peace - regardless of our circumstances.
Scripture
Galatians 5:16-23 ESV But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. [17] 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. [18] But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. [19] Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, [20] idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, [21] 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. [22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Bible Study Questions
The whole game, the way to live, not just the way to die
The law cannot change the way we are, at best it can constrain what we do. God’s grace through Jesus Christ can change our hearts and give us new direction, He can lead us on a new path, away from our old sinful nature towards being more like Jesus. What has God saved us for? Why has He offered us forgiveness and the ability to live in a new way, becoming more and more like Jesus?
Galatians 5:16-23 ESV But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
Romans 13:12-14 ESV The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. [13] Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. [14] But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
Romans 8:1-4 ESV There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. [2] For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. [3] For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, [4] in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
1 Peter 2:9 ESV But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
The great struggle of life
Even when we have been born of the Spirit and been forgiven, reconciled to God, we still struggle with temptation and sin. Must we just accept that we are still going to sin or should we be fighting the temptation and trusting God to deliver us from sinning?
Galatians 5:17 ESV 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.
Romans 7:21-24 ESV So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. [22] For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, [23] but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. [24] Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
What we are makes us struggle
We can easily fall into the trap of believing that we’re not such bad people, that we have our stuff together and are better than some if not most other people. We can be conned into thinking that God will save us because we’re actually not in a bad state. Before we can overcome sin through faith in Christ, we need to understand and acknowledge how bad we are. Can we value the full extent of God’s mercy if we’re not convicted of the full extent of our own wickedness?
Galatians 5:19 ESV Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, [21] envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these.
Romans 5:12 ESV Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—
Romans 3:10-12 ESV as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; [11] no one understands; no one seeks for God. [12] All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”
The consequences of what we are
We not only need to understand and accept the full extent of our brokenness, but also the true and just consequences of that brokenness. When we’ve done this, we can truly understand our need for Jesus Christ and His mercy.
Galatians 5:20 ESV I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
1 Peter 1:3-5 ESV Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, [4] to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, [5] who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
What we need, and where it comes from
When we have understood our wickedness, the just consequences thereof and the wonder of Christ grace and mercy in giving Himself to pay for our sin, we can begin to comprehend the fullness of what He’s done for us. This comprehension feeds the deepest needs of our souls. What do we need more than anything else, what three things drive every longing of our heart and motivate our every decision?
Galatians 5:22 ESV But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
1 John 4:19 ESV We love because he first loved us.
Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, [2] looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Zephaniah 3:17 ESV The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.
Colossians 1:19-22 ESV For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, [20] and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. [21] And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, [22] he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,
He changes our hearts and our actions
It is in receiving love, joy and peace from God by the Holy Spirit through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that we begin to live. It is His love joy and peace that begin to work through us and change who we are. This change in our nature through the power of His Holy Spirit changes what we desire and how we behave.
Galatians 5:22b ESV patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Luke 6:43-45 ESV “For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, [44] for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. [45] The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
We need to choose our thoughts and actions
We need to take time daily to remember, understand and appreciate what God has done for us in Jesus life, death and resurrection. We need to live a disciplined life, centred on the Word of God, trusting and believing in His promises and responding in obedience out of love and gratitude for what He’s done. The growth and maturity God brings about in us requires our co-operation and commitment. How do we do this?
Philippians 4:4-7 ESV Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. [5] Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; [6] do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. [7] And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:8-9 ESV Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. [9] What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.