A New Perspective. Galatians 5:16-18
Dear Holy Nation,
One may be tempted to think that Paul is telling the Christians what they should not do, without being much help about what they should do. But this is what Paul has been building up to. He wanted his readers to fully appreciate the folly of legalism before he brings the message of the new way of life. We are there now.
Life (v. 16). The new way is the way of the Spirit. Paul says to “walk in the Spirit,” which is simply saying that we ought to pattern our lives after what the Spirit wants. Life in the Spirit is more about submission than action. In another context, Paul uses the term “filled with the Spirit”, meaning controlled, so that the choices we make are influenced by the Spirit.
Lust (v. 17). The word lust here is not so much about fleshly appetites as it is about inclination. Another way of putting it is that the motivations of the sinful nature are contrary to those of the Spirit. Left to ourselves, sinful nature will take over, and even though we know the right thing and want to do right, we end up doing the opposite.
Leading (v. 18. The advisable option is to submit to the leading of the Spirit. This has two benefits, one stated here – that we are not under the law. That means that we are not under obligation to keep the law and therefore outside the scope of its curse. The other benefit is stated in verse 16, that we will “not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” Because the Spirit lives in us, he enables us to shun sinful ways and to live instead to please God. More about this will be discussed in verses 22-23, but for now, let us take note of the fact that Paul is not advocating lawlessness. Life in the Spirit is anything but that.
Your Loving Pastor Chris.