Galatians 5:13 says, For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. Paul issues a warning in this verse. He said that even though we are called to liberty in Christ that we are not to use that liberty to justify actions of the flesh. We cannot claim that since all our sins are forgiven through Christ that it does not matter if we commit a sin. Paul tells us that this liberty in Christ should lead us to serve one another in love. Verse fourteen adds, For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Paul said that if the Galatians wanted to live under the law, that all the law was fulfilled in one commandment, and that was that we love our neighbor as we love yourself. Verse fifteen continues, But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. I believe that Paul was warning against fighting within the church. If we begin to fight against one another based on additions to the gospel, we will all destroy our witness for Christ. Verse sixteen states, This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. Paul gives us the solution for eliminating disputes among Christians. He tells us to walk in the Spirit. When we do this, we will not be tempted by the flesh, or the things of this world. Verse seventeen Paul adds, For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. Paul warns us that being led by the things of this world puts us at war with God's Holy Spirit. We cannot follow both. Verse eighteen continues, But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. When we accept Christ as our Savior, we are freed from trying to be justified by the law. At the same time, we are to make Christ our Lord and live under the leadership of the Holy Spirit. In the next three verses, Paul speaks of the works of the flesh. Verse nineteen says, Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Verse twenty adds, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Verse twenty-one continues, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. These are things that people are guilty of when they attempt to live justified by the law, and even being guilty of one of these keeps anyone from inheriting the kingdom of God. We do not earn our place in the kingdom of God but inherit it by faith. The next two verse speak of the fruit of the Spirit. Verse twenty-two states, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Verse twenty-three adds, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Paul contrasted the works of the law with the works of the Spirit, and he concluded that there was no law that could stand against the work of the Spirit. When we become Christ's through faith, we live under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and become a new person. Verse twenty-four continues, And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. Paul said those who are Christ's have been crucified to the lusts of the flesh. Verse twenty-five says, If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. I believe that Paul was saying that our actions should be consistent with our words. If we live under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, then we do not need to attempt to justify ourselves by the law. Verse twenty-six adds, Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. I believe that Paul was warning against trying to prove that we are somehow superior to other Christians by any earthly act. We are to glorify God and love others through our faith in Christ.
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