Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
The Holy Spirit - The Gift
Galatians 5:16–24
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such, there is no law. – Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such, there is no law. – Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV
The early church, without question, faced a multitude of problems in its quest to align itself with the teachings of Jesus Christ. One of the primary sources of confusion for the early church plays out in the conflict between Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians. Paul, in his letter to the churches of Galatia, sheds light on this conflict and in doing so, addresses the heart of the matter.
Jewish followers of Christ were brought up following the rules of the Torah. The rules of the Torah pertained to every area of life including dietary laws (Kosher), circumcision, the Sabbath, etc. Gentile (non-Jewish) believers who came to faith in Christ were oftentimes at odds with those from a Jewish upbringing. Jewish Christians insisted that non-Jewish Christians ought to get circumcised and adopt other practices spelled out in the Torah. To say the least, all of this infuriated Paul. Paul noticed how hostile the Jewish believers were to the converts, and it moved him to write his impassioned letter. In Galatians 5, Paul makes it crystal clear what following God’s Law is all about. At the heart of God’s Law is love. As such, followers of Christ are to walk in love with God and their fellow men. The way we, as followers of Christ, walk in love is through the gift of God’s Spirit – the Holy Spirit.
In this particular text, Paul also gives believers a litmus test by which they can test themselves. The litmus test is the very Word of God. Just as a litmus test is able to identify if a solution is basic or acidic in nature, God’s Word shows believers if they are walking with the world (flesh) or walking with the Spirit (love). Two lists are presented within verses 20–24. In the first list, Paul presents the “works of the flesh”. Those who take part in such things walk in opposition to the Spirit. Paul warns believers that those who identify with this list “will not inherit the kingdom of God”. This warning is not one to be taken lightly. Sharply contrasted with this list is “fruit of the Spirit”. On that list are qualities that true followers of Christ exhibit in their day-to-day lives. Those who walk in love bear the fruit of the Spirit and fulfill the Law simultaneously.
Through this letter, Paul is able to shift the focus of the believer to what really matters. If we are to call ourselves followers of Christ, then we have to walk by way of the Spirit. Otherwise, we walk in error and are no better than the Jewish Christians who wrongfully maligned the non-Jewish believers in Christ. Let us ask God for His Holy Spirit, which will enable us to move in accordance with His will for our lives and actively oppose the “lust of the flesh”.
Jewish followers of Christ were brought up following the rules of the Torah. The rules of the Torah pertained to every area of life including dietary laws (Kosher), circumcision, the Sabbath, etc. Gentile (non-Jewish) believers who came to faith in Christ were oftentimes at odds with those from a Jewish upbringing. Jewish Christians insisted that non-Jewish Christians ought to get circumcised and adopt other practices spelled out in the Torah. To say the least, all of this infuriated Paul. Paul noticed how hostile the Jewish believers were to the converts, and it moved him to write his impassioned letter. In Galatians 5, Paul makes it crystal clear what following God’s Law is all about. At the heart of God’s Law is love. As such, followers of Christ are to walk in love with God and their fellow men. The way we, as followers of Christ, walk in love is through the gift of God’s Spirit – the Holy Spirit.
In this particular text, Paul also gives believers a litmus test by which they can test themselves. The litmus test is the very Word of God. Just as a litmus test is able to identify if a solution is basic or acidic in nature, God’s Word shows believers if they are walking with the world (flesh) or walking with the Spirit (love). Two lists are presented within verses 20–24. In the first list, Paul presents the “works of the flesh”. Those who take part in such things walk in opposition to the Spirit. Paul warns believers that those who identify with this list “will not inherit the kingdom of God”. This warning is not one to be taken lightly. Sharply contrasted with this list is “fruit of the Spirit”. On that list are qualities that true followers of Christ exhibit in their day-to-day lives. Those who walk in love bear the fruit of the Spirit and fulfill the Law simultaneously.
Through this letter, Paul is able to shift the focus of the believer to what really matters. If we are to call ourselves followers of Christ, then we have to walk by way of the Spirit. Otherwise, we walk in error and are no better than the Jewish Christians who wrongfully maligned the non-Jewish believers in Christ. Let us ask God for His Holy Spirit, which will enable us to move in accordance with His will for our lives and actively oppose the “lust of the flesh”.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, we give you praise for the gift of your Holy Spirit, which instructs us as a schoolmaster in Your ways. By Your Spirit, we pray that we may bear nothing but good fruit for You. In the unrivaled name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, we pray. Amen.
Thought of the day
When we walk in accordance with the Spirit, we march to the beat of a different drum – God’s drum.
Christin Mathew
Epiphany Mar Thoma Church, NY
Epiphany Mar Thoma Church, NY