Galatians Introduction, HQ Bible Study Team
LIVE BY THE SPIRIT
Passage: Galatians 5:13~21  
Key verse: 16
Life by the Spirit
13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free.(A) But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh[a];(B) rather, serve one another(C) humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”[b](D) 15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
16 So I say, walk by the Spirit,(E) and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.(F) 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh.(G) They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever[c] you want.(H) 18 But if you are led by the Spirit,(I) you are not under the law.(J)
19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality,(K) impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.(L) I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.(M)
Footnotes
- Galatians 5:13 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit; also in verses 16, 17, 19 and 24; and in 6:8.
- Galatians 5:14 Lev. 19:18
- Galatians 5:17 Or you do not do what
Cross references
- Galatians 5:13 : S ver 1
- Galatians 5:13 : S ver 24; 1Co 8:9; 1Pe 2:16
- Galatians 5:13 : 1Co 9:19; 2Co 4:5; Eph 5:21
- Galatians 5:14 : Lev 19:18; S Mt 5:43; Gal 6:2
- Galatians 5:16 : ver 18, 25; Ro 8:2, 4-6, 9, 14; S 2Co 5:17
- Galatians 5:16 : S ver 24
- Galatians 5:17 : Ro 8:5-8
- Galatians 5:17 : Ro 7:15-23
- Galatians 5:18 : S ver 16
- Galatians 5:18 : S Ro 2:12; 1Ti 1:9
- Galatians 5:19 : S 1Co 6:18
- Galatians 5:21 : Mt 15:19; Ro 13:13
- Galatians 5:21 : S Mt 25:34
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Source:  BibleGateway
1. Called to be free (13-15)
Christ has set us free so that we can love others. If our fellowship is full of arguments, rivalry and jealous competition, we will only destroy one another. Only when we love our neighbors as ourselves can we have real freedom in Christ.
2. Led by the Spirit (16-21)
Some people think that being free is doing everything one feels like doing. Some think that freedom is gratifying one's physical desires. But this is not freedom; it is the sure way to slavery. The desires of the sinful nature are listed in verses 19-21. These desires enslave us when we yield to them. When we are led by the Spirit, we have power to overcome the sinful nature. The sinful nature leads us to destruction; the Spirit leads us to the heavenly kingdom.
Prayer: Lord, help me to use the freedom you have given me to build up and encourage others--not to tear them down, nor to tear myself down.
One Word: Led by the Spirit--real freedom