Galatians Introduction, HQ Bible Study Team
KEEP IN STEP WITH THE SPIRIT
Passage: Galatians 5:16~26  
Key verse: 25
16 So I say, walk by the Spirit,(A) and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.(B) 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh.(C) They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever[a] you want.(D) 18 But if you are led by the Spirit,(E) you are not under the law.(F)
19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality,(G) 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.(H) I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.(I)
22 But the fruit(J) of the Spirit is love,(K) joy, peace,(L) forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control.(M) Against such things there is no law.(N) 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh(O) with its passions and desires.(P) 25 Since we live by the Spirit,(Q) let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited,(R) provoking and envying each other.
Footnotes
- Galatians 5:17 Or you do not do what
Cross references
- 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
- Galatians 5:22 : Mt 7:16-20; Eph 5:9
- Galatians 5:22 : Col 3:12-15
- Galatians 5:22 : Mal 2:6
- Galatians 5:23 : S Ac 24:25
- Galatians 5:23 : ver 18
- Galatians 5:24 : ver 13, 16-21; S Ro 6:6; 7:5, 18; 8:3-5, 8, 9, 12, 13; 13:14; Gal 6:8; Col 2:11
- Galatians 5:24 : ver 16, 17
- Galatians 5:25 : S ver 16
- Galatians 5:26 : Php 2:3
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source:  BibleGateway
Paul urged the Galatian Christians to live by the Spirit. One can either live by the Spirit or by one's sinful nature. What does it mean to live by the Spirit? It is not giving in to the sinful nature. The two cannot coexist. They are in conflict with each other. It is also not being under the law. When we live by the Spirit, we are free of the law and our sinful nature. Those who live by their sinful nature and indulge in things like sexual immorality, impurity, debauchery, hatred, discord, jealousy, etc., cannot and will not inherit the kingdom of God.
2. The fruit of the Spirit (22-26)
The fruit of the Spirit is very different from the fruit of our sinful desires. The fruit of the Spirit includes joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These are all qualities modeled by our Lord Jesus Christ. We know how we can live by the Spirit-be more like Jesus! There is no law against any of these things. When we belong to Jesus, our sinful natures have been crucified, and we live by the Spirit.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for granting the Holy Spirit to us. Help us to live by the Spirit.
One Word: Live by the Spirit