Immerse: Galatians | Mike Popenhagen

Immerse: Galatians

3.15.26

Galatians 1:6-9  I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! 9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!  NIV 

4 Key Thoughts

1.  Salvation comes from faith in Jesus, not by keeping rules or doing good.  

Galatians 2:16  Know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.  NIV

2.  Faith in Jesus produces true freedom from sin & legalism.  

Galatians 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.  NIV   

3.  The Holy Spirit empowers us to overcome the flesh. 

Galatians 5:16-21 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.  19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, 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. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.   NIV  

4 Categories for Acts of the Flesh

Sexual Sins

Sexual immorality: Any form of illicit sexual relations including pornography. 

Impurity: Exhibiting crude or insensitive sexual matters that offends others.

Debauchery: Open & excessive indulgence in sexual sins. 

Religious Sins

Idolatry: Worship of pagan idols. Creating substitutes for God.

Witchcraft: Involvement with evil powers, at times using potions or drugs.

Sinful Attitudes Towards Others

Hatred: Fixed hostility between people or groups.

Discord: Unhealthy competition, rivalry, or bitter conflict.  Its the fruit of hatred.

Jealousy: A feeling of or threat of loosing something that belongs to you. 

 Fits of rage: Outburst of anger.  

Selfish Ambitions:  A person who tries to get ahead at the expense of others.

 Dissensions: Strong disagreement or quarrels.

 Factions: Divisions among people.  You look for allies in conflict to form power blocks.

Envy: A desire to posses something award to or achieved by another. 

Sinful Lifestyle

Drunkenness: Excessive use of wine or strong drink.  Being intoxicated by alcohol.

Orgies: Drunken, carousing parties, often filled with sexual promiscuity.

And the like: Paul means the list is not exhaustive.

4.  Holy Spirit produces God’s character in us. 

Galatians 5:22-25  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.  NIV 

Fruit of The Spirit

Love:  A self-sacrificing, & unchanging brotherly affection toward others.

Joy: A inner rejoicing that abides despite our circumstances.

Peace: Inner quietness & trust in God even in the face of adverse circumstances. 

Forbearance: Patiently putting up with people or things that continually irritate us.

Kindness: Acting benevolently toward others, as God does towards us.

Goodness: A life filled with virtue. A sense of holiness permeating life.

Faithfulness: Reliable, and trustworthy. Following through on commitments.

Gentleness:  Humble, considerate of others, and submissive to God.

Self-Control:  Mastering sinful desires.  Ability to to direct our energies wisely.