GALATIANS 5:13–26
Walk by the Spirit
Paul has just said:
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.” — Galatians 5:1
But freedom from the Law raises an obvious question.
If Christians are no longer under the Law of Moses, what keeps freedom from becoming an excuse to live however we please?
Paul answers that question now.
Christian freedom is not freedom to serve ourselves.
It is freedom to serve one another in love and to walk by the Spirit.
“Do Not Use Your Freedom to Indulge the Flesh”
Paul writes:
“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free.” — Galatians 5:13
But he immediately adds:
“Do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.”
That is important.
Paul has spent much of this letter arguing that Christians are not under the Law.
But he never argues that Christians are free from moral responsibility.
Freedom in Christ is not:
I can do whatever I want.
It produces a new kind of life.
Freedom Leads to Service
Notice Paul's surprising language.
They have been set free.
So what should they do with that freedom?
“Serve one another humbly in love.”
The person who is truly free in Christ willingly becomes a servant to others.
That sounds very much like Jesus.
Christian freedom is not centered on:
What am I allowed to do?
It asks:
How can I love and serve someone else?
Paul Quotes the Law
Then Paul says:
“For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” — verse 14
That might surprise us.
Paul has just spent several chapters telling the Galatians not to place themselves under the Law.
Now he quotes the Law!
Why?
Because saying Christians are not under the Mosaic covenant does not mean God's moral purpose has disappeared.
The Law pointed toward love.
And a life directed by the Spirit produces exactly that.
When Christians Attack Each Other
Paul warns:
“If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.” — verse 15
That's vivid language.
Apparently the controversy in Galatia was doing more than producing theological disagreement.
It was damaging relationships.
People were biting and devouring one another.
We can defend what we believe is true and still behave in a way that contradicts the truth we are defending.
Paul offers another way.
“Walk by the Spirit”
Paul says:
“So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” — verse 16
Here is Paul's answer to the fear that freedom from the Law produces lawlessness.
Walk by the Spirit.
Christian life is not:
Law—or nothing.
It is:
Life in Christ through the Spirit.
Flesh and Spirit Pull in Different Directions
Paul explains:
“For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh.” — verse 17
There is a conflict.
Becoming a Christian does not mean temptation disappears.
The desires of the flesh remain real.
But believers have received the Spirit.
So they must choose which direction they will follow.
“Not Under the Law”
Then Paul makes another important statement:
“But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” — verse 18
Notice how clearly Paul says it.
He does not say:
If you are led by the Spirit, you will become better at living under the Law.
He says:
“You are not under the law.”
That fits everything he has been saying since chapter 3.
The Law served its purpose.
Christ came.
God's people now live by the Spirit.
What Does the Flesh Produce?
Paul gives examples of the works of the flesh:
sexual immorality, impurity, idolatry, hatred, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, envy, drunkenness, and more.
Paul's list includes both obviously immoral behavior and sins we sometimes tolerate more easily.
Hatred.
Jealousy.
Anger.
Division.
Envy.
Those belong to the flesh too.
Paul's point is clear:
Freedom in Christ is not permission to live this way.
A Serious Warning
Paul says:
“Those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” — verse 21
That is another warning we should not soften.
Paul is writing to Christians.
And he warns them that a life surrendered to the flesh is incompatible with inheriting God's kingdom.
Grace does not make sin harmless.
Freedom does not make faithfulness unnecessary.
The Christian must continue walking by the Spirit.
The Fruit of the Spirit
Then comes the contrast:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” — verses 22–23
Notice that Paul calls this fruit, not merely rules.
This is what the Spirit produces in a life yielded to Him.
And notice the first word:
Love.
Paul has already said:
“faith working through love.”
Then:
“serve one another in love.”
Then:
“love your neighbor as yourself.”
Now:
“the fruit of the Spirit is love.”
Love is not a side issue in Paul's gospel.
“Against Such Things There Is No Law”
Paul adds:
“Against such things there is no law.”
No law condemns love.
No law condemns kindness.
No law condemns faithfulness or self-control.
The Spirit produces the kind of life toward which God's commands had always pointed.
The Flesh Has Been Crucified
Paul writes:
“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” — verse 24
Remember Galatians 2:20:
“I have been crucified with Christ.”
Now Paul applies that same cross-shaped life to every Christian.
Belonging to Christ means the old life no longer gets to rule us.
“Keep in Step With the Spirit”
Paul concludes:
“Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” — verse 25
That's a wonderful picture.
Don't run ahead.
Don't wander away.
Keep in step with the Spirit.
Christianity is not merely about how we began.
It is about how we continue to walk.
Then Paul Gets Very Practical
Paul finishes:
“Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.” — verse 26
After talking about the Spirit, Paul comes right back to relationships.
How do we know whether we are walking by the Spirit?
It will show in how we treat people.
Not merely in what doctrines we can explain.
Not merely in what religious practices we observe.
How do we treat one another?
So What Replaced the Law?
We need to be careful with that question.
Paul does not present Christianity as simply exchanging one written law code for another.
His picture is richer:
We belong to Christ.
We have received the Spirit.
Faith works through love.
We serve one another.
We walk by the Spirit.
The Spirit produces His fruit in us.
That is not lawlessness.
It is a life being transformed from within.
Follow Paul's Argument
This section answers an important objection to everything Paul has said.
If we aren't under the Law, can we live however we want?
Paul's answer:
Absolutely not.
Don't use freedom to serve the flesh.
Use freedom to serve one another.
Walk by the Spirit.
Produce the fruit of the Spirit.
And Paul isn't finished making this practical.
What happens when a Christian does stumble?
How should spiritual people treat someone caught in sin?
Paul's answer begins chapter 6.
And the very first word tells us a great deal:
Restore.
Read the paragraph.
Follow the argument.
Check the context.
Read First. Conclude Later.