Bible Study October 21, 2026
Galatians 5 (English Standard Version)
Christ Has Set Us Free
1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
Jesus Christ died to set us free from sin and from a long list of laws and regulations. But he did not free us to do whatever we want, because that would lead us back into slavery to our selfish desires. Rather, thanks to Christ, we are now free and able to do what was impossible before--to live unselfishly. Those who appeal to their freedom so that they can have their own way or indulge their own desires are falling back into sin. But it is also wrong to put a heavy burden of law keeping on Christians. We must stand against those who would enslave us with rules, methods, or special conditions for being saved or growing in Christ (see the note on 2:4-5).
2 Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. 3 I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. 4 You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.
Trying to be saved by keeping the law and being saved by grace are two entirely different paths. "Christ will be of no benefit to you" means that Christ's provision for our salvation will not help us if we are trying to save ourselves. Obeying the law does not make it any easier for God to save us. All we can do is accept his gracious gift of eternal life through faith. Our deeds of service must never be used to try to earn God's love or favor.
Circumcision was a symbol of having the right religious pedigree and fulfilling the proper religious requirements. But Paul states that no amount of work, discipline, status, ritual, or moral behavior can earn our salvation. Those who were counting on finding favor with God by being circumcised would also have to obey the rest of God's law completely. Trying to save ourselves by keeping all God's laws only separates us further from God because it takes the focus off Christ's death and resurrection.
5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.
We are saved by faith, not by deeds, completely forgiven by God for our sinful rebellion against him. When we receive God's forgiveness, we soon begin to want to love others as he loves us. This includes forgiving people for their wrongs against us. God's forgiveness is complete, and those who are forgiven much love much (see Luke 7:47). Because faith expresses itself through love, you can check your love for others as a way to monitor your faith.
7 You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion is not from him who calls you. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump.
A little yeast causes a whole lump of dough to rise. It only takes one wrong person to infect all the others.
10 I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view, and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is. 11 But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed.
Persecution proved that Paul was preaching the true Good News. If he had taught what the false teachers were teaching, no one would be offended. But because he was teaching the truth, he was persecuted by both Jews and Judaizers. Have friends or loved ones rejected you because you have taken a stand for Christ? Jesus said not to be surprised if the world hates us, because it hated him (John 15:18-19). Just as Paul continued to faithfully proclaim the message about Christ, you should continue doing the ministry God has given you despite the obstacles others may put in your way.
12 I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves!
13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
Paul distinguishes between freedom to sin and freedom to serve. Freedom to sin offers no freedom at all, because it enslaves us to Satan, others, or our own sinful nature. Christians should not be slaves to sin, because we are free to do what God wants and to glorify him by demonstrating loving service to others.
14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 15 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.
When believers lose the motivation to love, we become critical of others. We stop looking for good in them and see only their faults. Soon we lose our unity. Have you talked behind someone's back? Have you focused on others' shortcomings instead of their strengths? Remind yourself of Jesus' command to love others as you love yourself (Matthew 22:39). When you feel critical of someone, make a list of that person's positive qualities. When you hear gossip or backbiting, confront those doing it or walk away.
Keep in Step with the Spirit
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
If we desire to have the qualities listed in 5:22-23, then we know that the Holy Spirit is leading us. How can we tell that the Spirit is leading us rather than our own subjective feelings? Being led by the Holy Spirit creates the desire to hear and the readiness to obey God's Word. The Holy Spirit gives us the sensitivity to discern between our feelings and his promptings. Then, as we live each day controlled and guided by him, we will not be overpowered by our own selfish desires. The words of Christ will be in our minds, the love of Christ will be behind our actions, and the power of Christ will help us control our selfish desires.
Paul describes the two forces fighting within us--the Holy Spirit and the sinful nature (our evil desires or inclinations that stem from our bodies; also see 5:16, 19, 24). In this world, we face constant tension between the Spirit and our sinful nature, but they are not equal, opposite forces. In Christ, we have a victorious and new resurrection life. We shouldn't be surprised when we experience resistance as we follow the Spirit's leading. Satan is a persistent agitator for rebellion and has had centuries of practice. When we do what the Holy Spirit instructs, we can expect our sinful human nature to flare up in opposition. When we share our faith with others, it will make us feel foolish; when we serve others, it will attack our motives. Satan uses our nature to thwart the leading of the Spirit. Fortunately for us, each time we follow our sinful human nature we will receive reminders from God's Word, from the Holy Spirit, or from other believers not to give in. The Holy Spirit will give us dependable guidance. Listen to him and ask for his power to help you experience the joy and freedom that come from letting him rule in your heart. (For more on the conflict between the Spirit and our sinful nature, see Romans 8:5, 9; Ephesians 4:23-24; and Colossians 3:3-8.)
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
We all have evil desires that we must not ignore; instead, we must deal with them decisively (in Paul's terms, crucify them; 5:24). These desires include obvious sins, such as sexual immorality and demonic activities ("sorcery"). They also include less obvious sins, such as hostility, jealousy, and selfish ambition. Here are four steps to help you deal with your selfish desires: (1) Admit that you have a selfish, sinful nature--don't be too shocked or too proud to acknowledge it. (2) Surrender all your bad tendencies to Christ and ask God to do whatever is necessary to set you free. (3) Commit your actions, thoughts, passions, and capabilities to Christ, asking the Spirit to help you restrain your evil desires and angry reactions. (4) Make serving others a top priority, which will help you become more like Jesus.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Newly transformed people produce something special with their lives. Paul calls the new work of the Spirit fruit. The Holy Spirit spontaneously and creatively produces this kind of fruit in us. The Spirit generates these character traits in us because we are becoming more like Jesus, who perfectly modeled them. When Christ controls us, they grow and flow from us naturally. We can't obtain them by trying to get them without his help. If we want the fruit of the Spirit to grow in us, we must live in close union with Jesus (see John 15:4-5). We must submit to him, know him, love him, remember him, and imitate him. As a result, we will fulfill the intended purpose of the law--to love God and our neighbors. Which of these qualities do you most want the Spirit to produce in you?
Because the God who sent the law also sent the Spirit, the by-products of the Spirit-filled life are in perfect harmony with the intent of the law. A person who exhibits the fruit of the Spirit fulfills the law far better than a person who observes the rituals but has little love in his or her heart.
24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
In order to accept Christ as Savior, we need to turn from our sins and willingly nail our sinful nature to the cross. This doesn't mean, however, that we will never see traces of its evil desires again. As Christians we still have the capacity to sin, but we have been set free from sin's power over us and no longer have to give in to it. We must daily commit our sinful tendencies to God's control, daily crucify them, and moment by moment draw on the Spirit's power to overcome them (see 2:20; 6:14).
25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.
God wants authority over every area of our lives, not just the "spiritual" parts. As we live by the Holy Spirit's power, we choose to submit every aspect of our lives to God: emotional, physical, social, intellectual, vocational. Paul says that because we're saved, we should live like it! The Holy Spirit is the source of your new life and provides the energy and direction for it, so keep in step with his leading. Don't fall behind or hold back anyone else. Don't let anyone else's values or standards hold you back in any area of your life.
26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
Everyone needs a certain amount of approval from others. But those who go out of their way to secure honors or to win popularity become conceited and show they are not following the Holy Spirit's leading. Those who look to God for approval won't need to envy others. Because we are God's sons and daughters, we have his Holy Spirit as the loving guarantee of his approval. Seek to please God, and the approval of others won't seem so important.