God is known, He is seen in His creation in Romans 1:20 “For from the creation of the world, his invisible attributes, both his eternal power and deity, are discerned clearly, being understood in the things created”. Yet, we as human beings are often so wrapped up in our senses, so driven by our own desires and the thoughts of our own minds that we have, as it says in Romans 1:25 “exchanged the truth of God with a lie, and worshiped and served the creation”. Through the gospel, there is the power to change us, to reveal the love of God to us, to set us on the right path, not in pursuit of things, but to develop in us the fruit of the spirit. The freedom, the life, the goodness of God in us causes us to experience as in Galatians 5:22–23 “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self control. Against such things there is no law”. We can never have too much of these in our life.
Live By The Spirit
The Fruit of the Spirit
Galatians 5:22–26
As it says in Galatians 5:19 “the deeds of the flesh are evident” because these come naturally from our connection to the fallen world we are born into. Even-so, they are listed for us in Galatians 5:19-21. The fruit of the spirit though, does not come naturally. This only comes as we are first born again into the kingdom of God by grace through faith in Jesus Christ and then given the gift of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said it this way in
John 3:5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly I say to you, unless someone is born of water and spirit, he is not able to enter into the kingdom of God.
Then Jesus also said in
John 14:26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name—that one will teach you all things, and will remind you of everything that I said to you.
Peter identified it this way in
Acts 2:38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized, each one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
So when we are born again into God’s kingdom. we gain a teacher, the Holy Spirit who works in us to produce fruit. This fruit is a new kind of character and nature described in
Galatians 5:22–23 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.
You Who Are Spiritual, Restore
Galatians 6:1–5
Let Us Not Grow Weary in Doing Good
A New Creation
Galatians 6:11–18
The end of this letter sums up with this one point in
Galatians 6:15 For neither is circumcision anything nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.
There isn’t any redeeming value in the works of the flesh whether that be in marking your body as in circumcision, or in living to “observe the law” as in Galatians 6:13 or the superstitions of the heathen. Whatever the background, the life of a Christian begins with “a new creation” and develops the fruit of the spirit.
Jews from this region were in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2:9 “Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia” and had a very different religious discipline, the Law of Moses, than did the people of this region. “The original inhabitants of north Galatia were Phrygians, … the Celtic element predominated … known for … independence … drunkenness and revelings … there is evidence that they were highly superstitious”.1
There was a strong Roman influence where “The cities … were adorned with fine public buildings in the Greco-Roman tradition and … the urban elites acquired the trappings of Hellenic sophistication”.2
Set Apart for the Gospel of God
Romans 1:1–7
That I May Impart Some Spiritual Gift to Strengthen You
The Gospel is the Power of God for Salvation
Romans 1:16–25
There is power available for salvation, but only to those that believe. But where does believing begin? It says in
Hebrews 11:6 Now without faith it is impossible to please him, for the one who approaches God must believe that he exists and is a rewarder of those who seek him.
There must first be an acceptance that God exists, but even more than that, an understanding that God is good, that He is not holding back anything from us but wants what is best for us. When we accept God in this way, there is power available through the gospel for our salvation in Romans 1:16.
This attribute, this knowledge that God is good is not hidden, in fact, this is displayed clearly in all of creation as it says, in
Romans 1:19–20 because what can be known about God is evident among them, for God made it clear to them. 20 For from the creation of the world, his invisible attributes, both his eternal power and deity, are discerned clearly, being understood in the things created, so that they are without excuse.
The deception, the ignorance, the lie that has blinded humanity through the ages is that in
Romans 1:22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools,
and set their attention on creation as it says in
Romans 1:25 who exchanged the truth of God with a lie, and worshiped and served the creation rather than the Creator, who is blessed for eternity. Amen.
They Did Not See Fit to Recognize God
Romans 1:26–32
Study Verses
- Galatians 5:22–26 The Fruit of the Spirit
- Galatians 6:11–18 A New Creation
- Romans 1:16–25 The Gospel is the Power of God for Salvation
Today’s Reading
- Galatians 5:16-26
- Galatians 6:1-18
- Romans 6:1-32
References
- 1. Guthrie, D. (1988). Galatia. In Baker encyclopedia of the Bible (Vol. 1, p. 829). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.
- 2. Mitchell, S. (1992). Galatia (Place). In D. N. Freedman (Ed.), The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (Vol. 2, p. 870). New York: Doubleday.
