Scripture: Galatians 5: 17, 25

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^[c] you want.(17) Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.(25)

Scripture Commentary:

It’s vitally important to keep in step with the Spirit. There is a war raging on in you every day. If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, then Satan has placed you on his list to bring you to his flock.

He starts by telling you to go ahead and do it your way. You don’t need permission.

Pray for God’s guidance.

Paul describes the two forces in conflict within you: The Holy Spirit and the sinful nature (i.e., your evil desires or inclinations of the flesh). When you rely on your own self, you are doing what satan would have you do.

Keep in step with the Holy Spirit that lives in you.

The Holy Spirit is infinitely stronger, and you must follow the Holy Spirit that God has placed in you. The only way to freedom from evil desires is through the empowering of God’s Holy Spirit in you.

As you keep in step with the Holy Spirit’s power, you need to submit every aspect of your life to God – emotional, physical and intellectual. If you say you are saved and have accepted Jesus Christ, then live like a Christian.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Galatians 5

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Galatians:

Live By the Faith of the God Who Loves You

Thanks Be to God for All He Has Done

Scripture: Galatians 5: 16-18, 25

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. ¹⁸ But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. ²⁵ If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Scripture Commentary:

Why do we feel we are true Christians when we judge someone? Because we go to church and pray, we are not to judge anyone. Walk in the spirit. Christ died to set us free from sin and a long list of weakness we have in our flesh.

Those who appeal to their freedom so that they can have their own way or indulge their own desires are falling back into sin. It is sinful to talk behind someone’s back and to focus on another’s shortcomings.

Paul tells us we have two forces conflicting within us: The Holy Spirit and the sinful nature. We have within us the evil desires or inclinations that stem from our bodies. We are not to rely on our own wisdom. We have to let the Holy Spirit that is in us, guide us.

If we try to walk in the Spirit under our own human effort, we will fail. Live each day controlled and guided by the Holy Spirit. Then Christ will be behind your actions, and the power of Christ will control your desires.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Galatians Chapter 5

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Galatians:

Are You Believing In the Jesus Who Saves?

Thanks Be to God for All He Has Done

Scripture: Galatians 6: 2-5

² Carry one another’s burdens and in this way you will fulfill the requirements of the law of Christ [that is, the law of Christian love]. ³ For if anyone thinks he is something [special] when [in fact] he is nothing [special except in his own eyes], he deceives himself. ⁴ But each one must carefully scrutinize his own work [examining his actions, attitudes, and behavior], and then he can have the personal satisfaction and inner joy of doing something commendable ^[a]without comparing himself to another. ⁵ For every person will have to bear [with patience] his own burden [of faults and shortcomings for which he alone is responsible].

Scripture Commentary: Don’t compare yourself to others.

Have you looked at someone and said to yourself, “I wish I was like him or her”? When you see a person do something commendable, do you wish you could do that?

If you look at the gift that God has given you, not worrying about anyone else, you would be amazed. When you fully put your life in God’s hands, you will be amazed.

Look for God’s approval, not man’s.

God knows what to do and how to do it, but you have to believe in Him. We are not to look for man’s approval. We are to follow the way of Jesus Christ. To follow Christ is to study the Word, help others, and not look for rewards for those actions.

Find inner joy from doing something commendable.

No Christian should ever think he or she is totally independent, not needing help from others. And no one should feel excused from the task of helping others.

When we plant the Gospel seed of Our Lord Jesus Christ, we are helping someone to see and to follow Him. When you sow for God, you are planting and reaping joy and everlasting love and life with Christ.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Galatians Chapter 6

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Galatians:

The Righteous Will Live by Faith

Sow to Please God, and Reap Joy and Everlasting Life

Scripture: Galatians 1: 6-10

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— which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 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! 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!

Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Scripture Commentary: Avoid the confusion of a lie by knowing The Bible.

Twisting the truth is more difficult to spot than an outright lie.  How can we eliminate the confusion and tell when someone is lying?

Before you accept the teaching of any group, find out what that group teaches about Jesus Christ.  And if their teaching does not match the truth of God’s Word, found in The Bible, then it is a perversion.

Paul warned that Satan masquerades as an angel of light.  Paul said that even if an angel from heaven comes preaching another message, that angel should be “eternally condemned.”  Paul extended that curse to include himself if he should pervert the gospel.

God’s truth is eternal and never changes.

God’s message must never change, for the truth of the gospel never changes!  God does not accept man-made religion as a substitute for faith in Jesus Christ.  He has provided just one way to him, and that way is Jesus Christ.

Are you a servant of the risen Savior, Jesus Christ?

Read the Entire Chapter:
Galatians Chapter 1

Scripture: Galatians 6: 1-6

Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.  If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves.  Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load.  Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.

Scripture Commentary: Jesus bears our burdens daily.

No Christian should ever think that he or she is totally independent, not needing help from others. No one should feel excused from the task of helping others.  We are to help alleviate each other’s burdens.

The body of Christ – the church – functions only when the members work together for the common good.

Do you know someone who needs help?

If you do, hold out your hand and do whatever you can.

When you do your very best, you feel good about the results.  And when you do things, don’t compare yourself to others.  Your gift is what God gave you.  People make comparisons to point out flaws in order to feel better about themselves.  Others compare because they simply want reassurance that they are doing well.

When you are tempted to compare, look at Jesus Christ.  His example will inspire you to do your very best, and his loving acceptance will comfort you when you fall short of your expectations.

We are in God’s hands.  Let Him show you the way to live and to be Christ-like.

Read the Entire Chapter:

Galatians Chapter 6

Scripture: Galatians 3:2-5

I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law,or by believing what you heard?  Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh? Have you experienced so much in vain—if it really was in vain? So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard?

Scripture Commentary: Whoever lives believing in Jesus will never die

Do you walk with Christ because you believe your deeds will save you from damnation? Or, does your life in Christ come from faith that Jesus died for your sins and was raised from the dead to save us all? If you believe your works will save you, you are wrong. Having faith and believing in Jesus are the keys to the kingdom of God.

Before faith, we did not have salvation. We were all prisoners to sin, and God recognized this. We were beaten down by past mistakes and choked by desires that we knew were wrong. God gave us a way out through his only begotten son, Jesus Christ.

Without Jesus, everyone is held in the clutches of sin. When you put your life in Jesus’ hands you are free. Alone, we are weak. The law of the flesh is weak and we should not work so hard to keep it. Trust Jesus.

We can only grow spiritually if we let God work in us by His Spirit. God remains constant and does not break his promises.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Galatians Chapter 3

 

Scripture: Galatians 2: 19-21

For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

Scripture Commentary: Live by the faith of the Son of God, not by your own efforts

Obedience to God’s laws alone cannot save you. Sin is an everlasting epidemic. It plagues us all and prevents anyone from keeping God’s laws perfectly.  You must “live by the faith of the Son of God,” as it says in Galatians 2: 20.

God has provided a way of salvation that depends on Jesus Christ, not on your own efforts.  Accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior brings salvation in his crucifixion. In such salvation you will rise from the dead and be freed from sin.

This new life gives you the power to fight sin. You must guard against the temptation of using service, good deeds, charitable giving, and any other earthly effort as a substitute for faith. You cannot earn God’s favor. Believing in your own ability means you don’t fully trust in what Christ did on the cross.

By struggling to appropriate God’s power to change you (sanctification), you are not resting in God’s power to save you (justification). If deeds were the key to salvation, Jesus’ crucifixion would not have been unnecessary. He died on the cross to save you from yourself and gift to you salvation.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Galatians Chapter 2

Scripture: Galatians 6: 7-9

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows of the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

Scripture Commentary: Sow for God Today

The Lord our God woke us up this morning. What are you going to do today? Will you first acknowledge Him, thank Him for another day? Or, will you go on your own way, not giving thanks where thanks is due?

We sometimes forget that God made us, keeps us from harm, and loves us every day. What are you doing for Him today? Thank Him, for waking you up and keeping you from harm’s way. Talk to Him and about Him. He listens when we talk to Him and He hears when we talk about Him.

God has set us free. We are not prisoners to our pasts. Tell everyone you meet how Jesus set you free and propels you forward with every gifted day. Do this because you love Him, to bring praise to Him.

If you plant to please your own desires you will reap a crop of sorrow. If you plant to please God, you will reap joy and everlasting life.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Galatians Chapter 6