Life by the Spirit
13You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh a ; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” b 15If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
16So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17For 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. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and 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.
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Galatians 5:13-25
So, here is where our dominion lies… as a believer, a disciple of Jesus, I am free to choose, it is my choice. With no consequence for my salvation. With thath my being adopted, I have been set free, and with freedom, I have been given choice. Here are some of the choices we get to make - to love or not love; to love AS Jesus loved me, or to love as I prefer; to love sincerely, or merely put up with and go through the motions, or, to not love at all.
So, where’s the “but” lie? Though my salvation (eternal life, based on having placed my faith in Jesus’ person, life, and work - John 3:16) be secure in God’s love (Rom 8:31-39; 2Tim 2:13) everything else I am and do, and my effectiveness in being loved and loving, hinges on my not taking for granted this glorious truth, but in fact, by resting in it (Heb 4:9-16), by making every effort to strive with God’s Spirit, I can and will effectively bear the fruits of that Spirit that is in me (Gal 5:22-23), bringing Him honor and joy, while bringing the love of God effectively into the lives of those with whom our world intersects.
The “but”? That if I choose, with my choice to choose, to indulge the flesh, though my life not be lost, the purpose and the effectiveness of my life (here on earth) may very well be.
So, what then shall I choose? Have I been, and am I not still, loved? Then, perhaps, I might choose to love in return… John 14:15-23; 15:9-10; 1John 4:18-19; 5:3; 2John 1:6 and to love in return means to trust and obey.
Obedience: the mark of a trusting faith expressed in love by a humble heart grateful for being loved so well… fueled this fuels by a desire to please, to bring honor, joy, and blessing to the One who loves.
It is this love in response to being loved that governs my choices - that I might be effective in that love - receiving and giving
1John 4:7-21
God’s Love and Ours
7Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
13This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. 14And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. 16And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 17This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 18There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
19We love because he first loved us. 20Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.
The right and responsibility to choose, the enablement to choose, the power to choose, is ours. Will we, will I tap into that power and walk in with that power, what will I choose?
This is the freedom of choice, the freedom of the children of God to be righteous, holy, and good…
Some of those real-life , God granted choices being… yes, I am accepted, but will my choices be acceptable, pleasing, honoring, loving - of God, self, and others as self? (Rom 6:13; 12:1; 15:16; 1Cor 6:20; 1Peter 2:5)
What I will eat and drink - only bread, as to fill my belly, or with my bread, that I might fill my mind and heart with The bread of life – the word of God - will I choose what I want or what God desires; will I choose what will honor God and what will bless and edify others - or - myself?
“He humbled you, and in your hunger, He gave you manna to eat, which neither you nor your fathers had known, so that you might understand that man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.” (Luke 4:4 (Deut 8:3); Ephesians 5:26; Heb 6:7; Ex 17:6; Rom 14; 1Cor 10:3-4; 12:7,18,25; 13; 14:26; Eph 4:7,12; Phil 2:3-8)
What I will wear - will I choose tattered and stained clothes (of sin) or a robe of righteousness and holiness? (Jude 1:23; Rev 3:4; Isa 61:10; Colossians 3; le 19:2; 1Pet 1:15-16)
“10I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.” Isa 61:10
I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead… 2Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God… But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. 4Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy.” Rev 3:1-4
3Your beauty should not come from outward adornments, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. 4Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight… submitting themselves…” ultimately to God’s will and purposes 1Peter 3:3-5
How I will speak about and to others will I choose unwholesome and disparaging, empty and idle, or edifying and encouraging, loving and gracious (Eph 4; Col 4:6; Rom 14:9; 15:2)
“The good man brings good things out of his good store of treasure, and the evil man brings evil things out of his evil store of treasure. But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken.” Matt 12:35-37
“29Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Eph 4:29
“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” Col 4:6
How I will treat others - will I choose the way of the world “don’t do to anyone what you would not have them do to you or do unto others…” OR or the way of Jesus and the kingdom “Do to others AS…”? Luke 6:31; Col 3; Jude 1:2
27“But to you who are listening, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31Do to others as you would have them do to you.” Luke 6:27-31
With what are we to clothe ourselves?
Colossians 3:12-17
12Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
This love not only loves its enemies but also, sincerely and carefully, takes into consideration the heart and soul of the “one another” (John 13:8,34; 1Pet 1:22)- yes, an enemy, but also a brother or sister - those we might take for granted. This sincere love, chooses, out of a moral preference, to seek to please the one loved, not desiring to hurt or harm. This takes wisdom - the seeking and development of knowledge, insight, discernment, discretion, understanding, and the kind of Godly wisdom that is governed by that consideration - that is prudence - and then lovingly enacted with wisdom, consideration, caring. (Prov 1;2;8) Sincere, love.
Romans 15:2-3 “2Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. 3For even Christ did not please himself”
It is not enough to “not do bad” or even to “do good”. Even the secular/ pagan do this. (Matt 5:43-48)
But, it is ours to “do the good work prepared in advance for me to do”, being created in Christ Jesus, filled with His Spirit of Love, I am to strive with Jesus in such a way that produces in and from me the fruit of righteousness - that Spirit - and live a life of Christ’s love - doing unto others - the right thing, in the right way, at the right time, for the right reason, with the right manner.
Eph 5:1-2, 15-20
1Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God… 15Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
When we’re struggling, having to make such an effort to be and do what we know is right and good, there are three things we should ask ourselves - Galatians 6; Romans 5; James 1; 1Peter 1;
1. Am I in sin and/or rebellion?
2. Am I not abiding with Christ closely
3. Is this a season that God is testing me?
