February 26 • BIBLE STUDY GUIDE 13

Fruits of Redemption Bible Background • GALATIANS 5:2-6:18 Printed Text • GALATIANS 5:22-6:10 | Devotional Reading • 2 PETER 1:3-8

Aim for Change By the end of the lesson, we will: HEAR Paul’s teaching on faithfulness and sharing others’ burdens; FEEL compassion and a sense of duty to others; and SUPPORT one another in the faith through service.

In Focus Following his participation in a drug addiction rehab center and his acceptance of Jesus Christ, a young husband and father of two small children made rapid progress toward getting his life together. He was fortunate to have the support of a loving and caring wife and church family. These support systems, coupled with his desire to make something of his life, resulted in his finishing trade school, landing a good job and staying clean—drug free for four years. However, one day, his wife called me indicating that he was at home with her and wanted to talk with me. Sensing the distress in her voice, I responded immediately. He confessed that he had “fallen back.” He said, “I messed up. I’ve done drugs twice during the past two weeks.” The tragedy is that this is not an isolated situation. The lust of the flesh renders all believers vulnerable to using their Christian freedom to indulge the sinful nature. Those who refuse to walk in the Spirit will fulfill the lust of the flesh. The good news is that those who allow themselves to “be led of the Spirit” will produce the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:18, 22-23). God’s will is that we walk in the Spirit!

Keep in Mind “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith” (Galatians 5:22).

Focal Verses KJV

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. 3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. 4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 5 For every man shall bear his own burden. 6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. 7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. 10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

NLT

Galatians 5:22 But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. Here there is no conflict with the law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25 If we are living now by the Holy Spirit, let us follow the Holy Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. 26 Let us not become conceited, or irritate one another, or be jealous of one another.

We Reap What We Sow 6:1 Dear brothers and sisters, if another Christian is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. 2 Share each other’s troubles and problems, and in this way obey the law of Christ. 3 If you think you are too important to help someone in need, you are only fooling yourself. You are really a nobody. 4 Be sure to do what you should, for then you will enjoy the personal satisfaction of having done your work well, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. 5 For we are each responsible for our own conduct. 6 Those who are taught the word of God should help their teachers by paying them. 7 Don’t be misled. Remember that you can’t ignore God and get away with it. You will always reap what you sow! 8 Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful desires will harvest the consequences of decay and death. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. 9 So don’t get tired of doing what is good. Don’t get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time. 10 Whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone, especially to our Christian brothers and sisters.

The People, Places, and Times Walking in the Spirit. The apostle Paul challenged the believers of his day to learn what every believer today would do well to remember: The key to making progress in the realm of Christian freedom is to keep walking in the Spirit. Paul is very much aware of the Galatians’ need for a power that the Law could not give. The history of the Jewish people consistently revealed that there are some things the Law cannot do (Romans 7:7-12; 8:3). Rules and regulations can command, but they cannot empower one to do what is commanded. Rules and regulations serve as a guide or a road map, but they cannot motivate and enable one to follow the direction and guidance given. If the Galatians were to live free from sin’s power to control their lives—if they were to fulfill the Law—it would be because they surrendered themselves to the enabling power of the Holy Spirit. Only those who have surrendered and who continually surrender themselves to the complete control of the Spirit are empowered to walk according to the Spirit’s orders. It is the

power of the Holy Spirit that guides and strengthens believers to live righteously and gain victory in their warfare against the desires of the flesh (sinful nature).

Background Paul had just finished telling the Galatians about their freedom in Christ. They were instructed to use their freedom to make doing God’s will and lovingly serving others their highest aim. Paul was not, however, unaware of the inner struggle that such freedom would bring. The desires of the sinful nature are always present to dissuade believers from fulfilling the call of God and living ethical and righteous lives. Christian freedom requires believers to make choices. There is always the choice to serve the will of God or the desires of the sinful nature. The power to do God’s will flows into the hearts of those who are now walking and who make a choice to keep walking in the Spirit.

At-A-Glance 1. The Way of the Spirit Produces the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-26) 2. Believers Are To Rally Around One Another in the Spirit of Meekness (Galatians 6:1-5) 3. Believers Are To Persevere in Doing Good (vv. 6-10)

In Depth 1. The Way of the Spirit Produces the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-26) After listing certain manifestations of the sinful nature (the flesh), Paul now mentions some of the manifestations of the Spirit. His listing of the fruit of the Spirit is not meant to be exhaustive, but rather illustrative of the kinds of qualities and behaviors produced by the Spirit. First, it is worthy to note that Paul’s list begins with love, the one quality necessary to create the atmosphere needed for the proper functioning of all the other qualities (see 1 Corinthians 13). Moreover, ending the list with temperance (i.e., self-control) is a clear indication of our Spirit-led ability to control the desires of the sinful nature. Leon Morris offers a helpful comment about the phrase “fruit (singular) of the Spirit” in Galatians 5:22. Morris suggests that this is not a reference to a “series of fruits” to be distributed among believers “so that one believer has one (and) another (believer has) another. Rather, he is referring to a cluster, such that all these qualities are to be manifested in each believer” (Morris, 173). If Morris is right, then every believer, through the Spirit’s grace, has access to all the fruit of the Spirit. Therefore, while the works of the sinful nature lead to destruction, the fruit of the Spirit offers the believer the power to grow in the things of the Spirit. Given the warfare between the sinful nature and the Spirit, what is the believer’s responsibility? What should the believer do to gain victory over the desires of the sinful nature and to grow in

the things of the Spirit? To this question, Paul gives three specific responses. First, believers are not to undo what they have already done. What the believer has nailed to the Cross through repentance and faith is not to be removed. They that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh; let the flesh remain dead! Do not bring the flesh to life again by choosing to fulfill its desires. Second, since the Holy Spirit is the source of the believer’s life in Christ, the believer is to allow the Spirit to dominate and control his or her behavior. In other words, “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25). Third, the believer must “not be desirous of vain glory” (v. 26). This, Paul adds, will disrupt Christian fellowship and create envy within our hearts. The implication is that the desire for vainglory (being conceited) works against the Spirit’s desires for God’s glory. 2. Believers Are To Rally Around One Another in the Spirit of Meekness (Galatians 6:1-5) In these verses, Paul continues to outline the responsibility and expected behavior of those who follow the Spirit’s leading. Believers are to be led by the Spirit, avoid arrogance and selfdeception, and rally ’round one another in the spirit of meekness, especially when another believer has been “overtaken in a fault” (Galatians 6:1a). Paul is not naive. He recognizes that there will be occasional instances when a believer will be guilty of missing the mark and yielding to the desires of the sinful nature. In these instances, God’s plan is to involve the body of believers in the Spirit’s redemptive and restorative process. This plan has no place for judging, self-deception, or arrogance. Rather, “the spirit of meekness” (Galatians 6:1a) is to characterize the congregation. Each believer is to keep in mind that they, too, are vulnerable to the desires of the sinful nature (v. 1b). In addition, believers are to “bear. . . one another’s burdens” (v. 2). No believer should view himself or herself as being superior to another believer (vv. 3-5). Paul makes the point that the fruit of the Spirit is to find expression not only through the lives of individual believers, but also through the collective life of the congregation. 3. Believers Are To Persevere in Doing Good (vv. 6-10) In verses 6 through 10, Paul reminds believers to persevere in “doing good.” They are to remember those who teach them spiritual truths and persevere in the things of the Spirit. In contrast, he clearly states that to give place to the desires of the sinful nature has both current and eternal consequences. The consequence of pursuing the things of the Spirit is “life everlasting” (v. 8b). The consequence of yielding to the desires of the sinful nature is “corruption” (v. 8a). Therefore, since God cannot be mocked (scornfully disregarded), believers would do well to remember that they will reap the good they have sown if they do not grow weary or give up (v. 9). In light of God’s approval and external rewards, we are admonished to take advantage of opportunities to do good, especially for fellow believers in Christ.

Search the Scriptures 1. How many of the fruit of the Spirit can you name (Galatians 5:22-23)? 2. “If a man be overtaken in a fault,” what should believers do (Galatians 6:1)? 3. Why do you think that Paul makes it clear that “God is not mocked” (v. 7)?

Discuss the Meaning 1. What is meant by the proverbial phrase “God is not mocked”? 2. What does it mean to “be led of the Spirit”? 3. What does it mean to “prove” one’s “own work”?

Lesson in Our Society Every believer who desires to do the will of God has access to the Spirit’s guiding and empowering resources. However, to do so, we must continue to walk in the Spirit. Believers have no reason to grow weary and give up. The rewards that follow those who, by the Spirit’s enabling, keep choosing to do good are everlastingly beneficial. Moreover, those believers who dare to remember, and who in remembering take to heart the truth that in love Christ died for us will find themselves increasingly compelled and constrained (2 Corinthians 5:14) to keep choosing to fulfill the desires of the Spirit by living righteously and walking in love. If we want to have a distinctive witness to the world around us, we have to live in the Spirit’s power.

Make It Happen During this week, set aside a day or two to give yourself to prayer and fasting, asking God to make you more aware of the presence and leading of His Spirit. In addition to your praying and fasting, set some priorities for the week so that the pressures of your schedule will not deafen you to the Spirit’s voice.

Follow the Spirit What God wants me to do:

Remember Your Thoughts Special insights I have learned:

More Light on the Text

Galatians 5:22-6:10 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. Paul identifies the kind of qualities that will be evident in those believers who are walking in the Spirit. Paul contrasts the “fruit (singular) of the Spirit” with the aforementioned “works (plural) of the flesh (sinful nature).” The singular form of the Greek word karpos (kar-POS), meaning “fruit,” is indicative of the fact that the Spirit is capable of producing this fruit in every believer. They are not fruits, but fruit. The Spirit produces character and righteous behavior that is an outgrowth of the changed heart of the believer, thus making obedience to the Law obsolete. Those who walk in the Spirit put to death the sinful nature and its desires and allow the Spirit of God to lead them and produce fruit that does not need legislation. In other words, those who have identified themselves with Christ and belong to Christ “have crucified” or put to death everything that is in opposition to Christ and are thus free to produce through their behavior the fruit of the Spirit. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. This is a concise summary of what Paul has already said. It is a statement of what is true since “we live in the Spirit.” It is also a statement that reflects the logical consequence of the reality of living in the Spirit: “let us also walk in the Spirit.” Since we live in the Spirit, let us line up with the Spirit. Believers who claim to live in the Spirit must also allow their profession to find expression in behavior that is the result of the Spirit’s control. 26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. This verse seems to suggest that Paul does not want his readers to become overconfident concerning their position in Christ. To be in Christ and to be led by the Spirit does mean that such a person will always reflect the spirit and attitude of Christ. Sometimes good behavior is carried out in ways that provoke and stir up jealousy in others. This is certainly the case when the good works are done in ways that call attention to oneself. This is the concern that Paul telescopes in his use of the word “provoking” (Gk. proka-leomai, prok-al-EH-om-ahee). To illustrate the meaning of this word, F. F. Bruce cites, “Philo’s story of Demosthenes who, when challenged to a slanging match” used this word to decline the challenge “because, as he said, the winner would come off worse than the loser” (Bruce, 257). It is reasonable to think that Paul saw the Galatians disputing among themselves from this vantage point. Those who were right in their comments about salvation may have conducted themselves in ways that provoked others or that stirred up envy. Consequently, those who were right conducted themselves worse than those who were wrong. The implication is that believers have an obligation to manage right conduct in ways that do not tempt others to do wrong.

The spirit that seeks to prove one’s “rightness” at the expense of another’s spiritual well-being borders on “vain glory.” This does not speak well of the Holy Spirit’s leading. Therefore, “let us not be desirous of vain glory” (KJV), and “let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other” (NIV). 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Paul’s use of the word “overtaken” (Gk. prolambano, pro-lam-BAN-o) literally means to be entrapped, taken, caught by surprise, or to take a false step. This gives the meaning that the man “overtaken in a fault” was not intentionally doing wrong. Rather, he suddenly became aware, or it was brought to his attention that what he was doing was wrong. Paul counsels that believers are to handle such situations in a spirit of meekness and with a view toward restoration. In other words, do not satisfy the lust of the flesh by using the situation as occasion for gossip or for viewing oneself as superior to the one at fault. The antidote to such sinful behavior is to “consider thyself, lest thou also be tempted,” or to “watch yourself, or you also may be tempted” (NIV). 2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. Those who are led by the Spirit are called here to be willing and available to help carry one another’s loads. The sense of the Greek makes this behavior a style of living in Christian fellowship with other believers. The verb “to bear” is from the Greek word bastazo (bas-TAHzo), meaning to take up, carry, or endure. It can also mean to suffer or undergo. The Greek word for “burdens” is baros (BAR-os), meaning weight or heaviness. Paul says we are to carry one another’s burden. In this verse, he is referring to hardships. We are to support one another by helping to bear the weight of hardship. Bearing one another’s burdens is not an occasional act. Rather, it is a way of living and behaving in the Christian community. By so behaving, we, like Christ, will have fulfilled the Law. 3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. One of the expressions of the Spirit-led life is a proper and legitimate estimate of oneself. When one connects verse 2 with verse 3, the message is clear. Those who think too highly of themselves are unlikely candidates for bearing another’s burdens. 4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. Each person should evaluate his or her own behavior. Those who are led by the Spirit have no need to compare themselves with other believers. Proving one’s own work, or testing and evaluating one’s own actions in the light of God’s Word, gives a basis for self-evaluation. In fact, rejoicing because one thinks that he or she is better than someone else is in opposition to

our life in Christ. It is not the way of the Spirit. Given this interpretation of verse 4, verse 5 is a logical restatement. 5 For every man shall bear his own burden. This might appear to contradict verse 2 where Paul says we should share each other’s burdens. Here, Paul says bear your own burden. The difference is apparent in the Greek. The Greek word for “burden” here is phortion (for-TEE-on). It is different from the word used in verse 2. The meaning is better conveyed by the use of the word “load,” which refers to everyone pulling their own weight in relationship to their responsibilities. In other words, you should do your job and not expect someone else to do it for you. This is so that the work of ministry is shouldered by everyone and not by a few; we each have a responsibility to carry part of the load (burden). This personal responsibility is quite different from helping someone who is burdened down with problems. Nowhere in Scripture is laziness a virtue. Our Christian responsibility is to carry our own weight and help bear the misfortunes of others. 6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. In verse 6, Paul transitions from bearing burdens to sharing blessings. He admonishes those who hear God’s Word to share all good things with their pastors and teachers. The word translated as “communicate” comes from the Greek word koinoneo (koy-no-NEH-o), which means to enter into fellowship with, to share with, or to partner with another. The phrase “all good things” does not mean that people are to give all they have to their ministers, but that they should support them liberally and share with them the good things of this life, according to their need. 7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. Using the metaphor of a farmer who sows and reaps the harvest, Paul says that what a believer sows determines what he or she will harvest. Put another way, our choices will determine our consequences. Whether we choose to live in the Spirit or to live in the flesh (sinful nature), the respective consequences will follow. 9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. Believers are encouraged to sow to the Spirit, and refuse to become discouraged. This explains the need for Paul’s note of encouragement in verse 9. The Greek word for “weary” is ekkakeo (ek-kak-EH-o) meaning to lose heart or become tired. The word for “faint” in the Greek is ekluo (ek- LOO-o), meaning to weaken or give up. Paul encourages the Galatians not to get tired and give up for there is a reward after all is said and done. 10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

The word “opportunity” is translated from the Greek word kairos (kahee-ROS), which means “time” or “season.” In the terms of sowing and reaping, we now have a seasonal opportunity to do that what is good and beneficial for others, especially to our brothers and sisters in the family of God. Sources: Baltes, A. J., ed. Biblespeech.com. http://www.biblespeech.com (accessed August 11, 2010). Bruce, F. F. The Epistle to the Galatians: A Commentary on the Greek Text. The New International Greek Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1982. 257. Morris, Leon. Galatians: Paul’s Charter of Christian Freedom. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1996. 173.

Say It Correctly Corinthians. Kuh-RIN-thee-uhns. Galatians. Ga-LA-shuns.

Daily Bible Reading MONDAY Renewed by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:1-7) TUESDAY Chosen To Be Obedient (1 Peter 1:1-5) WEDNESDAY Supporting Your Faith (2 Peter 1:3-8) THURSDAY Faith Working through Love (Galatians 5:2-6) FRIDAY Called to Freedom (Galatians 5:7-15) SATURDAY The Works of the Flesh (Galatians 5:16-21) SUNDAY Living by the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-6:10) —Precepts 2011-2012