“Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:19-21
Many who claim to be Christians fail to see that continuing impenitently in the works of the flesh leads to eternal ruin. As the apostle writes, “Those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” Those who repent of their sinful ways and trust in Christ for pardon are forgiven and led by the Spirit of God to put to death the works and desires of the flesh.
Grant that I continue in the true faith, O Lord God, acknowledging my sins and looking to Christ for pardon and forgiveness, and seeking the help and aid of the Holy Spirit to amend my ways and resist the longings of my old sinful nature. Amen.
“I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” Galatians 5:16-18
The Holy Spirit creates faith in the hearts of believers and regenerates them, giving them a new nature that loves God and their neighbor, and seeks to live in accordance with God’s Word. But believers still have their old sinful flesh, which lusts after and desires what God forbids instead of desiring those things God commands. And so, Paul urges believers to walk in the Spirit and follow His leading and guiding rather than yielding to the sinful desires of the flesh. And, if we are led by the Spirit, we continue to trust in Christ alone for our salvation and are free from the curse and condemnation of God’s law upon our sins and shortcomings.
Grant that I walk in Your ways, O Lord, and not yield to the sinful inclinations of my heart. Graciously keep me in the true faith that I might not be condemned by Your law. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
“For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!” Galatians 5:14-15
Having been set free from bondage under the law, we love God and our neighbor, and willingly serve them. St. Paul wrote to the Romans: “Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law” (Rom. 13:10). If we love our neighbor as we love ourselves, we will do no evil to our neighbor. The same is true of our attitude toward God. If we love Him, we will have no other gods, we will honor and glorify His name, and we will gladly hear and learn His Word.
O gracious and merciful God, You have freed me from the curse and condemnation of the law in Christ Jesus. Grant that I, in return, truly love You and my neighbor and gladly and willingly obey Your commandments. Amen.
“For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” Galatians 5:13
Those who trust in Christ Jesus are called to liberty because Christ has fulfilled all the demands of the law in their stead, but the Apostle Paul calls upon them to use their liberty in Christ not to indulge in the sinful desires of the flesh but to serve one another in love.
Grant that I live for You, O Christ, and use my liberty to love my neighbor and serve his needs. Amen.
“I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is. And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased. I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off!” Galatians 5:10-12
Those who cause others to err or fall from the true faith by spreading teachings and beliefs that do not agree with the revealed Word of God will be judged by the LORD God and held accountable for misleading souls redeemed by the blood of Christ Jesus. Indeed, it would be better for those urging circumcision and righteousness based on the law to emasculate themselves than to weaken or destroy the faith of believers!
Keep me from error and false teaching, O Lord, and preserve me in the true and saving faith in Christ Jesus. In His name, I pray. Amen.
