Christ Creates Holy Living

February 26, 2017 Background Scripture: Galatians 5:18 – 6:10 Lesson Passage: Galatians 5:18 – 26; 6:1 – 10 The Spirit of Christ in the believer is available to empower us to live holy lives. Paul, in another letter, wrote that it is God who works in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure. The Spirit of Christ gives us the desire and the ability to live holy lives. Christians cannot live holy on our own power. The Law proves that holy living is not attainable through sheer human will power or determination. In fact, the harder we try to live holy by keeping the Law—which is strictly obeying God’s commandments, the more we fail to live holy. There is a raging spiritual battle going on inside of every believer. The Spirit is at war against the flesh. The Spirit of Christ in us is fighting our old attitudes, desires, and actions. The Apostle Paul noted in yet another letter, every time we desire to do good things, evil is always present. But when we yield to the Spirit of Christ in us, then we see the fruit of the Spirit manifested in our lives. The characteristics of the Spiritual fruit give evidence that it is not the works of the flesh because the flesh yields the fruit of destruction. The text makes it clear that we only see the fruit of the Spirit when we yield ourselves to be led by the Spirit. The Spirit of Christ does not over power us and does not take away our will or control our mind. We still have the ability to choose right or wrong even as children of God. Christ patiently waits for us to submit to His guidance as Lord of our lives. After we submit to Christ’s lordship, then Christ manifests his presence in us through the demonstration of holy living. There are at least three things made evident in the background scripture to help us understand this. First, the text describes the difference between holy living and living according to the flesh. We can use these two lists to grade our own paper, so to speak. We can discern who is lord of our lives by examining the works or manner of living we engage in. One list suggests we are in charge and the other list is indicative that Christ is in charge. Secondly, the text gives instructions to the believer as to how we should react to a person being overcome by personal sin. The text stipulates that the instructions are only for those who are spiritual. One person walking in the flesh is ill-prepared to help another person walking in the flesh if one is overtaken by sin. As an analogy, a lifeguard should first and foremost know how to swim well enough to save himself. That is prerequisite before he or she enters the water and attempts to save a drowning person. When we first attempt to apply the principles of God’s word to our lives, then the results that show up in us will be instructive to others. This is not to say that we need to be perfect before we can assist another person. (Even a child who has completed the fifth grade can probably help a child who is struggling in the second grade.) Thirdly, the text indicates that believers should have a preference for other believers in showing hospitality. This is as Jesus taught it should be. In all of this, it is Christ who is creating holy living in us. Robert C. Hudson January 20, 2017