Introduction:
Matthew 7:20 NLT
20 Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.
Galatians 5:19-26 NLT
Results of the Sinful Nature
19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
Fruit of the Spirit
22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
Following the Spirit’s Leading
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 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. 26 Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.
Examine the scriptures:
Matthew 7:20 NLT
20 Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.
- You can identify people by their actions.
Galatians 5:19-26 NLT
Results of the Sinful Nature
19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear:
- Without the transforming work of the Holy Spirit, sinful humans follow wicked desires and actions.
sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these.
Sexual sins:
sexual immorality,
impurity, moral corruption (CEB)
lustful pleasures, debauchery (NIV), sensuality (ESV), doing whatever feels good (CEB)
Religious sins:
idolatry,
sorcery, witchcraft (NIV), casting spells (CEB)
Social sins:
hostility, hatred (NIV), enmity (ESV)
quarreling, discord (NIV), strife (ESV), fighting (CEB)
jealousy, obsession (CEB)
outbursts of anger, fits of rage (NIV), fits of anger (ESV), losing your temper (CEB)
selfish ambition, rivalries (ESV), competitive opposition (CEB)
dissension, conflict (CEB)
division, factions (NIV), group rivalry (CEB)
envy, jealousy (CEB)
drunkenness,
wild parties, orgies (NIV)
and other sins like these. And the like (NIV)
This long list is only representative and not exhaustive.
See also:1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Ephesians 5:5, Revelation 22:15
Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
Romans 1:32 NLT
32 They know God’s justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too.
Romans 2:14-15 NLT
14 Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. 15 They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right.
- Basic understanding of right and wrong is universal.
Those who live like this, who habitually indulge in these sins do not give evidence of being a child of God.
- When you live your life following the desires of your sinful nature you will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
1 John 5:18 NLT
18 We know that God’s children do not make a practice of sinning, for God’s Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot touch them.
Romans 6:17-18 NLT
17 Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you. 18 Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living.
Fruit of the Spirit
22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
Habits of mind:
love,
joy,
peace
Reaches out to others:
patience, forbearance (NIV)
kindness,
goodness,
General conduct:
faithfulness,
gentleness,
self-control
Note: This list is identical, except for instance, in the NLT, NIV, ESV, and CEB.
Similar passages to Galatians 5:22-23
Colossians 3:12-15 NLT
12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.
Ephesians 4:2 NLT
2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.
Ephesians 5:8-9 NLT
8 For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! 9 For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.
2 Corinthians 6:6 NLT
6 We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love.
- The Holy Spirit defends against sin.
- Christian character is produced by the Holy Spirit.
Following the Spirit’s Leading
24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.
Galatians 2:20 NLT
20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT
17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
Romans 6:6 NLT
6 We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin.
Romans 7:4-6 NLT
4 So, my dear brothers and sisters, this is the point: You died to the power of the law when you died with Christ. And now you are united with the one who was raised from the dead. As a result, we can produce a harvest of good deeds for God. 5 When we were controlled by our old nature, sinful desires were at work within us, and the law aroused these evil desires that produced a harvest of sinful deeds, resulting in death. 6 But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 5:14 NLT
14 Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life.
John 15:5-8 NLT
5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. 7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.
- Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
- Apart from Christ we can do nothing.
- Christ and the Holy Spirit come together in the believer’s life.
John 14:16-20 NLT
16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. 18 No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you. 19 Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live. 20 When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.
25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.
Follow the Spirit’s leading.
From previous lesson:
The Holy Spirit dwells in Christians.
1 Corinthians 6:19 NLT
19 Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God?
The Holy Spirit guides us.
John 16:13 NLT
13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.
The Holy Spirit brings conviction.
John 16:8 NLT
8 And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.
The Holy Spirit sanctifies us.
1 Peter 1:2 NLT
2 God the Father knew you and chose you long ago, and his Spirit has made you holy.
Galatians 5:16
16 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives.
- Let the Holy Spirit guide your lives.
26 Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.
These are likely issues that were evident in the Galatian churches.
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- You can identify people by their actions.
- Without the transforming work of the Holy Spirit, sinful humans follow wicked desires and actions.
- Basic understanding of right and wrong is universal.
- When you live your life following the desires of your sinful nature you will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
- The Holy Spirit defends against sin.
- Christian character is produced by the Holy Spirit.
- Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
- Apart from Christ we can do nothing.
- Christ and the Holy Spirit come together in the believer’s life.
- Let the Holy Spirit guide your lives.
