July 26, 2026

UNIT 2 Letter to the Galatians

LESSON: 8

Study Text: Galatians 5:1-6:18

Central Truth: Spirit-led living is Christlike living.

KEY Verse-- Galatians 5:16, 25 Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh...if we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit (KJV).

Let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves. ... Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit's leading in every part of our lives (NLT).

LET'S GET STARTED

Paul concludes his letter to the Galatians with practical advice for using their spiritual freedom and restoring harmony to the church. After summarizing his arguments, he makes a powerful closing appeal for the Galatians to reject false teaching and embrace life in the Spirit.. 

DISCUSSION STARTER--Free Stuff

What are some "free gifts" that aren't really free? (Examples: free shipping, which requires buying something; free hotel breakfast, which requires renting a room) _______________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________

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Most things labeled "free" come with strings attached. That's how the false teachers in Galatia were presenting Jesus. They argued that  He  may offer salvation, but the strings of the Law were still attached. Paul's argument was that, in Jesus, free really means free. Jesus provided freedom from bondage to sin and freely offers salvation and right standing before God. Believers can choose whether they return to the slavery of sin or embrace their newfound freedom by using it to serve each other.

                                                                 PART 1--Freedom in Christ

          Hold On to Freedom                                     Galatians 5:1-12

What do you think of when you hear the word freedom? Many people associate freedom with democracy, but Paul was not promoting political freedom. Paul taught that Christians were obligated to obey the governmental systems of the world and to pay taxes willingly (Romans 13:1-7). When Paul speaks of freedom, he is talking about spiritual freedom from the harsh demands of legalism and bondage to a sinful nature. Once believers are freed from the obligations of the Law cannot make anyone right with God. Any attempt to be justified through the Law means throwing away Jesus' sacrifice and denying the grace of  God (verse 4). On the other hand, those who are justified by faith have died to the Law and live by the Spirit's power. Next, Paul calls out the false teachers again (verses 7-12). Their influence had permeated the Galatian community, and Paul urged the Galatians to reject their teachings and embrace the truth. Just as false teaching caused the Galatians to be "cut off "us (verse4), Paul wished the false teachers would be cut off from the Galatians (verse 12; literally, "cut themselves off").

? How is Christian freedom different from political freedom?

        The Purpose of Freedom                        Galatians 5:13-15

After spending most of his letter declaring Christians free from servitude, Paul committed them to serving each other in love (Galatians 5:13-14). Christians enjoy tremendous freedom, but our love for others places a limit on it. In Romans 14, Paul explained that personal preferences are allowed but should be tempered in the presence or more sensitive believers. Love creates boundaries in the exercise of Christian liberty. The opposite of serving others in love is "biting and devouring one another" (Galatian 5:15). This expression was used to indicate criticism. Under the Law, it is natural to criticize those who fail to measure up. But criticism leads to broken relationships and mutual destruction. Freedom in Jesus removes the need for this negativity; our goal is not to criticize but to humbly love and serve our brothers and sisters, even when correction is necessary.

? What are some examples of how love creates boundaries for Christian freedom?

PART 2--Walk in the Spirit

The Spirit vs. the Flesh         Galatians 5:16-21

When Christians surrender to the leading of the Spirit, then the sinful nature's desires go unfulfilled (Galatians 5:16). The Old Testament prophets had foretold a time when God's people would be transformed from the ins ide out (Jeremiah 31:31-33; Ezekiel 36:25-27), and Jesus' sacrifice marked the fulfillment. He instituted the new covenant for God's people--not based on obeying the Law but based on having faith in Him (Luke 22:20). Christians no longer need a Law written in stone because God engraved His character into their hearts through the indwelling of His Holy Spirit. Being led by the Spirit does not imply passive participation or eliminate warring with the flesh and worldly influences (Galatians 5:17). Instead, Christians must constantly choose to follow the Spirit's leading. Choosing otherwise produces sinful results (verses 19-21). People who live this way have no place in God's kingdom. Our inheritance as Christians can be forfeited if we refuse to walk in the Spirit.

? How do you experience the conflict between the Spirit and the sinful nature?

  Results of Life in the Spirit              Galatians 5:22-26

In contrast with his list of vices produced by the sinful nature, Paul next lists virtues produced by the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Paul refers to these spiritual qualities as "fruit." Just as fruit is produced naturally, these spiritual virtues cannot be produced through human effort. They are fruit of (as in, coming from) the Spirit. Love stands at the top of the list. Love is the first fruit of all others. (1 Corinthians 13:13; Colossians 3:14). Through the Spiri, Christians also experience joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Paul notes that these virtues are unrestricted by the Law (Galatians 5:23). In fact, they transcend the Law. Bearing the Spirit's fruit means a person--through Jesus--is fulfilling the intention behind the Law. Those who are justified by faith have crucified their sinful natures alongside Jesus. Paul warns the Galatians not to become proud as the Spirit's fruit grows and they follow His leading. A tree can take no credit for producing fruit, nor can it brag about the amount of fruit it has produced. All credits goes to the gardener. Likewise, any fruit we bear is credited to God alone.

? What is your role in producing the Spirit's fruit in your life?

PART 3-Do Good to All

      Life in community            Galatians 6:1-10

Walking in the Spirit means more than avoiding sin. It also means taking positive action by doing good. In Galatians 6, Paul addresses several ways this takes place in a community of believers. First, he addresses how believers who fall into sin should be treated 9verses 1-3). Paul assigned the task of restoration to those who spiritual, who are walking in the Spirit as described in chapter 5. Restoration also means helping to carry others' heavy burdens, which fulfills the "law of Christ" (verse 2). Paul is not replacing one type of legal system with another. The Galatians false teachers had been concerned with keeping the Law of Moses, but Paul says we are responsible to fulfill a higher law by imitating Jesus (John 15:12). Paul encourages believers to be mindful of their own lives instead of judging others (Galatians 6:4-5) and insists that, although false teachers are dangerous, good teachers are worthy of support (verse 6:1 timothy 5:17). The Galatians should remove or restore false teachers and be careful not to assume that all teachers are unworthy.

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? How can we help restore Christians who have fallen into sin? 

Final Thoughts          Galatians 6:11-18

At this point, Paul took the pen from his scribe to close the letter in his own handwriting (Galatians 6:11) condition (4:15). Paul's large letters may hint that he was suffering from an eye condition (4:15), but he apparently considered it important to certify his message so that no one could question its authority. In verse 17, Paul attacked the false teachers with one final stinging rebuke. They claimed the marks of circumcision were required to demonstrate someone belongs to God. But Paul argued that he had other marks to show he belonged to Jesus, likely referring to his scars acquired through persecution. they testified to his dedication to Jesus and the authenticity of his gospel message. Paul's final remark in verse 18 blesed the Galatians with grace. instead of focusing on works, Paul prayed they would rest in the finished work of jesus.

? How did Paul's scars provide a testimony? How might our scars do the same?

WHAT IS GOD SAYING TO US?

We are free from captivity to sin and the Law, and we are freed to serve one another in love. This freedom means we have the choice to become entangled again in slavery, but we should never throw away the freedom for which Jesus paid such a high price. As we live by the Spirit's power, we leave behind the sinful nature that was crucified alongside Jesus, and the fruit of the Spirit is produced in our lives.

LIVING IT OUT

Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh!

             DAILY BIBLE READINGS

                      Monday: Spirit-Anointed Messiah. Isaiah 11:1-5

                               Tuesday: Spirit-Empowered Prophet. Ezekiel 3:10-14

                            Wednesday: The Holy Spirit Promised. Joel 2:23-29

           Thursday: Life in the Spirit. Romans 8:1-9

            Friday: Led by the Spirit. Romans 8:12-17

                            Saturday: The Spirit Prays for Us.  Romans 8:24-28

RADIANT LIFE

Volume 107 Number 3 Mar. Apr. May 2026

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