Toward the end of Galatians, Paul brings this idea of walking in the gospel down to where we live. Last week in 5:13-18, Paul told us that the freedom of the gospel is not to be used as an opportunity for the flesh. Instead we are to walk in the Spirit and we will not gratify the desires of the flesh. Then we were shown the conflict between the Spirit and the flesh in every believer. In v. 19-26, Paul gets specific about what the flesh and the Spirit produce in a person’s life. He does this by giving us two lists. The first, he calls "the works of the flesh," and the second, he calls "the fruit of the Spirit." This Sunday, we will only have time to walk through the first of these lists, because we first need to get a bird’s eye view of how both of these lists fit into the book of Galatians. It is easy to misinterpret the intent of these lists. Often, the sins and virtues in these two lists are examined in depth as if they are a moral guide for being right with God. Especially since Paul says in verse 21, "I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." Many have rightly seen the seriousness of that warning and thought, "I better stop doing these things so I can inherit the kingdom." But that isn’t the purpose of the list. No one inherits the kingdom of God by changing their behavior and living "better." These lists show us what the flesh and the Spirit produce. They are given for the reader to examine the evidence. If someone’s life is defined and characterized by "the works of the flesh," the answer is not "stop doing that." The answer is turning to Jesus in faith through the gospel and receive the Spirit who produces His fruit. Likewise, the believer who struggles with the flesh is exhorted to do the same. Turn to Jesus and "keep in step with the Spirit" (v. 25) as He produces His fruit in the life of believers. Please read through 19-26 a few times before Sunday, and I would ask that you pray for God to give us clarity Sunday, and that I would be faithful to rightly proclaim the word.

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