AFTER CONVERSION, HOW NOW SHALL WE LIVE?
Galatians chapter 5 gives us a good understanding of how a Christian should live.
Below, I summarize some key points from Galatians 5 regarding how Christians should live:
Live by the Spirit, not by the flesh (verses 16-18) - Christians should follow the leading and prompting of the Holy Spirit rather than giving in to sinful desires. Relying on the Spirit enables one to produce the fruit of godly character.
Exhibit the fruit of the Spirit (verses 22-23) - As Christians walk by the Spirit, they will show love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These attitudes and behaviors should increasingly characterize a Christian’s life.
Put to death fleshly works (verses 19-21) - Christians should consciously put off and set aside sinful practices such as sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness and the like.
Restore fallen brothers gently (verses 25-26) - When Christians see a brother falling into sin, they should seek to restore them gently rather than respond with judgment or arrogance. Bearing one another’s burdens fulfills Christ’s law to love one another.
Do good to all people (verse 22) - Doing good to others should be a way of life, especially to those who belong to the household of faith. Love defines the Christian community.
In summary, the Christian life should be characterized by the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit, resulting in godly attitudes, relationships, and actions. Our conduct should seek to serve and restore others with grace and humility.
Please give us a summary of how to exhibit each fruit of the Spirit.
Here’s a summary of how to exhibit each fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23):
Love - Sacrificially serve others, shows patience, kindness, and compassion even when undeserved.
Joy - Have inner contentment and purpose in Christ regardless of circumstances. Radiate cheerfulness that draws people to Christ.
Peace - Be free from anxiety through prayer and by trusting God. Be a peacemaker between people and point them to Christ.
Patience - Persevere through difficult circumstances without complaining. Be understanding and slow to anger when offended.
Kindness - Serve others generously and compassionately. Forgive freely. Speak gently and uplifting words.
Goodness - Do righteous deeds. Model integrity. Promote justice and truth.
Faithfulness - Be loyal in relationships. Keep promises and commitments. Remain true to Christ.
Gentleness - Be sensitive and compassionate. Have a calm and quiet spirit. Correct humbly and politely.
Self-Control - Exercise discipline. Make wise choices. Say no to temptation and sinful desires. Live a moderate, balanced life.
The fruit comes from being connected to Christ as a branch is connected to the vine. As we walk by the Spirit, God produces this fruit in and through us.
And what of the fleshly works of verses 19 to 21?
Paul provides a strong warning against the “works of the flesh” in Galatians 5:19-21. Here’s an overview:
Sexual immorality - All sexual activity outside of marriage between a man and woman. Includes lustful intent.
Impurity - Moral corruption or filthiness.
Sensuality - Unrestrained indulgence of human appetites. Living for pleasure.
Idolatry - Worshipping anything other than the one true God. Putting other things above God.
Sorcery - Practicing magic arts, witchcraft, astrology, and drug use. Seeking spiritual power apart from God.
Enmity - Hostility, hatred, and antagonism toward others.
Strife - Conflict, quarrels, and heated disagreements.
Jealousy - Envy, suspicion, and distrust of others.
Fits of anger - Explosive outbursts of rage and loss of self-control.
Rivalries - Competition and quarrels between individuals or groups.
Dissensions - Divisive factions causing contention and discord.
Divisions - Disunity that tears apart relationships and Christian fellowship.
Envy - Resentment and selfish discontent over another’s success.
Drunkenness - Excessive drinking of alcohol leads to impaired judgment and morality.
Paul sternly warns that those who continually practice such things “will not inherit the kingdom of God.” These must be put to death by the enabling power of the Holy Spirit.
And what of verse 22?
Galatians 5:22 says:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things, there is no law.”
Here, Paul contrasts the sinful works of the flesh with the fruit of the Spirit, now made available to believers through Christ.
The key attribute listed first is love. True biblical love should define and characterize the Christian’s life and conduct towards others. Love also fulfills the overarching principle behind all other moral laws (Matthew 22:36-40).
When we walk in the Spirit, allowing Him to guide and shape our thoughts, attitudes, words, and actions, this kind of sacrificial love will overflow, along with joy, peace, patience, kindness, and other facets of God’s loving character.
The production of the Spirit’s fruit is spontaneous, not manufactured by human effort. As we yield more of ourselves to Christ, the Holy Spirit transforms us increasingly into His image with the motivation and power to love and serve others selflessly for their good and God’s glory.
Would you agree that this ties in nicely with Matthew 6:33?
Yes, I agree that Galatians 5 ties in nicely with Matthew 6:33, where Jesus urges his followers to “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness”. There is a strong resonance between these two passages:
Seeking God’s kingdom refers to letting His priorities, principles, and values shape all areas of life. This requires following the Spirit’s lead rather than the impulses of the flesh (Gal 5:16-18).
Righteousness here means living rightly in conformity to God’s standards. The fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23) describes the very character of Jesus imparted to believers by the Holy Spirit to empower righteous conduct.
Matthew 6:33 promises that as disciples make pursuing Christ’s kingdom and righteousness their top priority, practical “all these things” like food, clothing, and needs will be added by the Father. Similarly, Galatians 5 implicitly assures believers that as they “sow to the Spirit” they will reap the everlasting life of God’s kingdom (Gal 6:8).
So both passages beautifully converge on this principle - as believers prioritize pleasing Christ above all else, He promises to provide, empower, and sustain us for a purposeful kingdom living here and eternal life to come. Our role is to submit our values, thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors continually to the work of the indwelling Holy Spirit.