Galatians 5:1-26

Contents: Liberty of the believer in Christ, apart from the law. Conflict of flesh and the Spirit. Christian character the result of the Spirit's work not self-effort.

Characters: Christ, Holy Spirit, Paul.

Conclusion: Since we are justified only by faith in Christ Jesus, not by the righteousness of the law, let us not again stand in fear of and bondage to legal ordinances. While our salvation is settled by the work of Christ, the conflict of sin which still wars in the believer's members, may be settled by yieldedness to the Holy Spirit, Who is present in the believer to subdue the fleshly nature and to bear heavenly fruit through our lives.

Key Word: Liberty, Galatians 5:1; Galatians 5:13. Flesh and Spirit, Galatians 5:16.

Strong Verses: Galatians 5:1; Galatians 5:6; Galatians 5:14; Galatians 5:16; Galatians 5:17; Galatians 5:18; Galatians 5:22; Galatians 5:23; Galatians 5:24.

Striking Facts: Galatians 5:4. To «fall from grace» is to fall back on legal ordinances and mix law and grace. One who is fallen from grace is not a believer who has lost his salvation by failure to do good works (the popular Methodist explanation), but one who is doing good works and trusting in them as a means of salvation and sanctification.