Post by Admin on Oct 27, 2016 6:55:13 GMT
In this passage of Galatians, Apostle Paul describes tension between our human desires and failings (“flesh”) and the direction of the Holy Spirit. In our discussion, we elaborated on this tension. As we have discussed before, goodness, humility, and sacrifice can be seen in people who have no knowledge of or interest in God, which makes sense since as creations of God we embody God’s good nature along with the fallen sinful nature of Man. Where tension exists is in choosing to let the Holy Spirit enrich and improve the Godly instincts we have, instead of clinging to our comfortable bad habits. Tension can also exist between focusing on the faults of others rather than recognizing and repairing our own weaknesses. The latter reminded us of the ultimate liberating action – letting go of anger or resentment even when someone has truly and definitely done wrong to you.
This study was seeking to meld the Fruit of the Spirit with the gift-giving of the Holy Spirit. When discussing this Fruit, our conversation went in the direction of the ways we seek the Holy Spirit’s help in dealing with the stresses of everyday living that could lead to evil, immoral actions, so that instead we stay on the Holy Spirit’s path.
We did not have a chance to talk over Paul’s interesting reminder about the Law in verse 18 (“But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law”) and again in verse 23, in connection with the fruit of the spirit (“Against such things there is no law”). Paul seems to be warning the Galatians not to create a code book of new laws, but to be transformed beyond laws through submitting to the Holy Spirit.
This study was seeking to meld the Fruit of the Spirit with the gift-giving of the Holy Spirit. When discussing this Fruit, our conversation went in the direction of the ways we seek the Holy Spirit’s help in dealing with the stresses of everyday living that could lead to evil, immoral actions, so that instead we stay on the Holy Spirit’s path.
We did not have a chance to talk over Paul’s interesting reminder about the Law in verse 18 (“But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law”) and again in verse 23, in connection with the fruit of the spirit (“Against such things there is no law”). Paul seems to be warning the Galatians not to create a code book of new laws, but to be transformed beyond laws through submitting to the Holy Spirit.