Day 12. Second Principle of Freedom
Question 1 and 2
“I’m learning so much about walking by the Spirit so that I don’t gratify the lusts of my flesh. As I’ve been learning to study my Bible and see the cross in it, I’ve started experiencing a power I did not have before. I love walking with Jesus in His Word, in worship, and in fellowship with Him, as it is freeing me from drunkenness.” Linda
Called to Freedom
We left off in the previous lesson by looking at Galatians 5:13–15:
You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
Galatians 5:13-15
This passage makes it clear that believers are called to be free. In the context of the Book of Galatians, this means freedom from the Law and freedom from slavery to sin. We are called to be free people, as that is exactly what Jesus died to make us!
But Paul quickly adds that we are not to use our blood-bought freedom to indulge the flesh; indeed, that’s what the Spirit of God is freeing us from!
So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Galatians 5:16–18
The Holy Spirit's focus is on Jesus Christ (John 14–16). He directs us to Jesus' perfect life, sacrificial death, powerful resurrection, and intercession. Therefore, walking by the Spirit means being focused on Jesus. As a result, we won't live for self-gratification, as the Spirit empowers us to live a life free from our fleshly desires.
Question 1. According to Galatians 5:17, what conflict is every believer experiencing?
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Believers have a lifelong battle with competing desires: the flesh desires self-gratification, while the Spirit desires to crucify our lusts. Even though we are free in Christ, we still face temptations. At times, we may fall and not do what we want. However, we can come to the cross to wash, and the Holy Spirit will raise us to walk again in newness of life.
Question 2. Please fill in the blank: “If you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the ” (Galatians 5:18).
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As a believer, you're under grace, not law. Why? When Jesus died, your "old self" died with Him (Romans 6:6), and the law only applies to the living (Romans 7:1-2)! So, you're not under the Law's condemnation or supervision. You're under grace (Romans 6:14). This means that God will interact with you based only on grace, not law, for the rest of your life!