Verses teaching "Christian Life & Worship"

Part 63 - PAUL'S LETTER to the GALATIANS


Some of Galatians is here; much of Galatians is in Part 12, "Travels and Acts; some is in Part 43, "Gospel of Jesus"

63.1 CHRISTIAN CONDUCT

Galatians 5:13 - It is to freedom that you have been called, my brothers. Only be careful that freedom does not become mere opportunity for your lower nature.

 

63.2 LOVE - ITS PREEMINENCE

Galatians 5:13b-14 - You should be free to serve each other in love. For after all, the whole Law toward others is summed up by this one command, 'You shall love your neighbour as yourself'. 

63.3 FREEDOM AS CHRISTIANS

Galatians 5:15 - But if freedom means merely that you are free to attack and tear each other to pieces, be careful that it doesn't mean that between you destroy your fellowship altogether!

  

63.4 THE HOLY SPIRIT

Galatians 5:16-18 - Here is my (Paul's) advice. Live your whole life in the Spirit and you will not satisfy the desires of your lower nature. For the whole energy of the lower nature is set against the Spirit, while the whole power of the Spirit is contrary to the lower nature. Here is the conflict, and that is why you are not free to do what you want to do. But if you follow the leading of the Spirit, you stand clear of the Law.

 

63.5 NON-CHRISTIAN BEHAVIOUR

Galatians 5:19-21 - The activities of the lower nature are obvious. Here is a list: sexual immorality, impurity of mind, sensuality, worship of false gods, witchcraft, hatred, quarrelling, jealousy, bad temper, rivalry, factions, party-spirit, envy, drunkenness, orgies and things like that. I (Paul) solemnly assure you, as I did before, that those who indulge in such things will never inherit God's kingdom.

63.6 CHRISTIAN CONDUCT, also the HOLY SPIRIT

Galatians 5:22-25 - The (Holy) Spirit however (compared with our lower nature), produces in human life fruits such as these: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, fidelity, tolerance and self-control - and no law exists against any of them. Those who belong to Christ have crucified their old nature with all that it loved and lusted for. If our lives are centred in the Spirit, let us be guided by the Spirit.

 

63.7 SELF-IMPORTANCE

Galatians 5:26 - Let us not be ambitious for our own reputations, for that only means making each other jealous.

63.8 RESPONSIBILITY FOR OTHERS

Galatians 6:1 - Even if a man should be detected in some sin, my brothers, the spiritual ones among you should quietly set him back on the right path, not with any feeling of superiority but being yourselves on guard against temptation.

 

63.9 SERVING OTHERS

Galatians 6:2 - Carry each other's burdens and so live out the law of Christ. ....

 

63.10 FOOLING OURSELVES

Galatians 6:3-4 - If a man thinks he is "somebody", he is deceiving himself, for that very thought proves that he is nobody. Let every man learn to assess properly the value of his own work and he can then be glad when he has done something worth doing without dependence on the approval of others.

 

63.11 PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY

Galatians 6:5 - ... every man must "shoulder his own pack" (carry his own load).

 

63.12 CHRISTIAN LEADERS

Galatians 6:6 - The man under Christian instruction should be willing to contribute towards the livelihood of his teacher.

 

63.13 REAPING WHAT WE SOW

Galatians 6:7-10 - Don't be under any illusion: you cannot make a fool of God! A man's harvest in life will depend entirely on what he sows. If he sows for his own lower nature his harvest will be the decay and death of his own nature. But if he sows for the Spirit he will reap the harvest of everlasting life by that Spirit. Let us not grow tired of doing good, for, unless we throw in our hand, the ultimate harvest is assured. Let us then do good to all men as opportunity offers, especially to those who belong to the Christian household.

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continuing verses on "Christian Life and Worship", on to Part 64, Romans OR back to Harmony of Jesus & Early Church