Against the Law
Against the Law, Against the Spirit
Galatians 5:16-26 (NIV)
Life by the Spirit
16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
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I. Introduction Outlaws on the run, running from the law, and running from the Spirit.
II. Spirit Operates Against Sin
III. Sin Operates Against Law
IV. Spirit Operates Within Law
V. Spirit Operates Without Sin
VI. Conclusion Sin is still bad, and outlaws are still outlaws. There is no such thing as an old sinner saved by grace, but through the power of the Spirit, the leopard changes its spots. We are not simply put above the law, but we are put in harmony with it, strengthened in the inner man that Christ be formed in us, through the Spirit. God does not condone sin, he still opposes it.
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[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996, c1984.