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Paul’s writing gives solid spiritual theological advice
that strips away the false misunderstandings of God in his day and ours. He
builds upon precepts laying the foundation on which much of the Christian
understanding of God rests. St. Paul uses the words “freedom,” “love,”
“liberty,” and “serving,” not only to clarify how we view
God, but also how we view each other. Paul never leaves his readers with merely
a theological foundation, but pours concrete ideas into the foundational walls.
He tells the readers “how to do” the theoretical in a practical
manner.
In the Communicator’s Commentary, Maxie Dunnam entitles
this section “Practical Implications of the Gospel.” Paul believed
his theology was useless unless it could be lived in the world. He grasped
that the theology of the Spirit would succeed for the Christians in their
work-a-day world, times of fun, in their homes, under persecution, and everywhere.
His practical example is found in verses 19-21 when he tells the Galatians
point blank that certain actions are an affront to God’s love. He specifically
states, “that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of
God.” So how practically can we live? He explains to them to live “in
the fruit of the Spirit” and then delineates those Godly actions. How
is this possible? Simply because the Spirit of God comes to the Christian
and places the loving God squarely alongside them everywhere they turn in
life. Instead of living contrary to God’s law, he states, live in the
spirit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness
and self-control. Why? “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified
the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit,
let us keep in step with the Spirit.” (v. 22).
People need to hear this Word of the Lord, but only after we
have listened intently to what God says to us. They need to live in step with
God’s Spirit, and we have the privilege to let them hear the Scripture
speak to their hearts!
As you work through the text, think of how your own theology
of the Holy Spirit impacts this Scripture. Charles Carter writes concerning
the conditions of Christ’s universal offer of the Spirit that should
affect our thinking about the text: “. . . faith in the divine person
and saving efficacy of Christ’s redemptive work is also an absolutely
essential condition for the reception of the promised Spirit. To the assembled
Jews whom Christ addressed, this meant their recognition and acceptance of
Him as their long-expected Messiah. But to every man desiring salvation it
means personal faith in Jesus Christ as his Savior and Lord (Hebrews 11:6).
When the foregoing conditions are met, the divine response is assured. This
brings us to a consideration of the effects of the Spirit upon the recipient.”1#
How does this Scripture impact your understanding of the Spirit?
The Holy Spirit, according to Paul, introduces us to freedom while engaging
us in loving and liberating moments as we listen to his instructions for life.
Through the Spirit we are indwelled and purified to our deepest being. We
cannot bear fruit without the Spirit of life. Since that is true, as the Spirit
flows out of us others will see the evidence of Christ’s Spirit living
in us as they taste those fruits.
Another area of our understanding of the Spirit is that he is
the advocate of our lives. He is the “helper” which gives substance
to life. The Spirit would stand beside the disciples just as Jesus did, not
in a limited time and space, but everywhere and with everyone who claims the
name of Jesus. The Spirit then becomes the promise of Christ to his followers
as the abiding presence daily. He does so by pouring into each of us God’s
love, liberating life, and speaking into the heart and ear of the faithful.
(For the full manuscript
of this sermon go to www.preachermagazine.org and click on “Sermons”)
I have concluded that life in the Spirit is a must for all believers.
He gives us his own spiritual fruit as we yield to his control. The Holy Spirit
also provides his power to liberate us from the darkness of the dominion of
sin by giving himself totally for our use.
In a world so lost in itself, I believe we must preach that
the Christian must not be drawn back into its influence. We have been given
God’s Spirit to give us fortitude, focus, and fulfillment. People sitting
in the pew need that good news, and we have been chosen to relay it through
our preaching. Let them be characterized by the Spirit of Truth, impacted
by God’s teaching of the Spirit through Paul, and allow the Holy Spirit
to be the divine witnessing agent individually. May our people be part of
the process of Christ’s revelation of the work of the Spirit in relation
to the unconverted concerning the life-changing character of God. As the preaching
pastor you have the charge from God to present the truth of His Spirit. May
God give you the power to share the truth.
1. Charles Webb Carter, The Person and Ministry of the Holy Spirit:
A Wesleyan Perspective (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1974), 121.