Galatians 5:22-25 Scriptures must lead us to emulate Christ, not to inhibit us by its laws and traditions
Galatians 5:22-25 Scriptures must lead us to emulate Christ, not to inhibit us by its laws and traditions
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
Background
One who harbours the mentality of Christ manifests the fruit and gifts of the Spirit. But one who harbours the mentality of the law stumbles in the pursuit of Christ and the kingdom. However, if we are led by the Spirit, we are not under the Law (or be held bondage by mentality of the law). The role of scripture is primarily to lead us to emulate Christ. And believers must not be held bondage by its traditions, and its do’s and don’ts. For Christ has set us free by the Spirit to emulate His wisdom, virtues and the way He exercises divine authority. Today’s devotion teaches us: Scriptures must lead us to emulate Christ, not to inhibit us by its laws and traditions.
Observation
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control
We have devoted the last three articles to the core characteristics of love, joy and peace. These are considered primary attributes of Christ and they manifest themselves in the secondary virtues of patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The primary and secondary characteristics of a Spirit-filled person can then be arranged in the following:
- Love gives rise to kindness, goodness
- Peace gives rise to patience, gentleness, self-control
- Joy gives rise to faithfulness
Kindness and goodness are both used to describe God whose fundamental attribute is love. Kindness and goodness translate into uprightness of character, the quality of being helpful and beneficial towards others.
To be patient is to be steadfast or long-suffering in the face of persecution or provocation. Gentleness means meekness and considerateness. It also connotes teachability and the willingness to listen. Self-control is the quality of being able to subject one’s actions and behaviour under the control of the Spirit. Thus, the fruit of self-control does not allow the cravings of one’s own lust and fleshly tendencies to dominate. These three virtues are characteristic of one who is complete and steadfast in God.
Faithfulness denotes one’s commitment to God and to obey His directives. Joy contributes to faithfulness in that it motivates and strengthens him to be faithful to God’s calling for him.
… against such things there is no law.
This can be understood in the light of verse 18, “But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law”. Verse 22 unpacks verse 18 by listing the characteristics of one who is led by the Spirit. Indeed, one who is led by the Spirit does not live by the mentality of the law. Instead, he lives spontaneously, instinctively and passionately by the fragrance of the Spirit. In no way can the fruit of the Spirit be manufactured by following mechanically the stipulations of the law. Even though “against” (kata in Greek) is used in almost all English translations, kata can also mean “towards”. Therefore, it can be translated as: towards such things (the fruit of the Spirit) there is no law. In other words, the fruit of the Spirit is not the machinations of a religious or lawful mind. And we are not to use scripture to inhibit the manifestations of the Spirit in anyway. Indeed, the mentality of the law inhibits the emulation of Christ. But the mentality of Christ promotes the fruit of the Spirit.
Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
“Now those who belong to Christ Jesus” refers to those who are committed to follow Jesus by carrying the cross. These must be differentiated from those who follow the requirements of religion or the law for the primary purpose of obtaining blessing and salvation. For such harp on religious standards, the do’s and the don’ts as opposed to virtues of love, peace and joy.
Now those who belong to Christ Jesus, who have committed themselves to follow Christ, will have in the same breath crucified their fleshly instincts and inclinations. It is important to understand that Jesus’s crucifixion has effectively broken the power of sin and has set humanity free to walk by the Spirit. Thus, Paul asserted that those who have committed to live by the Spirit, should follow through vigilantly to walk by the Spirit. In walking by the Spirit, believers fulfil their calling and inherit the kingdom of God.
Truth
Scriptures must lead us to emulate Christ, not to inhibit us by its laws and traditions
The error of the Judaizers lay in their mentality toward Scripture. They read the law in a rote, fleshly manner, treating it as an end in itself. Yet the law was given to lead us to Christ, not to imprison us in external observance. Paul urged believers to emulate Christ by living out the fruit of the Spirit, not by mindless conformity to traditions established by men. Toward such virtues, “there is no law.”
Scripture must therefore be read with the aim of knowing Christ—specifically the resurrected Christ—and embodying His life. Paul writes, “For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God… it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:19–20). To die to the law is to die to its mindset and to adopt the mentality of Christ, so that His life, wisdom, and authority may be expressed through us.
Many churches assume that affirming Christ’s finished work means they have died to the law. Yet Scripture was never meant to produce mere doctrinal agreement or rule-keeping. Its purpose is to form Christ in us—His virtues, His wisdom, and His way of exercising divine authority. Nevertheless, many still use Scripture as a checklist of what is permitted or forbidden. When it comes to exercising authority, some argue, “You cannot do this, because Jesus did not explicitly do it in Scripture.” Yet Scripture declares that the risen Christ reigns at God’s right hand, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to Him (1 Peter 3:22). If all things are subject to Christ, the absence of a recorded example does not negate the authority He shares with His body. This legal mentality blinds believers to the authority given to them when God made them alive with Christ, raised them with Him, and seated them with Him in the heavenly places (Ephesians 2:5–6).
The Jews opposed Jesus for claiming unity with the Father (John 10:30) and for forgiving sins and healing on the Sabbath—acts they deemed unlawful. Jesus responded by quoting Psalm 82:6: “You are gods.” In doing so, He reminded them of their divine calling, which they had failed to live up to. Rather than blasphemy, Jesus was calling them to emulate what He embodied.
Therefore, believers seeking truth must read Scripture with the mentality of the resurrected Christ. We are to put on His wisdom, His virtues, and His way of exercising power to establish justice and fulfill God’s will. The mentality of the law causes stagnation and stumbling; the mentality of Christ produces growth in divine wisdom, virtue, and authority—bringing life and fruitfulness to all we do.
Application
Do you use scriptures to constrain yourself and others towards “lawful” behaviour? Scriptures should point people to emulate Christ’s wisdom, virtues and authority. Everything that we do must have its basis in Christ’s wisdom, virtues and authority. Suggest a list of attributes: fruit of the Spirit, and gifts of the Spirit that you wish to emulate:
The fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
The gifts of the Spirit:
- The mind of Christ: word of wisdom and knowledge, distinguishing of spirits, tongues and interpretation.
- The heart of Christ: gift of faith and prophecy.
- The power of Christ: gifts of healing and miracles.
Prioritise these characteristics. Work on them by holding yourself accountable to your Cell Group leaders and disciple makers.
Even as Paul prayed in Ephesians 1:17-23… pray with him…
Dear Lord, I pray… that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to us a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that the eyes of our hearts may be enlightened, so that we will know what is the hope of our calling, what are the riches of the glory of our inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. And we as His church will receive Christ’s authority to rule with Him and establish all things under God. In Jesus’s name we pray. Amen.