Godly Living In Light Of Christ’s Coming Series

GODLY LIVING IN LIGHT OF CHRIST’S COMING

Getting In Tune With Our Nature

GALATIANS 5:16-26

INTRODUCTION: In order to live the life we ought to be living in light of Christ’s return we must bring the influence of our old nature and life under the subject of our new nature and life received at salvation. The text before us this morning gives us some important principles in this area. If Christ’s is surely returning soon, we need to be prepared for His coming.

I GETTING TO KNOW OUR OLD NATURE – Vs. 16-17

Someone once said, “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.” I suppose what he meant was to not let your enemies sneak up on you or in some other way get over on you. Paul wants the Galatians to be aware of who their enemy is and watches that their enemy does not get over on them. For this would be disastrous to their Christian walk.

A Life with the Holy Spirit – 16

1 Paul states that if we live by the Holy Spirit we will not fulfill the desires of our sinful nature

2 The word “by” means “under the influence of”

3 If we are not living under His influence, then it stands to reason that we are living under the influence of our Old Nature

4 In fact, living under the influence of the Holy Spirit is the ONLY way to resist our old nature

a The unsaved man cannot resist his nature

b The believer not walking with Christ cannot resist his old nature for long

5 Victory in this life is

a Not by Education

b Not by Philosophy

c Not by Resolution

d But by Yieldedness

B Living without the Holy Spirit

1 Provides no resistance to the corruption of my old nature

2 Allows me to option but to gratify/complete the desires of my old nature

3 Draws me in the opposite direction of God and his plan for my life

a The influence of my sinful nature results in actions contrary to God

b Influence of the Holy Spirit results in actions consistent to God

II LEARNING TO EXPERIENCE OUR NEW NATURE – Vs 18, 24-26

A Living in New Nature is living under the influence of the Holy Spirit.

1 To be led by the Holy Spirit is better than to be led by the law

2 Godly life is not under the rule of law but the leading of the Holy Spirit

a External law exerts pressure on our lives

b Internal influence exerts conviction on our lives

B Living in our New Nature is a Different Walk

1 It’s a walk in God’s Nature

a Paul goes to length in describing the acts of our old nature

1 They are obvious

2 Paul describes four categories of sins

a) Sexual sins

(1) Immorality

(1) Impurity

(1) Debauchery

b) Religious sins

(1) Idolatry

(1) Witchcraft

c) Societal Sins

(1) Hatred

(1) Discord

(1) Jealousy

(1) etc

d) Influential Sins

(1) Drunkenness

(1) Orgies – both associated w/ worship of Bacchus

2 God’s Nature is reflected in the Fruit of the Spirit

a The Fruit of the Spirit is one fruit, not several

1 Three find their source in God

2 Three reach out to others

3 Three describe the general condition of believers

b The Fruit of the Spirit is the life of Christ lived out in the Believer

III Walking Consistently In Our New Nature – Vs 25

A Those who live in the Spirit keep step with the Spirit

1 Walk in God’s Nature – ie: the Fruit of the Spirit

2 Walk as a delivered people

3 Walk consistent with our position in Christ

4 Walk humbly

a We stand acceptable to God

b We stand approved by God

1 We did not deserve it

2 We did not work for it

3 God gave it to us

B The Characteristics of a Spirit Filled Life

1 A heart for God

2 An intimacy with God – comfort in his presence

3 Hunger for righteousness

4 Grasp of the Gospel

5 A consciousness of the Conflict around us

6 Recognition of our own imperfection

7 Recognition that it is impossible to humanly live a God honoring life

8 Desire for Service