Text: Galatians 5:16-26
Title: Christmas gifts –The right to live by the Spirit
Introduction
Christ came at Christmas for two reasons (Gal 4:4)
1.To redeem us
2.To reward us with the full rights as sons
Last week we looked at one of those rights –the right to worship God
1.We have the right to worship God through faith in Christ Jesus
2.We have a lot to worship God for
3.We are given the Holy Spirit to help us worship
4.Worship is about God and not us
Today we want to look at another Christmas Gift; - the right to live by the Spirit
As we get older where we want to live changes
As an Infant – we want to live by a playground
As a child – we want to live by a McDonalds
As a teenager – we want to live by a beach
As an adult we want to live by a Wal-Mart
One of the Christmas gifts- to live by the Spirit
There are three groups of people mentioned in our passage
1.There are those who live by the Spirit
2.There are those who live by the sinful nature
3.There are those who live by both the Spirit and the sinful Nature
What kind of Christmas do those who live by the Spirit have?
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (v22-23)
What kind of Christmas do those who live by the Sinful nature have?
“The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery, idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 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.” (v19-21)
What kind of Christmas do those who live by the Spirit and the sinful nature have?
“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.” (v17)
What kind of life do those who live by the Spirit have?
What kind of life do those who live by the sinful nature have?
What kind of life do those who live by the Spirit and the sinful nature have?
•Those who live by the Spirit end up victorious
,,,against such things there is no law…(v23)
•Those who live by the sinful nature end up condemned
“I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (v21)
•Those who live by both the Spirit and the Sinful nature end up discouraged and defeated.
“you do not do what you want…” (v17)
No one wants to live condemned and no one wants to live defeated or discouraged
Two possible solutions
1.Live according to the Law
•There is a sin nature that lives inside me that does not want to obey the law
•At best we pick and choose which laws we will obey
•The end result is that we all end up condemned, defeated or discouraged
2.Live according to the Spirit
“So I say, “live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.” (v16)
“But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.”
How does one live according to the Spirit?
The answer is found in verses 24-25
“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.”
•Belong to Christ Jesus
In order to live by the Spirit we must first belong to Christ Jesus
How do we belong to Jesus?
“Through him and for his name sake we received grace and apostleship to call people from among the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith. And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.” (Rom. 1:5-6)
Belonging to Jesus is more than just believing in Jesus. A lot of people believe in Jesus but don’t yet belong to Jesus.
Belonging to Jesus begins with a prayer of faith. By faith you belong to Jesus by inviting him into your life.
“behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door I will come in and eat with him and he with me.” (Rev. 3:20)
In every life there is a throne room. That throne rightly belongs to Jesus. The Bible says
“For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.” (Colossians 1:16)
Before Jesus comes into our lives our sinful nature sits on that throne. By faith we ask Jesus to replace our sinful nature on the throne with himself.
How do you know you really belong to Jesus? You know you belong to Jesus because you experience a passion and desire for Jesus. You have a passion and a desire to know Jesus better and you have a passion and a desire to see others come to know Jesus.
The more you belong to Jesus the less you belong to the sinful nature. (Gal.2:20)
Belonging to Jesus is also a matter of longing for Jesus.
•Belong to the Holy Spirit
Those who are led by the Spirit also belong to the Holy Spirit.
“Since we live by the Spirit let us keep in step with the Spirit. (v25)
In the Gospels the disciples belonged to Jesus. In the Book of Acts they belonged to the Holy Spirit.
Jesus is our defense. The Holy Spirit is our offense (Acts 1:8)
To live by the Spirit means to live under the constant guidance and influence of the Holy Spirit.
Conclusion
How do I start to live by the Spirit?
•Have a desire to live by the Spirit (v17)
•Make a decision to live by the Spirit (v16)
•Be a demonstration of someone living by the Spirit (v22)
