[Galatians 5:13-15] "You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. 14 The entire law is summed up in a single command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 15 If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other." There is freedom from sin in following Christ because true grace is not a license to sin but freedom from sin. Matthew 22 says that loving God is the most important commandment and loving others is second.

[Galatians 5:16-18] "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."

The Holy Spirit enables us to make scriptural decisions that proceed from an attitude of divine love. The Christ-like nature and the carnal nature are opposite in desires, so the Christian life is a struggle against sin (Hebrews 12:4). We are not forced to do right (as the law says) but we want to do right (as the Spirit desires).

Galatians 5:19-21 gives specific sins that disqualify a person for the kingdom. Immorality is worse today than it has ever been and is aggravated by television commercials, films, dress styles, and the general spiritual condition of the world. Occult practices have increased, along with hate crimes, fighting, jealousy and rage. Alcohol abuse, using illegal drugs, immorality, and unrestrained behavior in general is considered normal in this adulterous age. "I warn you, [he says] as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God."

Verses 22-23 reminded us that "the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness [generosity], faithfulness, gentleness [humility] and self-control. Against such things there is no law." When we live by the Spirit we are in harmony with the law, and spiritual fruit is the by-product of being connected to the Vine (John 15:5).

Since our old sinful life has been crucified and buried with Christ, our new creation keeps in step with the Spirit. We walk in line with God’s Word (as we are controlled by His Spirit). We still have the capacity to sin, but our new life in Christ does not want to sin. We are not obligated to the law but we are obligated to the Lord.

Verse 26 admonishes, "Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other." Instead of those negative attitudes, our new creation wants to be modest, to bring peace, and to rejoice with friends who succeed. A new creation in Christ will not be conceited, will not irritate others to anger, and is joyful (not jealous) when good things happen to fellow Christians. Conceit, anger, and jealousy are all attitudes of this world.

[Galatians 6:1] "Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted." The NLT, "Dear brothers and sisters, if another Christian is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself."

Some sins are obvious, but since we have all sinned and we all seek forgiveness, we should be willing to pray for (not talk about) someone who has given in to temptation. If we want to be Christ-like and live by the Spirit, we would encourage a fallen comrade. The word restore means to bring back to God’s truth, rather than to punish for mistakes.

We are all tempted in various ways (and with Satan so active in the world), we would have to admit that without the grace of God (the love of Christ and the restoring power of the Holy Spirit), we would be no better off than the one with the obvious sin. ‘There but for the grace of God go I.’ So we humbly help (not critically condemn).

[Galatians 6:2] "Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." We know that Jesus did not come to abolish the law of Moses (Matthew 5:17) but to fulfill it. We are not under the law but under grace, nevertheless when we are in step with the Spirit, we are in harmony with the law. We are not forced to help others (as the law says) but we want to help them (as the Spirit empowers). We are to reach out in humility and love to anyone who is discouraged or depressed in heart. (John 13:34), "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another."

[Galatians 6:3] "If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself." We must not think ‘they made their own problems’ and show no concern for their predicament. A self-righteous attitude has no part in God’s kingdom. Since everyone has fallen short of God’s standard, no one can boast about anything. We should be concerned about the speck in our own eye, rather than being critical of the mistakes of others (Matthew 7:5).

[Galatians 6:4-5] "Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, 5 for each one should carry his own load." We must judge ourselves only and to make sure we are acting from divine love. 1 Corinthians 13:5 reminds us to "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you." God does not grade on the curve, but by His own divine perfection. If He does not compare believers with other believers, then how much less should we?

When we have done all we can do to help someone, there is no need to make comparisons of our performance. Just knowing we have done our best to show interest and concern, is all that is necessary. We have carried through with our Christian duty to help someone, so that is all we should be concerned about. Verse 5 (NLT) says that each of us are responsible for our own conduct. (2 Corinthians 5:10), "We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad."

[Galatians 6:6] Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor." At first we may think of material support for church leaders, but from the Greek word koin-o’ne-o (which means sharing equally), we can safely assume that those who are taught God’s Word (and those who teach the Word) have a common fellowship and share all good things together. It also means showing appreciation for those who work in the Lord’s vineyard.

[Galatians 6:7-8] "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life."

We would deceive ourselves to think that God does not know our real intentions (or that He will not deal severely with unrepentant sins). If we sow resentment and anger, that is what comes up in our life. If we sow gossip about friends, we will lose those friends and have the same come back to us. No one ever questions the natural law of sowing and reaping. Job says (4:8), "Those who plow evil and those who sow trouble reap it." Sowing to please the world ends in the lake of fire, but living in harmony with God (by keeping in step with the Spirit), results in eternal salvation.

[Galatians 6:9-10] "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

Satan works incessantly to discourage us (or to have us in despair of ever seeing change or improvement), but the apostle says do not stop doing what we should be doing. Such good things would be an encouragement to someone who just made an obvious mistake. We should advise them to seek God’s forgiveness through prayer. Galatians 6:1 said, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path." The harvest of the faithful will be the righteousness of Christ as we go about helping the family of God first, and then anyone else (as the opportunity is presented).

[Galatians 6:11-13] "See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand! 12 Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 Not even those who are circumcised obey the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your flesh."

The apostle may have dictated his previous letters and now makes a comment about writing in cursive to validate that the letter is directly from him. He again warns of legalism and of Judaizers who were still insisting that to be right with God, a person had to follow tradition and customs. If they followed the law (he means) the Judaizers would not oppose them, because the cross of Christ gives freedom (which they could not or would not accept).

The apostle said that those who insist on following rituals and ceremonies, only follow some (but not all) of the laws and regulations. If these legalists (he is saying) could convince some to go back to being in bondage to the law, they would boast of the influence they had on them.

[Galatians 6:14-15] "May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation."

Because the sinful nature will boast and brag about everything, the apostle constantly reminds his readers that anything we accomplish, (any success we enjoy, or any person we bring to Christ) is only because of God’s love and power. If we are sincere in our beliefs, our sin nature will be nailed to the cross and crucified. Outward religious activities and rituals mean nothing (he says), but being born again to a new creation in Christ, is everything.

[Galatians 6:16-18] "Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule, even to the Israel of God. 17 Finally, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen."

In concluding his letter, the apostle extends his best wishes of God’s peace and mercy to all who are a new creation through faith in Christ. WEY says "the true Israel of God," and the NLT uses the words, "the new people of God," (which refers to the new life of faith in God).

The next verse (17) refers to the persecution, suffering, and hardships the apostle endured for the cause of Christ. From 1 Corinthians 11 we know that the apostle was lashed, beaten with rods, stoned, shipwrecked, adrift at sea, and faced dangers in many situations, but by patiently enduring, he discovered that God’s grace would be sufficient.

Verse 18 closes the apostle’s letter to the Galatians by extending the wishes of God’s grace to all the brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. The main theme of the letter is the freedom in Christ every believer enjoys (as they keep their faith in Him for the salvation of their soul). Outward religious acts mean nothing, but acting in faith because of our love for God and our belief in His Son counts for everything.

The Christians in Galatia (no doubt) wanted to grow in the faith, but there were some who were trying to mislead them by convincing them that certain Jewish rituals had to be retained in order to be right with God. Once a person accepts Jesus as their Lord and Savior, they are free to follow Him and free to serve Him in the Spirit. The old nature has been crucified and the new creation is alive and well in Christ Jesus.

The two key verses of Galatians could be 2:20, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. And 5:1, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."