Bible Galatians 5:16-18 Encapsulates What Is Needed

Bible

Galatians 5:16-18 encapsulates what is needed to live the Christian life. The passage describes the struggle between the pleasures of the flesh and the glory of the spirit. When a Christian lives according to the will of God, he or she lives and "walks by the Spirit," (Galatians 5:16). Walking by the Spirit diminishes the desires of the flesh, to the point where the individual is no longer tempted. It is impossible to live both in the flesh and in the Spirit, for "the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other," (Galatians 5:17). A Christian cannot do anything he or she wants to do, gratifying every pleasure or fulfilling every desire. Paul, the author of Galatians, goes on to explain what is meant by both the life of the Spirit and the temptations of the flesh.

This passage occurs in the context of Galatians 5, which begins with the line, "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," (Galatians 5:1). The book deals with the essential components of a Christian attitude and lifestyle. In Galatians, we learn that the Christian life liberates the believer from old Jewish laws, and introduces Jesus's new covenant. For a first century audience, Galatians inspired believers to abandon unnecessary dogma and ritual in favor of a genuine life of the Spirit.

The width of the river is small in this case. The modern audience and the first century audience differ slightly in terms of culture, language, time, situation, and covenant. However, in the case of Galatians 5:16-18, the river is more like a "narrow creek," (Duvall & Hays, p. 16). The same basic traps and temptations that existed in the first century can still steer the believer far from the path of Christ and righteousness. In Galatians 5:19, Paul points out some of the key trappings of the flesh: "sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery."

Crossing the principilizing bridge involves identifying the main traps and temptations that can stand in the way of the believer and God. Sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery still exist. However, in the 21st century, those temptations are even more apparent than they were in the first century. Television, the Internet, and other types of media make sex, drugs, and other traps more widely available and visible. The believer needs to learn how to discern the life of Christ from the life of sin, by recognizing a clear and relevant path towards righteousness. By focusing on Christ in daily life, the believer can learn how to abandon matters of the flesh and achieve liberation in Christ. This can be achieved by surrounding oneself with righteous people, attending Church, and praying regularly.

One real life application of Galatians 5:16-18 applies to a young person who believes himself or herself to be a homosexual. The prevalence of homosexuality in the modern world is perhaps unprecedented, making it seem extremely difficult for a Christian to "walk by the Spirit." However, "the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit." To return to the way of the Spirit, the Christian needs to turn the attention towards all matters Christian by praying and attending Church.