Sunday School Lesson

1. Galatians 5:13-25
True Fruit
“Keeping In Step With The Spirit”
October 7, 2018
First Baptist Church
Jackson, Mississippi
USA
What’s the number one thing?
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The Glory of God!
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1 Corinthians 10:31 NKJV
31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
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2. October Memory Verses
Matthew 6:19-21 NIV
Treasures in Heaven
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and rust
destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves
treasures in heaven, where moths and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do
not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be
also.”
References
• Stott, John R. W., The Message of Galatians (Leiccester, England, Inter-
Varsity Press, 1968).
• Barker, Kenneth, The NIV Study Bible 1985 (Grand Rapids, Zondervan,
1985).
• MacArthur, John, The MacArthur Study Bible (Nashville, Nelson Publishing,
1997).
Introduction to Galatians
• Paul is writing to the churches in Galatia (Turkey) that were formed during
his 1st missionary journey.
• Paul was writing to address the false teachings that were being promoted
in the churches.
• Paul was defending his apostleship (directly taught by Jesus) from those
trying to discredit his gospel message.
The Problem in the Galatian Churches – False Teachers
• Judaizers – Jewish Christians who believed that Jewish ceremonial
practices of the OT were still binding on the NT church.
• These false teachers said Gentiles had to convert to a form of Judaism to
become Christians.
• Circumcision was one of the main requirements the Judaizers were
teaching.
The Common Denominator in False Teachings
• Faith alone, in Christ alone, for salvation is not enough.
• Man must somehow contribute to his own salvation.
• All false teachings have components of “salvation by works” in their
teachings.
• By your obedience to the law, you yourself must finish what Christ has
begun.

3. Summary of Galatians 1-4:
All people are in one of two categories spiritually.
UNDER THE LAW IN CHRIST
• Salvation by works.
• Doing good deeds.
• Following OT laws.
• Trying to be good enough.
• A dead-end path to God.
• In bondage (slave) to sin.
• Faith in Christ alone.
• Imputation.
• My sins transferred to Christ
and Christ’s righteousness
transferred to me.
• The only path to God.
• Christian freedom.
Galatians 5:13-15 NIV “Christian Freedom”
13 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.
• Note the contrast in verses 14 and 15.
What is Christian Freedom?
1. It is not freedom to sin, but freedom from sin.
2. It is not freedom to exploit my neighbor, but freedom to serve my
neighbor.
3. It is not freedom to disregard the law, but freedom to obey the law out of
love.
Introduction to Galatians 5:16-25
• Next, Paul presents the Christian life of freedom as one of an ongoing
conflict with choices to make.
• Every Christian battle is “our sinful nature” vs. “living by the Spirit.”
• It is a battle of “living for self” vs. “living for Christ.”
Galatians 5:16-18 NIV
16 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
the law.
• Note Verse 17: You have the power to make a choice.

4. Defining the Terms
• Spirit – The Holy Spirit; the Spirit of Christ indwells every believer when you
accept Christ by faith as Savior.
• Galatians 4:6 NIV
6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts,
the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.”
• The Spirit helps us live for and like Christ.
• John 14:25-26 NIV
25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Counselor, the
Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all
things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”
• Footnote on Holy Spirit
• Cessationism – “spiritual gifts” from the Holy Spirit for speaking in
tongues, prophecy and healing ceased in the apostolic age.
• While God still performs miracles today, the Holy Spirit no longer
uses individuals to perform miraculous signs.
• Sinful Nature – The nature (tendency) we inherited from Adam that drives
us to live for ourselves, which is contrary to God’s laws.
• “flesh” – In NKJV and ESV translations means all sinful desires of our
fallen nature not just fleshly lust.
• Satan uses this sinful nature to lead us into sin.
Sin entered the world through Adam.
• Romans 5:12-13a NIV
12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death
through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned –
13a for before the law was given, sin was in the world.

5. Satan’s Worldly Tricks:
3 Areas (Lust of Flesh, Lust of Eyes, Pride of Life).
• Genesis 3:6 NIV
6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and
pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some
and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he
ate it.
• 1 John 2:16 NIV
16 For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of the
eyes, and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the
Father but from the world.
“led by the Spirit”
• “led” – a passive term meaning we are the follower, not the leader.
• As our leader, the Spirit takes the initiative.
• The Spirit puts gentle pressure upon us, and we should yield to His control
and direction.
Galatians 5:19-21 NIV
19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and
debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage,
selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 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.
Four Realms of Our Sinful Nature
1. Sex – sexual immorality, impurity, debauchery (excessive indulgence,
indecency).
• Any sexual activity outside of marriage.
2. Religion – idolatry, witchcraft (tampering with the powers of evil).
3. Society – hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition,
dissensions, factions (Breakdown of personal relationships).
4. Drink – drunkenness, orgies (impaired behavior).
• “and the like” – The list in Galatians 5 is not exhaustive.
Galatians 5:21b NIV
21b I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the
kingdom of God.
• “live like this” – prassontes (Greek) is the habitual practice rather than an
isolated relapse.
• A lifestyle of habitual sin gives evidence to fact that they are not in Christ.

6. Galatians 5:22-23 NIV
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, 23 goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
• The fruit of the Spirit: One fruit with many flavors.
• The function of the law is to serve as a mirror to show us sin.
• There is no sin in the fruit of the Spirit.
One fruit with many flavors.
Nine Christian Virtues which portray a Christian’s attitude to God.
Triad of general Christian virtues that are directed Godward (Vertical
relationship):
1. Love (agape) – Our first love is our love for God.
2. Joy – Our chief joy is our joy in God.
3. Peace – Our deepest peace is peace with God.
Triad of social virtues (directed toward fellow man – our horizontal
relationships):
4. Patience – Longsuffering with others.
5. Kindness – Kind toward others.
6. Goodness – Doing good for others.
Triad of virtues that are directed toward self (Inward):
7. Faithfulness – Reliability.
8. Gentleness – Humble meekness, not prideful.
9. Self-control – Not selfish freedom.
Galatians 5:24-25 NIV
24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its
passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the
Spirit.
• Paul gives 2 clues for living a victorious Christian life.

7. How can a Christian have a victorious life?
1. Crucify our sinful nature (flesh).
2. Keep in step (walk) with the Spirit.
1. Crucify our sinful nature (flesh).
• This is something done by us, and not to us.
• Paul uses the image of crucifixion to explain this denial of self.
• Jesus describes this.
• Mark 8:34 NIV
34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said:
“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up
his cross and follow me.”
Why such a graphic and vivid description of our sinful nature’s execution?
1. A Christian’s rejection of his sinful nature is to be merciless (Satan’s
goal for you was death!).
2. The rejection of your sinful nature will be painful (it does not go
down without a fight).
3. The rejection of our sin nature is to be decisive (we must nail it to the
cross and leave it there).
A quote from John Brown on crucifying our sinful nature.
• “Crucifixion produced death not suddenly but gradually…True
Christians do not succeed in completely destroying the sinful nature
while here below; but they have fixed it to the cross, and they are
determined to keep it there till it expire.”
• An Exposition of the Epistle to the Galatians by John Brown, 1853.
Luke records that Jesus said this is a daily and ongoing task.
• Luke 9:23 NIV
23 Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he
must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”
2. Keep in step (walk) with the Spirit.
• Verse 18 says we are “led by the Spirit.”
• Verse 25 says we must “keep in step (walk) with the Spirit.”
• It is the Spirit who does the leading, and we who do the following
(keeping in step).

8. “Keeping In Step”
How do you keep in step with the Spirit?
1. Become Heavenly-Minded.
• Colossians 3:1-2
1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on
things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set
your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
2. Become Holiness-Minded.
• Colossians 3:5, 8 NIV
5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature:
sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is
idolatry.
8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these:
anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
3. Become Christ-Minded.
• Colossians 3:12-14 NIV
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe
yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and
patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances
you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave
you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all
together in perfect unity.
King David’s Plan for Keeping In Step with the Spirit.
Psalm 37:3-7 NIV
3 Trust in the Lord, and do good;
dwell in the land, and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Delight yourself also in the Lord,
and He will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the Lord,
trust in Him, and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
7 Be still (Rest) before the Lord and wait patiently for him;
• Notice the actions and progression of the steps Trust, Delight, Commit
& Be still (Rest).

9. Are you spiritually out of step and out of balance?
Isaiah’s Formula for Keeping In Step with the Spirit.
Isaiah 30:15 NIV
15 This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says:
“In repentance and rest is your salvation,
in quietness and trust is your strength,”
“In repentance and rest is your salvation,”
• Goal is salvation – restoration, recovery, balance.
• Step 1 = Repentance – allow Spirit to expose your sinful attitude and
acts; then confess and repent.
• Step 2 = Rest – stillness, physical & mental retreat.
• Psalm 46:10a NIV
10a He says, “Be still and know that I am God;”
“in quietness and trust is your strength,”
• Goal is Strength – refocused, stamina, perseverance.
• Step 3 = Quietness – less noise and distractions in life.
• Step 4 = Trust.
• Proverbs 3:5 NIV
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and lean not on your own understanding;
Isaiah describes the response of the Spirit when you are in step.
Isaiah 30:19b-21 NIV
19b How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears
you, he will answer you. 20 Although the Lord gives you the bread of
adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more;
with your own eyes you will see them. 21 Whether you turn to the right or to
the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, “This is the way;
walk in it.”

10. Summary Verse of Lesson Today
Romans 15:13
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that
you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
The Plan of Hope & Salvation:
John 3:16 NIV
16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever
believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
John 14:6 NIV
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the
Father except through Me.”
Romans 3:23 NIV
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 6:23a NIV
23a For the wages of sin is death,
• Death in this life (the first death) is 100%.
• Even Jesus, the one who doesn’t deserve death, died in this life to pay the
penalty for our sin.
• The death referred to in Romans 6:23a is the “second death” explained in
Revelation 21:8.
Revelation 21:8 NIV
8 “But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually
immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be
consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
Romans 5:8 NIV
8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners,
Christ died for us.
Romans 6:23b NIV
23b but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Revelation 21:7 NIV
7 “He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be My
son.”
• Romans 10:9-10 explains to us how to be overcomers.

11. Romans 10:9-10 NIV
9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that
God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that
you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith
and are saved.
Romans 10:13 NIV
13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Do you Have questions or would you like to know more?
Please, contact First Baptist Church Jackson at 601-949-1900 or
http://firstbaptistjackson.org/contact/