Study 60 ("Live by the Spirit").
Our last study in Book 4.3 of the Omega series.
Galatians 5:16-26 give us descriptions of what it means to be filled with the Spirit:
v. 16 says "walk" by the Spirit - indicating that our lives are to move in a certain direction, with a certain quality, under a certain empowering. There is a contrast here with the life that is lived that gratifies the desires of the flesh, implying that "walking" by the Spirit involves fulfilling the desires of the Spirit.
v. 18 tells us to be "led" by the Spirit. This shows that we must follow the direction of the Spirit, guided and shaped by the Spirit, rather than to be guided and shaped by "the law" - in context here the Mosaic law. We live under the ethical imperatives of a higher law.
v.25 says we are to "keep in step" with the Spirit. This amplifies the idea of a the Spirit's leading and asks us to imitate the Spirit. I think there is an implication of a common marching in step as a church as well, since v.26 follows and refers to sins that require the presence of other believers ("one another") to commit.
I said that to "grieve" the Spirit with our sin (Eph 4:30) is to oppose His nature, whereas to "quench" the Spirit (1 Thes 5:14) is to oppose His work. I think the author of the study is probably incorrect to say that we can altogether stop the work of the Spirit, who is the Sovereign God. The context of 1 Thes 5:14 is with respect to prophecy spoken in church (c.f. 1 Co 14:29). Prophecies may be despised if they appear non-specific and common, or perceived to be arising from the unworthy or unspiritual. And yet Paul encourages us all to test them, to throw away what may be human and imperfect, and to take to heart the message of the Lord in that particular situation. Generalizing this principle teaches us to value and celebrate and fulfil the work and word of the Spirit in one another's lives.
We had a short excursus into the fact that, even as Paul urged the Galatians to refrain from strife and essensions (5:20) he had no hesitation in rebuking Peter (2:11-14). This is not self-contradiction. We learned in last week's sermon about meekness how righteous anger is godly. In the same way, many actions and attitudes (e.g. jealousy) can be reflections either of the Spirit's work or the work of the flesh. After all, Paul categorizes people into only 2 groups: those led by the Spirit and those who gratify the desires of the flesh.
The way to keep living in the Spirit, according to Gal 5:24, is not to try harder to be good. It is to die to self. It is to crucify the flesh daily (c.f. Lk 9:27) by rejecting it and denying its power over us. Like Paul, we are dead to the world, and the world dead to us (Gal 2:20, 6:14)
Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit would be quite different from quenching the Spirit. The former is an unforgivable sin. The latter can be done by Christians. I told everyone present to research what it really means for the next QC session :)
Galatians 5:16-26 give us descriptions of what it means to be filled with the Spirit:
v. 16 says "walk" by the Spirit - indicating that our lives are to move in a certain direction, with a certain quality, under a certain empowering. There is a contrast here with the life that is lived that gratifies the desires of the flesh, implying that "walking" by the Spirit involves fulfilling the desires of the Spirit.
v. 18 tells us to be "led" by the Spirit. This shows that we must follow the direction of the Spirit, guided and shaped by the Spirit, rather than to be guided and shaped by "the law" - in context here the Mosaic law. We live under the ethical imperatives of a higher law.
v.25 says we are to "keep in step" with the Spirit. This amplifies the idea of a the Spirit's leading and asks us to imitate the Spirit. I think there is an implication of a common marching in step as a church as well, since v.26 follows and refers to sins that require the presence of other believers ("one another") to commit.
I said that to "grieve" the Spirit with our sin (Eph 4:30) is to oppose His nature, whereas to "quench" the Spirit (1 Thes 5:14) is to oppose His work. I think the author of the study is probably incorrect to say that we can altogether stop the work of the Spirit, who is the Sovereign God. The context of 1 Thes 5:14 is with respect to prophecy spoken in church (c.f. 1 Co 14:29). Prophecies may be despised if they appear non-specific and common, or perceived to be arising from the unworthy or unspiritual. And yet Paul encourages us all to test them, to throw away what may be human and imperfect, and to take to heart the message of the Lord in that particular situation. Generalizing this principle teaches us to value and celebrate and fulfil the work and word of the Spirit in one another's lives.
We had a short excursus into the fact that, even as Paul urged the Galatians to refrain from strife and essensions (5:20) he had no hesitation in rebuking Peter (2:11-14). This is not self-contradiction. We learned in last week's sermon about meekness how righteous anger is godly. In the same way, many actions and attitudes (e.g. jealousy) can be reflections either of the Spirit's work or the work of the flesh. After all, Paul categorizes people into only 2 groups: those led by the Spirit and those who gratify the desires of the flesh.
The way to keep living in the Spirit, according to Gal 5:24, is not to try harder to be good. It is to die to self. It is to crucify the flesh daily (c.f. Lk 9:27) by rejecting it and denying its power over us. Like Paul, we are dead to the world, and the world dead to us (Gal 2:20, 6:14)
Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit would be quite different from quenching the Spirit. The former is an unforgivable sin. The latter can be done by Christians. I told everyone present to research what it really means for the next QC session :)
Comments
Post a Comment