 Fickle and changeable people  Received Paul at first with joy and kindness but soon wavered in their allegiance to the Gospel and to him

 Defend Paul’s apostolic authority (chs. 1&2)  Counteract the evil influences in Galatia (chs. 3&4)  Give exhortation for the strengthening of Galatian believers; in faith towards Christ, and in the fruit of the Spirit (chs. 5&6)

 Begins with a general caution, or exhortation (v. 1)  v enforces this caution by several considerations  Paul presses serious practical godliness based on the caution in v. 1 › Strive not one with another (v ) › Flesh and Spirit are in conflict and it is our duty to side with the better part (v ) › Caution against vain glory and envy (v. 26)

 v. 16 › “This I say then” looks back to v. 13 › v. 13 states that we should not walk in the flesh › v. 16 explains how this is possible – “Walk in the Spirit”  v. 17 › Shows the conflict between the flesh and the Spirit, they are “contrary the one to the other”  v.18 › We are free from the condemnation of the law if we are led by the Spirit

 “flesh” = our sinful nature  “works of the flesh” = the result of our sinful nature  “are manifest” = clearly apparent  Examples listed, but the list is not exhaustive  “they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”

 “But” – noting the contrast to the flesh  “the fruit of the Spirit” - or, the result of the leading of the Holy Spirit  “against such there is no law” › Love › Joy › Peace › Longsuffering › Gentleness › Goodness › Faith › Meekness › Temperance

 Love › Love to God especially, and to one another for His sake  Joy › Constant delight in God, cheerfulness in conversation  Peace › With God and conscience, or a peaceableness of temper and behaviour toward others

 Longsuffering › Patience to defer anger and a contentedness to bear injuries  Gentleness › Courteous, friendly and easily entreated when any have wronged us  Goodness › Kindness, doing good as we have opportunity

 Faith › Loyalty and honesty in what we profess and promise  Meekness › So as to not be easily provoked, and when we are, to be soon pacified  Temperance › (self-restraint) in meat and drink and other enjoyments of life, so as not to be excessive and immoderate in the use of them

 Flesh wars against the Spirit  Results of the flesh are not easily hidden  If the works of the flesh are apparent then questions must be asked about the state of the soul  Fruit of the Spirit proceeds from the Holy Spirit  Spirit will prevail against the flesh if nourished  Evidence good principles by good practices