1. Fruit of the Spirit (1) Galatians 5:13-26

2. Introduction – Two ways of living  Happy New Year  Two lists/ ways of Living in Galatians 5:13-26  “Flesh” – Destructive life (vs 19-21)  “Spirit” – the Good life (vs 22-23)  Conflict between the two

3. 1. The destructive Life  Flesh: Greek word Sarx  Sarx - Paul is not referring to the physical body.  Sarx is not the body but a power that stands over against God’s work for the flourishing of creation to which we mistakenly submit our bodies and other aspects of our humanity. Sarx is the anti-God, anti-human power that distorts our body image, seduces us with counterfeit pleasures, promises us life, and then crushes us with death.” (Jonathan Wilson, God’s Good World, pg7)  Sarx has to do with humanity’s fallen, corrupt, or sinful nature, as distinguished from human nature as originally created by God. (WBC, 239).  It is a “Life outside of Christ” (Fee, 431).

4. Acts of the Flesh – Gal 5:19- 21  19 The acts of the flesh 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.  Not a good life – ends in destruction.

5. 2. The Good Life  Gal 5:22-23  22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control…  One Fruit – Love,-joy-peace-forbearance-kindness-goodness- faithfulness-gentleness- self-control kind of fruit.

6. 2. The Good Life Gal 5:22-231 Cor 13:4-6 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Love is patient, kind. does not envy, does not boast, it is not proud. does not dishonor others, not self-seeking, not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails.

7. How do we enter the Good Life?  Fruit of the Spirit  Fruit produced by the Holy Spirit  Sarx cannot produce good fruit.  Gal 5:25 Keep in step with the Spirit.  What do we do with Sarx?  Gal 5:24 Crucify

8. How do we enter the Good life? SpiritSarx 5:19 List of Fruits  Love  Joy  Peace  Patience  Kindness  Goodness  Faithfulness  Goodness  Self-control 5:19 List of acts:  Sexual immorality  Impurity and debauchery  idolatry and witchcraft  hatred  discord  jealously  fits of rage  selfish ambition  dissensions  faction  envy  drunkenness  orgies  …and the like

9. How do we enter the good life?  “The whole offer which Christianity makes is this: that we can, if we let God have His way, come to share in the life of Christ. If we do, we shall then be sharing in life, which was begotten, not made, which always has existed and always will exist. Christ is the Son of God. If we share in this kind of life we also shall be sons of God. We shall love the Father as He does and the Holy Ghost will arise in us.” ( C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, 77)

10. How do we enter the Good life?  Receiving the Holy Spirit  “Fruit” – offspring, birth. The Holy Spirit produces in us “New Life”  Fruit – Love. God is Perfect Love.  “Love uncreated is God Himself, the third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit.” (Walter Hilton, 14 th Century AD)

11.  Gal 5:22, 23  Fruit of the Holy Spirit = Christ-likeness.  This is the good life – the Goal of all humanity – be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ.

12. Conclusion  The Good life - Produced by the Holy Spirit in those who have surrendered themselves to Christ and are made into new creations.  A result of participating in the fellowship of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit – Perfect Love.  Happiness and Blessedness

13. Conclusion Blessed – Gr. Makarios Matthew 5 and Luke 6 Experienced in the midst of trials and hardships.

14. Conclusion

15.  Blessed Life, Happy life – Good Fruit produced by the Holy Spirit in the life of a person who is rooted in God and His truth.  Good New for today – Jesus Christ has dealt with Sarx on the Cross  The Holy Spirit desires you to have a new birth into the family of God.  Which life will you choose?

16. Conclusion  You are invited this morning into a life in Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit.  May this New Year be the start of something New in your life – New Life in Christ.  Happy (Blessed) New Year!

17. Prayer  Let us Pray:  Dear God, We want to yield to the work of Your Spirit in our lives. May we be alive to You and dead to Sin. May our lives bear fruit – the fruit of Your perfect Love so that we may love you, love our neighbors and work towards the welfare of your world. In Christ’s name. Amen.