The Fruit of the Spirit and the Deeds of the Flesh

This Spring the Pathway class is looking into the fifth chapter of the Book of Galatians.  The beginning of this book shows us a picture of the Christian faith and how one comes to be called a Christian.  It points out that those who have been found righteous by God have always done so on the basis of faith and that Christianity is no different in that respect than the old covenant was.  Abraham was counted righteous by God because of faith just as we are, today.  Paul reminds the Galatians at the beginning of chapter 3 that they became Christians by faith and he asks why they would start trying to find pleasure in Gods eyes by works, now, after they are already saved because of Christ's work on their behalf.  He goes so far as to tell them that it is foolish to try to earn God's good pleasure by works, because it is believing in Christ and his merit that unites us to him.

The latter half of the fifth chapter shows us that having been saved by faith the life we are to live, as his children is a response of gratitude also lived in humble reliance on the Spirit in faith.  That life is a constant and continual dying to the "deeds of the flesh" and a living to the "fruit of the Spirit."  We will be looking at those two things and trying to understand more clearly what they are and what that means, so that we can live lives that are characterized by love for God and gratitude to Christ as he has called us to do.

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