Live By The Spirit… Not The Law
“But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law…By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.” - Galatians 5:18, 22-23
As a Christian, you are given the responsibility to choose the Spirit over the flesh. Unlike unbelievers, you do not freely choose to give into the sinful nature that you were born with. However, the beauty of living by the Spirit is that you are now no longer bound to the law. This is one of the most freeing gifts in Christianity!
While you are not bound by the law, this does not mean that you choose to do whatever you want. But instead, you should desire to do that which pleases God. When you live by the Spirit rather than the flesh, you will standout from others. Rather than living through a selfish nature in which everything you do is to seek your own desires, you begin to practice the fruits of the spirit.
People will automatically take note and pay attention when they see the love and joy you show, regardless of what circumstances you are dealing with. They will see the peace you live with, the patience and kindness you constantly display. The generosity you show towards others. They will admire the faithfulness you show your Savior and those closest to you. And one cannot help but want to surround themselves with one who is gentle and filled with self-control.
As our key verse above says, when you live out these characteristics, there is no law you are bound to, because there is no law against you. Does this mean you will never mess up and sin again? Of course not. We all are sinners and will never be perfect. But it does mean you do not have to live in constant worry or fear of messing up, because God has already forgiven you, and you are no longer bound to the law! Instead you are guided by the Spirit, and that my friend, is true freedom.
As a Christian, you are given the responsibility to choose the Spirit over the flesh. Unlike unbelievers, you do not freely choose to give into the sinful nature that you were born with. However, the beauty of living by the Spirit is that you are now no longer bound to the law. This is one of the most freeing gifts in Christianity!
While you are not bound by the law, this does not mean that you choose to do whatever you want. But instead, you should desire to do that which pleases God. When you live by the Spirit rather than the flesh, you will standout from others. Rather than living through a selfish nature in which everything you do is to seek your own desires, you begin to practice the fruits of the spirit.
People will automatically take note and pay attention when they see the love and joy you show, regardless of what circumstances you are dealing with. They will see the peace you live with, the patience and kindness you constantly display. The generosity you show towards others. They will admire the faithfulness you show your Savior and those closest to you. And one cannot help but want to surround themselves with one who is gentle and filled with self-control.
As our key verse above says, when you live out these characteristics, there is no law you are bound to, because there is no law against you. Does this mean you will never mess up and sin again? Of course not. We all are sinners and will never be perfect. But it does mean you do not have to live in constant worry or fear of messing up, because God has already forgiven you, and you are no longer bound to the law! Instead you are guided by the Spirit, and that my friend, is true freedom.
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