Renewed by the Spirit
For Meditation
Our vision statement is “Called together for the renewal of all things through Jesus Christ.” Every January, we spend some time reminding ourselves of this vision and how it shapes our common life. While we often look at the external work of Kingdom renewal that God is doing in the world and our own participation in it, this passage reminds us of something even more fundamental: our deep connection to Jesus through his Spirit. We cannot do any work of renewal in the world unless we are operating out of the power of the Spirit in us.
Paul reminds us first of our Christian freedom (5:13-15). This freedom we have in Christ is freedom from proving ourselves to God or earning God’s favor through the law. We are entirely and freely accepted by grace. Yet, Paul reminds us, we are not free in order to indulge our sinful desires, not are we free to exploit our neighbors. Our freedom is now expressed in obedience and cooperation with the Spirit.
But this is not smooth sailing. In versus 16-18, Paul notes that for every Christian, there is a war within. There are two operating systems at work within us, that of the flesh (not our physical body, but our sinful nature), and that of the Spirit. Paul says “they are in conflict with one another.” In nearly every situation we find ourselves in, our natural behavioral tendencies are at war with what we are now called to through our new birth through the Spirit. Finally, Paul describes in detail how to tell if you are operating in the flesh or in the Spirit- just look at the fruit (5:19-25).
The pressure of the last 10 months has revealed a lot about the operating system of the American evangelical church. There is a whole lot of flesh at work in us. It is time for us to be renewed. To return to our union with the crucified and risen Jesus, to surrender to the Spirit’s work, and to chose to cultivate a home for the Spirit in our lives through new habits and loves.
Galatians 5:13-26
13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
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.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.