Gal 5:16-18 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Gal 5:16-26: 5:16-26 A law-free faith will not lead to moral ruin because having the Holy Spirit to guide people’s lives changes their hearts to follow the will of God and not sin (cp. Jer 31:33 ; Heb 8:10 ).

a5:16-26►

bJer 31:33►

cHeb 8:10►

d5:17►

eRom 7:14-25►

f1 Pet 2:11►

gGen 4:7►

hRom 8:18-25►

i5:18►

jRom 13:1-7►

kTitus 3:1►

l1 Pet 2:13-17►

‏ Galatians 5:16-18

Summary for Gal 5:16-26: 5:16-26 ^a A law-free faith will not lead to moral ruin because having the Holy Spirit to guide people’s lives changes their hearts to follow the will of God and not sin (cp. Jer 31:33 ^b; Heb 8:10 ^c).
5:17 ^d We cannot simply decide to keep the law and not sin: A war rages between God’s Spirit and our sinful nature (see Rom 7:14-25 ^e; 1 Pet 2:11 ^f; cp. Gen 4:7 ^g). The answer is not human effort at law-keeping, but living by God’s Spirit. When we are resurrected, we will finally be freed from sin (see Rom 8:18-25 ^h).
5:18 ⁱ Those who are directed by the Spirit are under the Spirit’s authority and not under obligation to the law. They do not answer to the law but to the Spirit of God. It was not Paul’s intent to justify civil disobedience (see Rom 13:1-7 ^j; Titus 3:1 ^k; cp. 1 Pet 2:13-17 ^l). He was addressing the means of obtaining spiritual righteousness before God.