Galatians 5:16-24

Order of Service

• Call to Worship — Romans 8:16-17
• Hymn — O God, Our Help in Ages Past (#30)
• Catechism Reading — Westminster Shorter Catechism Questions 90–91
• Hymn — Abide with Me (#402)
• Pastoral Prayer
• Scripture Reading — Galatians 5:16-24
• Sermon
• Hymn — Breathe on Me, Breath of God (#334)
• Benediction — Numbers 6:24-26

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Sermon Title: The Spirit's Battle Against Sin

Scripture: Galatians 5:16-24

I. The Spirit Versus the Law

A. The law alone cannot sanctify; it only condemns from the outside

1. The law exposes guilt and shame but has no internal heart-changing power
2. Only the Spirit has the power of sanctification

B. The Spirit writes the fulfilled law on our hearts (2 Corinthians 3)

1. Christ fulfilled the law and poured out His Spirit into our hearts
2. What is inscribed on the believer's heart is the law of liberty — fulfilled in Christ
3. Jesus is the Word made flesh, the law made flesh, come to fulfill it in the power of the Spirit

C. The Spirit transforms our relationship to the law

1. The law is no longer a nagging enemy but a friend, encourager, and motivator
2. The believer can say with the psalmist in Psalm 119: "In the way of your testimonies I delight"

D. Application: Are we a law of liberty or a law of condemnation to one another?

1. Ephesians 6:4 — Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but raise them in the discipline and instruction of the Lord
2. Many people carry unseen burdens; they need the Spirit-wrought comfort we can offer

II. The Spirit Versus the Flesh

A. The flesh is the old sinful nature — the control center that drives man toward sin

1. The believer experiences an internal dualism: a fierce battle between two control centers (Galatians 5:17)
2. Paul addresses believers, not unbelievers — this battle is real for the Christian

B. Satan's lie: you have no choice but to sin

1. Many in the world — and in the church — believe they cannot live any other way
2. The Spirit empowers the believer to resist the flesh and live differently

C. The flesh has been crucified with Christ (Galatians 5:24)

1. This is a settled fact for those who are in Christ, not a goal yet to be achieved
2. Satan tries to make us forget Calvary; the Spirit reminds us the cross has happened

D. Sanctification is not perfectionism, but Spirit-empowered pursuit of holiness

1. Romans 7 — even when I do good, evil lies close at hand
2. Hebrews 12:1 — sin clings so closely
3. Eyes must be fixed not on our own power but on the power of the indwelling Spirit
4. The Spirit reminds us: the gas is in the engine and the car is on — now drive toward holiness

III. The Spirit Versus Self

A. The works of the flesh picture a man bent inward on self

1. Sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality — self-gratification
2. Idolatry, sorcery — manipulating God for personal ends
3. Strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy — relationships governed by selfish concerns
4. Drunkenness, orgies — escaping reality and using others for self-satisfaction
5. The Hebrew concept of iniquity: being bent inward on self

B. The fruit of the Spirit is outward and upward, not inward

1. Love stands first because it is the greatest commandment — love God and neighbor (Matthew 22:37-39)
2. Joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control all flow from an outward and upward orientation

C. Living by the Spirit means surrendering self to the Spirit's influence

1. The Spirit's work is a paradox: true contentment comes not from self-satisfaction but from Christ-satisfaction
2. Me decreasing and Christ — and Christ's body, the church — increasing

D. Closing application

1. If you have been battling a nagging sin, guilt and shame alone will not free you
2. Remember who indwells you — the third person of the Trinity reigns in your heart
3. Your old nature has been crucified in Christ; you are a new creation, empowered to say no to sin