Angelic Conflict part 339: Future work of Christ [Bema seat] – Gal 5:13-6:5; Eph 4:17-24; Col 3.

a. The Bema seat of the church, 2CO 5:10. Identifying good and bad things.

 

So now let's put our current work in Galatians all together.

 

GAL 5:1 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.

 

GAL 5:2 Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you.

 

GAL 5:3 And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law.

 

GAL 5:4 You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.

 

GAL 5:5 For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness.

 

GAL 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.

 

GAL 5:7 You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth?

 

GAL 5:8 This persuasion did not come from Him who calls you.

 

GAL 5:9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough.

 

GAL 5:10 I have confidence in you in the Lord, that you will adopt no other view; but the one who is disturbing you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is.

 

GAL 5:11 But I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross has been abolished.

 

GAL 5:12 Would that those who are troubling you would even mutilate themselves.

 

GAL 5:13 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

 

GAL 5:14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, " You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

 

GAL 5:15 But if you bite and devour one another, take care lest you be consumed by one another.

 

GAL 5:16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.

 

GAL 5:17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.

 

GAL 5:18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.

 

GAL 5:19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are [short list of the bad of suppression, not all but enough]: immorality [fornication], impurity [uncleanness], sensuality [lasciviousness],

 

GAL 5:20 idolatry, sorcery [witchcraft or magic arts], enmities [hostility], strife [quarrelling or fighting], jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes [self-seeking], dissensions [divisions], factions [own opinions contrary to the word of God],

 

GAL 5:21 envying, drunkenness, carousing [komos - which refers to "a nocturnal and riotous procession of half-drunken and frolicsome fellows who after supper parade through the streets with torches and music in honor of Bacchus or some other deity, and sing and play before the houses of their male and female friends; hence used generally of feasts and drinking parties that are protracted till late at night and indulge in revelry" (Thayer)], and things like these, of which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

 

GAL 5:22 But the fruit [singular - the unity of all under the capstone of love] of the Spirit is [a list of the good] love, joy, peace [tranquility of mind based on the consciousness of a right relationship to God], patience [makrothumia - literally long temper or long suffering under ill treatment], kindness, goodness [aiming at that which is good], faithfulness,

 

GAL 5:23 gentleness [meekness towards others], self-control [mastery of one's desires and impulses]; against such things there is no law.

 

GAL 5:24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

 

The word passions is passive and means a disposition, an impulse, a propensity, an affection; speaking of the innate forces resident in the evil nature.

 

The word lusts is active and means a desire, a craving, a longing; speaking of the innate forces finding expression in the gratification of those passions.

 

Two methods of determining conduct and following out that determination with the appropriate action, are presented. One is in dependence upon the Holy Spirit and growth in doctrine for the supply of both the desire and the power to do the will of God. This method results in a life in which the fruit of the Spirit is evident. The other method is that of putting one's self under law, and by self effort attempting to obey that law. This results in a defeated life full of sin, for:

 

The Law gives neither the desire nor the power to obey it and so only produces a defeated life full of sin.

 

On the other hand, the Law uses the evil nature as a means by which to bring sin into the life, since the evil nature is aroused to active rebellion by the very presence of the law.

 

ROM 5:20

And the Law came in that the transgression might increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more

 

This is a tremendous point for those Christians who believe the plan of God is to clean up the world. God gave man something that would increase sin. He didn't cause the sin and He hates sin, but He gave something that He knew would increase its frequency. Was God more concerned about the amount of sin in man or was He more concerned about more of mankind having their eyes opened to their need for a Savior?

 

For the Galatians as with many Christians today they substituted the ethics taught by Paul for the Mosaic Law and attempted those ethics without reliance on the Spirit of God choosing rather to attempt them from the flesh. The HS wasn't given with the Law. The ethics of the Law showed man his sin and his need for a Savior, while the ethics of the law of Christ as given in the epistles demands the supernatural power of God the Holy Spirit. In grace we are to rely on Him and the mind of Christ for the power and motivation to produce divine good.

 

GAL 5:25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.

 

 The context of Eph 4 is suppression of that which we are commanded not to do. If no suppression - EPH 4:30

 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

 

The context of 1Th 5 is expression of that which we are to do.

If no expression - 1TH 5:19

Do not quench the Spirit

 

GAL 5:26 Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.

 

GAL 6:1 Brethren, even if a man is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, lest you too be tempted.

 

GAL 6:2 Bear one another's burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ.

 

GAL 6:3 For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

 

GAL 6:4 But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another.

 

GAL 6:5 For each one shall bear his own load.

 

So then the believer is given the power to overcome evil and the power to do good from God the Holy Spirit through the word of God understood and believed in the heart. No other power can do this.

 

The ministry of God the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer will be further explored when we return to Joh 16.

 

Yet we continue for a short time to explore the difference between good things and bad things or divine good and dead works.

 

In dualism bad has to exist with good and is coequal with good, which would make God the source of it. Dualism is incorrect. God cannot perform evil or bad and hates it. Bad is the production of creatures who oppose the will of God.

 

Much literature is written, movies made, etc. of the conflict of good and evil; between God and the universe, opposing forces on the battlefield or in space, and within the soul of man.