Scripture Reading: Gal. 5:24-26
In this message we shall consider 5:24-26. Verse 24 says, “But they who are of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with the passions and the lusts.” The word “but” in verse 22 contrasts the fruit of the Spirit in that verse with the works of the flesh in verse 19. In this verse, the word “but” contrasts the crucifixion of the flesh with the works of the flesh in verse 19.
In verse 24 Paul speaks of “they who are of Christ Jesus.” This refers to those who have believed into Christ and have been baptized into Him. Therefore, they belong to Christ and are of Christ. As saved ones, we are now of Christ.
According to Paul’s word here, they who are of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh. The crucifixion of the old man in Romans 6:6 and the crucifixion of “I” in Galatians 2:20 were not accomplished by us. But here it says that we have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts. The old man and “I” are our being; the flesh is the expression of our being in our practical living. The crucifixion of our old man and “I” is a fact accomplished by Christ on the cross, whereas the crucifixion of our flesh with its passions and lusts is our practical experience of that fact. For this practical experience, it is necessary that we through the Spirit execute the crucifixion which Christ has accomplished. In this way we carry out what He has accomplished. This is to put to death by the Spirit the practices of our lustful body with its evil members (Rom. 8:13; Col. 3:5).
There are three aspects concerning the experience of the cross: the fact accomplished by Christ (Rom. 6:6; Gal. 2:20); our application of the accomplished fact (5:24); and our experience of what we have applied, bearing the cross daily (Matt. 16:24; Luke 9:23).
Notice that in speaking of the crucifixion of the flesh, Paul uses the perfect tense. Paul says not that we are crucifying the flesh, nor that we shall crucify it, but that we have crucified it. He speaks of this as if it were an accomplished fact. Concerning the crucifixion, there are two aspects. The first is that when Christ was crucified, He crucified our old man and the “I.” The other aspect is that we have crucified our flesh. Based upon the fact that Christ has crucified the old man and the “I,” we have crucified the flesh. Hence, the second fact, our crucifixion of the flesh, is the application of the first fact, Christ’s crucifixion of the old man and the “I.” In our experience we need to apply Christ’s crucifixion to our flesh. Paul’s use of the perfect tense to describe this indicates that such should be the normal experience of the believers. All believers should be those who have applied Christ’s crucifixion to their flesh. As those who belong to Christ, who have been put into Christ, we have done this. Here Paul is speaking according to the principle. If we have never crucified our flesh, our experience is abnormal. If our experience is normal, then we who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh.
The book of Galatians unveils both that the law misused is versus Christ (2:16) and that the flesh lusts against the Spirit (5:17). The cross has nullified the “I” which is trying to keep the law (2:20) and the flesh which lusts against the Spirit, that Christ may replace the law, and the Spirit may replace the flesh. God does not want us to keep the law by the flesh; He wants us to live Christ by the Spirit.
In 5:25 Paul goes on to say, “If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.” To live by the Spirit is to have our life dependent upon the Spirit and regulated by the Spirit, not by the law. To walk by the Spirit is to have our practical living and acts in our daily life guided and ruled by the Spirit, not by the law. Concerning our Christian walk, Paul’s concept is that since our life is not by the law of letters, but by the Spirit of life, so our walk also should be not by the law of ordinances, but by the Spirit of Christ.
The Greek word rendered “we live” implies both to have life and to live. Initially we have life, but continually we live. If we have life by the Spirit, we should continue to live by the Spirit. A fuller rendering of the Greek here would be, “If we have life and live by the Spirit.” Paul uses a similar expression in Romans 1:17 and Hebrews 10:38. In Hebrews 10:38 it is not a matter of having life, but of continuing to live by the life we have received. In Romans 1:17 and Galatians 5:25 it is a matter of both having life initially and then living continually.
In 5:26 Paul says, “Let us not become vainglorious, provoking one another, envying one another.” To be without vainglory is the result of the walk by the Spirit in verse 25.
A number of expositors have been troubled by the fact that verse 26 comes immediately after verse 25, where Paul speaks of walking by the Spirit. Some prefer to make verse 26 the opening verse of chapter six. In verse 26 Paul deals with vainglory, provoking, and envying. The reason Paul mentions these matters is that they test whether or not we are walking by the Spirit. Only when we walk by the Spirit can we overcome vainglory, provoking, and envying. In a sisters’ or a brothers’ house it is easy for there to be vainglory. Certain brothers or sisters may think that they should be the leading ones. This attitude gives rise to provoking and to envying. Perhaps a certain sister gives a rich and releasing testimony in a meeting. Out of envy, another sister may determine to give an even better testimony in the next meeting.
Vainglory may be found even between a husband and wife. Because of the desire for vainglory, a brother may become envious if his wife receives praise that he does not receive.
Vainglory, provoking, and envying are all of the flesh. We can check whether or not we are walking by the Spirit by asking whether we have any vainglory, provoking, or envying. This is a very practical way of testing our daily walk. By putting forth such a test, Paul showed how practical he was and how experienced. From his experience he knew what it meant to suffer from the same diseases that afflict us in our spiritual life today.
For quite a long time, I was bothered by the inclusion of verse 26. Eventually I came to realize that without this verse it is purely theoretical to talk about living by the Spirit. But when we test our living by the matters of vainglory, provoking, and envying, living by the Spirit becomes extremely practical. In relation to others, it is easy for us to be subject to vainglory, provoking, and envying.
In Romans 8:14 Paul says, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” Paul’s thought is somewhat different here from his thought in Galatians 3:26, where he says, “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” Yes, through faith we have become sons of God. But now we need a walk which proves that we are God’s sons. In such a walk we are led by the Spirit.
Under the influence of our religious background, many of us have held the concept that God’s goal in sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us is that we should believe in Him, have our sins forgiven, and be qualified to go to heaven, where we shall enjoy eternal blessings. According to the Bible, however, God’s goal is to have many sons. The Bible certainly teaches that we are sinners, that God loves us, and that Christ came to save us. But the Bible also says very clearly that in eternity past, before the universe came into existence, God made a plan, a purpose, according to His good pleasure. This purpose is to have many sons. In simple words, God’s purpose is sonship. In eternity past God’s desire was to have many sons for His expression. In the Bible the proper meaning of sonship is expression, for a son expresses the father. John 1:18 indicates this: “No one has ever seen God; the only begotten Son, Who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.” God’s purpose is to have many sons as His corporate expression. Thus, Ephesians 1:5 says that God has predestinated us unto sonship.
Many expositions of the book of Romans emphasize justification by faith. Some also speak of sanctification by faith. But according to the book of Romans, it is not God’s goal merely to have many people who have been justified and sanctified by faith. Romans reveals that God’s goal is to transform sinners into sons of God. Romans 8:14 does not say that as many as are led by the Spirit are sanctified, spiritual, victorious, or will live in heavenly mansions. On the contrary, this verse says that those who are led by the Spirit are sons of God. Furthermore, in verses 29 and 30 we see that those who are predestinated, called, justified, and glorified will be conformed to the image of God’s Son. In these verses Paul indicates that we have been predestinated not simply to be sanctified, spiritual, and victorious. God has predestinated us to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that His Son “should be the Firstborn among many brothers.” Once again we see that God’s intention is to have sons, many sons.
The first chapter of the Gospel of John says that the Word, who was in the beginning with God, became flesh and tabernacled among us (vv. 1, 14). As many as received Him have authority to become children of God (v. 12). According to John 20:17, the Lord told Mary the Magdalene on the morning of His resurrection, “Do not touch Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brothers and say to them, I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.” Notice the Lord’s use of the word brothers. The Lord did not instruct Mary to go to His saints, believers, disciples, or apostles. He told her to go to His brothers. This is yet another indication that God’s intention, the desire of His heart, is to have many sons.
Hebrews 2 also speaks of sons. According to verse 10, God is “leading many sons into glory.” After His resurrection, the Lord Jesus came to His disciples to declare to them the name of the Father.
In the book of Galatians, Paul emphasizes again and again that we are not law-keepers or slaves under the law, but we are sons of God in Christ. God had to do many things to make us His sons. He first had to send His Son to redeem us from under the law that we might receive the sonship (4:4-5). God has also sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts to make our sonship real and practical.
It is not God’s intention simply to rescue many sinners and make them holy, spiritual, and victorious. According to His good pleasure, His purpose is to produce many sons. Ultimately, we, the redeemed and sanctified ones, will be God’s sons in eternity. All those in the New Jerusalem will be called sons of God, not simply the people of God (Rev. 21:7). Even today we are more than just the people of God — we are the sons of God. For us to be sons of God in a way that is real and practical, we urgently need the Spirit.
The Bible teaches that the tripartite man created by God fell and sank lower and lower until he became flesh (Gen. 6:3). All fallen human beings are sinners in the flesh. This is just as true of those who are ethical and moral as it is of those who are evil and immoral. Before we were saved, we were all sinners in the flesh. Praise the Lord that Christ came and accomplished redemption by dying on the cross that we may have the sonship! Through death and resurrection Christ has become the all-inclusive life-giving Spirit and, as such, has entered into our spirit to regenerate us and to make our sonship real and practical. The Spirit has come into our spirit to make us sons of God. Now if we walk by the Spirit, we are truly led by the Spirit. According to Paul’s word in Romans 8:14, as many as are led by the Spirit are sons of God.
As we consider 5:24 and 25 once again, we need to realize that through Christ’s redemption and the Spirit’s regeneration, we are now sons of God in position. However, in our daily walk we may not be sons in reality. Instead of walking by the Spirit, we may walk by the flesh. Whenever we walk by the flesh, we in a very practical way are sons of Adam. Only when we walk by the Spirit are we sons of God in reality and in practicality. Thus, whether we are sons of God or sons of Adam in our daily living depends on the kind of walk we have. In life, in right, and in position we no doubt are sons of God, for we have been regenerated by the Spirit. But in our practical daily walk we may be something altogether different from sons of God. This means that in our walk we may be either sons of God or sons of Adam. To repeat, if we walk by the flesh, we are sons of Adam, but if we walk by the Spirit, we are sons of God. The crucial matter here concerns the flesh. We need to deal with the flesh.
The cross of Christ gives us the standing, or the basis, to deal with the flesh. Our whole being — the entire fallen tripartite man — was crucified with Christ on the cross. Now not only do we have this base objectively, but we have the divine life and the Spirit subjectively to enable us to execute the cross of Christ upon our flesh. In order to walk by the Spirit, we must apply Christ’s crucifixion to our flesh. This is the reason Paul says that all who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh. If we apply the cross to our flesh by the indwelling Spirit, our flesh will be nailed to the cross. This is to crucify the flesh. Now that the flesh is on the cross, only the Spirit remains. It is crucial that we realize that within us we have the divine life and the all-inclusive Spirit. Now we need to exercise the spirit by the divine life to apply the cross to our flesh. In so doing, we apply what Christ has accomplished by crucifying our old man with Him on the cross. This application must be made to every aspect of our flesh, no matter whether our flesh is evil or seems to be good. Both the flesh that loves and the flesh that hates need to be crucified.
In the eyes of God, all those who believe in Christ have already crucified their flesh. But when in our actual experience we execute the crucifixion of Christ by applying the cross to our flesh, we are immediately uplifted to the heavens and experience the Spirit as everything to us. The Spirit may even become the Spirit of our mind, emotion, and will. Experiencing the Spirit in this way, we walk by the Spirit and are led by the Spirit. Therefore, we are in reality sons of God. The more we experience the Spirit in this way, the more we are not only transformed, but also conformed to the image of His Son.
In this light, let us look again at verse 26. We have seen that in this verse Paul mentions vainglory, provoking, and envying. Whether or not we walk by the Spirit can be tested by these three matters. In our practical daily situation very often we have vainglory, provoking, and envy. Both in the church life and in our family life we need to test our walk by the Spirit by asking if we have any vainglory, provoking, or envying. If Paul had stopped with verses 24 and 25, the matter of living by the Spirit and walking by the Spirit might have been very theoretical. But verse 26 makes it extremely practical. Paul says, “Let us not become vainglorious, provoking one another, envying one another.” If we would be sons of God in reality, we must walk by the Spirit and not by the flesh. But whether we are walking by the Spirit or by the flesh can be tested by the existence of vainglory, provoking, and envy. We may think that we are walking by the Spirit; however, feelings of vainglory and of envy prove that we are not. For example, a brother may become envious when he learns that another brother, who has been in the recovery a shorter time than he, has been made an elder. This feeling of envy is an indication that this brother is not walking by the Spirit at that particular time. Vainglory gives rise to provoking and envying. If we slay vainglory, provoking and envying will be killed automatically. This means that if our vainglory is terminated, there will be no problem in the church life. Instead, there will be peace.
According to the grammatical construction of verse 26, the main item is vainglory. Provoking and envying are subordinate. This tells us that we must concentrate on dealing with vainglory, not with provoking or envying. If we try to deal with provoking and envying without putting to death our vainglory, our efforts will be in vain. I repeat, if we slay vainglory, we shall simultaneously terminate provoking and envying. Thus, the presence or absence of vainglory is a true test of whether we are walking by the Spirit or by the flesh.
Whether we are young or old, vainglory may be present among us. I have observed vainglory accompanied by provoking and envying even in my small grandchildren. It is found also in the relationship between husband and wife. The husbands and wives may give in to one another, but if this giving in does not touch their vainglory, it is not genuine. A man may lord it over his wife, boasting that he is the head and that she should be subject to him. This is nothing other than vainglory, which leads to provoking and envying. Such vainglory is a clear indication that we are not walking by the Spirit.
It is not adequate simply to read messages about living by the Spirit and walking by the Spirit. In our daily living, in our church life and family life, we need to test our walk by the matter of vainglory. If we have vainglory, we are not walking by the Spirit. Our need today is to walk by the Spirit that we may be sons of God in a practical way.
