In the final section of the letter, Paul turns to give some application for walking by the Spirit. What steps can we take today? From handling conflict to bearing one another's burdens, our community can be known for life in the Spirit as we follow Christ. 

Preacher: Chris O'Neal

Walk by the Spirit, and you will not fulfill the desires of the flesh. Paul's amazing promise leads to the most famous passage in the letter: the fruit of the Spirit. These signs and qualities tell us that our lives are rooted in the Spirit and walking in God's path. 

What is true freedom? Paul says we have true freedom in Christ, but it comes only through surrender. As Christians, the freest we will ever be is when we are fully submitted to Christ.

What does it mean to be born again? In one of the more difficult passages in Galatians, Paul challenges the false teachers with who their mother is, comparing Sarah and Hagar, the law and the Gospel, and slavery and freedom. To be born again means to be a child of the promise, an heir with Christ, and a member of God's family.

It's easy to see someone growing up physically, but what does it look like to grow up spiritually? The second half of Galatians is all about growing up in Christ. In this section of chapter 4, we get three first glimpses of what it means to have Christ formed in us. We follow godly examples, listen to godly leaders, and look like Christ to the world around us.

Of all the blessings and privileges of the Christian life, adoption is the sweetest. God does not just forgive us and justify us; he brings us into his family as sons and daughters. In this section of Galatians, Paul describes the evidence and pleasures of having God as our Father.

One of the most difficult questions for Christians is how the Gospel and the Law go together. This isn't a new question; it's the very one they were struggling with in Galatia. Paul shows us how they fit together by zooming out and telling the whole story of Scripture. The Law is for our good and points us to our need for Christ.

In their time of crisis, Paul asked the Galatians some key questions to help them get back on track. This list can help us to search our hearts as well. Are you believing the gospel? Are you being changed by the gospel? Are you being blessed by the gospel?

God likes to tell stories with a specific shape. He loves to redeem his people, to take them from their guilt and shame and bring them into his love. In Galatians 2:20, Paul shows us the shape of every Christian story, from sin and death to faith and life. 

Though the Galatians had heard the good news and believed it, they were abandoning grace and distorting the Gospel. Paul writes with urgency to remind them of the truth they believed and defend the Gospel. Like the Galatians, we have a hard time with grace. Paul's words remind us of the free gift of grace.