Reverend Michael Malanga

The gospel introduces us to a new way of relating to God; one in which our sins our forgiven by the grace of God the Father through faith in God the Son, Jesus Christ.

From Paul’s gospel-driven perspective, what Peter did at Antioch was more than wrong; it was dangerously wrong.

Over the course of his ministry, the apostle Paul encountered his fair share of well-intentioned dragons. In fact, most of his letters were written in response to the activity of well-intentioned dragons among the churches he planted. Galatians is no exception.

Paul's commission came through a direct revelation of Jesus Christ, therefore neither he, nor the gospel he preached, required verification either by another human being, or any human agency. Nevertheless, Paul often had to defend his authenticity as an apostle as well as the authenticity of his gospel.

The letter to the Galatians, is Paul’s passionate appeal for the churches in Galatia not to abandon their newfound faith by turning to a different gospel.

Paul wrote Galatians out of concern the churches had abandoned the gospel as a result of the influence of preachers who believed that salvation required faith in Jesus plus practicing certain parts of the OT law such as circumcision and the dietary laws.

The more we practice what Jesus preaches the more we grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ. The evidence of our growth is the fruit of the Spirit. As far as Paul is concerned the fruit of the Spirit is the necessary evidence proving you are practicing what Jesus preaches.

How do we know we are growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ? How do we know we are practicing what Jesus preaches? According to the Puritan Richard Sibbes, “We may know whether the Spirit of God has wrought anything in us by our embracing of good things.” When we embrace good things we produce the fruit of the Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit is the evidence we are growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.

The more we follow Jesus the more we will practice what He preaches. The more we practice what Jesus preaches the more holy we become. And the evidence of this holiness is the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Paul begins this last section of Galatians 5 with a command - "walk by the Spirit" followed by a promise - "and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh."