FAQ - Galatians 5:18 - Does the Spirit Actually Lead Us to Not Be Under the Law of God?

What is the Spirit's relationship to the "law of God?" Is the Spirit of God against the "law of God" or
actually "another law?" When Paul uses the term "under the law" which law is he referring to? Does it
matter? Can't we just assume he is referring to the "law of God?" What about context? What does the
"works of the flesh" (context-verse 19) have to do with the "law" Paul is referring to in verse 18? Is the
"works of the flesh" related to the Spirit of God or the law Paul is referring to? What does Paul mean that
the Spirit is contrary or against the flesh (context - verse 17)? What does the "flesh" have to do with this
"law?" If we can not answer these questions, then we have done what many have already done, and that is
take verse 18 out of context and conclude it states something that it clearly does not.

Many conclude that the Spirit of God is against the "law of God." Let's test that interpretation to Scripture.

Before we expound on the immediate context of Galatians 5:18, it makes sense for us to establish the point
and purpose of the entire letter to the Galatians.

Ga 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the
one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. (immediate context)

Ga 5:18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. (problem verse)

Ga 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness,
lasciviousness, (immediate context)

Galatians is perhaps the single letter of Paul that is the cause of the most confusion surrounding God’s law.
Once someone discovers that the whole Bible is true and that nothing in God’s Word is abolished it is not
long before someone states “go read Galatians again.” This is because many mistakenly believe Galatians
teaches against obedience to God's law.

In reality Paul is correcting the false doctrine of salvation through God’s law (legalism). As a result, Paul
teaches throughout the letter the correct and simple Biblical process of salvation in faith by grace to counter
this false doctrine. Nowhere does Paul teach against obedience to God’s law, just against the doctrine of
salvation by God’s law. It is the ability to discern the difference between legalism and obedience that
enables a reader of Paul’s letter to draw sound doctrinal conclusions. Confusing legalism with obedience is
the root cause of all interpretive error in the letter to the Galatians.

A Brief Introduction on Paul's Writings:

Paul is the only author of Scripture in which we are issued a clear warning about His writings as being
rather “difficult to understand” (2 Peter 3:15-17). According to Peter, Paul’s readers need to be stable and
educated (know God's Word) or otherwise we are at risk of twisting and distorting Paul's writings to make
the "error of lawless men” (make void God’s commandments). Thus anytime Paul is teaching about law,
which was quite often, we should exercise extreme caution to ensure we understand exactly what Paul
intended us to understand and not make the “error of lawless men.” We need to ensure that we read Paul
with a solid Scriptural foundation and approach his writings from a first century Hebraic perspective.

Why are Paul’s letters “difficult to understand” as it relates to the law?

Paul does not always clearly distinguish what law he is referring to in every verse. The surrounding context
is always necessary to clue us in. If we always assume Paul is referring to God’s law in his writings then
we will build and subscribe to a faulty (law abolishing) theology, making the “error of lawless men.”
Instead, to avoid this error, we need to exercise extra effort in extracting valuable context when studying
Paul’s letters.

What we frequently discover is that an often cited verse here and another verse there are extracted from
Paul’s letters out of context, to support such faulty doctrine or theology. If it is already difficult to
determine what law Paul is referring to in the reading of Galatians 2,000 years ago (as Peter warns us), it
should be simple to imagine how such poor methodology could further compound such confusion when
isolated verses are quoted out Paul’s letters.

Many do not even realize that Paul makes reference to different laws, and that is of course the root cause of
the problem. As it turns out, Paul clearly establishes a pro- “law of God” sentiment in his writings (i.e. Ro
3:31; 1 Timothy 1:8), but also expresses a very anti- “law of sin (and death)” and anti- “commandments of
men” position (i.e. Col. 2; Ro 6:14; 8:1-3; Ga 2:4;4:3). If we do not establish which specific law or
commandments Paul is referencing in his writings when isolating verses, we often decide to quote them to
support our particular theology. Consequently, the theology we subscribe to might resemble a doctrine that
Peter warns us about (2 Peter 3:15-17). So it should serve us well do examine these different “laws.”

A Brief Introduction on Paul's usage of the word "law:"

As covered in the above, when reading Paul many make the unfortunate mistake of assuming that the word
"law" in Paul’s letters is always referencing God’s law. In reality, Paul mentions several different types of
laws. We need to equip ourselves with the ability to recognize the difference between these laws before
reading his letters, especially Galatians. If we can not accurately identify the correct law Paul is teaching on
or against, then Paul will certainly be “difficult to understand”, as opposed to easy to understand. We might
not even have realized that we have confused ourselves or others.

1) “Law of Sin (and death)” vs. the “Law of God”

Example #1: Ro 7:22-25 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity
to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body
of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of
God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

Example #2: Ro 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin
and death.

• The law of the Spirit of life that was in Y’shua (Jesus) is the same as the Law of God (Spiritual mind)(Ro
8:5-10). The Spirit teaches us His Truth (John 14:17,26)(John 16:13)(1 Jn 2:27) and God’s law is the Truth
(Ps 119:142)(Mal 2:6)(Ro 2:20)(Gal 5:7)(Ps 43:2-4)(Jo 8:31-32). The Spirit can not be separated from
God’s law, as it is through the Spirit that we are to keep God’s law (Ez. 36:26-27)(Jer. 31:31-33) thus God
still only has one law (light) for His people to be obedient to and to bless us (Lev 19:34)(Lev 24:22)(Num
9:14)(Num 15-16)(Num 15:29)(Is 42:6)(Is 60:3)(Mat 5:14) (Eph 2:10-13)(Ac 13:47)(Ro 11:16-
27)(Jer31:31-34)(Ez 36:26-27)(Ez 37)(1 Jo 2:10)(1 Jo 1:7). The "law of God" is "life" (Job 33:30)(Ps
36:9)(Prov 6:23)(Rev 22:14) and God's law is still Truth and instructions in righteousness (Ro 3:31;
7:12,21; 1 Ti 1:8; 2 Tim 3:16-17).

• The “law of sin” leads us all into death (Ro 5:12) which is why Paul also calls it the “law of sin and
death” (Ro 8:2).

• The “law of God” is also referred to as "commandments of God" (1 Cor. 7:19). Paul delights in and serves
the “law of God” (Ro 7:22-25).

• The war between the “law of sin” and the “law of God” continues in all believers. Our goal is the Spiritual
mind that serves the “law of God” which is against the carnal “law of sin.”
• It is the “law of sin” that brings us into captivity and bondage, not the “law of God.” The “law of God” is
defined as freedom in Scripture (Ps 119:45)(Jam 1:25, 2:12). The “law of sin” is defined as bondage. Thus
disobedience (sin) is bondage and obedience is freedom. Commandments of men and “elements of the
world” are also considered bondage according to Paul (Ga 2:4;4:3) which is also not the “law of God.”

2) “Oral Law” and “Commandments of Men”

In the first century, mainstream Jewish leadership practiced something called the “oral law” (Talmud). Paul
refers to this doctrine as the “works of law” or “commandments of men.” Y’shua (Jesus) also referred to
the “oral law” as the “traditions of the elders” that violates the “law of God” (Mark 7; Matthew 23). There
is much that can be said about the “oral law”. However, at a very basic level, the “oral law” consisted of
doctrines, teachings, and commandments of men that much of the mainstream Jewish leadership of the first
century elevated above the commandments of God. In some cases the “oral law” even contradicted the
commandments of God. This major issue of the first century is also the point and purpose of Y’shua’s
(Jesus’) teaching in Matthew 5, His rebuking in Mark 7, and many of His other points of contention with
Jewish leadership during the length of His ministry. The critical point to remember here is that there is a
clear difference between the “commandments of men” and the “commandments of God.” In Galatians Paul
refers to such doctrine, elements of the world, and commandments of men as bondage (Ga 2:4;4:3).

Now that we briefly understand the different laws that Paul references we need to understand the three
major issues Paul needs to address in his letter to the Galatians.

A Brief Overview on the Debates in Galatia (The Context):

In Paul’s letter to the Galatians, there are three (3) major issues Paul is correcting:

1) Galatians are falsely taught to keep God’s law for salvation.

False teachers (“Circumcision Party” - Ga 2:7-12; 5:12 and “Works of Law” - Ga 2:16;3:2;3:5;3:10) began
promoting their doctrine (“oral law”) that required Gentiles to be circumcised in a certain way, and also
taught that all commandments of God coupled with commandments of men need to be followed before one
can be justified for salvation.

Ga 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even
we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of
the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

This theme continues throughout Galatians: (i.e. Ga 2:21; 3:2; 3:3; 3:5; 3:11; 5:4)

“Works of Law”
Qumran document 4QMMT (4Q394-5) gives us some insight to a Jewish sect in the first century called
“Works of Law” The Jewish sect of Works of Law believed many things in their doctrine that were
contrary to God’s law and also taught that Gentiles could not be saved. They were, in effect, not living
God’s law in faith but in fact living their own invented law-which was a twisted form of God’s law (similar
practice of the 6 sects of the Pharisees). Their doctrine was very similar to those of the “Circumcision
Group. This would be why Galatians 6:13 states that this group that is supposedly teaching God’s law for
salvation does not even “keep God’s law themselves”

“Circumcision Party”
The Jewish sect of the “Circumcision Party” appears in Acts 10:45;11:2; 15; Ga 2:7-12 Ga 5:12; Eph. 2:11;
Titus 1:10.

2) The Galatians began to focus on pleasing men (commandments of men) instead of pleasing God
(commandments of God).

As a result of the doctrine from the “Works of Law” and the “Circumcision Party”, the Galatians became
more consumed with pleasing men (following commandments and doctrines of men) than pleasing God
(following commandments of God).

Ga 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should
not be the servant of Christ.

This theme continues throughout Galatians: (i.e. Ga 1:10; 1:11; 2:3; 4:3; 4:9; 6:12; 6:13)

God’s commandments are designed to love God (1 John 5:2-3). Commandments of men draw man’s
attention to men and negate the purpose of God’s commandments (Mark 7).

3) The Galatians were also still engaging in their cultic sun god worship practices and holidays.

We also know that converted Gentiles in Galatia were falling back into the cultic pagan temple practices
they were previously familiar with. This is why James focused on correcting such pagan activity first. For
example, he did this in Acts 15:20, before the Gentiles could be expected to learn the rest of the “law of
God” in the synagogues every Sabbath (15:21). Paul addresses this problem in more detail in Galatians 4,
as it relates to being in bondage in “elements of the world” (sun god worship) and “going back” to their old
gods; serving them in their holidays and established calendar patterns.

As a result of all of the above problems, Paul’s solution was to teach the Galatians that the law can not
justify anyone into God’s plan of salvation. Therefore Paul focused on faith and grace to counter the
several (primarily 3) false teachings penetrating and impacting Galatia. Many make the mistake that
because Paul is teaching against being justified by works of the law (legalism), that Paul was teaching
against God’s law. Legalism (wrong) and obedience (right) are two completely different concepts. What we
find is that Paul simply teaches the Galatians the process of salvation (simply removing the curse of the
law).

So now we should have the foundation necessary to examine the often misunderstood verse(s).

The Verse in Question: Galatians 5:18

Ga 5:18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

Verse 18 depends on its surrounding context for meaning, hence the word "but."

There are several important questions that when answered will define the meaning of this verse.

1) What is the purpose of the Spirit as it relates to the “law of God?”

2) Which law are we no longer under, the “law of God” or the “law of sin?”

3) What does Paul mean in verse 17 (immediate context) that the Spirit is contrary to the flesh?

4) What does the “works of the flesh” in verse 19 (immediate context) have to do with which law we are no
longer under?

By answering these questions about this verse we will be doing what most fail to do which is to let
Scripture define Scripture instead of presupposing what an isolated verse means.

1) What is the purpose of the Spirit as it relates to the “law of God?”

The Spirit is to dwell in us…

Jn 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you
for ever;

…as believers…

Jn 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither
knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

…and teach all (not some) things that Y’shua (Jesus) taught…

Jn 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall
teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

…by bearing record of Truth…

Jn 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of
truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

…and guiding us into all (not some) Truth…

Jn 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not
speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

Thus the Spirit is to dwell in us to guide us into Truth which begs the question, what is Truth?

The “law of God” (Word) is the Truth.

Ps 119:142 Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.

Jn 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

Y’shua is also the Truth (and the Way, Life, and Light).

Jn 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by
me.

Jn 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall
not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

Why is Y’shua the Way, Truth, Life, and Light?

He is the Word made flesh.

Jn 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the
only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Is the “law of God” the Way, Truth, Life, and Light?

The Law is the way.

(Ex 18:20)(Deut 10:12)(Josh 22:5)(1 King 2:3)(Ps 119:1)(Prov 6:23)(Is 2:3)(Mal 2:8)(Mark 12:14)(Ac
24:14)

The Law is the truth.

(Ps 119:142)(Mal 2:6)(Ro 2:20)(Gal 5:7)(Ps 43:2-4)(Jo 8:31-32)
The Law is life.
(Job 33:30)(Ps 36:9)(Prov 6:23)(Rev 22:14)

The Law is light.

(Job 24:13)(Job 29:3)(Ps 36:9)(Ps 43:2-4)(Ps 119:105)(Prov 6:23)(Is 2:5) (Is 8:20)(Is 51:4)(2 Cor 6:14)(1
John 1:7)

Thus Y’shua (Jesus) is the Law.

The Law is also liberty.

(Ps 119:45)(Jam 1:25, 2:12)

Which is why we have liberty in Y’shua (Jesus).

Ga 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again
with the yoke of bondage.

Ga 2:4 And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty
which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:

In God’s law we have liberty. In the ways of men and the ways of the world we are in bondage.

Where the Spirit is there is also liberty.

2C 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

Why is the Spirit liberty? The Spirit leads us to the Truth.

Jn 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not
speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

What does the Truth do?

Jn 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

So in summary:

1) God’s Word is the Law, which is the Way, Truth, Life, Liberty, and Light.

2) Y’shua (Jesus) walked that Law perfectly (Word made flesh) so He is the example of the Way, Truth,
Life, Liberty, and Light.

3) The Spirit guides us in the “law of God.”

Prophecy states that the whole purpose of the Spirit is do help us do the “law of God.”

Ezk 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the
stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

Ezk 36:27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my
judgments, and do them.

Ezk 11:19 And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony
heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:

Ezk 11:20 That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be
my people, and I will be their God.

This “heart transplant” is to assist us with observing the “law of God” which was facilitated through the
New Covenant.

Jer 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the
LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they
shall be my people.

Hb 10:16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my
laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;

Thus the whole point and purpose of the Spirit is for us to do the “law of God.”

So when reading Galatians 5:18 it is very difficult to conclude that the law Paul is referring is the “law of
God.”

Ga 5:18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

If Paul was referencing the “law of God” then the verse would read like this given what we know as the
clear purpose of the Spirit:

Ga 5:18 But if ye be led of the Spirit (to do the “law of God”), ye are not under the law (of God).

Does that make any sense? No, it doesn’t. So Paul must be referring to "another law." As mentioned earlier
Paul refers to "another law" called “the law of sin” (Romans 7:22-23) and the “law of sin” leads to “death”
(Ro. 5:12) thus the understanding of the “law of sin and death” that we are no longer under (Ro. 8:2).

So perhaps Paul is referring to the “law of sin” (Ro. 7:22-23) in Galatians 5:18. Since we know that sin is
defined as breaking the “law of God” (1 John 3:4) we should then be able to test this to Galatians 5:18.

Ga 5:18 But if ye be led of the Spirit (to do the “law of God” – to not sin), ye are not under the law (of sin).

That makes complete sense. If we are led by the Spirit to do the “law of God” we will not sin. If we do not
sin then we are not under the “law of sin.” This is the same exact struggle Paul describes in Romans 7. We
all do not listen and obey the Spirit like we should 100% of the time and we all struggle with the "law of
sin."

Ro 7:22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:

Ro 7:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into
captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

Ro 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? (Thus the “law of sin
and death”)

Ro 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God;
but with the flesh the law of sin.

So through Y’shua (Jesus) we are given a new mind, a mind that wants to serve the “law of God.” This new
mind is given to us by the Spirit just as Ez. 36:26-27 and Jer. 31:33 foretold. Those of the Spirit serve the
"law of God," but those of the flesh (carnal) serve the "law of sin" (and death).

Ro 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the
flesh, but after the Spirit.
Ro 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

Paul again confirms for us that the Spirit is the enabler for us to serve the “law of God.”

However, Paul does not stop here in his teaching of the "law of God" verses the "law of sin and death." We
are to walk after the Spirit (“law of God”) which is contrary to the flesh (“law of sin”).

Ro 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the
Spirit.

Paul then sets himself up to define and explain what those of the Spirit do and what those of the flesh do.

Ro 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the
things of the Spirit.

The carnally minded (“law of sin”)(fleshy) is death (“law of sin and death”). The Spiritually minded is
“life” and “peace.”

Ro 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

“Life and “peace” is a Scriptural reference to the “law of God” as Paul obviously already knows.

Pr 3:1 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:

Pr 3:2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
The carnal mind is not subject to the “law of God” but the Spiritual mind is subject to the “law of God.”

Ro 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither
indeed can be.

Thus if really we do not want to be "under the law of God" like some interpret Galatians 5:18 then all we
have to do is be of the carnal mind instead of the Spirit. This is the same contrast in Romans 8:7 that Paul
sets up for his readers in Galatians 5:18.

Using a solid Scriptural foundation, Romans 8 would read like this:

"For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus (a heart of flesh) hath made me free from the law of sin and
death (a heart of stone). For what the law would not do in that it was weak through the flesh (a heart of
stone), God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh (a
heart of stone). That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but
after the Spirit (a heart of flesh). For they that are after flesh do mind the things of the flesh (a heart of
stone): but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit (a heart of flesh). For to be carnally minded
is death (a heart of stone) but to be spiritually minded is life and peace (a heart of flesh). Because the carnal
mind is enmity against God (a heart of stone): for it is not subject to the law God, neither indeed can be. So
then they that are in the flesh (a heart of stone) cannot please God. But ye are not (have not been given a
stony heart) in the flesh, but in the Spirit, (a heart of flesh), if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you (a
heart of flesh). Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ (a heart of flesh), he is none of his. And if
Christ be in you (a heart of flesh), the body is dead because of sin (a heart of stone): but the Spirit is life
because of righteousness (a heart of flesh)."

Question number one has been answered in detail.

1) What is the purpose of the Spirit as it relates to the “law of God?”

Answer: To help us keep the “law of God.”

The answer to question number one also helps us answer question number two:

2) Which law are we no longer under, the “law of God” or the “law of sin?”

Answer: Ga 5:18 But if ye be led of the Spirit (“law of God”), ye are not under the law (“law of sin”).

We can now address questions number three and four to apply the immediate context:

3) What does Paul mean in verse 17 (immediate context) that the Spirit is contrary to the flesh?

Ga 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the
one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

Ga 5:18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

Verse 17 is continued confirmation that the Spirit is to help us desire the “law of God.” Therefore Galatians
5:18 is still teaching that we would not be under the “law of sin” (flesh) if we are led by the Spirit.

In verse 17 Paul details that the flesh is against the Spirit (“law of God”). The "flesh" is defined as the “law
of sin.”

Ro 7:22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:

Ro 7:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into
captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

Ro 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

Ro 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God;
but with the flesh the law of sin.

Verse 17 validates that the law we are no longer under is the “law of sin” if we are indeed being lead by the
Spirit. Verse 17 as the immediate context forces the context of verse 18 to be the “law of God” (Spirit)
verses the “law of sin” (flesh). Obviously verse 18 can not be the “law of God” (Spirit) verses the “law of
God” nor can the “flesh” be after the “law of God.”

Thus question number three confirms our analysis of verse 18 and now we can address the forth and final
question.

4) What does the “works of the flesh” in verse 19 (immediate context) have to do with which law we are no
longer under?

Ga 5:18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

Ga 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness,
lasciviousness,

What does “works of the flesh” have anything to do with being “under the law” or being “led by the
Spirit?”

Obviously the “works of the flesh” are not of the Spirit, so the “works of the flesh” must relate to being
“under the law.” It is clear that this is the exact same teaching as in Romans yet again.

Ro 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God;
but with the flesh the law of sin.
Again, our study is confirmed that “under the law” in verse 18 is the same as the “works of the flesh”
which is actually the “law of sin.” When we are led by the Spirit we are not “under the law of sin.”
However, if we were to give in to the flesh we would then be under the “law of sin.” When one gives into
the “law of sin” as an unbeliever that means death (law of sin and death). When one gives into the “law of
sin” as a believer that translates to grace as we are not under the "law of sin AND death" but under grace
(Ro. 6:9,14;8:2). Also, when we give into the “law of sin” we are not being led by the spirit (God’s law).

In summary Galatians 5:18 is not teaching against the “law of God” but teaching against the “law of sin.”

Verses 20-21 lists all of the things that being “under the law of sin” produces (fruit):

Ga 5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

Ga 5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have
also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Verses 22-23 lists all of the things that the “law of God” produces (fruit):

Ga 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Ga 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

The law of God is not against such fruit, however the “law of God” is indeed against the fruit listed in
verses 20 and 21.

Those that truly have the Spirit causing us to desire to walk in the “law of God” just as Y’shua (Jesus)
walked will produce the good fruit. Those who do not have or ignore the Spirit (insult the Spirit of Grace -
Hebrews 10) produce corrupt fruit and Y'shua (Jesus) does not know them.

Mt 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

Mt 7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

Mt 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

Mt 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Mt 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

Mt 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that
doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Mt 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy
name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

Mt 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work lawlessness.

1Jn 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

1Jn 2:4 He that says, I know him, and keeps not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

1Jn 2:5 But whoso keeps his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are
in him.

1Jn 2:6 He that says he abides in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
The teaching of Galatians 5:18 is simple when read in context as intended (as if it was written as a letter
instead of a single verse):

Ga 5:18 But if ye be led of the Spirit (“fleshy heart”)(“law of God”)(“good fruit”), ye are not under the law
(“stony heart”)(“law of sin”)(“bad fruit”).

Ask yourself the hard questions. Ask others. Ask the Word. Test your faith. Challenge yourself. Test
everything.

119 Ministries
www.TestEverything.net