Galatians 5
In this Guts Church teaching, Elder Chris Hart talks about how Galatians 5 reminds us that Christ has already set us free—and the call now is to stay free. In this message, Guts Church walks through the contrast between grace and law, freedom and bondage, flesh and Spirit. The Apostle Paul’s words reveal how what we feed determines what we produce, and how love is the ultimate proof of faith working through grace.
This teaching breaks down the fruit of the Spirit, exposes subtle distractions that pull believers back into old mindsets, and challenges the church to live led by the Holy Spirit instead of human effort. As the Daniel Fast concludes and the church prepares for a powerful Healed Service, this message calls believers to walk in freedom, maturity, and Spirit-led love.
Galatians 5:1
“So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.”
Galatians 5:2-4 (NLT)
”Listen! I, Paul, tell you this: If you are counting on circumcision to make you right with God, then Christ will be of no benefit to you. I’ll say it again. If you are trying to find favor with God by being circumcised, you must obey every regulation in the whole law of Moses. For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace.”
The moment you try to earn what Christ already finished, you step out of supernatural power and back into human effort.
God is constant even in the midst of our inconsistency.
Galatians 5:6 (NLT)
“For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, there is no benefit in being circumcised or being uncircumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love.”
Galatians 5:7-9 (NLT)
“7 You were running the race so well. Who has held you back from following the truth? 8 It certainly isn’t God, for he is the one who called you to freedom. 9 This false teaching is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough!”
The Passion Translation:
”Don’t you know that when you allow even a little lie into your heart, it can permeate your entire belief system?”
Galatians 5:12 (NLT)
“I just wish that those troublemakers who want to mutilate you by circumcision would mutilate themselves.”
Galatians 5:13-14 (NLT)
“13 For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. 14 For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Purpose of the Law:
Reveal God
Form a people - set apart
Define holiness
Expose sin
Limit chaos
Prepare the way for grace
Galatians 5:15 (NLT)
“15 But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.”
Galatians 5:16-18 (TPT)
“Let me emphasize this: As you yield to the dynamic life and power of the Holy Spirit, you will abandon the cravings of your self-life. When your self-life craves the things that offend the Holy Spirit you hinder him from living free within you! And the Holy Spirit’s intense cravings hinder your self-life from dominating you! So then, the two incompatible and conflicting forces within you are your self-life of the flesh and the new creation life of the Spirit. But when you yield to the life of the Spirit, you will no longer be living under the law, but soaring above it!”
Starve the flesh and feed the spirit.
The Law tried to restraint the flesh.
The Spirit overpowers it.
Galatians 5:19-21 (NLT)
“When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.”
Whatever seed you sow will become the Harvest of your life.
Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT)
“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit (Singular, all grows together) in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!”
Galatians 5:23b (TPT)
“Never set the law above these qualities, for they are meant to be limitless.”
The Fruit of the Spirit through the lens of Leadership:
Love: Is my leadership motivated by love for people?
Joy: Do I exhibit an unshakable joy, regardless of circumstances?
Peace: Do people see my inward peace and take courage?
Longsuffering: Do I wait patiently for results as I develop people or goals? (Never quitting)
Kindness: Am I caring and understanding toward everyone I meet?
Goodness: Do I want the best for others and the organization?
Faithfulness: Have I kept my commitments to the mission?
Gentleness: Is my strength under control? Can I be both tough and tender?
Self-control: Am I disciplined to make progress toward my goals?
The fruit of the Spirit is not a personality test - it is a leadership Audit.
If love isn’t leading, then something else is.
Whatever replaces love (ego, jealousy, comparison, fear) will eventually fracture the mission.
Galatians 5:24 (NLT)
“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.”
Galatians 5:25-26 (NLT)
“Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.”
Grace Protects Freedom: Works Re-enslave
What you feed determines what you produce
Love is the Ultimate Proof - and the Ultimate Test
