Grace Working Through Love: Spirit vs Self

The peace of the churches in Galatia are being torn apart by false teaching about the gospel, but there is more at play. The false teaching was a power play from some who would maintain their status in the religious community. They probably didn’t go about this knowing they were in error and motivated by selfish ambition, but they were nevertheless. 

Paul ends this section with a strong admonition, “Don’t be conceited.” Paul warns that exaggerated self-conception has dangerous results: provocation and envy. Whether we’re in the place of power (provocation) or in the place of weakness (envy), if pride clouds our vision the result will be that we “bite and devour” others. 

Paul’s direction is simple, walk in the Spirit. Churches like ours often struggle to live missionally because our self-righteousness creates a culture of “cleanness” that excludes those deemed unclean (or outside the boundaries of who we are as a group). Only as we walk in the Spirit and live in the humility of the gospel will we build a gospel centered community that ministers God’s grace to others.

So come Sunday and seek to understand with me Paul’s direction.