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Answer
Paul taught the believers in Galatia about their freedom in Christ, warning against the tendency to return to “a yoke of slavery” or legalism. Many Jewish believers were still attempting to be justified before God by observing the Law of Moses (Galatians 5:1-15). Paul also advised them to avoid the opposite extreme of indulgence or following every desire of their sinful nature (Galatians 5:16-21). He explained that freedom in Christ entails yielding to the guidance of the Holy Spirit in all things. By living a life “in step with the Spirit” «If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. », (Galatians 5:25), the Holy Spirit produces in us the fruit of “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such virtues, there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).
When these attributes of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control develop and manifest in the believer’s life, there is no requirement for legalistic adherence to the law. The absence of a law against such virtues signifies that the fruit of the Spirit aligns perfectly with God’s law. The purpose of the law was to restrict, control, dissuade, or prohibit certain behaviors and attitudes; however, no prohibition is necessary against the qualities that the Spirit brings forth. There is no law against loving others or experiencing and spreading joy. None of God’s commandments forbid fostering peace or demonstrating patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, or gentleness. Those who exercise self-control will naturally comply with the law.
The Law of Moses cannot produce any fruits.Goes against those who exhibit the fruit of the Spirit (see Romans 8:1-4). Those who walk in the Spirit are liberated; the fruit of the Spirit surpasses the limitations of the law. Paul wrote elsewhere, “For the law was not made for people who do what is right. It is for those who are lawless and rebellious, who are ungodly and sinful, who regard nothing as sacred and desecrate what is holy, who murder their father or mother or commit other killings. The law is for those who are sexually immoral, or engage in homosexuality, or are slave traders, liars, oath breakers, or do anything else that goes against the sound teaching that comes from the glorious Good News entrusted to me by our blessed God” (1 Timothy 1:9-11;NLT).
Adhering to the law does not yield “the fruit of righteousness” (see Philippians 1:8,11;cf: Galatians 3:2). We cannot force our way into God’s favor by striving and struggling to perform good deeds. Only as the Holy Spirit operates through our faith are these fruits manifested in our lives «But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.», (2 Corinthians 3:18). The fruit of the Spirit mirrors the character of Christ as we are changed into His likeness (John 15:8;Romans 8:5-14;Ephesians 5:8-11;Colossians 1:10). The deeds of the flesh, as well as attempting to comply with the law through human endeavor, will ultimately lead to death «how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through theEternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God to purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Hebrews 9:14). But the fruit of the Spirit grows from abiding in Christ and walking in the Spirit (Luke 8:15; John 15:4-5). It matures into eternal life (Romans 8:5-6, 13-14; Galatians 6:7-9).
The fruit of the Spirit is meant to be consumed by others so that it can bear fruit in their lives as well. “Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” (John 15:2). Warren Wiersbe writes, “People around us are starving for love, joy, peace, and all the other graces of the Spirit. When they find them in our lives, they know that we have something they lack. We do not bear fruit for our own consumption; we bear fruit that others might be fed and helped, and that Christ might be glorified” (The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1, Victor Books, 1996, p. 720).
Legalistic rule-following brings no glory to God. Neither does giving in to the sinful desires of the flesh. But yielding to the Spirit’s guidance in every area of our lives brings glory and praise to God, “being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.” (Philippians 1:11). This is the path to freedom in Christ, and against such, there is no law, indeed.
