Paul wrote congregations in the province of Galatia because of a major confusion among gentile Christians. The confusion was caused by Jewish Christians [Judaizing teachers] convincing gentile Christians that they needed to accept Jewish practices to be saved. In refuting the Judaizing teachers, Paul addressed some actual problems among these gentile Christians as they continued transition from idolatrous values to Christian values.
Today, Christians know those values better as "the deeds [works] of the flesh" and "the fruit of the Spirit." Please note these things: (1) These are lists relevant to these former idol worshippers. Paul wrote about their needs, and the situations they faced. The lists included things they must attend to--situations they needed to call to awareness. Surely what Paul told them is applicable to us. However, the better we understand their situation, the more accurate will be our applications. (2) The lists were not "all-inclusive." The lists targeted situations that were a part of their life in their world and their time. Because a 21st-century problem does not appear on those lists does not mean the 21st-century problem is not relevant to godliness in this age. Paul was not creating "loopholes" to excuse ungodly behavior today. He addressed the reality of their lives and situation. (3) The two lists include a series of contrasts. These contrasts serve as the core of this lesson.
There are and always have been problems with an ultra-conservative mindset's approach to Christianity. Problems are founded on this concept: if something is not specifically mentioned in the New Testament, there is no divine authority for including or excluding the matter. This mindset often expresses itself in a question: "Show me in the Bible where this is approved or condemned?" If the matter is specifically instructed, a Christian must do it. If a matter is not specifically mentioned, it is not to be done. Commonly the question's answer includes a generous dose of personal interpretation--"This means . . ."
Thus determining God's will is a matter of dotting the "i's" and crossing the "t's." The effect of the determination is insignificant. It is merely a matter of this: In the New Testament, is the matter specifically sanctioned or condemned? Rarely in the ultra conservative mind set does the person seek to determine God's intent by understanding (a) the situation or (b) the original meaning of the wording.
Jesus acknowledged this problem in Matthew 5:17-20. Commonly, Jesus focused on God's intent. In much of chapter 5, Jesus used numerous illustrations of (1) ignoring God's intent and (2) justifying ungodly behavior by (3) claiming technical compliance with scripture.
Have you noticed this fact about religion: it often focuses on the external act and ignores the internal attitude? Thus "the key" to "being godly" or doing "God's will" focuses on the physical with little regard for the inner person. If physically one technically does what is right, how he/she thinks or feels is irrelevant. Thus we become big on rituals [ceremonially correct behavior] and small on motivations [godly attitudes and reasons]. The motivation for the behavior is insignificant if the behavior technically complies with scripture.
In Jesus' words, it is the washing of a cup or platter on the outside while ignoring the inside (Matthew 23:25, 26) or whitewashing a tomb while ignoring the inner decay (Matthew 23:27, 28; Numbers 19:14-16). Cleanliness or holiness before God involves both the inner person and his/her behavior! Motives can make one unholy as quickly as can deeds!
The contrast called to your attention is the contrast between indulgence and attitude. The works or deeds of the flesh focus on indulgence. There are at least four forms of indulgence mentioned: sexual indulgence; the indulgence of spiritual perversions; the indulgence of hate responses [focusing on the wrong enemy]; the indulgence of personal excess. All these forms of indulgence are focused on personal behavior.
The attitudes, the fruit of the Spirit, are focused on motivation. If the person is a person of love, or patience, or gentleness in attitude, he or she will also be a person of love, or patience, or gentleness in behavior.
In one the focus is on the external. In the other the focus is on the internal. The Jewish approach to godly behavior [which Jewish Christians championed] was behavior control. Paul's approach to godly behavior was attitude transformation. Some Jewish Christians declared [convincingly] that the key to godly conduct was understanding the law which God gave as Israel's covenant. Paul said the key to godly behavior was understanding Jesus Christ. The attitudes Jesus taught did not conflict with Jewish law.
This is quite relevant to common approaches to godliness today. Is it just a matter of outward control? Or is it a matter of internal transformation? Must one just do godly things, or must he or she be a godly person?
The problem can be illustrated in these ways: What is the solution to abortion? To drunkenness? To improper sexual conduct? To the unethical treatment of people [such as abuse]? To the exploitation of people?
Is the problem solved with control ["we need to pass a law"]? Is the spiritual solution exercising control over people who are not troubled by abortion, or drunkenness, or lewd sexual behavior, or abusing people in vulnerable circumstances, or exploiting people who cannot protect themselves? Is it just a matter of controlling people who have values you reject?
OR is the solution based on the inner person? Is it a matter of faith rather than control? Must attitudes from God toward people be changed to redirect human behavior?
Are Christians willing to swap control for faith? Compliance for godliness? How relevant is God's great concern for people?
For Thought and Discussion
Link to Teacher's Guide
Lesson 10