Galatians 5:22-23

Verse of the Day Devotion:  Galatians 5:22-23 

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” – Galatians 5:22-23

This section of scripture speaks of the dichotomy of the flesh and the Spirit.  It starts with the following, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.” Galatians 5:16.  He is telling Christians they must walk by the Spirit because then they will not focus and fulfil the things of the flesh.  This is so because if the Spirit of God dwells in and rules our heart, then the whole carnal mind will be defeated.  In other word, the only way to overcome the corrupt desires and propensities of our nature is to submit to the influences of the Holy Spirit.  And he goes on in the next verse to describe this dichotomy.  “For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.” Galatians 5:17.  Paul is saying here that both of these things are in opposition to each other.  As Christians, when we want to do what is right, our flesh wars against us.  But, if we want to do what is wrong, then the Spirit clarifies this wrong to you.  Paul spoke of this struggled in His letter to the Romans.  “For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want.” Romans 7:19.  Paul himself struggled, but He fought it off and lived the life devoted to Christ. However, he was not under the law as the devout Jews were, for He was led by the Spirit and therefore was not under the law but was under grace.  “For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.” Romans 6:14.

Paul then says that the deeds of the flesh are evident, meaning they are well known and plainly seen.  He then lists them in the next three verses.  “immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:19b-21.  Note the wording at the end of this verse, ‘inherit the kingdom of God’.  Those who inherit it will enter it.  Jesus tells us who will enter the kingdom of heaven.  “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.” Matthew 7:21.  It is those who do the will of the Father; those who walk in the Spirit. 

However, as our focus verse states, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23.  These are the things that the Spirit leads us to do.  Note these are called the ‘fruit of the Spirit’.  Paul is using the analogy of a tree.  Living according to the Spirit of God produces good fruit, and likewise the deeds of the flesh as listed above produce bad fruit.  “You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits.” Matthew 7:16-20.

It is important that we, as Christians, focus our attention on being led by the Spirit of God and not our own fleshly desires.  Our flesh leads to all types of sins, while the Spirit leads us to bearing fruit that is pleasing to God.  And, as stated above, the flesh and the Spirit are at enmity with each other, in other  words we cannot be beholden to both.  It is either one or the other.  Therefore, we must decide which we choose.  We may desire to be led by the Spirit, but we may give in to our desires of the flesh.  If we find this is us, we must sincerely repent and turn away from these worldly ways.  We must sorrow for our disobedience to God, for this sorrow leads to repentence.  “For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death.” 2 Corinthians 7:10. 

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries. 

Romans 3:31

Verse of the Day Devotion:  Romans 3:31  

“Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law.” – Romans 3:31

Paul here in Romans three is telling the Christians in Rome, which many were former Jews, that salvation comes not from the Law but by faith.  “But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:21-23.  God showed His grace by providing a means of salvation apart from man’s works, for no man is perfect, but all have sinned.  This salvation is not restricted to only some, but to all who believe, either Jew or non-Jew.  And because it was the Jews who believed in the strict adherence to the Law, the Jews would push this adherence as a necessity. 

However, salvation does not come through works, but through faith.  Paul addresses this is the following verses using boasting as an example.  “Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.” Romans 3:27-28.  There is to be no boasting because man has done nothing to bring about his cleanliness.  Adherence to the Law does not make us righteous, for then only Jews who are perfect in keeping the Law would be the only ones saved.  And he counters this idea in the next two verses.  “Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles also?  Yes, of Gentiles also, since indeed God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith is one.” Romans 3:29-30.  He provides salvation for all mankind, not just the Jews through the following of the Law.

Now, we get to the crux of this section in our focus verse.  “Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law.” Romans 3:31.  First, the Law is not nullified for those who do not accept Christ for they will be judged according to the Law, for they have rejected the one who would pay for their sins.  And because all have sinned, the Law cannot save us because it cannot do away with sin, it can simply show us our sin.  “What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, You shall not covet.” Romans 7:7.  We cannot be saved by the law, but we can see where we are in sin by the law, and therefore repent and ask forgiveness.  Further on in Romans we read, “Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Romans 13:8-9.  Love fulfills the Law because if we truly love someone, we will never do them wrong.  And this includes Christ, and ultimately God.  Jesus put it this way, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” John 14:15.  Showing love to another is the fulfillment of the Law.  “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law? And he said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”  Matthew 22:36:40. 

By truly accepting the love God showed to us through Christ by accepting the work He did on the cross and devoting ourselves totally to Him, we show our love for God.  Through our love for Him, we choose to do all He commands of us; not in order to save us, but to show our love for Him.  Therefore, the Law was not nullified or done away with, it is fulfilled when we truly show our love for God and our fellow man.  Just as Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” John 14:15.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries. 

Romans 3:20

Verse of the Day Devotion: Romans 3:20  

“Because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.” – Romans 3:20  

This is an important verse because too often, people look at their actions to denote whether they are saved or not saved.  This was what the Jews believed throughout the old and new testament and in our present times.  And unfortunately, many who call themselves Christians also fall into this trap.  In the time of Christ, the Jews believed that following the Mosaic Law was the way to salvation.  If they just did the things the law said to do and did not do what the law said not to do, then they were, in essence, saved. 

However, Micah laid out what the Lord required of man.  “With what shall I come to the LORD And bow myself before the God on high? Shall I come to Him with burnt offerings, With yearling calves? Does the LORD take delight in thousands of rams, In ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I present my firstborn for my rebellious acts, The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” Micah 6:5.  Micah starts by asking the question, how shall I approach the Lord?  How shall I come to Him to address my sin?  Is it through sacrifice?  Does the killing of many animals address my wrong doing?  No, and he explains what the Lord does require.  “He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8. He does not delight in sacrifices.  What He desires of us is to act with justice in all we do.  To be merciful to all and walk with humility with Him.  When we look at these three things, we do not necessarily see actions but character.  They are things we do because it is who we are.  Looking at these three again, what God desires is for us to be just, merciful and humility.  It is not the works of the law.

Now, we read in James the following.  “You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.” James 2:24.  It seems from this verse that works is part of what justifies us.  However, this is made clearer in a previous verse.  “Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.”  James 2:17.  What this clarifies is that it is not works that matter but faith.  However, true faith is proven by works.  Therefore, faith is what Christ is looking for in us, however, if not in conjunction with works, do we have true faith?  We are saved by faith, but our works shows our faith.  Paul comes right out and states it like it is.  “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9. Nobody can be justified in the sight of God due to the works of the law.  The reason for this is that no one has ever kept the law completely with no deviation.  “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23.  Therefore, we cannot be justified by the law; meaning our works.  However, this does not mean we are without hope.  “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace” Ephesians 1:7.  We could not pay the penalty, but Jesus could, through His perfect life. “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21.  He gave His life for us because He loved us. 

In closing, does this mean we do not need to keep His commandments because He paid the price for us?  Absolutely not.  For by keeping them we prove our love for Him.  “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” John 14:15. The idea is that salvation is based on the work of Christ, and we accept this work because we love Him and desire to give our everything to Him.  “He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.” John 14:21. Our salvation is based on Christ’s work on the cross, and not by our works. But our works show the love we have for Christ and our acceptance of that work.  He loves us and pays the penalty, thus we should love Him because He did what we could not do.  What a loving God we serve.   

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries. 

Romans 6:14

Verse of the Day Devotion: Romans 6:14 

“For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.” – Romans 6:14   

Paul here is showing the Roman church they have a choice regarding what shall they follow.  They could be either a slave to sin or to God.  And the decision is based on whom they present themselves to.  Let us say that we have lost everything we have, and we are given a decision between two people as to whom we will serve.  One is a farmer, and the other is a building contractor.  Which ever one we choose, we must obey completely, for he becomes our master.  If we choose the farmer, then we submit to work in the field.  If the building contractor, then in the city.  We come under the rule of which ever one we choose.  Paul uses the same basic analogy.  “Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?” Romans 6:16. 

When we become a Christian, we have made Jesus our Lord.  Jesus said as much to the disciples in addressing a question asked by Peter.  When Jesus came to wash his feet, and Peter said no, Jesus responded by saying if He did not wash his feet, Peter would have no part with Him.  Peter responded by saying, “Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.” John 13:9.  Then Jesus responds later by saying, “You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am.” John 13:13. Based on Jesus’ own words, He is our Lord, which also means our master. 

Also, our salvation is based not on the law, by obedience to it.  It is based on the grace of God.  We have sinned, and because of this the law is of no affect because the law requires a perfect adherence.  Grace is based on the favor and mercy of God.  The law is based on works.  “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9.  Our salvation is a gift, not something we earn.  It is a gift from Him who paid the penalty for our sin. 

Now, if we give ourselves to God to be His servant and obey Him in every way submitting to His commands, we are no longer a slave to sin.  “But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life.” Romans 6:22.  This is why Paul could say in our focus verse that sin no longer is master over us.  For at the time we truly commit ourselves to Christ, we renounce the mastery of sin.  And if sin is no longer our master, we must not obey it, but obey Christ.  This means we fight off the sin that tempts us, turning away from it and living a life pleasing to our new master, Jesus.  In essence obeying Him and rejecting and fleeing our old master, sin. 

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries.