The Christians Rule of Life Galatians 5:23-26

www.insidethebible.ca /the-christians-rule-of-life-galatians-523-26/
Micah Hackett
Meekness, temperance against such there is no law. And they that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the
affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory,
provoking one another, envying one another. Galatians 5:23-26
The subject of the Christians rule of life is greatly misunderstood by many if not most believers. Some would say we
are bound to the moral laws of the Old Testament, just not the civil and ceremonial laws. While there is some merit
to saying that we can find absolute principles of Gods nature behind certain commandments, the law (as we will
see) in its entirety is done away with as to its bearing on us. Some would say tradition is our rule of life, but this is
just false piety based on false religious presuppositions. Some would say Christian Liberty is our rule of life, but
often this is misunderstood to mean license rather than true liberty in the Biblical sense. Christian Liberty is our
sphere of Christian living, not the rule for it. At the end of several contrasts between spiritual fruit and flesh-based
lusts, Paul offers a concise summary as to our rule of life. In this we see why Paul was able to say what he did about
spirituality. What basis did he have? And how does this relate to the whole theme of Galatians, that is, freedom from
the Law? These are questions that are answered in the last verses of chapter 5.
Principle #1: The Law Cannot Touch It (v. 23)
Galatians is an epistle that surrounds the subject of Liberty in Christ, that is, freedom from the Law in that our
standard of living is now sourced in faith and the working of the Spirit. This allows the Law to be fulfilled in us (not by
us) on account of the fact that we live in fulfillment of its basic summation: Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
This is really what the fruits of the Spirit accomplish, thus giving the Law no grounds to judge us in any way. Thus
Pauls point is proven that the letter of the Law and the leading of the Spirit are incompatible as rules of living. It
must be one or the other: if ye are led by the Spirit, ye are not under law. This was a very important truth for the
Jewish community of the first century to grasp, for the law at one point was their tutor and schoolmaster, but only
until Christ. Coming to Calvary, the Jew was forced to turn his back on the Law as his rule of life only to see new
potential in having Christ living in me and living by the faith of the Son of God Who loved me and gave Himself for
me. We as Gentiles (most of us) were never under the Law, though we did have the work of it written on our hearts
(Romans 2:15). Because of that we were accountable to God for our lawlessness, while the Jew was accountable to
God for his transgression of the Law which he was given. Yet for both Jew and Gentile in Christ, we have been
made into one new man as Ephesians puts it, and thus we have been called out of both transgression and
lawlessness to walk in the Spirit. And in that, there can be no condemnation when we truly put that into practice. This
is Pauls point when he says against such [fruits] there is no law. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth
any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. While not giving us a rule of life in itself, if we can
understand this, it will allow us to grasp more fully the principles to follow.
Principle #2: The Flesh is Positionally Crucified (v. 24)
Verse 24 provides a great summary statement as to the works of the flesh. They that are Christs have crucified the
flesh with the affections and lusts. Picture crucifixion for the average man. He would be marked by helplessness.
He would see his ultimate end in sight. He would have been subdued once and for all. This is the picture of how we
are to view the flesh. Ours is to see it as judged once and for all as we look forward to a day when, coming into the
good of that truth fully, we see the old nature totally banished from our being. When will that be? The rapture, as 1
Corinthians 15 tells us. But what are we to do while living on earth? We are to live in light of a conquered old nature.
We have not only crucified the flesh, but we have done so with the passions and lusts. Thus we now have the
power to resist the inclinations of our old nature. We are no longer slaves to sin, for If the Son shall make you free

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you shall be free indeed.

This is vital to grasp in terms of our rule of life. It implies we put to death our members, that is, those things which
serve as fuel and means to accomplish the desires of the flesh. It means we make no provision for the flesh to fulfill
the lusts thereof even though that provision might seem perfectly legitimate. It means we dont act based on what
feels right, but rather on our knowledge of Scripture. We cannot live in the good of knowing our old nature is
condemned and soon to meet its full end if we are constantly toying with its tendencies. If and since the flesh has
been crucified positionally, we are called to live in that victory even now. There is no other way to live a Spiritual life
other than bringing the flesh to its knees in a full frontal assault. Be ruthless with it. Be direct with it. Show no mercy.
Principle #3: The Spirit is Our Guide (v. 25)
This principle really hinges on the beginning of our verse: If we live by the Spirit. At conversion, the Christian
immediately was born of the Spirit of God: Except a man be born of the water and of the Spirit, he cannot see the
Kingdom of God. It was also then that we became temples of Gods Spirit, being indwelt by Him: The Spirit of truth;
whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth
with you, and shall be in you. Because of His indwelling, we are also sealed by Him: In whom ye also trusted, after
that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with
that holy Spirit of promise. These are three main doctrines that prove our life as believers in the Body of Christ finds
a direct link to Gods Holy Spirit. They serve as indisputable support for the statement We live by the Spirit. (For the
explanation of how this relates to the Law, read Romans 8:1-16.) It is for these reasons of living by the Spirit that we
are called to walk by Him. This is our rule of life.
One could ask at this point So are we just left to sense what it is God leads us to do? What is the Spirits goal in
working through us? What is the real standard? The answer is given quite nicely by Mr. Darby: Our rule of life is
simple: that life in which Christ as a man displayed the character of God; His love, His holiness, is the rule of life to
us, because we have the life which was displayed in it. Notice that the fruits of the Spirit are all perfectly displayed
in Christ. He is the Vine, and it is only reasonable that when we abide in Him we bear fruit that reflects Him. Though
we are free from the Law, we are not free from standard. We are not free from absolutes. Rather we are called to
the standard made possible by divine life the standard set by the Perfect Man. For I through the law am dead to
the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and
the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Only God Himself can give us the power to fulfill this. This is why we are called to walk by the Spirit. Our calling is
not to a rule book, but to a divine Pattern of spiritual life something the Law could never grant. Thus, in a way our
potential is even higher than that which the Law allowed for in terms of righteous living. We have the opportunity to
ingrain Scriptures principles into our minds so that in whatever situation arises we may appropriately respond by
the Spirits application of that principle. We have the opportunity by studying the life of Christ and his revelation in
Scripture to walk the way He did. Evidently it is possible to Do all in the name of the Lord Jesus. (Col. 3:17).
Principle #4: Godly Christian Fellowship is Honored (v. 26)
This very practical principle serves as an evidence of Christian living according to a proper rule. We cannot be
walking in the Spirit as long as we are desiring to exalt ourselves. We cannot be walking in the Spirit as long as we
are provoking one another to wrath. We cannot be walking in the Spirit as long as we hold each other in contempt
on account of envy. True Christian fellowship in godliness is always the sign of believers living according to a Biblical
rule of life. For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by
love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. Let this then be our
litmus test as it were. Let us by divine life and power fulfill the Laws summation: Love your neighbor as yourself.
Even Christ pleased not Himself. We can claim to be spiritual, but until others are genuinely affected by that reality
there is no substance behind the claim.

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As we conclude, then, we need to realize something: the Christian profession is not simply a modification to the old
way of life. Nor is it simply advanced piety. It is spiritual living a life finding its true power in Gods Spirit. It is life
that goes beyond a rule-book to apply, not only Scriptures commands, but its principles. It is a life that cannot
tolerate the concept of flesh-based desires and standards. It is a radical thing, really. The question is, are we willing
to be radical for Christs sake?

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