But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23
After spending the last few weeks talking about the fruits of the Spirit, let’s key in on the last few words of verse 23: “Against such things there is no law.” Paul isn’t just talking about human law, about how these anti-worldly but unobtrusive qualities violate no civil code. Instead, Paul is talking about Jewish law, about the hundreds of little constraints that Jewish leaders had imposed on their followers over the centuries. None of these qualities of God’s Spirit violated any of those Old Testament codes and traditions. In other words, living one’s life in accordance with the fruits of Jesus’ Spirit wouldn’t put one at odds with the Sanhedrin, the Torah, the Talmud, or whatever authority (or authoritative writing) one could encounter. Or so you might think.
So, a few nights ago, my wife and I were watching episode three of season two of “The Chosen.” In this episode (titled “Matthew 4:24”), we learn about the human side of the disciples. That they wondered about where their walking with Jesus would lead them. That they could still hold grudges. In one scene, Simon (Peter) is venting unforgiveness on Matthew, who had previously been an avaricious tax collector employed by Rome. Simon is raging about how what Matthew did is unforgiveable and he should be forced to live in shame, that he isn’t fit to be the Messiah’s disciple. This is what’s happening when an exhausted Jesus comes up, completely spent after healing hundreds of people throughout a long, hot day.
Against such things there is no law, except that law which His own disciples would hold against Him (namely their pride and unforgiveness). Against such things there is no law, except that law of sin the Pharisees would use to crucify Him. Against Spirit’s fruits there is no law because God Himself frees us from the spiritual consequences of human laws and human behaviors. That doesn’t mean those behaviors stop at our conversion. We struggle with them every day because the law of man is at odds with these fruits of Jesus’ Spirit. Our sinful nature continuously wars with Jesus’ holy nature.
The good news, however, is the Good News. God Himself saves us through His Spirit, His Son, His blood and sacrifice in our place. Antiquated codes of behavior, meant originally to point us to our need for God, no longer apply. They had been long ago twisted by men anyway. We can’t work or do or talk or write our way into salvation. Only by believing in and submitting to Christ can we truly be free from those laws working against us.
For further reading: Galatians 5:24
Lord, You are over our laws. Only You save us. Only You are God.
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