Galatians 5  In Christ, Paul says, we have been set free.. "for freedom".  We are no longer slaves to the law or to sin. We cannot be justified by trying to follow the Jewish laws.. or any laws.  We cannot be saved by our own efforts.. for that is from the flesh.. the unregenerate, sinful flesh.. that has no hope of making us pure, of forgiving our sins... of giving us eternal life. 

Christ saved us by His grace and we are justified as we put our faith in Him.. "For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness." 

Paul says that those who were teaching the Galatians that they had to be circumcised and follow the Law were leading them astray.. causing them to leave the path of grace.. the path of Christ.. and the freedom that He died to provide for them.  They.. and we.. are not called to that other path, but to freedom.. freedom to love and serve.. freedom to walk in His Spirit and not in our flesh. 

Paul gives us another contrast.. a clear picture of a life that serves the flesh and a life that has been made new by the Spirit of God:

A life of flesh is "evident".  We can't miss the evidence in our own lives or in the lives of others;  "immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these.. "  Pick up a newspaper, turn on the tv.. click on a social media site.. there it is in living color! 

But, a life that has been transformed by the Presence of the Spirit of God will not look like that at all!  Instead, the evidence will be very clear.. "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.. " These are the traits that are seen in the life of one who has received Christ.. who has been "crucified" with Him.. whose passions and fleshly desires no longer rule in their lives. 

"If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit."  Paul says in verse 25.  If we have been "born again" by believing in Jesus Christ and receiving  new life by the Spirit.. then.. we can.. and must continue on that path.. walking.. following.. deporting ourselves in His power.. in His Presence.. as His companion... every minute.. every hour.. and every day.  

Andrew Murray wrote, "The Holy Spirit is my lifelong companion! He had full possession of me! He cherishes me in God's love, makes me aware of God's presence, and leads me in prayer that brings fellowship with Him in love!" 

This is what Paul desired for his readers.. it is what our heavenly Father.. our Abba, desires for each of us and He made it possible through Jesus Christ, His precious Son and our wonderful Savior.

Father, thank You. Transform us.. renew us.. fill us!  Continue that great work of sanctification, Holy Spirit as we follow You, walking in the Light of the Word and in the grace of Jesus Christ our Lord... our "hope of righteousness"..  In His name we come.. Amen.