Originally Posted by JBaldwin

On our Sunday evening Bible studies we recently completed a verse by verse detailed study of Galatians. One of the requirements of this study was to read through the entire book in one sitting at least twice. What popped out at me when I read these verses, and then again when we studied them was that Paul was comparing the results of relying on the law vs. the results of relying on the Spirit of God (living by faith).

The results of living by the law i.e. trusting in our own abilities to live righteously produce the adultery, fornication, etc. The results of walking in the Spirit, relying on the work of Christ for our sanctification produce the fruit of the Spirit--love, joy, peace, longsuffering, etc.

Out of the context of the book, these lists can look like things we have to do, but they are really results of living under the law or walking in the Spirit.

There is real freedom in understanding this truth. "If we walk in the Spirit, we will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh." Galatians 5:16

Righteousness, even after we are believers, is not found in doing good works, but in relying on the righteousness of Christ. When we are walking in the Spirit, good works will flow out of us naturally. Because the good works are the fruit of the Spirit living within us.