C, Post-Pentecost 3, Proper 8 - Galatians 5:1,13-25 "The Divine Dance"

The Apostle Paul writes to the Galatians because they’re in the process of turning their backs on the freedom they have won in Jesus Christ. 

He gets straight to the point in chapter one, saying, “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.” (Galatians 1:6–9 ESV)

The issue is a group was seeking to reintroduced circumcision as an addition for salvation, and the Galatians were welcoming it.  Circumcision is nothing in itself, but the requirement to be circumcised is righteousness through works, that destroys all the works of God that brings a person to baptism and keeps one in their baptism. 

Saint Paul uses strong language since any works that one adds to God’s works, makes you, me, and the Galatians liable of sinning against the Holy Spirit.   When you and I use freedom to sin against God, you and I are addressed as ill witted Galatians, as Paul brings shame on them, saying, “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith.”  (Galatians 3:1–5 ESV)

The Galatians were on the brink of piling contempt on the work of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit through their actions of freedom.  To those who were forcing the Galatians back to circumcision, Paul says, “I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves!”  (Galatians 5:12 ESV) In other words, rather than forcing others into works of circumcision, he would rather those who demanded this would amputate everything off themselves, so there was no possibility of circumcision.

However, rather than circumcision or emasculation, that “cuts off”, Paul points out that all have, “put on” Jesus Christ in baptism — both Jew and Gentile, slave or free, man and woman.  All now share in the same discipleship!  Anything one thinks they need to add to this, to be effective, undermines the work of the Holy Spirit and submits one to a yoke of slavery once again.  Anyone who requires someone else to do these additional  works, be it circumcision or any other work, works contrary to Jesus Christ, with a “different or distorted gospel”.   When one seeks or orders this for effective discipleship, Paul says, “Let them be accursed”!  

Emasculation and being accursed are strong words that hopefully move you to consider how you function as a Christian and as Christians.  Or, better said, how you allow the Holy Spirit to give you life!    Paul says to you, “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” (Galatians 5:13 ESV)

Today “love” can be a slippery word.  Love is love, the worldly banners proclaim, but the hidden truth is all love is not the love the Holy Spirit works in and through us!  Three types of love can be noted here, but there is only one love to which Paul points.

The first two are passions of the flesh.  This is desire from within that is either vulgar evil desires, or seemingly good righteous desires that sees one climb up to God to do the greater good. 

Vulgar evil desires or passions are self-explanatory.  You and I know exactly what they are when one lusts after, or hates, another person in their heart.  But good righteous desires are a little more difficult for us to discern.  These desires subtly deceive the faithful because they seem godly!  But in fact, they’re the same fleshy desires that deliver us ultimately into death. 

Firstly, and foremostly, these good desires were the works of circumcision amongst the Galatians.  But the works can be any works of righteousness that dilute and desecrate the holy work of God the Father, in his Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. 

The problem of climbing up to do the work of greater good, assumes we can climb up to God in the first place.  Even in our minds, if we believe we have ascended to the heights of God, we want to be like God.  Then, like the circumcision party or any other pietistic or self-righteous group, our own law is proclaimed for others to follow.

In the second place, the problem of climbing up to do the work of greater good shows contempt for God’s will, his Word of law and gospel, and for God himself, who always comes down, to create and recreate.  We heard on Pentecost Sunday at Babel when the world worked as one to build themselves up to God, God still had to come down.  And once there, he destroyed their collective good, which in reality was not good at all. 

Similarly, any greater good worked in God’s church needs to be enacted by the Holy Spirit, lest it’s only an act of self-righteousness against God’s righteousness.  A work of Divine love always begins with God, and ends with God, and it works in us to work for God.  Any other work just does not work.

When we realise our passions and desires don’t work, the work of God has begun to bring Jew and gentile, slave and free, man and woman, into step with the Holy Spirit.  This is the Holy Spirit, two step, of law and gospel!  This is the place where the Holy Spirit begins to teach you and me how to be one church, in a beautiful dance with our Saviour, Jesus Christ.  The Holy Spirit perfectly aligns us, the body of Christ, and individual member of it, with the Head, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ came down to us and allowed the Holy Spirit to choreograph him in his life and ministry.  This is the love of God to which Paul and the Apostles point us in God’s Word.  Now, Jesus and our Father send the Holy Spirit to choreograph us, with the Word, to dance with Jesus in a Divine Dance. 

With this picture we can see how Paul calls us to allow the Spirit to direct us into the fluidity of Christ’s love with him in this Divine Duet.  This is not a dance like a disco, where individuals decide to do “whatever they like”, chaotically bouncing up and immediately falling right back down, crashing into each other, like out-of-control human pogo sticks!

Paul says, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.”  (Galatians 5:16–18 ESV)

And so, Paul gives us the first of two lists in which we are called to see ourselves in the reflection of God’s Word.  In showing you the law in the first list, you see the fickle fleshy reality of your dance moves, so the Holy Spirit can move you and lead you, from the disjointed desire for a disco disaster, into the dance that bears all the holy fruit in the second list.

In our dance with Jesus Paul tells us exactly what the work of the Holy Spirit is.  “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” (Galatians 5:24 ESV)

Therefore, “If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.” (Galatians 5: 25 ESV) Let us let the Holy Spirit keep on crucifying the flesh with its passions and desires. Amen.

Extras for Contemplation

Let’s now look at the lists to hear how the Holy Spirit works to keep us with in step with him, Jesus Christ, and our Father in heaven.

Unhelpful fleshy desired dance moves Paul warns won’t work to inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19–21 ESV)

Sexual immorality – the Greek word used here is from where we get the word pornography and includes all sexual vulgar activities in heart or deed outside what God orders in creation.

Impurity – is to not be cleansed, pruned, purged, or expiated by the work of Jesus Christ on the cross.

Sensuality – is to be incontinent or filthy in the sense of lacking self-restraint of emotional actions.

Idolatry – is worship of created images.  An idol is anything that breaks the First Commandment, created physically, spiritually, or mentally.

Sorcery – this is a Greek word from where we get the word pharmacy, and means magic and crafts, including but not limited to, means of medication.  The spells and potions of occultic activity.

Enmity – Hostility, hatred, being contrary or an adversary.

Strife – quarrelling, disputing, wrangling.  

Jealousy – indignation, being offended, to covert.

Fits of Anger – heated impassioned outbursts

Rivalries – Factions that stimulate undermining behaviour.

Dissensions – Disunion that causes two positions or standings.

Divisions – this is often confused with division between people but comes from the Greek word from where we get the English word heresy.  So, it is division or sect from God and his Word.

Envy (and Murder) – Ill will, character assassination, to spoil, to shrivel, to wither, to ruin, (therefore some manuscripts add murder).

Drunkenness – intoxication of various substances.

Orgies, and things like these – Revelry or rioting in various manners, from the Greek to lie outstretched for self-indulgent pleasures of the senses.

Helpful Holy Spirit worked fruit. (Galatians 5:22–23 ESV) The things the Holy Spirit wills to work within those who allow him.

Love – Greek here is agape, love of God that comes down.  Charity, benevolence, compassion, generosity.

Joy – a common delight or cheerfulness.  Greater than happiness.  Where one can be happy in themselves, joy involves more than just an individual.

Peace – from the Greek word “to join”, so rest, quietness, prosperity in the spiritual sense, but comes from being joined to that which gives the qualities of peace.

Patience – long tempered, as in hold one’s heated breath to cool.

Kindness – being useful, employable, easy, to furnish what is needed, to act towards one in a given manner.

Goodness – in all senses, benefit, goods (as in things), wellness, good.

Faithfulness – conviction, belief, reliance upon Christ, unhidden truthfulness, fidelity.

Gentleness – humility, to be mild.

Self-control – power over the self’s desires, and passions.

The Spirit doesn’t demand perfect footwork; He perfects as one yield their steps to Him. Learn trust in the trust-worthy Choreographer.

How does this Spirit-led dance shape the way we receive God and give thanks in the Divine Service?

In what ways did the early church’s gatherings reflect Paul’s call to freedom?

We thank God for Paul and the other Apostle’s determination to put glory in themselves aside so the Holy Spirit could use them in his instruction of the Church’s Divine Dance with Jesus Christ our Saviour.