Let Me Be in Practice What I am in Principle

Blessed
I have been blessed in reading this commentary by William Hendrickson lately, specifically the section on Galatians 5:13 – 26. This is the passage where Paul urges us to “walk in the Spirit.” If we “live in the Spirit,” we ought to “walk in the Spirit.” As Hendrickson says, “Let them [Christians] be in practice what they are in principle. The passage contains Paul’s comparison between the “works of the flesh” and the “fruit of the Spirit.” This passage is fundamental to what it means to live as a Christian.
I am blessed with a good number of Bible commentaries. Reading and studying them is richly edifying to my heart and mind. Therefore, in this post, I wish to share some quotes from William Hendrickson, words that touched me.
Galatians 5:13 – 26:
13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
(All following quotes are from William Hendrickson)
Galatians 5:13 – For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
The Christian religion resembles a narrow bridge over a place where two polluted streams meet: one is called legalism, the other libertinism. The believer must not lose his balance, lest he tumble into the refined (?) faults of Judaism on the one side, or into the gross vices of paganism on the other. He must tread the safe and narrow path. Whether fashionable or coarse, both kinds of evils are products of “the flesh,” this is, of sinful human nature.
Vice can only be conquered by virtue, which is the Spirit’s gift, man’s responsibility.
Galatians 5:14 – For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
The parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25 – 37) proves, moreover, that, instead of asking, “But who is my neighbor?” each person should “prove himself a neighbor” to the one whom he is able to benefit in any way.
Galatians 5:17 – For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
The believer, while still on earth, experiences an agonizing conflict in his own heart, but in principle, has already gained the victory, as the very presence of the Holy Spirit in his heart testifies. In full measure this victory will be his portion in the hereafter.
Galatians 5:18 – But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
What then does the leading of the Spirit – to change from the passive to the active voice, for the sake of the definition – actually mean? It means sanctification. It is that constant, effective, and beneficent influence which the Holy Spirit exercises within the hearts of God’s children whereby they are being directed and enabled more and more to crush the power of indwelling sin and to walk in the way of God’s commandments, freely and cheerfully.
Galatians 5:19 – 21 – Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
One of the most soul-destroying vices is envy, an evil which, as the probably etymology of the Greek word implies, causes one “to waste away.” Has not envy been called that vice whose rage nothing can allay, “the eldest born of hell”? Is it not “the rottenness of the bones” (Prov. 14:30)? Our English word envy is from the Latin in-video, meaning “to look against,” that is, to look with ill-will at another person because of what he is or has. It was envy that caused the murder of Abel, threw Joseph into a pit, caused Korah, Dathan, and Abiram to rebel against Moses and Aaron, made Saul pursue David, gave rise to the bitter words which “the elder brother” (in the Parable of the Prodigal Son) addressed to his father, and crucified Christ. Love never envies (1 Cor. 13:4).
Galatians 5:22, 23 – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
In connection with the preceding context, which speaks of strife in its various manifestations (see verses 20, 21), it would seem to be proper here to interpret the next item, namely, meekness, as gentleness toward one another and toward all men, Cf. 1 Cor. 4:21. Also this virtue reminds one of Christ (Matt. 11:29; 2 Cor. 10:1). Meekness is the very opposite of vehemence, violence, and outbursts of anger.
By saying that there is no law against such things he [Paul] is encouraging every believer to manifest these qualities, in order that by so doing, the vices may be annihilated.
The incentive to exhibit these fine traits of character was furnished by Christ, for it is out of gratitude to Him that believers adorn their conduct with them. The example, too, in connection with all of them, was given by Him. And the virtues themselves, as well as the strength to exercise them, are imparted by His Spirit.
Galatians 5:24 – And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Christ Jesus had been openly displayed to them [Christians] as the One who had been crucified for their sins (Gal. 3:1). They had seen His amazing love, and along with it they had learned to recognize the horrible nature of their sins which had required such a death. And they themselves had accepted this crucified Savior as their own, had reposed their trust in Him, and through union with Him had made a definite break with “the flesh,” their old, evil nature. By God’s grace they had administered the death-blow to it. They, like Paul, had been crucified with Christ (Gal. 2:20). Let them therefore be what they are. Let them be in practice what they are in principle, for in principle they had crucified their old human nature, together with its sinful yearnings, whether these be viewed more passively as passions (probably the evil promptings working within their subconsciousness) or actively as desires (the wicked cravings which they consciously support and enliven).
Galatians 5:25 – If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Because of the supreme importance of living a consistent Christian life, that is, of being in practice what one is already in principle, this thought is now rephrased as follows: “If we live by the Spirit, by the Spirit let us also walk.” This translation, favored also by A.R.V., is better than the one that is found in A.V., R.S.V., N.E.B., and others. It preserves the chiastic structure of the original. The phrases “by the Spirit,” “by the Spirit” are in the center, and thus receive the strongest emphasis. Nevertheless, by means of placing the words “if we live” at the very beginning of the sentence, and the words “let us also walk” at the very close, the contrast between living and walking, as these terms are here employed, is brought out with full force. Meaning: “If the source of our life is the Spirit, the Spirit must also be allowed to direct our steps, so that we make progress, advancing step by step toward the goal of perfect consecration to the Lord.” This walking by the Spirit is the only way to administer the finishing touch to that which has already been dealt a mortal blow. It is the only way to deal with “the flesh along with its passions and desires.” We should destroy the power of the negative by means of The Invincible Positive, the Holy Spirit.
Galatians 5:26 – Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
In other words, “Let us neither brag about that which we have (or think we have), thereby calling forth equally pretentious swagger on the part of the person to whom we are speaking, nor grudge that other person what he has.” Haughtiness and conceit, the “know-it-all” attitude, brutal aggressiveness, these ill become those who claim to be followers of Him who was always showing the very opposite spirit (Isaiah 42:2; Zech. 9:9; Matt. 11:29; 20:28; John 13:5; 2 Cor. 10:1; Phil. 2:8). God does not approve of windbags.
Charming
I can’t resist remarking here that perhaps the most charming sentence I’ve read in any commentary is this one: “God does not approve of windbags.”
God keep me from being one.