5:16 Walk in the Spirit. The Christian “walk” is synonymous with the daily Christian way of living (compare John 8:12; Colossians 2:6). We have been indwelt by the Holy Spirit and are new creations in Christ, so we do not need the threatened penalties of the law to constrain us to refrain from sin. “The love of Christ constraineth us” (II Corinthians 5:14), and a conscious commitment to the leading of the indwelling Spirit by God’s Word will enable us to live in a way pleasing to Him who has saved us, not to yield to fleshly lusts.

5:16 the lust of the flesh. This phrase, “lust of the flesh,” is also used in Ephesians 2:3, II Peter 2:18, and I John 2:16. The conflict between the Spirit and the flesh is prominent throughout Scripture, first mentioned as such in Genesis 6:3.

5:19 these. The apostle here lists seventeen typical sins of the “flesh.” The list is typical, not exhaustive, as he adds the phrase “and such like” to cover the rest. These include sexual sins, religious sins, moral sins, violent sins, mental sins—everything which violates the laws of God and man. It seems anomalous that teaching that salvation depends on obedience to the works of the law would actually lead to law-breaking, but it often does just that. Our sinful human nature somehow makes that which is prohibited more desirable.

5:20 variance. “Variance” means “intense dissensions;” “emulations” means “bitter jealousies;” “seditions” means “factious divisions.”

5:21 do such things. Those who “do” such things—that is, “habitually do” such things—thereby indicate they are not really led by the Spirit, and therefore not really saved.

5:22 fruit. Note that “fruit” is singular. There are not nine different fruits of the Spirit, but rather one ninefold fruit of the Spirit. These attributes should characterize all who walk in the Spirit, because He produces that fruit in their lives. In fact, this listing seems practically to define the nature of Christ! Christians, therefore, do not need the constraints of the law to make them possess these characteristics (Galatians 5:23), for they are the fruit borne by the indwelling Spirit.

5:22 Spirit. It is noteworthy that the “power” of the Spirit, as promised in Acts 1:8, is best manifest in the fruit of the Spirit. Consider the following:

(1) Love: “God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (II Timothy 1:7).

(2) Joy: and (3) Peace: “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost” (Romans 15:13).

(4) Longsuffering: “Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness” (Colossians 1:11).

(5) Gentleness: (literally kindness): “…by kindness, by the Holy Ghost,…by the power of God,…” (II Corinthians 6:6-7).

(6)     Goodness: “For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth” (Ephesians 5:9).

(7)     Faith (or better, faithfulness): “That He would grant you…to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith,…according to the power that worketh in us” (Ephesians 3:16-17,20).

(8) Meekness: “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (II Corinthians 12:9).

(9) Temperance (or self-control): God hath not given us the Spirit of fear, but of power, . . and of a sound mind” (II Timothy 1:7).

5:24 crucified the flesh. Three times in Galatians, we are reminded that the Christian believer should be following Christ in His crucifixion (Galatians 2:20; 5:24; 6:14). We should offer our bodies as a “living sacrifice” to serve Him (Romans 12:1) so that we should not “serve sin” (Romans 6:6). Crucifixion is a very slow and painful death; just so, the death of a Christian to sin does not come in a moment of special blessing but is painful and slow. Nevertheless, it is basic in any truly effective Christian life.