Chris Harvey
BIBL110_B04_201420
03-1-14

In Galatians 5:16-18 the biblical audience was at odds with the law and receiving grace through Jesus Christ. They had to make a decision to either continue following the old ways and fall from grace or, live their life forgiven because of Jesus. The new soul would be free or the law but, held to the standard of Christ and not the flesh. They have to be on the watch to be for certain they are following the will of God and not their own desires.

The biblical audience during this time period is much like todays audience in some ways and different in others. Both of the audiences are lead away by distractions. The audience of old was distracted by the law keeping some of them from fully following Christ causing conflicts in the spirit. The audience of today puts the world and what it has to offer above the will of Jesus. Both audiences put their will, circumstances, and sinful nature above Gods will.

The theological principles reflected the text is, what it means to leave our old selves behind and how do we spiritually walk with Christ. We leave our old selves behind by giving up our worldly selfish ways and taking up the cross. We spiritually walk by seeking, understanding, receiving grace and sharing the grace we have been given by a loving God. When we do these things our old selves will be left behind and our new forgiven spirit will arise.

Today’s Christian can apply these principles by mimicking Jesus and how he showed humility to others by way of love. A Christian of today must first except they are a sinner and by what Christ did on the cross they are forgiven. We shed our old ways, except Christ and move in whatever direction he leads. The missionaries in China demonstrate all of these qualities by giving up their old way of life,