Galatians 4:17-6:18

So, before I get into some of the general understandings from this extensive passage, I want to give the disclaimer that I am not going to give the full meaning of the text.  I probably will only give some smaller points that will help you view the passage holistically and give you something to think about.

Looking at the history of the Galatians and some of the things going on within the body of their church, it seems Paul was outlining to them what it means to live has people freed through the Spirit, as opposed to people enslaved to the Law.  Paul begins by giving this illustration all the way back from Genesis 16 of the events of Sarah and Hagar.  One having a child that was conceived in the flesh (Ishmael) and a child conceived through the promise of God (Isaac).  The illustration is used to point out what it means to children of God through the Spirit.  Paul explains this as meaning that if we as people find our redemption and righteousness through our works, even so far as to keeping the Law in ourselves (beginning of Chapter 5), we actually are enslaved by the Law and Paul displays that the Law that we claim that makes us righteous is what truly condemns us.  Those who are free in the Spirit are freed from this.  We actually are led by the very Spirit of God to keep the Law!  The Law is actually kept not by us in the works that we do in measuring up.  The Law is actually kept through the work of God.  Making us not slaves to the flesh, but actually free to keep the Law through the working of the Holy Spirit of God.  This is why the Law is fulfilled in us when we live lives that reflect the nature of God to "love our neighbor as ourselves".  This can only be done through work of God and his Holy Spirit.

Now the important part is how does this affect our lives?  How do we actually look if we are freed by the Spirit of God?  Well that answer is given at the end of Chapter 5 in Galatians.  We see this list of what it means to live in the flesh.  Enmity, sorcery, division, sexual immorality, jealousy, and fits of anger are all parts of this list of things that display what enslavement to the flesh looks like.  I actually think that we even use our own "goodness" and "righteousness" to cover these things up.  Even the very good, holy Law of God is twisted to cover this up in our lives.  It is only through freedom in the Spirit that this can be changed and drastically overthrown.  The description found after, telling what this freedom looks life in the lives of people.  We see love, joy, peace, patience, self-control, gentleness, kindness, faithfulness.  These things is no Law for because the Law is fulfilled in Christ and the death of passions on the cross.  We actually are walking, breathing living fulfillments
of the Law through the Spirit that is in us.  Enabling us to live in unity and in reflection of the God that we serve.  Living in the Spirit is what enables us to display God to the world and to live in his freedom.  Live in this freedom and relish in the blessing that God is satisfied with it.