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The Desires of the Flesh and the Fruit of the Spirit

  The Desires of the Flesh and the Fruit of the Spirit Galatians 5:13-15 "Brothers and sisters, you were called to freedom, but do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another in love. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word (Logo): ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ If anyone bites and devours one another, take heed lest you be consumed by one another." Freedom is freedom from the yoke of legalism. It does not mean that having been freed from legalism means one can live as one pleases; rather, it means not being bound by the letter of the law, but realizing God's love within the law and serving one another in love. This lies precisely in saving the spirit. It means practicing Agape love that saves the spirit. Agape and reviving the spirit are interconnected. The death of Jesus on the cross ultimately lies in reviving the dead spirits of those who have turned away from God. When the dead spirit within the body awakens, that becomes loving God. Th...
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A little leaven leavens the whole lump.

  A little leaven leavens the whole lump. Galatians 5:9-12 "A little leaven leavens the whole lump. I am convinced in the Lord that you have no other mind. But whoever stirs you up will be subject to judgment. Brothers, if I were still preaching circumcision, why would I still be persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross would have been removed. I want those who stir you up (anastatuntes) to cut themselves off." The little leaven signifies legalism. "Mikra" refers to something small that cannot be seen with the eye. In this way, legalism within the church, which is too small to be distinguished from the truth, contaminates the entire church. Gathering at church to worship on Sunday is not the issue. The true meaning of worship is not the concept of offering worship to God. The concept of offering refers to the sacrificial offerings made to God in the Old Testament era. However, the biblical teaching regarding worship is to worship in spirit and truth. John 4...
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Do Not Be Enslaved Again

  Do Not Be Enslaved Again Galatians 5:1-2 "Christ has set us free (te eleutheria) to be free. Therefore stand firm (stekete) and do not be enslaved again. Behold, I, Paul, say to you, if you are circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you." Te ellyuderia means "for that freedom." Ellyuderosen is an imperfect verb, signifying that freedom was granted momentarily, and that state continues. Although expressed as freedom, it does not mean living as I please, but merely that I have cast off the yoke of slavery from the law. "Stekete" does not contain the expression "firmly," but simply means to stand. In other words, it means not to leave that place. Paul says this because the Galatian believers, despite having been set free, were trying to put on the yoke of slavery again through legalism. This is because, at that time, some Jewish Christians within the church were inciting Greek Christians to undergo circumcision. Circumcision is an act of mak...
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(4) Ordinances concerning the Covenant and Holiness

  (4) Ordinances concerning the Covenant and Holiness Leviticus chapters 21 and 22 are about the holy lives of the priests and are composed of six sections, distinguished by the phrase, “ I am the LORD who sanctifies them. ” The phrase, “ I am the LORD who sanctifies you, ” is repeated in the concluding section of the six sections. Additionally, the passage from Leviticus 22:31 to 33 corresponds to the overall concluding section of Leviticus chapters 21 and 22. Chapter 22 consists of three parts. The first part is Leviticus 22:1 through 9. Here, it warns that if priests become unclean through various means, they must never eat the food that priests are permitted to eat. Priests become unclean by coming into contact with a person suffering from a skin disease or with a deceased person. Verse 9 strongly states that for unclean priests to eat the priestly food is a sin against God and could result in death. The second part is found in Leviticus 22:10 – 16 and concerns the foo...
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