MARKS OF A TRUE DISCIPLE

1.  Be Led by the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-26) 

     A. Spirit Versus Flesh (Galatians 5:16-18) 

     B. The Sinful Nature (Galatians 5:19-21) 

     C. Pure Fruit (Galatians 5:22-26) 

2.  Stop Sinning (1 John 3:1-10) 

     A. The Father’s Love (1 John 3:1-3) 

     B. The Sinless Son of God (1 John 3:4-6) 

     C. The Believer’s Lifestyle (1 John 3:7-10) 

3.  Love One Another (1 John 4:7-12) 

     A. God Is Love (1 John 4:7-9) 

     B. God’s Love in Us (1 John 4:10-12) 

Central Truth:  Disciples of Christ manifest Christlike characteristics. 

Focus:  Understand and embrace Biblical characteristics of a Christian disciple. 

Evangelism Emphasis:  Christians must seek to reach all people with the love and gospel of Christ. 

Text:  “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25). 

INTRODUCTION 

When you and I become followers of Jesus Christ, our goal is not simply to learn a set of truths. Discipleship represents a radical reorientation of our entire life around the person and work of Jesus Christ. It is not enough to merely affirm a set of beliefs. Nor is it enough to treat our salvation as if it is some kind of eternal “fire insurance” that has no bearing on how we live in the present age. Contrary to those mistaken notions, the lesson this week focuses on the ethical and moral implications of becoming a disciple of Jesus. 

When we become Christ’s disciple, our life will begin to manifest characteristics that are Christlike. An important truth stressed in today’s lesson is that love is the catalyst for this transformation. We are unable to “will” ourselves into Christlikeness. A deeper transformation must take place and continue taking place throughout our lives. That transformation begins when we first receive the saving love of God that is supremely manifested toward us through Jesus Christ. 

1. BE LED BY THE SPIRIT 

A. Spirit Versus Flesh (Galatians 5:16-18) 

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. 

In Galatians 5, Paul speaks about the Law and its inability to justify us before God. External rules can never be the guide to Christian living because they are unable to change our heart. In verse 14, he echoes the teaching of Jesus we read in Matthew 22:36-40 when he says the Law is fulfilled in the saying, “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” Such love is expressed in our actions; it is a mistake to understand Paul’s teaching as saying our works don’t matter. 

We are to “walk” according to the will of God as revealed by “the Spirit,” and in the strength which He provides moment by moment (v. 16). A walk motivated by the Spirit and subject to His direction will bring victory and blessing. “The lust of the flesh”—the desires of the carnal nature—is reckoned to be crucified and dead. But the Greek tense of the verb indicates this “walk in the Spirit” must be constant and habitual. 

“Flesh” (v. 17) refers to the total human nature—body and mind—as the source of desires, ideas, and ambitions that are self-pleasing (1 John 2:16). The body of a new convert may still become the instrument of self-gratification. Paul envisions an internal civil war, as the flesh and the Spirit are arrayed against each other. Paul adds that we cannot resolve this conflict in our own strength. 

Which of these powers shall be allowed to control us? If we submit to the rule of the Spirit of God, we are no longer under the tyranny of “the flesh,” nor are we “under the law.” But notice the condition: The Greek tense of “be led” signifies “if you are continually led by the Spirit.”

• Why can’t we win spiritual battles on our own? 

B. The Sinful Nature (Galatians 5:19-21) 

Paul makes clear what he is referring to when he speaks of living a life motivated by our “flesh,” or sinful nature. Those who engage in these things are not living life by the Spirit; rather, they are being motivated by their sinful nature, and they “shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (v. 21). Paul’s list of acts from the sinful nature can be broken down into four parts: sexual impurity, idolatry, disunion, and a lack of self-control (Moisés Silva, Galatians). 

Paul begins with the issue of sexual sin, described in verse 19. A believer’s life of sexual purity would have been seen as a powerful testimony of the Gospel’s power. Contrary to this type of life is one that is rooted in the sinful nature. Such behaviors include “adultery,” “fornication” (“immorality,” NASB), “uncleanness” (implying moral laxity or sexual promiscuity), and “lasciviousness” (“sensuality,” NASB), which is extreme sexual uncleanness or perversion. 

On the surface, the second category of idolatry (v. 20) might seem less applicable to many Christians in the Western world. But idol worship is subtle and can manifest when we put our confidence in any source other than the Lord. The term translated as “witchcraft” is pharmakeia, which suggests the use of drugs for corrupt purposes. 

The third category of sin is conflict and disunion. This list includes “hatred” (v. 20), which refers to hostility toward God as well as fellow humans; “variance” (a sinful unwillingness to get along with others); “emulations” (a feeling of resentment toward another’s welfare); and “wrath” (“outbursts of anger,” NASB). The word translated “strife” refers to working for one’s own gain at the expense of others; “seditions” suggests manipulating other people for the advancement of one’s personal agenda; “heresies” (“factions,” NASB) is a sinful separation of a number of people from the group because of opinions or actions. In verse 21, “envying” is ill-will toward others for what they have or  represent. The KJV also lists “murders,” which is the most extreme manifestation of such behaviors. 

The final category speaks to a lack of self-control (v. 21), and Paul specifically mentions here such things as “drunkenness” and “revellings” (“wild parties,” NLT).

• How evident are these “works of the flesh” in our society? Why? How are these carnal acts influencing churches? 

C. Pure Fruit (Galatians 5:22-26) 

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. 

When Paul turns to the characteristics of life in the Spirit, he uses the metaphor of “fruit” instead of “works.” This might lead us to think of these things as strictly a work of God and not a result of any effort on our part as Christians. After all, can anyone force fruit to grow? Certainly, they are the result of God’s work in our life. However, the metaphor of fruit should also produce an image of tending an orchard. As Christians, we must respond faithfully to the grace of God so  the fruit of the Spirit can be cultivated and grow. 

Paul lists nine fruit, beginning with love (agape). John Wesley suggested love is the root of all the rest of the spiritual fruit. D. L. Moody expressed all nine of the fruit of the Spirit in terms of love, saying, “Joy is love exulting. Peace is love reposing. Long-suffering is love untiring. Gentleness is love enduring. Goodness is love in action. Faith is love on the battlefield. Meekness is love under discipline. Temperance is love in training” (Notes From My Bible). 

The fruit of the Spirit can be grouped into three categories. The first category refers to abiding dispositions including love, joy, and peace. Agape speaks of a love that is properly oriented toward God and others—a “holy love.” Joy arises out of the presence of the Spirit in our life, and peace manifests as wholeness in relationships with God and our neighbors. 

The second category of spiritual fruit is focused directly on relationships. As we live by the Spirit, our relationships should be marked by long-suffering, gentleness, and goodness. The third category speaks of Christian conduct. Our life in the Spirit should be marked by faith ( “faithfulness,” NASB), meekness (gentleness), and temperance (self-control). 

Paul concludes this passage by exhorting us to match our walk—our relationships and our conduct—with our confession of living in the Spirit. As a result, our relationships with one another will be marked by love and not by division and strife. This is a common theme in Paul’s letters. 

Proper Evidence 

When an individual needs to verify their identity, it takes more than just their word. It must be demonstrated by documentary evidence such as a driver’s license or a passport. That evidence is meant to prove the individual is who they claim to be. In a similar way, if we claim to be disciples of Jesus, we must be bearing the proper evidence. That evidence is the presence of spiritual fruit and a life that is governed by love for God and our neighbor.—Ben Wiles  

2. STOP SINNING 

A. The Father’s Love (1 John 3:1-3) 

1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. 

John proclaims the magnitude of the love of God. The Father manifests that love by calling us His sons and daughters (v. 1). And those are not just empty words. Verse 2 says “we are” His children! This is a statement of fact about us as Christians. Although it is our current reality, John says what the sons and daughters of God will ultimately be like has yet to be revealed. Paul alludes to a similar idea in Romans 8:19 when he speaks of the “anxious longing of the creation” that awaits “the revealing of the sons of God” (NASB). 

Since God’s work in our life is not finished, we must cooperate with the sanctifying Holy Spirit so our life reflects the truth of who we are. We know that when we see Him as He is, we will be like Him. Because we have this hope, we must purify ourselves, “just as He is pure” (1 John 3:3 NASB), much like one learns the native language of a particular part of the world before traveling there (N. T. Wright, Early Christian Letters for Everyone). 

Even though our true nature as the sons and daughters of God is a future reality, John is clear that it is a current reality as well. Because of this, we are set at odds with the world system in this present age (v. 1). There is an inherent incompatibility at work between the world and the children of God. That shouldn’t be surprising to us since it was true of Jesus as well. In the fourth Gospel, John writes, “He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him” (1:11 NASB). 

• As the children of God, what awaits us (v. 2), and how should this impact our lifestyle (v. 3)? 

B. The Sinless Son of God (1 John 3:4-6) 

4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. 5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. 6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. 

The idea of “sin” being “transgression of the law” (v. 4) might be more accurately translated “sin is lawlessness.” In the Greek language, the words sin and lawlessness are interchangeable, so it is just as accurate to say “lawlessness is sin.” With the understanding that the “law” here is the moral law of God, we can rightly say the essence of sin is “disregard for God’s moral law.” This idea takes us back to the Garden of Eden and the original sin of humankind, when Adam and Eve chose to disregard God as their source for the knowledge of good and evil. Instead, they chose to eat the forbidden fruit. The outcome of this decision is what John has in view in this passage, specifically sin as the assertion of one’s preferred way of living in opposition to God’s revealed way. 

It was this decision and its consequence that Jesus came to address. And here are the implications for those who claim to be His disciples: “No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him” (v. 6 NASB). Those are strong words, and they might be hard to hear! Is it possible for us to live with no sin? How should we understand this verse? The original Greek language in this passage shows us John is referring to a person who makes a habit of sinning. Someone who knows Christ will not go on sinning as the normal pattern of their life. John’s language here stresses the need for us to take seriously the call to live free from sin. In the previous chapter, he says provision has been made for us when we do sin (2:1). It is important that we keep a short account with God, be quick to confess and repent of any sin in our lives, and rely on His grace to restore us to a life of Christlikeness. 

A Personal Relationship 

What’s the main difference between a person who believes in Jesus Christ and a person who doesn’t? Or let’s make this personal: “If you’re a Christian, what’s the main difference between you and an unbeliever?” It’s that you have a personal relationship with God. 

In a personal relationship, what you experience with God isn’t merely religion. You don’t just check a box beside a certain denomination, or mentally agree to a bunch of facts about God. Rather, you experience a deep and profound connection to God by His Son, Jesus Christ.—Robert Morris, Frequency 

C. The Believer’s Lifestyle (1 John 3:7-10) 

7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. 8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 

Just as John needed to caution his original hearers against being deceived on this topic, so you and I must hear his caution today. There are those (“let no man deceive you,” v. 7) who want you to believe the grace of God covers your sins—past, present, and future. As a result of this, they suggest what you do in the body doesn’t matter. You are forgiven, you are secure in your relationship with the Lord, and “God’s grace is greater than your sin,” they say. And indeed, it is! But that does not change the fact that Scripture clearly teaches an expectation of lives marked by Christlikeness and holiness among those who claim to be followers of Jesus. 

John expressly states that the person “who practices sin is of the devil” (v. 8 NASB). Conversely, “no one who is born of God practices sin” because they have been “born of God” (v. 9 NASB). The idea of God’s “seed” remaining in the believer may be drawn from the common view held at the time the child inherited his or her father’s nature. John uses this concept to say whoever is born of God is going to reflect His character, and those who are not born of God will reveal that by their nature (v. 10). 

• According to verse 10, what are two evidences that someone is not a child of God? 

3. LOVE ONE ANOTHER 

A. God Is Love (1 John 4:7-9) 

7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 

In the final section of this study, we return to the theme of love (agape), which is common in John’s writings. This is fitting, since Jesus said “all the law and the prophets” can be summed up in the Great Commandment to “love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind” (Matt. 22:40, 37). Second to that commandment is the requirement to “love thy neighbour as thyself” (v. 39). It is important for us to make the connection between love and holiness. Otherwise, we must choose to understand love in unbiblical terms that can lead to lawlessness, or we might substitute the law of love with a list of rules to keep in order to be considered holy. Both of these extremes are in error. If we truly love God and our neighbor, that love will result in ethical and moral transformation, which will result in a pattern of Christlikeness in our daily life. 

We are called to “love one another” because “love is of God” (1 John 4:7). Putting it another way, John says “everyone who loves is born of God and knows God,” and the converse is also true—“The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love” (vv. 7-8 NASB). Knowing about God is insufficient, for we can know about Him and yet not “know” Him. Knowing God means we are in a relationship with Him in which His love is “shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost” (Rom. 5:5). That kind of love will necessarily flow to others. When that isn’t happening in an individual’s life, John says that person “does not know God” (1 John 4:8 NASB). 

Key to this is a proper understanding of the nature of love. Perfect love is most clearly demonstrated in God’s actions toward us. God expressed His love for us by sending “His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him” (v. 9 NASB). This kind of love is self-giving and sacrificial. From this pattern, we see true love for God and others will be costly. It is not just a warm feeling or simple words, but a willingness to give ourselves for the good of those around us. This type of love is incompatible with the lawlessness of sin. It is the key to our holiness, which is where we conclude this study in the next few verses of this chapter. 

The Love of God 

The Son’s relationship with the Father was beginningless and infinitely greater than the most intimate and passionate human relationship. When Jesus was cut off from God, He went into the deepest pit and most powerful furnace, beyond all imagining. And He did it voluntarily, for us.—Tim Keller 

B. God’s Love in Us (1 John 4:10-12) 

10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. 12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. 

The ability to express selfless love does not originate with us. It is “not that we loved God, but that He loved us” (v. 10 NASB). This is an important contrast. Human beings undermined their relationship with God when Adam and Eve turned their back on Him. This was not God’s doing, it was ours. Yet, God demonstrated His love by reaching out in love to reconcile us back to Himself. And He continues to do this to this very moment. We are capable of loving Him only because He loved us first. God’s love was manifested supremely in the incarnation of Jesus Christ, culminating in His death, resurrection, and ascension. Now He is our Savior and Spirit Baptizer, pouring out His love in our hearts. God’s love for us was costly, but the result is powerful! 

In light of this, John says we must “love one another” (v. 11). How is it possible for us to say we love God—whom we cannot see with our eye—and yet not love our brothers and sisters whom we can see (v. 20)? And, how can we say we love God if we don’t have the same love and longing for those who are lost, like “sheep not having a shepherd” (Mark 6:34)? 

If we truly know God, then His love dwells in us and is “perfected” (completed) in us (1 John 4:12). By this, John is saying people do not really know who God is until they see His love revealed in us. What God launched in Jesus, He wants to bring to completion in and through us! This is made possible by the Spirit of God at work in our life. Pentecostalism is not just about expressions of power and authority; it is supremely about the revelation of God’s love. This is God’s true aim. 

• How have you seen the love of God expressed through believers? How have others experienced His love through you? 

GOD’S LOVE AT WORK 

A disciple of Jesus Christ will live a life led by the Spirit of God. This will result in the manifestation of spiritual fruit, with the governing dynamic of holy love. This love was first demonstrated to us by God himself in the person and work of Jesus Christ. That love is then shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, flowing out to those around us. We demonstrate that we truly know God by this love we have for one another, and for a world of people who do not know that love personally. 

Daily Devotions 

M. Sin Begins (Genesis 3:1-13) 

T. Sin Punished (Genesis 3:14-19) 

W. Sin Passed On (Genesis 4:1-12) 

T. Sin Covered in Christ (Romans 5:12-21) 

F. Love Covers Sin (1 Peter 4:7-11) 

S. The Serpent Bound (Revelation 20:1-3) 

Adopted from the Evangelical Sunday School Lesson Commentary 2021-2022.