Feast of St. Matthew/Trinity Fourteen Sunday

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It has become a ‘driving’ joke around here (pun intended), that I often harp about the speed limit and the blatant neglect for safety that I see (just ask me, I can tell you some stories) when I drive north and south on I-35, to and from Waxahachie. My harping is certainly a reflection of my care and concern for safety, both for myself and others, and also to promote or underscore a deeper theological reality in the Christian faith: the law versus license, but we will come to that soon enough. 

On this Feast Day of St. Matthew, and also the week of Trinity Fourteen, we have designated for us the reading from Galatians 5:16-26. In this passage, St. Paul wrote to the Christian church in Galatia, giving them some solid theology about what it means to be saved by grace through faith apart from works. At that time, in Galatia, Christians were being persuaded by a group called the Judaizers to add to their faith certain works of the Law of Moses, like circumcision and purity rites related to certain feasts and festivals. To ameliorate and defend the Faith once delivered by JESUS to the Apostles, and the Apostles to the Church, Paul confronts the false ideas of the Judaizers, theologically and practically. In chapter five, St. Paul exhorts the Christians to live their lives faithfully and pragmatically, while also encouraging them to hold to the correct and proper theology of the Apostles. Much like we do here at St. Mark’s, Sunday by Sunday. 

St. Paul begins by saying that every Believer should walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh. –There are several ways in the Scriptures to understand what is meant by the flesh. Flesh can refer to the actual biological matter that composes our bodies, and it can also refer to humanity in general, such that the Word, JESUS, became flesh. Yet, here, in Galatians 5, flesh possesses another meaning. In Paul’s letter, “to live ‘according to the flesh’ is to operate within a realm shaped by indwelling sin (Romans 8:5-8) … it is hostile to GOD and cannot submit to His law.”¹ As such, in our flesh, in this realm of ‘the natural,’ we cannot do the things of ‘the supernatural.’ Unless, St. Paul says, we walk in the Spirit. 

The fullness of this idea is enhanced in Paul’s statement from Romans 7:6, where he writes: “But now, we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by [the flesh], so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.” — We often think of this realm of the natural, of indwelling sin, this flesh, only in one dimension: the realm of the debased and debauched. Yet, the natural realm of the flesh can also be at work in the realm of the legalistic and puritanical, too. This is the precise area of the flesh’s indwelling sin that Paul is encouraging Christ’s disciples in Galatia not to participate. As mentioned, the false prophets, the Judaizers, were preaching a different gospel than that of the Apostles – a gospel that demanded salvation by faith, plus, additional works of piety from the Law. But, as Paul has pointed out, the works of the law are of the oldness of the letter, and not in the newness of the Holy Spirit. In Christ, Christians have died to the works of the old letter of the law through Holy Baptism. Now, we live by faith in the newness of the realm of the Spirit of GOD, which is the realm of the supernatural, the realm of indwelling righteousness, wherein new Resurrection fruits in our spirits are produced, shared, and enjoyed in the Church.  

Trying to produce the fruits of the Divine Nature through the law with one’s own merit and strength is impossible. In fact, Paul says, the realms of the natural flesh and the supernatural Spirit are opposed to one another, as if warring, one against the other – sometimes to the point where we walk in the flesh to our disapproval and do the things we wish not to do. (cf. Gal. 5.17-18) Even Paul admitted to such a war between the flesh and the Spirit in himself. Again, from Romans 7, he writes: “[My sinful nature], taking opportunity by the commandment [of the old letter], produced in me all manner of evil desire … And the commandment, which was to bring life, I found to bring only death” (Romans 7.8 & 10). — One who walks in the flesh (the realm shaped by indwelling sin) and attempts to achieve godly righteousness (the realm shaped by indwelling righteousness) under the influence of the law, that person is deceived by the law. For the sin that resides in the flesh will always rebel against the law and produce what is contrary to the law, which is lawlessness or sin. Thus, the thesis of St. Paul’s letter to the Galatians is proven true: “Christ JESUS has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become the curse for us … thus, in Christ JESUS, we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith” (Galatians 3.13-14), but by no other way. 

This is Paul’s robust theology about the law, and he writes on this matter extensively in other epistles also. Yet, what about license or liberty now that we have been freed from the law in JESUS Christ? — St. Paul anticipates this and tells the Galatians: “For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use your liberty as the opportunity for the flesh, but through love, serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Galatians 5.13-14). To do these things – to be free from the strictures of the law that cause rebellion – we are to have faith in Christ’s righteousness, but also to walk in holiness. — To do so, just as with avoidance of works over and above faith, Paul says that we should “Walk in the Spirit, and then we shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh” (Galatians 5.18). – In every case, if we are to bear fruit to GOD and of GOD, it must be done as we walk in the Spirit. And walking in the Spirit is to be led, as a faithful servant, by the Spirit – following His lead, hearing His voice, and obeying His commands.  

I understand I am saying these things as a matter of course – as a matter of fact. As if the fruits of the Holy Spirit just emerge in our lives, day by day, without any effort or struggle or sacrifice. If anyone does see the fruits of the Spirit evident in their lives or in a neighbor’s life, they know it is not natural – it is supernatural – and that is the point! – If each moment of the day we make decisions about what we will think, say, do, or plan – if we walk moment by moment seeking to satisfy our needs and our desires, (which is natural…fleshly), over and above the needs and desires of GOD and our neighbors, (which is supernatural), we will still be in our flesh. Yet, if we accept that we have been born again of a new Seed (which is the imperishable life of GOD the Father implanted in us by the Spirit, guaranteeing a transformed ethic and outlook). If we allow the nature of that Seed to live in us, then we will bear supernatural fruit – the fruit of the Spirit – which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such as these, there is no law, for he who has the Seed of Christ in him will grow the fruits of Christ. 

If you plant an apple tree in a pear orchard, will it bear pears? Or if you plant an orange tree in an apple orchard, will it bear apples? No matter where you plant an apple tree – amongst pears or oranges or vines of cabernet-sauvignon grapes – the apple tree will still bear the fruit of the life that is in it. — Thus, Paul tells the Galatians, if the life of the Spirit is in you, the fruits of the Spirit will be born in you, becoming visible in your life. — And most importantly, against the fruits of the Spirit, there is no law. The apple tree is not under a law demanding that it produce apples – it bears apples because the apple is the life and fruit of that tree. And without law, being reasonable in its liberty to the order of its creation, the apple tree can bear the juiciest and sweetest apples without any fear of trying to produce the juiciest and sweetest grapes or oranges. — Walking in the Spirit, we experience the same liberty and fruitfulness, such that we can read His Word, meditate upon His thoughts, study His character, align our hearts with His will, and joyfully obey His commands, thereby bearing the fruit of the life that is in us, which are ninefold and are described, in action, by the following words: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Law and license are both satisfied and tamed by love – love of another over oneself to the glory of GOD. This is our reasonable and laudable service as servants of GOD in the order of our creation. 

Now for the illustration of driving the speed limit. Such is a perfect example, I believe, of what St. Paul is teaching us. — The speed limit is a decree; a law. If we are law-abiding, then we will be careful not to exceed the limits set on the highways and road by the state. Yet, if we exceed the speed limit, we are ever conscience of the risk of being pulled over by law enforcement for breaking the law. In both cases, we are not walking in the Spirit, but in the flesh. For in the one state, we are ever-conscious of our speed, restless because we realize we can never abide by the limits put on speed perfectly. We bear no fruit of joy or peace, becoming defensive and critical of others as we drive about town. — In the other state, the life of driving is enjoyable, but there is a level of tension in the back of our minds about ‘the possible’. — I wonder what a ticket will cost me if I am pulled over doing this speed? It does seem a little dangerous to be passing people so aggressively. What are my insurance rates going to look like if I have an accident? Didn’t I tell my children not to drive like this? — By exceeding the speed limit, I try to seize liberties I do not have, which are in excess of the law, and not permissible, becoming dangerous and possibly reckless in my driving. 

What does it look like to drive in the Spirit? It looks like driving while being free from the law – driving in love. If I drive in the Spirit, I am not worried about the posted speed limit – I simply love to drive. I am aware of the speed limit but not concerned about it. I know what the safe speed is, and so I drive it, keeping an eye to loving my neighbor as myself, that I might not cause harm, but in gentleness and self-control, sharing the road, even if it inconveniences me. In essence, by driving in the Spirit, I am free from the restrictions and excesses of the law of sin and death. I am free to live, love, and drive in a way that reveals love to GOD and to my neighbor. There is little difference when one takes into consideration Paul’s command to ‘walk in the Spirit.’ 

Concerning living by faith apart from the law, and walking in holiness apart from license or excess, one theologian has said: “You will never find true faith unattended by true godliness; on the other hand, you will never discover a truly holy life which has not for its root a living faith upon the righteousness of Christ … There are some who cultivate faith and forget holiness, [like the Corinthian church of the New Testament] … There are others who have strained after holiness of life but have denied the faith – like the Pharisees of old, of whom the Master said, they were ‘whitewashed sepulchers.’ We must have faith, for this is the foundation; we must have holiness of life, for this is the superstructure. Of what service is the mere foundation of a building to a man in the day of a tempest? Can he hide himself under his foundation? He wants a house to cover him, as well as a foundation for that house. Even so, we need the superstructure of the Spirit’s newness of life, if we would have comfort in the day of doubt. But seek not a holy life without faith, for that would be to erect a house which can afford no permanent shelter, because it has no foundation on a rock. Let faith and holy living be put together in the Spirit, and, like the two abutments of an arch, they will make our piety enduring. Like light and heat streaming from the same sun, they are alike, full of blessing. Like the two pillars of the temple, they are for support and for beauty. They are two streams from the fountain of grace … O LORD, give us this day, life within [by faith], and it will reveal itself without, [in holiness], to thy glory.”²  

In St. Paul’s letter to the Galatians, he wants us to make sure that we do not simply sit around and discuss theology all day and never put our beliefs into practice. Thus, in Galatians 5.1, St. Paul exhorts his hearers, by saying: “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, but do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.” In my context, I see this challenge to stand fast in the liberty of Christ played out in ‘driving’. For the driving experience allows the Christian driver many opportunities to love his neighbor as himself, or to be entangled again with the yoke of bondage of fleshly and not spiritual driving habits. Overly simplified? On your drive home today, I will let you draw your own conclusions. But for now, brothers and sisters of StME, our challenge as Christians is to “keep strict cadence with the Spirit, walking in that life that we are called to, in JESUS Christ our LORD. We are to reject both legalism and license and instead pursue faith and holiness by walking in the Spirit. “For if the Spirit of Him who raised JESUS from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies,” and you will bear His fruit, which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  Amen.    

1 BibleHub.org. “Lexical review of ‘flesh’ (σαρκὸς).” Accessed 20 September 2025. https://biblehub.com/greek/4561.htm.  

2 Spurgeon, Charles. CCEL.org. “Meditation on Galatians 5:25.” Accessed 18 September 2025. https://ccel.org/meditate?date=09-18&ning=am.