Justification by faith brings about both freedom and spiritual fruit.
The Freedom of the Son, vv. 1-15
A. Protection from the legalism of the legalizers, vv. 1-12
1. The work of Christ freed us from the bondage of the law, vv. 1-4, 6-12.
2. The work of Christ will free us from the bondage of the body, v. 5.
B. Protection from the license of the libertines, vv. 13-15
The Fruit of the Spirit, vv. 16-26
A. The Conflict, vv. 16-18: the struggle within the believer.
1. The Contenders, vv. 17-18
a. The evil nature
b. The Holy Spirit
2. The Council, v. 16
a. “Live according to your new life in the Holy Spirit,” v. 16a.
b. “Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves,” v. 16b.
B. The Children, vv. 19-26
1. The Fruit of the Flesh, vv. 19-21
a. Sexual sins
b. Religious sins
c. Moral sins
d. Violent sins
e. Mental sins
2. The Fruit of the Spirit, vv. 22-26: The “power” of the Spirit is manifest in the fruit of the Spirit.
a. Love: “God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind,” 2 Timothy 1:7.
b. Joy and Peace: “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost,” Romans 15:13.
c. Longsuffering: “Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness,” Colossians 1:11.
d. Gentleness: “by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by the power of God,” 2 Corinthians 6:6-7.
e. Goodness: “For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth,” Ephesians 5:9.
f. Faith: “That He would grant you to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith, according to the power that worketh in us,” Ephesians 3:16-17, 20.
g. Meekness: “My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me,” 2 Corinthians 12:9.
h. Temperance: see 2 Timothy 1:7 above.