Against the fruit of the Spirit there is no law

[tonychanyt]

Paul contrasts the Spirit vs the flesh in Gal 5:

16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

That's the bad news. Next comes the good news:

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

This is not about lawlessness. This is walking by the Spirit who dwells in your spirit. When you do, you don't have to worry about the law because there is no law against walking in the Spirit.

Ellicott

For such things law has no condemnation, and therefore they are removed beyond the sphere of law.

Matthew Henry'

And those who desire thus to give themselves up to be led by the Holy Spirit, are not under the law as a covenant of works, nor exposed to its awful curse. Their hatred of sin, and desires after holiness, show that they have a part in the salvation of the gospel.

Pulpit:

We must suppose still that the apostle means that the Law which all along he has been speaking of is in particular "not against them."

Barnes:

Against such there is no law - That is, there is no law to condemn such persons. These are not the things which the Law denounces. These, therefore, are the true freemen; free from the condemning sentence of the Law, and free in the service of God. Law condemns sin, and they who evince the spirit here referred to are free from its denunciations.

Gill:

Against such there is no law; meaning, against such fruits, graces, and good things; these being perfectly agreeable to the law of God, which is holy, just, and good, and spiritual; and are so far from being forbidden by it, that they are highly esteemed and approved of by it: or against persons that are possessed of such fruits; for these appear to be in the spirit, and to be led by the Spirit; and therefore are not under the law, and have nothing to fear from it, as a terrifying, accusing, cursing, and condemning law. The works of the flesh, and they that are of the flesh, are such that come under the notice and lash of the law; and not the fruits of the Spirit, and they that are after the Spirit, as such are who partake of his fruit.

Law condemns but it cannot condemn the fruit of the Spirit.

 

[oikonomia]

This is good news. It is the gospel. We can spontaneously, unconsciously, live in a manner pleasing to
God by learning to walk by the indwelling Spirit with our spirit.

 

[Soyeong]

Paul contrasts the Spirit vs the flesh in Gal 5:


That's the bad news. Next comes the good news:


This is not about lawlessness. This is walking by the Spirit who dwells in your spirit. When you do, you don't have to worry about the law because there is no law against walking in the Spirit.

Ellicott


Matthew Henry'


Pulpit:


Barnes:


Gill:


Law condemns but it cannot condemn the fruit of the Spirit.

In Galatians 5:16-23, everything listed as works of the flesh that are against the Spirit are also against God's law while all of the fruits of the Spirit are in accordance with it, so there is no law against God's law because they are all in accordance with God's law.