Galatians Five

Makestraightpaths.com examines the teachings of the religious group variously known as “the Family,” “The Family International,” the “Children of God,” or the “Family of Love,” and evaluates these teachings from a Christian perspective. This page is one in a series on the 'Law of Love.'

Galatians Five

One of the verses that the Family uses to justify their sexual doctrines is Galatians 5:14:

Gal 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." NKJV

The Family teaches that this means that the entire Law of Moses may be summarised in the command to love your neighbor, and therefore anything that is done according to love is lawful in the sight of God. If an action is done in love, it cannot be wrong, for love fulfils the Law. So, Family members believe that they may engage in extra-marital sex with each other without it being 'sin,' as long as it is done in love.

This web page examines the fifth chapter of Galatians in order to learn what verse 14 means in the context of the chapter, and to discover if the Family interpretation could be correct. The entire book of Galatians is examined on a different page on this web site, with a special focus on Paul's teachings on Christian Freedom.

The book of Galatians

Galatians was written by Paul to a number of churches in the Galatian regions of what is modern day Turkey. Following is an excerpt of an entry in the New Unger's Bible Dictionary (Moody Press, 1988).

Galatians has been called the "Magna Charta of Christian liberty" and the "Christian's Declaration of Independence." The difficulty that produced this important epistle was caused by Jewish believers who proclaimed a mixture of Judaism and Christianity. Paul had proclaimed the free grace of God for all men through the death of Christ. The legalizers contended that Christianity could only work within the sphere of the Mosaic law. Faith in Christ, involving the free gifts of the Holy Spirit, was not sufficient. Obedience to the Mosaic law (Gal 2:16,21; 3:2; 5:4; etc.), which requires observance of festal days and the Sabbath (4:10), was stressed. Had the Judaizers won, Christianity would merely have been a sect within Judaism. The situation called for all the skill and wisdom the great apostle could muster. With invincible logic he vindicated Christianity on the sole basis of man's acceptance of Christ. Men are justified by the finished work of the Redeemer and in no manner by forms and ceremonies. Galatians was an echo of the great truth of justification so masterfully set forth in Romans.

Galatians chapter five

In the first two chapters of Galatians, Paul strenuously defends his own authority to be teaching the churches the truth. Chapters three and four contain his theological arguments for justification and its relationship to the Law. Then in chapters five and six, Paul applies his own teaching to practical matters. In chapter five he first talks about circumcision, then he discusses freedom in the context of love. Finally, he compares the flesh and the spirit by listing the kinds of things that would be seen if someone was 'in the flesh' or 'in the spirit.' Chapter six goes on with more practical matters.

Freedom

Gal 5:1 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. NASU

Paul says that Christ came to set us free. For a full examination of the topic of Christian Freedom, please click here. However, in summary, it may be said that Paul did not advocate freedom for freedom's sake, nor did he hint that Christians were free to break the Mosaic Law. Rather, he said that Christ set Christians free from their sin, so that sin no longer ruled over them. In other words, Christ is the Lord and Master, not sin, not the Devil, and not the Law.

Using the example of circumcision, Paul explains that it is Christ who is to be Lord, not the ritualistic requirements of the Law. Paul did not have a problem with circumcision itself (see Acts 16:3), but he strongly objected to anyone teaching that circumcision was necessary in order to gain favour with God.

Gal 5:2-12
2 Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you. 3 And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law. 4 You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.

7 You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion did not come from Him who calls you. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough. 10 I have confidence in you in the Lord that you will adopt no other view; but the one who is disturbing you will bear his judgment, whoever he is. 11 But I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross has been abolished. 12 I wish that those who are troubling you would even mutilate themselves.
NASU

Love

Paul then explains that freedom was to be ruled by love; under no circumstances was freedom to be exploited selfishly.

Gal 5:13-15
13 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." 15 But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.
NASU

“Love” is defined by service to one another. Any action that is self-centred or self-focussed or self-fulfilling is by definition unloving. Freedom was never to be an “opportunity for the flesh” (NASB), or as the NIV puts it, “do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature.”

Unfortunately, it is at this point that the Family misuses the word of God. Family members are taught that as the whole Law is fulfilled in the statement to love one another, and as love is one of the fruits of the spirit “against which there is no law” (Gal 5:23), then anything that is done in love is lawful, according to the Family. Therefore, according to the Family, extra-marital sex is lawful in the sight of God, as long as it is done in love.

However, the Family interpretation ignores the context of the chapter in which these verses are found, choosing to use them to support their own practices.

Paul continues with a comparison of “walking by the Spirit” and “carrying out the desire of the flesh”

Gal 5:16-18
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.
NASU

The “flesh” includes the body, the mind, the will and the emotions, all of which may be affected by sin. Walking by the Spirit means submitting to the control of the Holy Spirit in everything that we say or think or do. Indulging the flesh means refusing to submit to the Holy Spirit's control.

The flesh

Paul then spells out exactly what 'walking by the Spirit' or 'indulging the flesh' actually looks like. He makes it easy to understand: some actions are indicative that the person doing them is not under the control of the Spirit. Paul says this is “obvious” (NIV).

Gal 5:19-21
19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
NASU

First on the list are “immorality and impurity” The NASB has a footnote indicating this specifically means “sexual immorality.” The NIV and the NET both say “sexual immorality, impurity.” The RSV has “fornication, impurity.” The NKJV has “adultery, fornication.”

Extra-marital sex is one of the “deeds of the flesh.” In fact, Paul warns very strongly that “those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” One cannot interpret these words to mean anything different or act as though Paul did not say it. And, one cannot say that “sex is OK as long as it is done in love,” for then Paul would be saying that Christians could indulge in all these things, as long as they acted in love! Christians could get drunk in love, practice sorcery in love, engage in hatred in love, and so on! This is plainly ridiculous!

The fruit of the Spirit

The list that follows is familiar to most Christians.

Gal 5:22-23
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.
NASU

“Love” has no sexual content. In fact, Paul says that Christians who are led by the Spirit have “self-control.” They are able to control their sinful urges.

Finally, Paul says that walking by the Spirit allows for no indulgence of the flesh at all.

Gal 5:24-26
24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. 26 Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.
NASU

Conclusion

Galatians 5:14 may not be taken as justification for the Family's sexual doctrines. In fact, the chapter specifically warns believers not to indulge in sex as their application of the freedom they have in Christ. The passage is very clear. Christian “love” and “freedom” do not apply to sexual conduct outside of marriage.

Not only is the Family mistaken about this teaching, their actions show something far more serious: Paul said that “those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” The Family practises these things... the conclusion is obvious.

Family members should immediately, unreservedly and unequivocally repent from all such actions. Extra-marital sex cannot be justified either by the concepts of Christian freedom or by Christian love. It is a sin before God.