Becoming a Christian involves a change in attitudes and life empowered by the Holy Spirit. It is necessary to put off the past life in order to put on the new life.

Paul continues to speak practically about how to live the Christian life. He encourages the believer to put off the old life and put on the new. Jesus is the supreme example - what would He do? Thanksgiving is a major part of spiritual warfare and living in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Paul is making some concluding comments and having finished his argument about legalism, he wants to be practical in terms of helping the Galatians become mature in their churches.

Paul states that government is God’s plan for society. Despite the different forms of government, Christians should respect and honour those in authority who are under God’s sovereignty. Christians should pay their taxes and pray for those in authority.

Paul encourages his readers to believe that they have moved from a life in slavery to sin to living in God’s grace. He refers to baptism which clearly shows dying to the old life and rising up to new life. We need to count ourselves dead to sin.

Paul uses the imagery of slavery to show what was the old life but compares it to the freedom of the new life. We are obligated to please God in response to God’s generous love towards us. We choose to follow God.

Paul uses sexual morality as an example of idolatry - putting something in the place of God. He teaches about wrong thinking and introduces conscience as a signpost to God.

God will judge everyone. There are two main ways of knowing God for everyone - creation and conscience. We are accountable to God. Salvation cannot be earnt; we all fail.

The importance of the Jews is explained despite having been unfaithful to god and rejecting the Messiah. The Law of Moses and circumcision are not enough to save the Jews. They need the gospel, too. Double standards are condemned.

Paul and his companions met with James and other leaders of the church in Jerusalem. Paul was asked to perform a Jewish ritual to please those Jewish Christians who followed Jewish laws. In the Temple, Jews from Asia Minor stirred up a riot against Paul in which Roman soldiers intervened.