[color=#0000FF]13You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. 14The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." 15If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. 16So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. 19The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.[/color] (NIV) Feel free to discuss. :)

Considering the overarching theme among Christ that the law was not to be abolished while emphasizing the freedom within the law, I'd say this is a terrific attempt to dispel the legalistic notions of following the law while not circumventing or ignoring the law. From Hell

Is it freedom from the law or freedom within the law? Because Paul says do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature. Which to me says, you have freedom, not license. You are free to do as you like (all things are lawful) but do not say because you have freedom you can sin all the more (but not all things are beneficial). The law has not been abolished. If there was no law, there'd be no sin. Yet the acts of the sinful nature (sexual immorality, idolatry, hatred, drunkenness, etc.) are all spoken against in the law. Those who indulge the sinful nature (break the law) will not inherit the kingdom of God. Contrast this with the fruit of the Spirit. Interesting, Paul uses the singular fruit, rather than the plural, fruits. Which to me would make more sense. Because Paul lists several different things: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, yet calls them by one singular noun. It's not the fruits of the Spirit, as I might expect, but fruit. As there is one body with many different parts, so there is one fruit with different ... how shall we say...? aspects. The Spirit is contrasted with the sinful nature. To me, Spirit and law are connected. Synonymous? Idk. Try this-in every place in this passage where Paul uses the word "Spirit", try using the word "law". Does that change your understanding or interpretation of the text? To me, Spirit and law are not antagonistic. If you live according to the Spirit, you'll be obeying the law. What is the law? "Love your neighbor as yourself." And if we live by the Spirit (law) we will have love, joy, peace, etc. Lev 26:1-13 and Deut 28:1-13 list blessings for obedience.