<< Previous | Index | Next >>"PASSAGES TO PONDER" Works Of The Flesh INTRODUCTION 1. So far in this series we have briefly examined... a. "Beatitudes Of The Kingdom" - Mt 5:3-12 b. "Defilements Of The Heart" - Mk 7:21-23 c. "Qualities Of Love" - 1Co 13:1-13 2. Briefly summarizing each passage, we have considered... a. The character and blessedness of those who would be citizens of the kingdom of heaven b. The source of evil and sin that defiles mankind c. The kind of love that is possible in the lives of those who follow Jesus Christ 3. Whether our hearts will be the source of much good or evil depends on... a. The outcome of a battle within each of us b. Whether we succumb to the flesh or follow the leading of the Spirit [Our next two "Passages To Ponder" deal with this inner conflict. In this study we will first examine the "Works of The Flesh" as described in Ga 5:19-21. Beginning with...] I. THE CONTEXT A. THE CONFLICT BETWEEN THE SPIRIT AND THE FLESH... 1. They are in opposition against each other - Ga 5:16-17 2. There is certainly a war between the flesh and human spirit - 1Pe 2:11; Ro 7:23 3. Yet the context suggests that it is the Holy Spirit under consideration a. Note Paul's earlier references to the Spirit - Ga 3:2-3; 4:6; 5:5 b. Paul's later argument ("If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit") makes no sense if the human spirit is meant - Ga 5:25 c. Reaping everlasting life "of the Spirit" must also refer to the Holy Spirit - Ga 6:8 -- While the flesh pulls us in one direction, the Spirit would have us go in another! B. CHRISTIANS MUST SERVE ONE OR THE OTHER... 1. If we follow the lusts of the flesh, we can not do the will of the Spirit - Ga 5:17b 2. Following the flesh will enslave, placing one in a dilemma - cf. Ro 6:12-13,16; 7:14-23 3. But with the help of the Spirit, our spirits can overcome the flesh! - cf. Ro 8:12-14 4. If led by the Spirit, we are not under the (condemnation of) law - Ga 5:18 -- We must walk in the Spirit, otherwise we will succumb to the lusts of the flesh [Key to winning any battle is knowing the adversary. What are the lusts of the flesh waging war against both our spirits and the Holy Spirit? They include the "Works Of The Flesh" found in Ga 5:19-21...] II. THE MEANING A. THERE ARE SINS OF MORAL IMPURITY... 1. Adultery - not found in the oldest manuscripts, but certainly included in the next sin 2. Fornication - any sexual immorality (adultery, pre-marital sex, homosexuality, etc.) 3. Uncleanness - moral impurity, especially with a repulsive quality 4. Lewdness - sexual excess, shameless behavior in both dress and conduct -- These sins are perversions of the sexual instinct (Barclay) B. THERE ARE SINS OF IDOLATRY AND SORCERY... 1. Idolatry - the adoration of images or other things in place of God - cf. Ep 5:5; Col 3:5 2. Sorcery - not just witchcraft, but the use of drugs to manipulate self or others -- These sins are perversions of worship and drugs (Barclay) C. THERE ARE SINS VIOLATING THE LAW OF LOVE... 1. Hatred - enmity or hostility toward others that builds barriers 2. Contentions - strife, quarreling, discord, often the result of hatred and enmity 3. Jealousies - zealous envy that often casts grudging looks 4. Outbursts of wrath - the blaze of temper which flares into violent words and deeds 5. Selfish ambitions - self-centered attitude that often leads to the next two sins 6. Dissensions - literally standing apart, resulting in division 7. Heresies - factions created as a result of dissension 8. Envy - like jealousy, but that which expresses itself in hostile deeds -- These sins are perversions of noble ambition, righteous indignation, and devotion to principle (Barclay) D. THERE ARE SINS OF INTEMPERANCE... 1. Murders - not found in the oldest manuscripts 2. Drunkenness - intoxication due to alcohol 3. Revelries - feasts and drinking parties in which there is excess 4. And the like - indicating the list is not exhaustive, but illustrative -- These sins are perversions of the joy of social fellowship (Barclay) [A more detailed treatment of these sins can be found in my study, The Flesh And The Spirit. But with this quick review of the "Works Of The Flesh" on our mind, let's make...] III. THE APPLICATION A. WE MUST ABSTAIN FROM FLESHLY LUSTS... 1. They wage war against the soul - 1Pe 2:12 2. We've lived long enough under their influence - 1Pe 4:1-3 3. We must not make provision for the lusts of the flesh - Ro 13: 12-14 4. Such conduct will keep us out of the kingdom of God! - 1Co 6: 9-10; Ga 5:21 -- The works of the flesh endanger our souls and threaten our eternal salvation! B. WE MUST WALK IN THE SPIRIT... 1. Only then will we not fulfill the lust of the flesh - Ga 5:16 2. By setting our minds on the things of the Spirit a. That is what ensures our living according to the Spirit - Ro 8:5 b. The things of the Spirit would be that which the Spirit has revealed c. I.e., the Word of God, which is the sword of the Spirit - cf. Ep 6:17 d. Just as Jesus used the Word to resist temptation - cf. Mt 4: 4,7,10 3. By praying for the strength of the Spirit a. Whose strength enables us to put to death the deeds of the body - Ro 8:12-13 b. Whose strength can be accessed through prayer - cf. Ep 3:16, 20-21 -- We will walk in the Spirit to the degree we follow the Word and persist in prayer! CONCLUSION 1. The "Works Of The Flesh" should be taken seriously... a. They endanger our relationships with others b. They endanger our souls' eternal salvation! 2. By frequent meditation on the "Works Of The Flesh"... a. We will be reminded of what those sins are b. We will be more likely to make the effort to put them aside But winning the battle does not involve simply putting aside the "Works Of The Flesh". We must also produce the "Fruit Of The Spirit" (Ga 5:22-23) which we will examine in our next study...<< Previous | Index | Next >>
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