"THE FLESH AND THE SPIRIT"

Infractions Of The Law Of Love - I

INTRODUCTION
  1. Our study of the "works of the flesh" as found in Ga 5:19-21 now focuses on a rather large group of sins that can be categorized together as "Infractions Of The Law Of Love"
    1. There are eight such sins listed
    2. They are "hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy" (NKJV)
  2. Many people find it hard to conceive that these eight sins are really all that terrible...
    1. Notice this news clipping that made the front page of the Orlando Sentinel (1/7/81) under the heading, "Pope Widens Sin Definition":
      "Pope John Paul II said today that sins of the flesh are not limited to fornication, orgies and drunkenness, but include idolatry, jealousy, envy and unfriendliness.
      "The pope made the remarks to his weekly general audience at the Vatican, his forum for the past 14 months on the subject of sex and sin.
      "In his latest discussion of the subject, the pope cited St. Paul, the first-century apostle, as giving Christianity a very wide definition of sins of the flesh.
      "'It is significant that when Paul speaks about the works of the flesh, he mentions not only fornication, impurity, libertinage, drunkenness and orgies which are the sins of sensual pleasure,' the pope said, 'but also speaks of other sins to which we are not accustomed to attribute a carnal and sensual character: idolatry, witchcraft, unfriendliness, discord, jealousy, dissent, divisions, factionalism, and envy.'"
    2. The paper makes it sound like the pope is declaring something new, but as the pope himself stated, this is what Paul taught in the very passage we are studying
    3. Indeed, what is said of immorality and drunkenness is also said of these eight sins:
      "...those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God"
  3. Therefore there is a great need...
    1. To be informed as to what these sins entail
    2. To make a concentrated effort to put them out of our lives

[In this lesson, we shall look at the first two sins, which are closely related to one another. Starting with...]

  1. ECHTHRA (enmities, hatred)
    1. THE WORD DEFINED...
      1. Closely related to the word "echthros" which is the Greek word for ENEMY
      2. "echthra" means ENMITY, HOSTILITY
      3. Notice how it is used in...
        1. Lk 23:12 - "they had been at enmity with each other"
        2. Ro 8:7 - "the carnal mind is at enmity against God"
        3. Jm 4:4 - "friendship with the world is enmity with God"
      4. It was used to describe the enmity or hostility between...
        1. Social classes - the "haves" and the "have nots"
        2. Races - as existed between Greeks and Barbarians, Jews and Gentiles
        3. Man and man - as often exists where there is hostility for one reason or another
      5. Thus it describes a state and attitude of mind toward other people which involves barriers between them and you
    2. WHY THIS SIN IS SO CONTRARY TO THE CHRISTIAN LIFE...
      1. Because Jesus died to remove the barriers that separate men from one another - Ep 2:13-16
        1. It is true that He died to reconcile us back to God
        2. But it is just as true that He died to reconcile man back to man!
        3. As we grow in Christ, we are to be so renewed in Him that distinctions lose their meaning - Col 3:9-11
        -- When we are at enmity with one another, we undo the work of Christ on the cross and in our lives!
      2. Enmity is the direct opposite of love (agape); consider the contrast:
        1. "agape" - an attitude of mind which will never allow itself to be bitter to any man; always seeking the highest good of others
        2. "echthra" - the attitude which puts up barriers and draws the sword of division
        -- When we allow the work of the flesh to rule (e.g., echthra) we cannot allow the Spirit to produce the proper fruit in our lives (e.g., love)

      [The sin of "enmity" involves any sort of hostility or prejudice towards others; as such it has no place in the life of the Christian. This is also true of...]

  2. ERIS (contentions, strife, variance)
    1. THE WORD DEFINED...
      1. "eris" is the expression of enmity or hatred; it is the outcome in actual life of that state of mind
      2. Other versions translate the word "eris" as "wrangling", "quarreling", "fighting", "discord"
      3. Paul uses this word to describe one of the evils that was characteristic of the pagan world - Ro 1:28-29
      4. Sadly, it can also describe the condition that may exist in a church - cf. 1Co 1:11; 3:3
    2. UNDERSTANDING AND DEALING WITH THIS SIN...
      1. This particular sin invades churches more often, perhaps, than many others
        1. Because of our tendency to categorize sins, we may allow this one to linger and fester more than such sins as fornication, adultery
        2. Yet this sin is most destructive of Christian fellowship; it will just as easily destroy (maybe even more so) a local congregation as will sins of moral impurity
      2. Overcoming "contentions"...
        1. Begins with realizing that it is often the expression of "hatred" or "enmity", which has no place in the heart of the Christian
        2. As illustrated in the case of Corinth, it often arises when members place too high a value on personalities, and not on Jesus Christ - cf. 1Co 1:12
        3. The key, then, is to exalt Jesus Christ as Lord, and let His attitude and example govern our dealings with one another - cf. 1Co 2:2; 2Co 4:5; Php 2:3-5
CONCLUSION
  1. Notice again these brief definitions...
    1. "echthra" - enmity or hostility that one may harbor in one's heart toward another
    2. "eris" - strife or quarreling that results from such hostility
  2. That such sins can keep us out of the kingdom of heaven just as easily as fornication, idolatry and sorcery, ought to cause us to seriously reflect about our spiritual growth and development as Christians
  3. Perhaps more than ever since we started this study, we see the challenge we face as we live the Christian life
    1. It is not a matter of simply abstaining from what some people might call the "big" sins
    2. It is a matter of undergoing a complete transformation of character, made possible only as we submit to the working of the Spirit in our lives!
    3. As Paul wrote to the brethren in Rome:
      "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service."
      "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." - Ro 12:1-2

Are you seeking to be so transformed by the renewing of your mind? It begins with a "washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit"... - cf. Tit 3:5; Jn 3:5; Mk 16:16