Passages To Ponder GALATIANS 5 16 21 Passages

Passages To Ponder GALATIANS 5: 16 - 21

Passages To Ponder 1. So far as we have “pondered” these passages in this series of studies we have briefly examined the. . . a. “Beatitudes Of The Kingdom” – Matthew 5: 3 -12 b. “Defilements Of The Heart” – Mark 7: 21 -23 c. “Qualities Of Love” – 1 Corinthians 13: 1 -13

Passages To Ponder 2. The Brief summary of each passage has revealed. . . a. The character and blessedness of those who would be citizens of the kingdom of heaven, what must truly be in their hearts. b. The source of evil and sin that defiles mankind is found within his/her sinful and arrogant heart. c. The kind of love that is possible in the lives of those who follow Jesus Christ and by changing their heart.

Passages To Ponder 3. Whether our hearts will be the source of much good or much evil depends on. . . a. The outcome of a battle within each of us and whether we…. b. Succumb to the flesh or follow the leading of the Spirit.

Passages To Ponder 4. As we continue our series, the next two “Passages To Ponder” will deal with this inner conflict. In this study we will first examine The “Works of The Flesh” as described in Galatians 5: 16 -21.

Passages To Ponder The desires of the flesh produce the works of the flesh (Galatians 5: 16 -21). The Bible admonishes us not to gratify or carry out the desire of the flesh (v. 16). These Desires of the Flesh are the result of a “HEART ISSUE” Ones Heart is Not Right With God.

I. THE CONTEXT OF THE PASSAGE A. There are really two dynamics principals at work in Galatians 5: 16 -17. 1. The “flesh” desires what is against the “Spirit”. 2. The “Spirit” desires what is against the “flesh”. However, a. There is the promise that is realized in those who walk by the Holy Spirit. If you walk by the Spirit, you will definitely not fulfill the desires/lusts of the flesh. The person who walks by the Spirit will be able to resist the flesh in the end – over its wicked desire that is bent on your total domination. b. There is also the promise of sinful slavery. The end result is an evil lifestyle as described in vv. 19 -21. If you yield to the desire of the flesh, this is what your life will produce.

I. THE CONTEXT OF THE PASSAGE B. THE CONFLICT BETWEEN THE SPIRIT AND THE FLESH. . . 1. They are in opposition against each other – Galatians 5: 16 -17 2. There is certainly a war between the flesh and human spirit - 1 Peter 2: 11 “Beloved, I beg [you] as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, ” Romans 7: 23 “But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. ”

I. THE CONTEXT OF THE PASSAGE 3. Yet the context suggests that it is the Holy Spirit under consideration, not our personal spirit/soul a. Note Paul’s earlier references to the Spirit – Galatians 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 - Galatians 5: 25 c. Reaping everlasting life “of the Spirit” must also refer to the Holy Spirit - Galatians 6: 8 -- While the flesh pulls us in one direction, the Spirit would have us go in another!

I. THE CONTEXT OF THE PASSAGE 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 - Galatians 5: 17 b “For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. ” Our wish, our desire, should be to do the things of the Spirit.

I. THE CONTEXT OF THE PASSAGE 2. But with the help of the Spirit, our spirits can overcome the flesh! Romans 8: 12 -14 12. “Therefore, brethren, we are debtors--not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. ”

II. THE MEANING OF THE PASSAGE We must walk in the Spirit, otherwise we will succumb to the lusts of the flesh The 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 Galatians 5: 19 -21…

II. THE MEANING OF THE PASSAGE How would you like to be married to or live with the individual described in vv. 19 -21? “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told [you] in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. ” (Galatians 5: 19 -21).

II. THE MEANING OF THE PASSAGE 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)

II. THE MEANING OF THE PASSAGE B. THERE ARE SINS OF IDOLATRY AND SORCERY. . . 1. Idolatry - the adoration of images or other things in place of God – Ephesians 5: 5; Colossians 3: 5 2. Sorcery - not just witchcraft and this might surprise you, but the use of drugs to manipulate self or others -- These sins are perversions of worship and drugs (Barclay)

II. THE MEANING OF THE PASSAGE 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

II. THE MEANING OF THE PASSAGE 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

II. THE MEANING OF THE PASSAGE D. THERE ARE SINS OF INTEMPERANCE. . . 1. Murders – taking the life of another 2. Drunkenness - intoxication due to excess alcohol consumption, (included below) 3. Revelries - feasts and drinking parties in which there is excess 4. “And the like” - indicating the list is not exhaustive, but illustrative, there is more to the “ponder”.

II. THE MEANING OF THE PASSAGE If your life is controlled by your old human nature that is what it will produce. There is a desire, longing, or craving for something that is forbidden and if you yield to it you will produce a lifestyle and behaviors that are not pleasing to God. When this nature is left unchecked, it produces the “works of the flesh. ” This body of sinful impulses seeks to gain control of the mind and will, and when it does it produces its own behaviors called “works of the flesh. ”

III. THE APPLICATION OF THE PASSAGE A. WE MUST ABSTAIN FROM FLESHLY LUSTS. . . 1. They wage war against the soul - 1 Peter 2: 11 2. We’ve lived long enough under their influence 1 Peter 4: 1 -3 3. We must not make provision for the lusts of the flesh - Romans 13: 12 -14

III. THE APPLICATION OF THE PASSAGE 4. Such conduct will keep us out of the kingdom of God! 1 Corinthians 6: 9 -10 “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10. ) nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. ” Galatians 5: 21 – “those who practice such things shall not. . ”

III. THE APPLICATION OF THE PASSAGE B. WE MUST WALK IN THE SPIRIT. . . 1. Only then will we not fulfill the lust of the flesh - Galatians 5: 16 “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. ” 2. By setting our minds on the things of the Spirit Colossians 3: 2 “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. ”

III. THE APPLICATION OF THE PASSAGE 3. By praying for the strength of the Spirit a. Whose strength can be accessed through prayer - Ephesians 3: 16 & 20 16. “that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, ……. 20. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, …. ”

CONCLUSION 1. The “Works Of The Flesh” should be taken seriously. . . a. They endanger our relationships with others and God b. They endanger our souls’ eternal salvation! HOW? “… just as I also told [you] in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. ” Galatians 5: 21 b

Conclusion 2. By frequent “PONDERING” 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.

Conclusion 3. However there is more to winning the battle than simply putting aside the “Works Of The Flesh”. 4. We must also produce the “Fruit Of The Spirit” (Galatians 5: 22 -23) which we will examine in our next study. . . 5. God wants you to win the Battle and here is the Starting Place………. . (Portions borrowed from Mark A. Copeland)

What MUST You Do to Be Saved? Hear The Word Of God Believe His Word Repent of your sins Confess your belief Romans 10: 17 Mark 16: 16, John 8: 24 Luke 13: 3, Acts 2: 38 Romans 10: 10, Acts 8: 37 Be Baptized Mark 16: 16, Acts 2: 38 For the Remission of Your Sins Acts 22: 16 Galatians 3: 26, 27 Live Faithfully Titus 2: 11 -14