The Works of the Flesh Galatians 5:19-21

Introduction

In verses 16-18 of this chapter Paul reintroduces us to the war that goes on everyday, that is the war of the Spirit vs. the Flesh

He reminds us, like Jesus said we can’t serve both the flesh and the spirit. We have to make a choice, and if you are a believer you should choose the spirit and not the flesh.

He also reminded us that the flesh and the spirit are opposites, they cannot be the same, therefore we can’t obey both, we can only obey one of them.

Here in our passage this evening we are going to see the works of the flesh explained and also we will see the consequence of living a life after the flesh.

One other note is the works of the flesh is plural, but the fruit of the spirit is singular.

The works of the flesh vs. 19-21a

Notice the first word Paul uses is “now”.

This shows a change in thought, he is going from talking about the war of the flesh and the spirit and now he is transitioning to what a life after the flesh is.

He then tells us that “the works of the flesh are manifest”

The word flesh here is not talking about the flesh on our body but rather “A carnal state; a state of unrenewed nature.”

And the word manifest means “evident or made known”

Pauls rights a similar passage to the church at Ephesus where in chapter 5 he tells them in verse 3 and also verse 11

Ephesians 5:3 “But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;”

Ephesians 5:11 “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.”

the word reprove here means “To convince of a fault, or to make it manifest.”

Next he lists the “works of the flesh”

Adultery- This word is used for all kinds of sexual misbehavior

You might say I would never cheat on my spouse and that might be true, but I believe we have to go back to what Jesus said, when he said in Matthew 5:28 “But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.”

This is prominent even in churches today, because pastors don’t preach against sin. Even some of the most prominent churches are beginning to shy away from preaching against sin.

If the Bible is against it we should be against it, if the Bible is for it we should be for it, and if the Bible is silent we should ask the Holy Spirit to guide us into the right decision

Fornication- The word fornication here means impurity

Fornication is deeper than just sexual sins, like adultery, it would signify a general state of impurity.

Fornication deals with our thought life, and what we put in our mind.

We must be careful what we look at, what we watch, what we read and the jokes we tell.

One writer put it this way “Impurity, planted in the mind and memory, is notoriously hard to uproot”

Uncleanness- a state of moral impurity

This is referring to those who know what they are doing is wrong, but continue any way, not caring what others think

It describes someone who has neither shame nor fear of the sin they are committing against a Holy God.

The same greek word is used for unclean spirits in Acts 5:16 and Rev. 16:13.

There is little doubt that the works of the flesh that do this kind of behaviour are stimulated by unclean spirits, Satan and his followers.

Lasciviousness- Looseness; irregular indulgence of animal desires; wantonness; lustfulness.

This would be those who live however they please, they might say things such as “my body, my choice” or “I just do what makes me feel good”

This is a dangerous way to live, and no believer should live this way. We must walk after the spirit and we realize that this body we have is to be stewarded well, it doesn’t belong to us but rather it belongs to God.

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

Idolatry- the word idolatry is speaking of idol service. It shows that we are living for the world and the lust of the flesh rather than living for God.

It is when we put our wants and desires above what the Lord has for us.

A.W. Tozer put it this way in his book the pursuit of God “The whole course of the life is upset by failure to put God where He belongs. We exalt ourselves instead of God and the curse follows.”

If we want to live a life after the Spirit, we must put God in his proper place, which is first place.

Witchcraft- Sorcery

The word used here for witchcraft would be the same word used for sorcery.

This would be speaking about the use of drugs or magical potions. At the time of this writing people would use sorcerers and witchcraft to keep the evil spirits away.

Phillips said this in his commentary “The empty soul of man, estranged from God, craves some contact with the supernatural and evil spirits are willing to oblige. The unseen world is very real. Satan, principalities and powers, wicked spirits in high places, fallen angels, and demons haunt it.”

As believers we shouldn’t play with witchcraft

Hatred- hatred is the opposite of love

Jesus told his disciples they would be known by there love, as Christians we should be empty of hatred for others.

This doesn’t mean that we compromise on sin, but rather that we hate the sin but love the sinner

Jesus was a great example of this, He loved sinners so much that he died on a cross for them, was buried and rose again. He loved us so much that he came to us as we were, but he also loved us so much he didn't let us leave the same way.

D.L. Moody said this in one of his sermons “to depict the Lord's sending of Simon Peter on a mission of mercy: "Find the man who crowned Me with thorns and tell him I wish to offer him a crown in heaven. Find the man who pierced My side with that spear. Tell him there's a quicker way to My heart." So, we are to love our enemies (Matt. 5:44), we are to feed them when they are hungry (Rom. 12:20), and we are to answer their hatred with love. Impossible? Yes, indeed, if we are relying on the works of the flesh.

Variance- Strife

As believers we should avoid unnecessary strife, we shouldn’t be quarrelsome or have a spirit of rivalry or contention. the way we avoid this is to be filled with the spirit

Emulations- Jealousy

Someone gets the promotion we were expecting, drives a nicer car than us, lives in a bigger house than us and instead of rejoicing with them we turn green with jealousy.

Emulations can draw us down a path of bitter animosity and resentment, we must be careful not to get bit by the jealousy bug.

Wrath- bad temper or outburst of rage

Our temper can get us in more trouble sometimes. We think about Moses in the wilderness, in a fit of anger he smote the rock instead of speaking to it and got himself locked out of the promised land.

Wrath and anger can cause us to do things that we normally wouldn’t do. I believe we could go to death row and listen to some people who murdered somebody and most of the time when you ask them why it almost always has to due with a fit of wrath.

Strife- Exertion or contention for superiority

This word gives off the thought that instead of leading people to follow their leader as he follows Christ , you are leading people to follow you.

This attitude is what causes splits among Gods people. We must be careful that we don’t get a superiority complex.

Seditions- standing apart

These are people who look for and cause division rather than fighting for unity.

Psalm 133:1–3 “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, That ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: That went down to the skirts of his garments; As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: For there the Lord commanded the blessing, Even life for evermore.”

Heresies- A fundamental error in religion, or an error of opinion respecting some fundamental doctrine of religion.

Heresies are often created because of a stray from the truth of the scriptures.

Most Cults and false religions are founded on one verse of scripture taken out of context.

Envyings- Envy is a malicious spirit of displeasure that results in some people when they see or hear someone else being praised.

Solomon said that envy is “the rottenness of the bones” in Prov 14:30.

Envy motivated the religious leaders of Jesus’ day to deliver Jesus into the romans hand to be cruxified.

Envy has no place in the Christian life.

Murders

The first sin recorded in the Bible after the fall of man was when cain murdered Abel.

You say “well i’ve never killed anybody” but Jesus said if you have hated someone you have committed murder in your heart.

God places a high value on human life and we should as well!

Drunkenness

Alcohol has no place in the Christian life. Drunkenness all starts with one drink and can destroy a life.

Think about drunkeness in the Bible

Noah - Genesis 9:21 “And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent.”

Lot - His daughters got him drunk and got pregnant by him and gave birth to Moab and Ammon

and there are many other examples.

Revellings- This conjures a picture of all kinds of immorality caused by drunkeness

If that list wasn’t good enough paul ends the works of the flesh with “and, such like”

God never intended for man to live like this, but because of sin and Satan, this is how the flesh makes people behave without Jesus.

The consequence of living a life after the flesh vs. 21b

Remember there are always consequences for our action, depending on the action, the consequence can be good or bad.

Here we see the consequence of living a life after the flesh is eternal separation from a holy God.

Some would say the last part of verse 21 proves that you can lose your salvation, but I think its an indictment on someone who claims to be saved but isn’t. I believe if you are constantly living a life after the flesh you need to check your salvation.

Remember what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 6:9–11 “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”

As believers our lives should be changed and we shouldn’t continue after the flesh, but we should follow the spirit.

Conclusion

As believers we should put off the works of the flesh and put on the fruit of the Spirit.