THE FLESH AND THE SPIRIT #1

Which Shall We Serve?

INTRODUCTION

As Christians, we enjoy wonderful freedom in Christ...

There is freedom from sin...

John 8:31–34 ASV

31 Jesus therefore said to those Jews that had believed him, If ye abide in my word, then are ye truly my disciples; 32 and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 33 They answered unto him, We are Abraham’s seed, and have never yet been in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? 34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Every one that committeth sin is the bondservant of sin.

There is freedom from the Law of Moses...

Romans 7:6 ASV

6 But now we have been discharged from the law, having died to that wherein we were held; so that we serve in newness of the spirit, and not in oldness of the letter.

There is freedom from the traditions of men...

Galatians 4:9 ASV

9 but now that ye have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how turn ye back again to the weak and beggarly rudiments, whereunto ye desire to be in bondage over again?

It is truly the desire of Christ that we be free...

Galatians 5:1 ASV

1 For freedom did Christ set us free: stand fast therefore, and be not entangled again in a yoke of bondage.

But we must not allow freedom to become “license” (i.e., freedom without any restraint)

If we are not careful, desires of the flesh can inflict self-destruction...

Galatians 5:13–15 ASV

13 For ye, brethren, were called for freedom; only use not your freedom for an occasion to the flesh, but through love be servants one to another. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. 15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.

To prevent this, the apostle Paul commands us to walk in the Spirit...

Galatians 5:16 ASV

16 But I say, Walk by the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

If we do so, we will not succumb to the desires of the flesh

And whatever dangers there might be in fulfilling the lust of the flesh are thereby diminished

To encourage us to walk in the Spirit and not carry out the desire of the flesh, we will in this lesson and other lessons in the future be examining Galatians 5:16-26

Perhaps a good place to begin is by asking these questions:

Why make any effort to walk in the Spirit?

Why not just succumb to the desires of the flesh?

At least five reasons are given in our text, and the first one we shall consider is this… ***

DISCUSSION

THE SPIRIT AND THE FLESH ARE CONTRARY TO ONE ANOTHER

Galatians 5:17 ASV

17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are contrary the one to the other; that ye may not do the things that ye would.

The Spirit and the flesh are like two opponents, fighting for our soul

They are in opposition against each other...

Galatians 5:17a ASV

17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh…

Is “the Spirit” referring to the Holy Spirit, or the human spirit?

I believe it has reference to the Holy Spirit

The context of the epistle certainly suggests this to be the case

Through “the Spirit” we eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness... Galatians 5:5

Paul’s argument “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” would not make sense if the human spirit is meant... Galatians 5:25

Reaping everlasting life “of the Spirit” must refer to the Holy Spirit... Galatians 6:8

So, while the flesh pulls us in one direction, the Spirit of God would have us go in another!

A Christian Must Serve One, Or The Other

If you follow the lusts of the flesh, you cannot do the will of the Spirit...

Galatians 5:17b ASV

17 …for these are contrary the one to the other; that ye may not do the things that ye would.

Like the dilemma described in Ro 7:14-23, following the flesh will enslave

So we must choose who will be our master: the lusts of the flesh, or the Spirit of God; we cannot serve both!

As we continue, we are given more reasons to serve the Spirit... ***

IF YOU ARE LED BY THE SPIRIT, YOU ARE NOT UNDER THE LAW

Galatians 5:18 ASV

18 But if ye are led by the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

What Does It Mean To Be “Under The Law”?

In the context, “the law” has primary reference to the “Law of Moses”

Notice two of the purposes of the Law of Moses:

To reveal sin…

Galatians 3:19 ASV

19 What then is the law? It was added because of transgressions…

Romans 3:20 ASV

20 because by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified in his sight; for through the law cometh the knowledge of sin.

To condemn the sinner as guilty…

Romans 3:19 ASV

19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it speaketh to them that are under the law; that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God:

To be “under the Law,” then, is to be under a state of condemnation!

For the law does not provide forgiveness

It only provides condemnation!

BUT… ***

Those Walking In The Spirit Are Not Under The Condemnation Of The Law…

Because obedience to the gospel revealed by the Spirit results in freedom

Freedom from condemnation…

Romans 8:1 ASV

1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus.

Freedom from the law of sin of death…

Romans 8:2 ASV

2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death.

Made possible through the sacrifice of Christ! …

Romans 8:3–4 ASV

3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4 that the ordinance of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Because those walking according to the Spirit (cf. Rom. 8:4) do things against which there is no law to condemn them! -

Galatians 5:22–23 ASV

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 meekness, self-control; against such there is no law.

If we desire to be free from the condemnation of sin under the law of God, then we must “walk in the Spirit.”

There is another reason why we should seek to “walk in the Spirit” and not “fulfill the lust of the flesh” is if we… ***

FULFILL THE LUSTS OF THE FLESH, AND YOU WILL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD

Galatians 5:19–21 ASV

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, parties, 21 envyings, drunkenness, revellings, and such like; of which I forewarn you, even as I did forewarn you, that they who practise such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

This Is A Reference To The Heavenly Kingdom

Spoken of by Christ...

Matthew 25:34 ASV

34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

Looked forward to by Paul...

2 Timothy 4:18 ASV

18 The Lord will deliver me from every evil work, and will save me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Referred to by Peter...

2 Peter 1:10–11 ASV

10 Wherefore, brethren, give the more diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never stumble: 11 for thus shall be richly supplied unto you the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Note The Emphasis By Paul...

A double warning!

“of which I forewarn you, even as I did forewarn you...” (Gal. 5:21)

He wants to be sure they don’t miss it!

The End Of Those Who Fulfill The Lusts Of The Flesh...

They have no inheritance in the kingdom of God...

Galatians 5:21 ASV

21 envyings, drunkenness, revellings, and such like; of which I forewarn you, even as I did forewarn you, that they who practise such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Ephesians 5:5 ASV

5 For this ye know of a surety, that no fornicator, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

Indeed, the wrath of God will come upon them...

Ephesians 5:6–7 ASV

6 Let no man deceive you with empty words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them; ***

Which shall it be? Walk in the Spirit, or fulfill the lusts of the flesh?

a. The choice should be clear: one offers freedom from condemnation, and the other offers no hope of the heavenly kingdom!

b. But Paul gives us another reason to make the right choice... ***

THOSE WHO ARE CHRIST’S HAVE CRUCIFIED THE FLESH

Galatians 5:24

In Baptism, We Died To Sin, Having Been Crucified With Christ

Our old man was crucified with Him, that we might no longer be slaves of sin...

Romans 6:1–6 ASV

1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. We who died to sin, how shall we any longer live therein? 3 Or are ye ignorant that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him through baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection; 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away, that so we should no longer be in bondage to sin;

We died with Christ (in baptism) that we might be free from sin and live a new life with Him!...

Romans 6:7–10 ASV

7 for he that hath died is justified from sin. 8 But if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him; 9 knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death no more hath dominion over him. 10 For the death that he died, he died unto sin once: but the life that he liveth, he liveth unto God. ***

As Christians, We Are To Continue To “Crucify Self”

We continue to “put to death” the “members which are on earth”...

Colossians 3:5–7 ASV

5 Put to death therefore your members which are upon the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry; 6 for which things’ sake cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience: 7 wherein ye also once walked, when ye lived in these things;

We must be involved in the process of “putting off” the old man...

Colossians 3:8–11 ASV

8 but now do ye also put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, railing, shameful speaking out of your mouth: 9 lie not one to another; seeing that ye have put off the old man with his doings, 10 and have put on the new man, that is being renewed unto knowledge after the image of him that created him: 11 where there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondman, freeman; but Christ is all, and in all.

If we are not doing this, there is no hope....

Romans 8:13 ASV

13 for if ye live after the flesh, ye must die; but if by the Spirit ye put to death the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

Putting off the works of the flesh, therefore, is fundamental to the Christian life.

We started the process when we were baptized into Christ, and we are to continue the process as we grow in the Lord.

We are not alone in this effort.

As Paul indicated in…

Romans 8:13 ASV

13 for if ye live after the flesh, ye must die; but if by the Spirit ye put to death the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

It is by the Spirit we are able to put to death the deeds of the body.

That leads back to a fifth and final reason we ought to walk in the Spirit and not fulfill the lusts of the flesh… ***

IF WE LIVE IN THE SPIRIT, LET US ALSO WALK IN THE SPIRIT

Galatians 5:25 ASV

25 If we live by the Spirit, by the Spirit let us also walk.

We Owe Our Spiritual Lives To The Holy Spirit

It was the Holy Spirit who made the Gospel known to mankind

As Jesus said He would...

John 16:7–13 ASV

7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I go, I will send him unto you. 8 And he, when he is come, will convict the world in respect of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they believe not on me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to the Father, and ye behold me no more; 11 of judgment, because the prince of this world hath been judged. 12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. 13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he shall guide you into all the truth: for he shall not speak from himself; but what things soever he shall hear, these shall he speak: and he shall declare unto you the things that are to come.

The apostles attributed the gospel message to the Holy Spirit...

1 Corinthians 2:9–13 ASV

9 but as it is written, Things which eye saw not, and ear heard not, And which entered not into the heart of man, Whatsoever things God prepared for them that love him. 10 But unto us God revealed them through the Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11 For who among men knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of the man, which is in him? even so the things of God none knoweth, save the Spirit of God. 12 But we received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is from God; that we might know the things that were freely given to us of God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Spirit teacheth; combining spiritual things with spiritual words.

When one responds to the gospel of God’s grace, they are renewed by the Holy Spirit...

Titus 3:5 ASV

5 not by works done in righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,

It is the Spirit in us who gives us new life!...

Romans 8:11–13 ASV

11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwelleth in you, he that raised up Christ Jesus from the dead shall give life also to your mortal bodies through his Spirit that dwelleth in you. 12 So then, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh: 13 for if ye live after the flesh, ye must die; but if by the Spirit ye put to death the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

Since We Live In The Spirit, Shall We Not Walk In The Spirit?

It is by the Holy Spirit that God has made our new life possible

It is only proper that we should live out our new life...

Being led by the Spirit - Galatians 5:18; cf. Romans 8:14

Walking in the Spirit - Galatians 5:25; cf. Romans 8:1-2

CONCLUSION ***

We have these five reasons why we should walk in the Spirit and not fulfill the lusts of the flesh:

The Spirit and the flesh are contrary to one another

If you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law

Fulfill the lusts of the flesh, and you will not inherit the kingdom of God

Those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh

Since we live in the Spirit, we should also walk in the Spirit

But lest anyone remain unconvinced, consider another point made by Paul... ***

We reap what we sow!...

Galatians 6:7–8 ASV

7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth unto his own flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth unto the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap eternal life.

And the type of corruption reaped by those who give into the works of the flesh is varied:

It is physical, mental, social and spiritual

Look around you and you can see the truthfulness of this; only the foolish do not see it

But also seen is the type of life which is enjoyed both now and in heaven by those who follow the Spirit (as suggested in 1 Tim. 4:8) ***

The question we each face is this... The Flesh or the Spirit: Which shall we serve?