Gal 5:19-21 | KingComments | STEP | In of this chapter, Paul contrasted freedom with slavery. In he contrasted freedom with lawlessness. Now he shows how true freedom is experienced and manifested, namely in a life led by the Spirit. . The section of is one entity. Therein the Spirit is mentioned no less than seven times. is directly opposite to . The latter verse refers to biting and devouring one another. However, if you walk by the Spirit, such things will not happen. To “walk by the Spirit” means that you perform the purposes of the Spirit and that you make your decisions in the light of His holiness. It means that your conduct seeks to glorify Christ in your life, because that’s why the Holy Spirit came to earth ( ). If you walk by the Spirit, the result is that you keep the flesh as dead. Actually, it is impossible to have Christ before your eyes and sin at the same time! . Indeed the Christian has two natures: the new life and the old life. The new life longs to be guided by the Spirit, the old life wants to meet the desires of the flesh. The Spirit and the flesh are contrary to one another as enemies. The flesh is committed to preventing you from walking by the Spirit, and the Spirit withstands the operation of the flesh to prevent it from performing its will. So the flesh is still present in the Christian, it is not dead or exterminated. The flesh “lusts” still, but you are no longer obliged to listen to what it wants. When you were converted God could have taken away sinful flesh. Yet He has left it in us to remind us constantly of our weakness and by that consciousness to keep us continuously dependent on Christ. Well, who wins that battle which is now going on in you and me? This is where our responsibility comes into play. Someone once compared the two natures with two dogs: a white one and a black one that are constantly fighting with each other. ‘Do you know’, he said, ‘who wins? The dog I give food to!’ You realize that the Spirit does not quite get a chance to lead your life if you, for example, watch bad movies on TV or the internet, or if you are reading bad books or magazines, or if you don’t live in peace with your neighbors. Then you give food to the black dog. However, if you “keep seeking the things above, where Christ is” ( ), if you want to know Him more by reading the Bible and good books about Christ, if you like to tell those who surround you about the joy you have in knowing the Lord Jesus, yes, then you give food to the white dog. So actually, it is a fight you yourself don’t have to fight. It's your business to be led by the Holy Spirit. That being led by the Holy Spirit is not an issue that would be applicable only to certain occasions, for example in the meetings of the church. No, it is a matter for everyday life. It is also not a matter for ‘well advanced’ Christians. No, it’s a matter for every Christian, because every Christian has received the Holy Spirit at the moment he believed the gospel of his salvation ( , ). . Whoever is led by the Spirit, is lifted above self-preoccupation with the law and the flesh, and is engaged with Christ. Whoever is led by the Spirit, doesn’t have the law as the rule of life to be justified thereby. It is remarkable to see that it looks like Paul constantly uses the law and the flesh intermingled. . Paul in this letter also clearly demonstrated that the law was given to a people in the flesh that thought to be able to meet God’s law. The law was given to prove that the flesh “does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able [to do so]” ( ). . The law makes clear what the works of the flesh are. It is the whole activity of man who is not led by the Spirit of God. This obviously applies to people who are not born again, but it also applies to people who are, but who, instead of being led by the Spirit are led by the flesh. Paul lists a number of deeds of the flesh. This list is not complete. In Matthew 15 and Romans 1, just to mention a few other places, other deeds of the flesh are mentioned ( ; ). It is quite possible that Paul mentions these sins because these happened among the Galatian Christians. Paul presents as many as fifteen deeds of the flesh. The first three sins are sexual sins. “Immorality” is prohibited sexual contact. This concerns all sexual activities outside marriage and before marriage and not just sexual intercourse. “Impurity” refers to dealing with sexuality in an unclean way in thoughts, words, deeds and lusts, which can also happen within marriage. “Sensuality” is shameless behavior in sexual things without restraints and without caring what others think. This can also occur within marriage. “Idolatry” and “sorcery” belong together as sins directly committed against God by ignoring His exclusive rights. The remaining deeds of the flesh are sins which concern my neighbor or brother. Anyone who practices such things as a life practice – which is different from accidentally falling into one of these things once – has no part in Christ and is outside God’s kingdom. Now read Galatians 5:16-21 again. Reflection: In what ways do you experience the struggle of ?

‏ Galatians 5:19-21

The Spirit Against the Flesh

In Gal 5:1 of this chapter, Paul contrasted freedom with slavery. In Gal 5:13 he contrasted freedom with lawlessness. Now he shows how true freedom is experienced and manifested, namely in a life led by the Spirit.

Gal 5:16. The section of Gal 5:16-26 is one entity. Therein the Spirit is mentioned no less than seven times. Gal 5:16 is directly opposite to Gal 5:15. The latter verse refers to biting and devouring one another. However, if you walk by the Spirit, such things will not happen.

To “walk by the Spirit” means that you perform the purposes of the Spirit and that you make your decisions in the light of His holiness. It means that your conduct seeks to glorify Christ in your life, because that’s why the Holy Spirit came to earth (Jn 16:14). If you walk by the Spirit, the result is that you keep the flesh as dead. Actually, it is impossible to have Christ before your eyes and sin at the same time!

Gal 5:17. Indeed the Christian has two natures: the new life and the old life. The new life longs to be guided by the Spirit, the old life wants to meet the desires of the flesh. The Spirit and the flesh are contrary to one another as enemies. The flesh is committed to preventing you from walking by the Spirit, and the Spirit withstands the operation of the flesh to prevent it from performing its will.

So the flesh is still present in the Christian, it is not dead or exterminated. The flesh “lusts” still, but you are no longer obliged to listen to what it wants. When you were converted God could have taken away sinful flesh. Yet He has left it in us to remind us constantly of our weakness and by that consciousness to keep us continuously dependent on Christ.

Well, who wins that battle which is now going on in you and me? This is where our responsibility comes into play. Someone once compared the two natures with two dogs: a white one and a black one that are constantly fighting with each other. ‘Do you know’, he said, ‘who wins? The dog I give food to!’ You realize that the Spirit does not quite get a chance to lead your life if you, for example, watch bad movies on TV or the internet, or if you are reading bad books or magazines, or if you don’t live in peace with your neighbors. Then you give food to the black dog.

However, if you “keep seeking the things above, where Christ is” (Col 3:1), if you want to know Him more by reading the Bible and good books about Christ, if you like to tell those who surround you about the joy you have in knowing the Lord Jesus, yes, then you give food to the white dog.

So actually, it is a fight you yourself don’t have to fight. It's your business to be led by the Holy Spirit. That being led by the Holy Spirit is not an issue that would be applicable only to certain occasions, for example in the meetings of the church. No, it is a matter for everyday life. It is also not a matter for ‘well advanced’ Christians. No, it’s a matter for every Christian, because every Christian has received the Holy Spirit at the moment he believed the gospel of his salvation (1Cor 15:1-4, Eph 1:13).

Gal 5:18. Whoever is led by the Spirit, is lifted above self-preoccupation with the law and the flesh, and is engaged with Christ. Whoever is led by the Spirit, doesn’t have the law as the rule of life to be justified thereby.

It is remarkable to see that it looks like Paul constantly uses the law and the flesh intermingled. . Paul in this letter also clearly demonstrated that the law was given to a people in the flesh that thought to be able to meet God’s law. The law was given to prove that the flesh “does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able [to do so]” (Rom 8:7).

Gal 5:19-21. The law makes clear what the works of the flesh are. It is the whole activity of man who is not led by the Spirit of God. This obviously applies to people who are not born again, but it also applies to people who are, but who, instead of being led by the Spirit are led by the flesh.

Paul lists a number of deeds of the flesh. This list is not complete. In Matthew 15 and Romans 1, just to mention a few other places, other deeds of the flesh are mentioned (Mt 15:19; Rom 1:29-31). It is quite possible that Paul mentions these sins because these happened among the Galatian Christians.

Paul presents as many as fifteen deeds of the flesh. The first three sins are sexual sins. “Immorality” is prohibited sexual contact. This concerns all sexual activities outside marriage and before marriage and not just sexual intercourse. “Impurity” refers to dealing with sexuality in an unclean way in thoughts, words, deeds and lusts, which can also happen within marriage. “Sensuality” is shameless behavior in sexual things without restraints and without caring what others think. This can also occur within marriage.

“Idolatry” and “sorcery” belong together as sins directly committed against God by ignoring His exclusive rights. The remaining deeds of the flesh are sins which concern my neighbor or brother.

Anyone who practices such things as a life practice – which is different from accidentally falling into one of these things once – has no part in Christ and is outside God’s kingdom.

Now read Galatians 5:16-21 again.

Reflection: In what ways do you experience the struggle of Gal 5:17?