Use Freedom to Fight (Galatians 5:16-21)

For many years now, in my private prayer time, I have prayed through the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23). As I read through the different aspects of the fruit of the Spirit, I ask the Lord to work within me to cultivate it for His glory. As I prepared for this sermon, I realized that I was missing something. I realized that, as important as it is to cultivate the fruit of the Spirit, it is just as important to fight against (e.g., not practice) the works of the flesh (Gal 5:19-21). Now, I will (and encourage others as well) read through the works of the flesh and prayerfully ask God to help me “Walk in the Spirit, and…not fulfill the lust of the flesh” (5:16). 

Walk in the Spirit

Our freedom is only a blessing if the Holy Spirit guides our lives. Paul wrote, “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh” (5:16). In this verse, we have a command and a promise. The command is “Walk in the Spirit” and the promise is “and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” I like how the New Living Translation phrases it: “So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.” There is an ongoing battle between the Spirit and the flesh. Paul wrote: “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” (5:17). We, as Christians, must regularly choose to follow in obedience to Christ rather than following our selfish desires. Paul adds, “But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law” (5:18). If you are born again, you are led by the Spirit and are able to let the Holy Spirit guide your life. This does not come by the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. 

Fight against the Flesh

Paul next includes a vice list of seventeen sins. His list can be divided into four parts: 1) sexual sins, 2) religious sins, 3) social sins, and 4) sins of excess. 

Sexual Sins. In the first part, Paul lists sexual sins because of the destructive effect they have on a person and the church. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 6:18, “Flee from sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.” This is important because the bodies of believers are the “temple of the Holy Spirit” (1 Cor 6:19–20). John Macarthur highlighted the biblical warning that “sexual sin destroys a person like no other, because it is so intimate and entangling, corrupting on the deepest human level….no sin has greater potential to destroy the body.” Paul includes the following:

• Adultery- sexual activity involving one or more married persons.
• Fornication – illicit sexual activity. Any sexual behavior outside of marriage; including pornography, homosexuality, and any sexual activity involving oneself.
• Uncleanness – impurity. Paul uses this word for any other unclean/impure sexual behavior. Which could include a “dirty mind” and a “potty mouth”.
• Lewdness – unrestrained living. A lack of self-control over one’s body. 

Religious Sins. In the second part, Paul lists religious sins because God cares deeply about how we interact with Him. The greatest commandment is to love the Lord (Matt 22:37). How we worship God is important because it reveals a lot about us and what we believe about God. One of the worst ways we can sin against God is through false worship or worship of false gods.

• Idolatry – worship of idols. There is only one God and anything/anyone who you put before Him is an idol. This is a grave sin.
• Sorcery – use of drugs for magical purposes. An attempt to manipulate the spirit world for personal benefit. There is a spirit world and many demons. Any use of magic and/or drugs to communicate with spirits is strictly forbidden.

Social Sins. In the third part, Paul lists social sins because God cares deeply about how we interact with one another. The second greatest commandment is to love your neighbor (Matt 22:39).

• Hatred – enmity, hostility. Either in your thoughts, words, or actions against others.
• Contentions – strife. This can be angry or bitter disagreements.
• Jealousies – resentment against others. Either in your thoughts, words, or actions.
• Outbursts of wrath – an unnecessary state of indignation towards something or someone. Christians must not be regularly outraged, especially at the cost of love.
• Selfish ambitions – disputes or rivalries that are selfishly motivated. The underhanded jockeying for a position of authority for selfish gain. 
• Dissensions – disagreement that leads to a loss of relationship over matters that should be resolved because of your relationship with Christ.
• Heresies – or factions. This is the result of the dissensions previously mentioned.
• Envy – the desire to take what belongs to someone else.
• Murders – the unlawful premeditated killing of one human being by another.

Sins of Excess. In the fourth part, Paul lists sins of excess because we sin when we lose self-control. 

• Drunkenness – the overconsumption of alcohol. Drunkenness is sin. 
• Revelries – out of control partying characterized by gluttony, drunkenness, sexuality.

Inherit the Kingdom

Paul has an ominous warning to those who are not being led by the Spirit. He wrote, “those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (5:21). Paul is not saying that if you have ever done any of these things, but that if you practice such things you will not inherit the kingdom of God. This is because those who practice sin are those who reveal that they do not have the Holy Spirit within them. Those who know Jesus as Savior and Lord desire to follow Him in faith and live a life in obedience to His commands. 

Take time this week to pray through the works of the flesh as well as the fruit of the Spirit. Repent of any sins you have committed and ask God to give you the faith to fight against them and cultivate within you the fruit of the Spirit so that you can bring glory to God above!