July 27, 2021 THE SPIRIT AND THE FLESH
Galatians 5:16-25 “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets it desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealously, outburst of anger, disputed, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.”
There is much said about the Spirit and the flesh in the New Testament. As we read the verses above, and other verses throughout the scriptures, it becomes apparent that it is an either-or reality; one walks by the Spirit, OR one walks by the flesh; obviously, one cannot walk by the Spirit unless he or she is a believer; however, a believer may choose to walk according to the flesh. We must be aware of the fact that the flesh and the Spirit are opposed to one another and that we are not free to do what we want to do. The deeds of the flesh as listed above are evident; the flesh always produces bad fruit. When one trust Jesus as Savior, the Holy Spirit takes up residence in the believer, bringing a new super-natural power and equipping, making the believer a new creation. The fruit of the Spirit is singular; we do not have one or two fruits of the Spirit, we have them all; and, this list of the fruit of the Spirit is not a list we must ‘work on,’ they are a gift to us. We have a serious choice to make-to walk by the flesh, or walk by the Spirit; in fact, Paul gave a stern warning-that those who practice the deeds of the flesh will not inherit the kingdom of God! I have always understood that the word ‘practice’ refers to a way of life, or a habitual way of living. I am not sure if the reference to ‘not inheriting the kingdom of God’ is referring to not going to heaven or not experiencing the kingdom of God here on earth. (We know that we are saved by grace and not by works.) Either way, it is a super-serious issue as to whether we walk by the Spirit or by the flesh. If we love God, we are called to crucify the flesh; we must say no to what our flesh wants us to do-that is crucifying the flesh-and say yes to the leading of the Holy Spirit. In the kingdom of this world, the focus is on making self happy, or fulfilling the desires of the flesh. In the kingdom of God, the focus is on walking in the ways of God and being a blessing to those around us. So, as believers, let us walk by the Spirit so that we will not carry out the desires of the flesh. Walking according to the Spirit is the way of life, peace, and joy, and an ultimate fulfillment of the person God created us to be.
Galatians 2:20 “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.”
Blessings,
Buddy
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