Galatians 5:16-26
16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 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. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
We are to live in the leading of God’s Spirit. If we pursue the things of God in Christ according to the word of God, we can avoid the desires to please our flesh in ungodly ways and please our Savior Lord as 1 John 2:16-17 commands us. This means willingly and intentionally putting sin to death (Romans 8:13, Ephesians 4:22-24) by the power of the indwelling Spirit of God who is present in all who are His (Romans 8:9, 1 John 4:13). We see the battle of the old nature of sin set on passing pleasures in opposition to Him and His good design and will for us as it fights against the new man (Galatians 2:20) risen from death to life with Christ. This battle is too often lost as we are pressed to do what we no longer want to do, yet we are not to be condemning ourselves when we fail as if still under the Law of works to “do these things and live” or face judgment and death, for we have the forgiveness and grace of God in Jesus Christ to cover that sin (1 John 1:9, Romans 6:14, 7:4) and bear fruits of righteousness to God. The list of these works of the flesh listed here cover most of the sin we battle with to cover trespasses of moral, sexual, idolatrous, unloving, dissenting, hateful, and selfish attitudes and actions which are in opposition to God’s character and designed intentions for we who are His creations. Those who practice these things just as before while claiming Christ for salvation have not been changed through saving grace or they would not willingly continue in those practices without conviction or seeking forgiveness. Such will not and cannot inherit the kingdom of God. God knows the true convert (2 Timothy 2:19, John 10:27-28) and expects us to be following all we are taught by Him as part of the gospel (Matthew 28:19-20) of a changed life made new in desires and purpose. When God changes a man or woman and calls them to follow, He gives us the power and wisdom of the Helper (John 14:15-16) within us to bear good fruit as He works in us to will and do (Philippians 2:13) what pleases Him. This fruit has the godly characteristics of “love, joy, peace, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” which there is no law against as there is for the unrighteous deeds we work in our fallen flesh of the old man we must daily put to death as we die to self (Romans 6:6, 1 Corinthians 15:31, Ephesians 4:22) and live for Christ. We are therefore urged and commanded to both live in love and walk in step with His Spirit with willing obedience and not in conflict with one another as we try to vainly prove we are more righteous or entitled than any other person in the grace of God in Christ. The Lord commands and compels us to walk in the Spirit!
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