THE WORKS OF THE FLESH

Recently we wrote an article on the fruit of the Spirit from (Gal 5:22-23), and contrasted this fruit with the gifts of the Spirit. It might be interesting to compare the fruit of the Spirit, with the fruit, or the "works of the flesh", as Paul describes it in verses 19-21 of this same chapter of Galatians. Most all of the sins listed by Paul are opposite to the fruit of the spirit, which we said represents the nature and character of Jesus. They can be thought of as forces that oppose the fruit of the spirit in an individuals life. We will show them as complete opposites by comparing them in this way.

Fruit of the Spirit Fruit of the Flesh

Love--------------------------------Hatred, Selfishness, Jealousy, Resentment

Joy----------------------------------Sadness, Grief, Depression, Self-pity

Peace-------------------------------Worry, Fear, Strife, Conflict, Tension

Patience----------------------------Impatient, Hasty, Short-tempered

Kindness---------------------------Cruel, Harsh, Rude, Pushy, Heavy-handed

Goodness---------------------------Evil, Wicked, Immoral, Stingy, Greedy

Faithfulness------------------------Careless, Unreliable, Dishonest, Disloyal

Meekness--------------------------Proud, Dogmatic, Unteachable, Judgmental

Self-control------------------------Unruly, Undisciplined, Messy, Weak-willed

We can think of the “flesh” as taking the place of the “old nature” that we inherited from Adam, and is completely opposed to the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer. (Gal 5:16-18) When we are “born again” by the Spirit of God, we receive a “new nature” that is the nature of Christ. At no point does a person ever have more than one nature, an old nature before we are saved, and a new nature after we are born again! “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Cor 5:17). In (Rom 6:4) we read “just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we should walk in newness of life”. Many other scriptures contrast walking in the Spirit with walking in the flesh. It is possible to do either one as a believer in Jesus because we still have our free will. It seems that Father God desires His family to walk with Him in obedience, even when it would be easier to walk in the flesh. (Gal 5:16-18). We see the division between a “natural” man and a “spiritual” man. (1 Cor 2:14-16) Even after we receive Christ as Savior we can still walk after the flesh and be what Paul calls a “carnal” Christian, (1 Cor 3:1-3). But this is clearly not God’s ideal for us as Spirit filled believers. He wants us to “Walk in the Spirit, and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh” (Gal 5:16)

Sincerely submitted

Gramp