by Ethan R. Longhenry<\/p>\n
Having warned them regarding the danger of apostasy in committing themselves to the Law of Moses (cf. Galatians 1:1-5:16), the Apostle Paul reminded the Galatian Christians regarding the conflict between the desires of the flesh and the ways of God in the Spirit and exhorted the Galatian Christians to manifest the fruit of the Spirit and resist the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:17-24). These \u201cworks of the flesh\u201d are delineated in Galatians 5:19-21:<\/p>\n
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, parties, envyings, drunkenness, revellings, and such like; of which I forewarn you, even as I did forewarn you, that they who practise such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Many of the first \u201cworks of the flesh\u201d centered on challenges and temptations which would prove especially acute for Christians who had recently come out of the Greco-Roman pagan milieu: sexual temptations like sexually deviant behavior, uncleanness, and lasciviousness; idolatry; and sorcery. Paul then established the \u201cworks of the flesh\u201d which prove especially pernicious in relationships: enmities, strife, jealousy, wrath, rivalries, divisions, sects, and envy<\/a>. Paul concluded the list of specific \u201cworks of the flesh\u201d with sins of excess: drunkenness and carousing<\/a>.<\/p>\n
But what about behaviors not listed here? Did Paul intend to give an exhaustive overview of all that could be deemed the \u201cworks of the flesh\u201d? By no means! He concluded his discussion of the works of the flesh by also condemning \u201cthe things like these,\u201d and reiterated how those who do such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God (Galatians 5:21).<\/p>\n
Paul might well be using a common rhetorical device akin to our use of \u201cet cetera.\u201d Paul would mention other sinful behaviors in other passages not listed explicitly among the \u201cworks of the flesh\u201d in Galatians 5:22-24. These would include murder (not found in Galatians 5:19-21 in the best manuscripts), covetousness, theft, deceit, lying, gossip, slander, and foolish talk (Romans 1:28-32, I Corinthians 6:9-11, Ephesians 5:3-8, Colossians 3:5-9). In condemning these behaviors Paul frequently used the same type of contrast between the ways of our holy God above from the ways of the corrupt world below; thus we should understand such things as much as \u201cworks of the flesh\u201d as those explicitly identified in Galatians 5:19-21.<\/p>\n
Thus Paul at least intended for the Galatian Christians to understand \u201cthings like these\u201d to refer to other behaviors clearly identified as sinful. Yet the phrasing of the term itself also suggests Paul wished for the Galatian Christians to recognize how many behaviors might be akin to a \u201cwork of the flesh\u201d even if not explicitly identified as such. A major such example involves sexual transgressions: in Galatians 5:19-21, Paul condemned sexually deviant behavior, uncleanness, and lasciviousness, whereas in other passages specific forms of these behaviors are condemned, like same-sex sexual relations and adultery (e.g. I\u00a0Corinthians 6:9-11). The Galatian Christians were expected to understand how these behaviors were \u201cthings like\u201d sexually deviant behavior since they fit by definition. Covetousness is explicitly condemned on its own but is also equated to idolatry in Ephesians 5:3, Colossians 3:5: thus Paul would have the Galatian Christians understand how covetousness is a \u201cthing like\u201d idolatry.<\/p>\n
This principle extends beyond that which is explicitly condemned in Scripture to the chagrin of many. What God has made known regarding righteousness and sin inverts man\u2019s desires and expectations. Man would like a comprehensive list of what not to do and to assume that whatever is not condemned is approved and righteous. In truth, in Scripture God has equipped those who would follow Him with every good work (II\u00a0Timothy 3:16-17); Paul confessed that whatever is not of faith is sin, not whatever is of sin is faith (Romans 14:23). The Christian\u2019s confidence lay in God\u2019s revelation of Himself, His character, and His righteousness in Jesus who lived, died, was raised in power, ascended, is lord, and will return soon (II\u00a0Corinthians 5:7, Hebrews 11:1); thus, we may know what is right, good, and holy, for it is seen in what God accomplished in Jesus, and we should do likewise (Romans 12:1-2).<\/p>\n
To this end, we can understand why the \u201cfruit of the Spirit\u201d is a fully defined list of characteristics but the \u201cworks of the flesh\u201d are left open (Galatians 5:17-24): righteousness is fully embodied in Jesus, but the human heart is very deceitful, inventing evil, looking for ways to justify and rationalize the desires of the flesh and heart (Jeremiah 17:9<\/a>, Romans 1:30<\/a>, 1 John 2:15-17<\/a>).<\/p>\n
Thus, it is not enough to say, \u201cwell, God never said not to,\u201d or, \u201cGod nowhere explicitly condemns this or that.\u201d Paul recognized how people would be easily tempted to \u201crepackage\u201d some sin or another in a different guise and think it justifiable; thus, not only are the explicit things mentioned in the \u201cworks of the flesh\u201d condemned, but also anything similar to them.<\/p>\n
To this end, Paul called upon the Galatian Christians, and Christians in general, to exercise discernment to understand whether a behavior is a \u201cthing like\u201d the works of the flesh or manifests the fruit of the Spirit. Such discernment must be exercised according to faith in God lest the Christian seeks to rationalize their fleshly desires with a righteous veneer and entirely resist the point of Galatians 5:17-24, to crucify the flesh and its desires.<\/p>\n
To this end, we must first consider the evidence at hand. Did God speak regarding the behavior under consideration? Does it manifestly violate any specific command God has given? Does the behavior run afoul of consistent Biblical principles? If we feel the answers to these questions are ambiguous or allow for justification, we can then consider the profitability of the behavior (cf. I\u00a0Corinthians 10:23). Will this practice commend me before God? What spiritual benefit would it provide? What fruit of the Spirit would it manifest? In short, we are wondering: is this behavior the kind of thing in which we would expect Jesus our Lord and Master to participate?<\/p>\n
Many behaviors prevalent in modern society fall under condemnation in this way. Elective abortion may not be explicitly condemned in Scripture, but it is more a thing like murder than anything commended by God in Christ, and thus falls under the same condemnation. Pornography is a thing like uncleanness and lasciviousness. Many think of gambling as harmless fun, yet the entire premise of gambling is covetousness, a thing like idolatry. Recreational drug use would fall under the purview of pharmakeia<\/i>; those who practiced sorcery also made potions, and many a recreational drug user lives as under a spell.<\/p>\n
Paul has listed many ungodly and immoral behaviors as \u201cworks of the flesh\u201d in Galatians 5:19-21; those who do such things without repentance will not inherit the Kingdom of God. We must never fall into the legalistic trap of assuming that only that which is explicitly condemned is wrong: Paul\u2019s list of the \u201cworks of the flesh\u201d is not exhaustive, nor was it designed to be; humans invent all kinds of new and innovative ways to transgress the purposes of God in Christ. Thus we must understand the \u201cworks of the flesh\u201d as representative, and we should not only avoid those specific behaviors, but also anything which is akin to them. We must use our discernment to put all things to the test according to the faith; we ought to live by faith, trusting in the Lord, and doing all things with full conviction of their authority and righteousness based on what God has revealed in Christ according to the Scriptures. May we manifest the fruit of the Spirit, avoid the works of the flesh, and glorify God in Christ!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Ethan R. Longhenry Having warned them regarding the danger of apostasy in committing themselves to the Law of Moses (cf. Galatians 1:1-5:16), the Apostle Paul reminded the Galatian Christians regarding the conflict between the desires of the flesh and the ways of God in the Spirit and exhorted the Galatian Christians to manifest the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[78,177,179],"class_list":["post-26534","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article","tag-authority","tag-law","tag-sin"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":28513,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/how-can-non-christians-be-nice-people-without-the-spirit\/","url_meta":{"origin":26534,"position":0},"title":"How can non-Christians be nice people without the Spirit?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 20, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I am studying the fruits of the Spirit.\u00a0 In fact, I am scheduled to give a talk on it this Sunday.\u00a0 I'm confused about something.\u00a0 We all know people who are not Christians and are nice people.\u00a0 Not the nasty, evil person that Paul talks about before going into\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":60915,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-our-desires-produce-within-us\/","url_meta":{"origin":26534,"position":1},"title":"What Our Desires Produce Within Us","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 28, 2007","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Galatians 5:19-23 Context: Paul has severely chastised the Galatians for attempting to bind the Old Law upon Christians. As he wraps up his arguments as to why this is wrong, Paul points out that those who desire to bind the Old Law are worldly-minded. They\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":31062,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/would-you-explain-hebrews-1310-13\/","url_meta":{"origin":26534,"position":2},"title":"Would you explain Hebrews 13:10-13?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 29, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I'm having a little trouble trying to wrap my mind around what Hebrews 13:10-13 is teaching. What is your understanding of these verses? I really do value your observations and commentary. Answer: I'm going to expand the range just a little bit so we get a complete thought: \"Do\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":70514,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/doing-good-to-all-men\/","url_meta":{"origin":26534,"position":3},"title":"Doing Good to All Men?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 24, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"by Perry Hall The word \"good\/agathos\" is only used twice in Galatians, both within the same pericope. This is important because of the misuse of Galatians 6:10. That misuse is cited for church financial support of both needy saints and those who are not saints. The common argument against this\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":56753,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/have-you-been-bewitched-galatians-31-5\/","url_meta":{"origin":26534,"position":4},"title":"Have You Been Bewitched? – Galatians 3:1-5","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 8, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"by Thomas Thornhill In these verses, Paul calls the Galatians \"foolish\" and \"bewitched\" for being deceived by Judaizing false teachers. He doesn't believe in such superstition but uses it as sarcasm to make them think. How did they receive the Spirit that brought justification and salvation? Paul is deeply distressed\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/magicWand.gif?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":24522,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/did-jesus-become-a-curse\/","url_meta":{"origin":26534,"position":5},"title":"Did Jesus become a curse?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 10, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Good day, In Galatians 3:10-13, did Jesus become a curse? Please give some insight into this verse. Thanks. 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