After rehearsing all seventeen sins which he calls “the works of the flesh,” the Apostle Paul still will not concede that his list is exhaustive!
There may be more!
So he concludes the collection with these words: “and such like.”
Galatians 5:21 will illustrate … “envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, AND SUCH LIKE: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past ….”
Wow!
What else could the “flesh” possibly do?
And while no human knows the answer to that question, not fully … Paul (even after having been saved for years) lamented: “but I am carnal, sold under sin.” Romans 7:14, where “carnal” means “of the flesh,” or “fleshly!”
Paul capable of something on “that” list?
He though so!
The great Preacher here is acknowledging the “fight” that rages inside every child of God! At least at times! The “tugs” of the “flesh” versus the “promptings” of the Holy Spirit!
“But what I hate, that do I.” Romans 7:15, what an admission!
Romans 7:18 continues: “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth NO GOOD THING: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.”
Wow!
One can never trust the “flesh,” his or her “natural inclinations!”
Paul goes on and on! “For the good that I would I do not: but the EVIL which I would not, that I DO.” Romans 7:19
Two verse later: “I find then a law, that, when I would do good, EVIL is present with me.” And that “evil” is housed in Paul’s old human “flesh!”
Listen to his logic! And is this any less true of you, of me? “For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: BUT I SEE ANOTHER LAW IN MY MEMBERS, warring against the law of my mind, and BRINGING ME INTO CAPTIVITY to the law of sin which is in my members.” Romans 7:22-23, “members” being “body parts.”
Paul laments: “O wretched (trouble filled) man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?”
Back to our original thought … “and such like,” (today’s Galatian Text) … Paul was absolutely compelled to write those words! Knowing himself like he did!
Yes, in every saint, the battle continues … and will do so … until we get those glorified bodies some day! “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the FLESH the law of sin.” Romans 7:25
Friend, bother or sister in Christ … do not every think you are immune to these horrible “sins of the flesh,” or “works of the flesh!” Be on constant guard!
In fact, this little nugget of wisdom clearly applies. “For we which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus (saved people), and HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN THE FLESH.” Philippians 3:3, never trust the flesh!
Truth be told … there is only One Answer to this “works of the flesh” problem in the life of the child of God … and He is God Himself, the precious Holy Spirit indwelling us and leading us to victory!
Hallelujah!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
One more lesson about these “things,” these 17 sins of the flesh, tomorrow morning, the Lord willing. Then, we shall look at the Holy Spirit, His “fruit” in our lives!
A very bright change!