That is, in the King James Version, the first four!

“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness …” Galatians 5:19, count them. Exactly four sins relating to man’s (woman’s) sexual propensities.

The reason I say “King James Version” is because no “modern” translation of the Bible includes the sin labeled “adultery!” Not that I can find, anyway.

So for today, we will begin our study of these nefarious “works of the flesh” by focusing on this “missing” sin, as far as modern day Bibles are concerned. I am sure their advocates would say that “adultery” and “fornication” are the same, so “adultery” is merely redundant! Or that the so-called “best manuscripts” do not include “moicheia,” the Greek noun for “adultery.”

Meanwhile, I am sticking with my Bible, my King James Bible. 

And granted, “adultery” and “fornication” are (as previously observed) both sexual sins. Sinful physical relationships between people who have no right to so behave, to so indulge their flesh.

The Ten Commandments forbid both sins, though. “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” Exodus 20:14, self explanatory. Then later, “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife (adultery again), nor his manservant, NOT HIS MAIDSERVANT (fornication now), nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.” Exodus 20:17, three verses later!

But there must be a difference!

And there is. At least this, “adultery” seems to be a sexual aberration committed by someone who is “married.” While “fornication” is more a sin indulged by “single” people.

But let me be clear, both are wrong in God’s Eyes.

Now to “moicheia,” (adultery) pronounced “moy-khi’-ah,” according to the experts. It means: “to have unlawful intercourse with another person’s wife.”

Surprisingly, the noun only occurs 11 times in the New Testament, King James Version, I remind you once again. And the first three (3) of these occasion relate to the Life and Preaching of Jesus!

Matthew 5:19: “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, ADULTERIES, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.” 

Then Mark’s parallel Account: “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, ADULTERIES, fornications, murders …” Mark 7:21

And then the John (Johannine, when an adjective) account of that poor woman. “And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in ADULTERY; and when they had set her in the midst …” John 8:3

Then (as a noun, remember) our Text today. “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; ADULTERY, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness …”

Plus a few others (not enough room to list them all, not in full), but with James 4:4 being a prime example of them. “Ye ADULTERERS and ADULTERESSES, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”

But I need to say this too. As a verb, “moicheuo,” the term is used 14 more times! This fact alone makes this family of words a lot more prolific in the New Testament. It is therefore NOT an extremely rare expression! (Specifically, 25 times in 260 chapters!)

For the verb “to commit adultery” in the Old Testament, I can locate 31 times the” sin” is mentioned , “naaph” in Hebrew. The Lexicons mostly agree on the definition, this distinction: “usually of a man, and always with wife of another.”

But the noun (masculine “adulterer” or feminine “adulteress”) is found 7 more times, making a total of 38 occurrences. Again, pretty common.

The Prophets, however, preach against not just physical adultery (married man with married woman), but also against what I’d call spiritual adultery as well.  A Jew (in covenant relationship with Almighty God) forsaking Jehovah and pursuing (loving) other gods! False gods! (Most often Jeremiah and Ezekiel and Hosea particularly use this “word picture,” of a person being “untrue” or “unfaithful” to God.)

Wow!

That’s enough information today!

Now just to practice it, do not yield to that craving of the “flesh!”

Instead, “walk” in the (Holy) Spirit!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

It really all “boils down” to that, doesn’t it?  “This I say then, WALK in the Spirit, and ye shall NOT FULFIL the lust of the flesh.” Galatians 5:16

 

Today’s Lesson begins a list, and what a list it is!

Seventeen sins!

Or groups of sins.

All deadly to a victorious Christian life!

Galatians 5:19 announces, in brief: “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these …” 

Wow!

When we (the very next paragraph of Galatians chapter 5) discuss the “Spirit,” the “Holy Spirit” …  the term “fruit” is used. He (the Third Person of the Godhead) grows, produces, replicates “fruit” in our lives! But not the “flesh!”

It involves (of course) “works!”  The Greek noun employed here is “ergon,” implying (human) effort, sensual or selfish “energy!”

Whereas “fruit” is not based on human exertion, but on the Spirit’s indwelling, on our yielding to Him day by day, hour by hour! If we commune with Him, “abide” in Him … His “Sap” will flow (a word picture) through us … and “fruit” will be borne!

Okay.

But how will we identify these dangerous “works of the flesh?” By “flesh” Paul means the tendencies, cravings of our old lower natures? Of our old, if you will allow me the term, “old sin natures?”

The answer!

The Apostle seems to think we might not even need his “list,” because these “down-pullings” (so very human temptations to do wrong, to disobey or cease to follow the Holy Spirit’s Guidance) are so very “evident!”

Don’t you suspect the indwelling Holy Spirit Himself will promptly let you know when you begin to dabble in one of these things?

Anyway, the point of today’s Text … they will be “manifest!” 

Galatians 5:19, it’s first clause (opening words) again: “Now the works of the flesh are MANIFEST, which are these …” 

“Phaneros” is the word, translated “manifest.” 

It means “apparent, easily known, plainly recognized.” Even “outwardly visible!”

It hails from a verb (“phaino”) which means “to cut the lights on!” Very bright lights, at that!

You will  not have to consult a manual the next time you get real MAD, the People of God will know that at that moment you are not “walking” in the Spirit! That you have yielded to the “flesh!”

Wow!

Enough has been said for one day.

Oh, did I tell you, “PEOPLE ARE WATCHING?” 

And (I suppose) those sinful works of the flesh will be “evident” (King James Version: “manifest”) to them too!

Whereas Jesus admonished us to … “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your GOOD WORKS, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16, not our “works of the flesh!”

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Paul is walking a fine line here, as he writes the Galatians.

He will not, can not, completely denigrate the Law of Moses!

It had its functions, this being one of them: “The law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.” Right here in Galatians, 3:24-25 specifically.

But Paul is saying, must say, that the Law is no longer the dominating force for a man or woman who has trusted Christ as Saviour!

It has served its purpose for us!

It showed us our sin (truly) and brought us guilty (condemned) to the foot of the old rugged Cross! To the shed Blood of Jesus!

Now … having been born-again and filled with the Holy Spirit … “But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.” Galatians 5:18, and today’s Text.

Wow!

The “if” in our verse does NOT imply doubt, rather it expresses a probable (assumed) situation for the Galatians. They profess to be saved. Therefore the Holy Spirit indwells them.

The term “be led” is passive, indeed! It is “ago” (pronounced ag’-o) as a present tense verb, second person plural. (We do not lead the Spirit; HE LEADS US!”) On the other hand, He does not FORCE us either, He “directs” us, “goes with” us, even “brings” us to a given God-approved point in life.

And His leadership is a durative thing, ongoing, habitual, a new way-of-life from now to Glory!

And the Spirit’s new Relationship with us (as our Leader) negates that role for the Law! I no longer have a mean (cursing) Schoolmaster! I am rather under the Tutorship of God the Third Person, the “Spirit” as Paul terms Him here.

Hence, no need for the Law!

Implication: the Holy Spirit will produce a more godly life in me (if I follow His Leading) than the Law ever could have! (In fact, it looks to me like Paul believes the Law, surprisingly, would never produce right living, but will rather lead to frustration and anger and no telling what else!)

Paul, in verse 18 today and then back in verse 16 two days ago, parallels the “flesh” and the “Law!” Compares them, not antithetically but symmetrically!

Verse 16 … “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the FLESH.”

Then verse 18 … “But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the LAW.”

Wow!

The preposition “under” sounds quite “heavy!” In Greek spelled “hupo,” the word certainly at times suggests laboring/wrestling with a cruel burden!

A lifelong secret has been uncovered today, in Galatians 5:18. Perhaps the “key” to living the successful, victorious Christin life!

Simply stated … “Be led of the Spirit!”

Yes, the verb is passive, but we must yield to His Promptings!

He, God the Spirit, He Alone … can overcome the flesh in our lives, those downward (at times blatantly evil) tendencies inherited from Adam!

Lead on, Holy Spirit, lead on!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Paul admits it! “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.” Galatians 5:17

This verse surprises me, in a way.

Not that the “flesh” (that still dwells in me and “pulls” me toward sin, selfishness, carnality) battles the Spirit! But that the Spirit retaliates! That the (divinely omnipotent) Holy Spirit, in return, battles the flesh!

Notice Paul does not say the Spirit “kills” the flesh! (Though he does teach us to “kill” or “mortify” certain sins that keep cropping up in our hearts, in our lives! See both Romans 8:13 and Colossians 3:5 for examples.)

What I’m teaching this morning … Paul does not anywhere teach the “eradication” of our old sin nature! We, while still on this earth, must fight tooth and nail against those “lower” desires! (Romans 7:14-25 gives us Paul’s personal testimony in this area, concerning this battle!)

So we have it today, in our Lesson … “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.”

Paul here “hints” that a Christian “wants” to do what is right! “So that ye cannot do the things that ye would.” The things that you know are better, “right” in God’s eyes!

But that old “flesh!”

The verb “lusted” in our Text is “epithumeo,” and actually means “to covet!” Really, “to desire” a thing intensely so! (Present tense too, ongoing action, durative action, habitual action!)

The Holy Spirit then is “jealous” towards our old rotten “flesh!” The Holy Sprit “craves,” here “lusts” after control of our lives twenty-four hours a day! And that old flesh “takes over” sometimes, even if for only a few minutes!

Wow!

Then Paul states a principle, a “given” in the Christian life! “And these (the flesh and the Holy Spirit) are contrary the one to the other!”

This verb is “antikeimai,” these two being “set against” (the verb often used for one going to bed at night and staying there for hours and hours, “in place” in that sense) each other! These two are adversarial, then! (Here it is, antikeimai,  in 1 Corinthians 16:9, for example. “For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many ADVERSARIES.”)

So, what’s the solution to this dilemma?

Learning to be further “led” by the Holy Spirit! (Galatians 5:18, tomorrow’s Text!)

Learning to “crucify” the flesh, metaphorically speaking! (Galatians 5:24, we’ll be there in a few days, studying this Thought!)

Learning to “walk” in the Spirit! (Galatians 5:25)

Being “filled” with the Spirit! (Ephesians 5:18)

We want to get to the place (where the “flesh” has become so weak) that we can “do the things that we would” … things that the Holy Spirit approves!

Wow!

It is a battle!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Paul, in Galatians 5:16,  just used the clause “walk in the Spirit,” primarily as an antidote to one’s producing the works of the flesh.

But, must be, there’s a right way and a wrong way to do even that, to “walk in the spirit.” Or maybe I should say there is more than one “spirit” in which one can walk!

Micah 2:11 evoked that last comment. “If a man WALKING IN THE SPIRIT AND FALSEHOOD do lie, saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink; he shall even be the prophet of this people.” Preaching in favor of wine and strong drink is clearly the work of a false prophet, one who does not know God. That pro-drinking spirit might even be the controlling influence in that preacher’s life! He might be said to be “walking in that (evil) spirit!” The very “spirit of falsehood!”

But Paul says for us “to walk in the (Holy) Spirit!” Quite a difference!

But (furthermore) for the true Christian, “in the Spirit” one may also “groan,” occasionally at least. As our Lord did in John 11:33; “When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he GROANED IN THE SPIRIT, and was troubled ….”

Groaned? The verb means “to snort with anger,” to be that upset, that grieved over sin and its tragic results! We are thus to add to our “walking” in the Spirit, “groaning” in the Spirit, when circumstances call for us to  mourn, to weep, to lament!

What about being so “led, directed, guided” by the Holy Sprit that one is “pressed!” I again give Paul as an example. “And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was PRESSED IN THE SPIRIT, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.” Acts 18:5, the Greek verb here is “sunecho,” meaning that the Holy Spirit had “taken such hold” of Paul that he felt obligated to preach the Gospel, to witness to lost Gentiles! Gripped by the Spirit! 

Then as well as (in addition to) “walking” in the Spirit, one can be “fervent in the Spirit.” Used of Apollos in Acts 18:25. “This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and BEING FERVENT IN THE SPIRIT, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.” Here “zeo” means “being on fire” for Jesus, “boiling hot!” Passionate, literally that zealous! 

Wow!

Another situation.  Acts 19:21 … “After these things were ended, Paul PURPOSED IN THE SPIRIT, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.” That resolute, that determined, that steadfast! “Tithemi,” having “set one’s course!” 

Then Ephesians 6:18, “praying in the Spirit!” Parallel to Jude’s’ words: “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, PRAYING IN THE HOLY GHOST.” (Verse 20 of Jude) Admirable indeed!

Philippians 3:3 even has us “WORSHIPPING IN THE SPIRIT!” The verb for “worship” here (“latreuo”) literally means “to work as a menial servant!” But do it “in the Spirit!”

1 Peter 4:6 … “LIVE IN THE SPIRIT.”

Maybe “walking in the Spirit” at times entails all these other situations too.

If so, get ready. The Believer in Jesus, the child of God, had best get used to an ever deepening relationship with God the Holy Spirit! 

And that’s exactly the “point” of today’s Lesson.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell