Flesh Works and Spirit Fruits

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. (Gal 5:16)

This, says the Bible, [περιπατέω -- walk; maintain a certain walk of life and conduct} in the [πνεῦμα -- spiritual frame of mind], and ye shall not [τελέω -- carry out] the {ἐπιθυμία — irregular or violent desire, cupidity] of the [σάρξ -- carnality].

Let us, then, flesh this out a bit more. (Pun intended.)

“Walk” is in the imperative case, meaning, “do this.” It’s an order.  [Conduct yourselves] (surrounded by the limits of) the (Holy) Spirit, and [you all] shall not [carry out behavior] (signifying that you are driven by the) [impure desire] of [carnality].

He says in another place:

The Bible says that we must maintain a certain spiritually minded walk or gait or behavior so that we shall not act out with carnal, worldly, earthly, and unspiritual lusts all of the time. Paul is telling us here, as a practitioner of walking in the Spirit, that if we put our mind the right things in life, we shall not fall prey to the base desires of the destructive Satanic impulse.

There are some within the divisions of religion who profess the fruits of the Spirit/works of the flesh to be proofs/evidences of regeneration or unregeneration. There is some wisdom to this, although Paul indicates that we must consciously choose to partake of the Spirit fruits or opt to walk in the flesh. This is an active proposition. Look at our opening verse: If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. (Gal 5:25)

He is saying, the Holy Spirit has been here. God as such has visited you. He has indwelled you. But we can still grieve the Holy Spirit with unholy behavior.

Now let’s look at the components of that. These are known as The Works of the Flesh.

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (Gal 5:19-20)

Many of these definitions are using several sources, including koine Greek (the original language of the New Testament) and some are quite contestable, or just approximations for what I believe Paul to be saying.

adultery — laying with someone else’s wife
fornication — laying with an unmarried woman; casual or unmarried sex
uncleanness — defilement by sin
lasciviousness — licentiousness, indulgence in “irregular” animal desires
idolatry — worshipping false gods or idols
witchcraft — sorcery, magic
hatred — enmity, discord
variance — dissension
emulations — rivalry with a desire of depressing another
wrath — violent anger
strife — feuding, disobedience, etc…
seditions — “a standing apart,” divisions, dissensions
heresies — forming sects, factions, making up a new religion and claiming it is “from God”
envyings — envy, jealousy, spite
murders — slayings, killings
drunkenness — debauchery in drink
revellings — partying

A nasty bunch, aren’t they?

Notice that there is quite a bit of overlap in these definitions. That’s so we don’t get “wiggle room.” We humans are always finding exceptions and loopholes and ways to get out of giving real obedience to God. But look closely at this list. Several of these things apply to each and every one of us.

The passage ends in this way: …and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (Gal 5:21b) “And such like” means, “et cetera.” “And on and on.” Anything along these lines. Again, it’s the wiggle room. Thousands of variations on these themes exist and are not specifically enumerated anywhere in the Bible.

Someone might say, “I was just smoking pot. The Bible doesn’t say that anything is wrong specifically with pot.” But it prohibits the same behavior that would lead to one using that drug. This particular proscription would fall under several categories — drunkenness, reveling, and witchcraft. And such like that. There are a ton of flesh works not specifically listed here. Such as, homosexuality, masturbation, murmuring, backstabbing, gossiping, etc… But all of those behaviors are implied. In fact, I would go this far and say that the Works of the Flesh really comprise all bad behavior that are completely and absolutely outlawed by God’s perfect law.

Paul is also saying that walking, or conducting oneself “in the flesh” (or non-spiritually) is obvious (manifest). If we are spiritual persons, saved by the blood of Jesus, then if we slip and actually do these things, we will be convicted internally. We will know we’re wrong. But let me say this — there are terrible consequences for sin, especially for a backsliding Christian.

The wages of sin is death… (Rom 6:23a)

Many of us know this line from winning souls. But it also means that sinful behavior leads to a premature death. The consequences of sin is death. Sure, we might have the gift of eternal life in Jesus Christ. But if we backslide into a sin it might actually kill us. If I decide to have an affair with a married woman, her husband might track me down and spray me with bullets. If I decide to go out drinking one night with the guys, I might drive into a tree later on. I can attest as one that has lived his life in complete sin and then gotten saved: The Christian life is a much a safer life!

God does intend for His people to be fruitful. And the first fruits for God is our behavior — good behavior that shows everyone that we are on the winning team.

The Fruits of the Spirit

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (Gal 5:22-23)

First, some definitions:
fruit — reward
spirit — this God-given gift of the Spirit, after being saved by faith in Christ
love — agape love, generous and unselfish affection for others
joy  — rejoicing, gladness
longsuffering — patient endurance of evil
gentleness  — kindness, benignity (being harmless)
goodness — beneficence (active goodness, charitableness)
faith  — faithfulness, fidelity
meekness  — humility, resignation, submission to the divine will
temperance  — self-control

Let’s plug in the definitions and see what this sentence really says:
Now the rewards of the Holy Spirit, which we received after we put our faith in Jesus Christ, are these: generous and unconditional real affection for others, a rejoicing, the patient endurance of evil, kindness, charitableness, faithfulness, humility as a subject of God, and self-control…

Now look at the last clause:

…against such there is no law. (v.23b)

In other words, how can these attributes be made illegal? These are naturally good characteristics. There is nothing evil in them. They cannot be regulated against. Just as the works of the flesh are obviously wrong, the fruits of the Spirit are obviously right! And we know that.

As we move from the point of rebirth to the point of transformation, we will begin to take on these characteristics and we will begin to more easily practice them as the evidence of our salvation. I sense we will also become much more useful to the people to whom we minister.