GALATIANS (32): The Works of the Flesh - Part 2 (Galatians 5:20-21)

Paul lists the works of the flesh in v19-21 to reveal the true nature of the flesh, motivating us to refuse to yield to the flesh and express it in our lives, but rather be led by the Spirit. We note the 4 categories of these works: (1) sexual sins, (2) religious sins, (3) social sins, in the area of personal relationships, and (4) intemperance. We study the meanings of the Greek words used by Paul to describe the following works of the flesh: heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries. Paul indicates that this is by no means a complete list, and other manifestations of the flesh are described elsewhere in the Bible. It is helpful for us to understand the nature of the flesh, so that we recognise the voice the flesh when it speaks to us, or tries to express itself through us. When the flesh rises us we should turn to Christ and declare His Word, trusting in Him to give us the victory over the flesh. Paul adds a warning that: "those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God" (v21). We show that those who do not inherit the Kingdom are the same as those who are not in Christ, and who are not sons of God. This does not mean that believers who sin will necessarily lose their salvation. Rather it speaks of those who embrace and practise these sins as a lifestyle, expressing their true inner nature (of fallen flesh) in their life. Although born-again believers will on occasion yield to the flesh and sin, when they do so they are acting against their true inner nature of love in their reborn spirit, and are convicted by the Holy Spirit. As a result they do not embrace these sins of the flesh as their lifestyle, but rather they struggle against them. Thus a true believer cannot be happy or at peace while living in sin.