..
Works of the Flesh #2
Continued from last month
Galatians 5:16-21
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not
fulfill the lust of the flesh. 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. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are
not under the law. 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. 5:16-21, KJV).
The sins here mentioned seem to fall into four groups: (1) Sensuality
fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness; (2) Unlawful things in the spiritual
realm - Idolatry,
sorcery; (3) Forms of discord - enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions,
divisions, parties, envyings; (4) intemperate excesses - drunkenness,
revellings; and perhaps a fifth - and such like things. We have looked at those
things listed in 1 and 2 [in the last issue of EF],
now we will briefly notice the sins
listed in 3. Forms of discord and 4. Intemperate excesses.
ENMITIES
The word translated "Enmity" has been translated by a variety of words; such as:
hatred, enmity, quarrels, quarreling, hostile or hostility, feud, mutual enmity,
etc. To hate indicates malicious and unjustifiable feelings toward others,
whether toward the innocent or by mutual animosity. In 1 John 3:15, he who hates
his brother is called a murderer, for the sin lies in the inward disposition, of
which the act is the outward expression.
The word translated "Enmity" is used only five times in the New Testament. Here
in Gal. 5:20 as a work of the flesh. In Luke 23:12 of Herod and Pilate. In Rom.
8:7 we are told that the mind of the flesh is enmity with God. Eph. 2:14,16
reveals that Jesus abolished the enmity between man and God by His sacrifice.
James 4:4 says, "Ye adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world
is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore would be a friend of the world maketh
himself an enemy of God."
STRIFE
The word translated "Strife" is also translated by the words "variance" (KJV)
and "contention". Strife or variance is the expression of hatred or enmity.
Enmity is
the state or attitude of mind toward other people; and strife is the outcome in
actual life of that state of mind. (see Factions)
JEALOUSIES
"The root word in the Greek is zelos, from which the word zeal is derived. It
may have either a good or a bad connotation, depending on the context. In Gal.
3:20 it is used in the bad sense - that of envious rivalry. Vine says, 'jealousy
desires to have the same or the same sort of thing for itself.' Barclay says, 'zelos
could denote a
great thing which degenerated into a sin.' To observe the achievements of
another can stir within one the desire to 'emulate' or 'imitate' with a view to
achieving the same worthwhile thing in oneself. But if the same ambition, good
at first, should provoke to a bitter resentment then zelos becomes a work of the
flesh. This deterioration of zeal is not the work of the Spirit but of the
flesh." - J. Wilely Adams
Jealousies, also translated emulations, is the feeling of ill will at the good
fortune of another. It is destructive of personal relations and individual
happiness. This pain
springs not from the fact that the beholder does not possess the fine thing (a
possession, an honor, a characteristic, etc); it springs from the fact that the
other person does.
WRATHS
The characteristic feature of the word translated "wrath" is that it is very
violent but very brief. The Greeks said this wrath was like fire in straw,
quickly blazing up and just as quickly burning itself out. Wrath, as it is here
used, is not long cherished anger, it is the blaze of temper which flares into
violent words and deeds, and just as quickly dies.
There are several scriptures that reveal to us the attitude we ought to have
toward wrath:
I. "Let all bitterness and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be
put away from you with all malice" (Eph 4:31).
2. Jesus said, "that every one who is angry with his brother shall be in danger
of the judgement" (Matt. 5 :22).
3 . "For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God." (James 1:20).
4. "And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath." (Eph. 6:4).
"Many a person is well aware that he has a violent temper; and many a person
claims that he cannot help it, and expects others to accept and to forgive his
bursts of
passion. . . . It may well be that such a person is never fully aware of the way
in which he wounds others and produces a situation in which fellowship becomes
very
difficult. Because he blazes and forgets the things that others should equally
be able to forget the pain he has inflicted. Let such a person remember that
such
displays of temper are sin, and that the way to overcome them is through the
power of the Spirit in his heart" (that is as the Spirit teaches through His
word. -DB) -
William Barclay
FACTIONS
The American Standard Version used the word "faction," while in other
translations we find such words as strife, selfishness, selfish ambitions,
intrigues and rivalry. W. E. Vine defines the word as "strife, contention in the
expression of enmity, Rom. 1:29." Thayer defines it as "contention, strife,
wrangling." The word denotes a spirit of personal ambition and rivalry which
issues in a partisanship or faction which sets party or personal ambition above
service to Christ. Paul exhorted the Romans not to walk "in strife and envying"
(Rom. 13:13). He was fearful of returning to Corinth "lest by any means there
should be strife, jealousy, wraths, factions,
backbitings," (2 Cor 12:20). To the Philippians he wrote: "Let nothing be done
through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others
better than
themselves" (Phil. 2:3). He wrote to Timothy to warn those who are "proud,
knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh
envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings" (I Tim. 6:4). James speaks of the fruit
that comes from strife, "But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your
hearts, glory not,
and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, hut is
earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion
and every evil work" (James 3:14-16). The wise man Solomon said, "It is an
honour for a man to cease from strife:" (Proverbs
20:23).
DIVISIONS
William Barclay says, "The word denotes a state of things in which men are
divided, in which feuds flourish, and in which unity is destroyed." He further
states, "It
literally means 'a standing apart', that is, a state in which all community, all
fellowship, and all togetherness are gone." W. E. Vine defines the word as "A
standing
apart (diche, asunder, apart, stasis, a standing; the root di - indicating
division, is found in many words in various languages)."
Jesus prayed, "Neither for these only do I pray, but for them also that believe
on me through their word; that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in
me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us: that the world may believe that
thou didst send me." (John 17:20) Paul plead for unity among the believers, "Now
I beseech you, brethren, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all
speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be
perfected together in the same mind and in the same judgment" (I Cor 1:10). The
Holy Spirit, through Paul revealed a plan for unity that brethren not be
divided, "giving diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as also ye were called in one hope of
your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who
is over all, and through all, and in all." (Eph 4:3-6). Division does not happen
as a result of being led by the Spirit, it is a work of the flesh. "These are
they who make separations, sensual, having not the Spirit." (Jude 19). Paul
said, "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them that are causing the divisions and
occasions of stumbling, contrary to the doctrine which ye learned: and turn away
from them." (Rom. 16:17).
PARTIES
Other translations translate the word by heresies, party spirit, party quarrels,
and factions. W. E. Vine says it "denotes a choosing, choice; then, that which
is chosen,
and hence, an opinion, especially a self-willed opinion, which is substituted
for submission to the power of truth, and leads to division and the formation of
sects,
Gal.5:20." Throughout the book of Acts (Acts 5:17; 15:5; 24:5,14; 26:5; 28:22)
the word is translated "sect". The sectarian or denominational view of the
church that Jesus bought with His blood is not the Bible view. Every figure used
to reveal some aspect of the church indicates a unity or oneness. The church is
viewed as a "fold" and Jesus said there is one fold. It is viewed as a kingdom
in which all who are born again serve the king, Jesus. It is viewed as a family,
the family of God. It is viewed as a body, one body, with each individual being
a member. It is pictured as a vineyard with members as workers in that vineyard.
Every figure destroys the contention that the church is to be divided into a
multitude of sects each holding a peculiar doctrine and wearing a different
name. The sectarian view is a work of the flesh and not the Spirit.
ENVYINGS
Envy has been defined as a feeling of displeasure and ill will because of
another's advantages, honor, possessions, etc. William Barclay comments, "The
essence of it is that it does not describe the spirit which desires, nobly or
ignobly, to have what someone else has; it describes the spirit which grudges
the fact that the other person has these things at all. It does not so much want
the things for itself; it merely wants to take them from the other person."
Solomon compared envy in the spiritual realm to what cancer is in the physical
realm. He said, "A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness
of the bones" (Prov. 14:30).
Envy has been the cause of some of the most terrible tragedies that have
occurred. Because of envy, Cain committed the first murder and that of his
brother.
(Gen.4:4,5). The brothers of Joseph sold him into slavery because of their
envious heart. (Acts 7:9). Saul, Israel's first king, became so envious of David
that he hunted him like an animal with evil intentions. (I Sam.18:8-9). The
gospel has been preached with envy by some who sought to add to the afflictions
of a faithful preacher. (Phil . 1: 15- 16). Envy has been an impetus for
persecution of the followers of Christ (Acts 13:45). The strife and divisions of
the church in Corinth can in a large measure be laid at the feet of envy. (1 Cor.
3:3). A deed even more terrible is recorded in Matt. 27:18, "For he (Pilate)
knew that for envy they had delivered him (Jesus) up."
Asaph's story in the 73rd Psalm ought to help us put the right perspective on
envy. Though he is dealing with just one specific reason for envy and its
possible consequences and showing the reason, in this circumstance, one should
not be characterized by envy. It should help us to know that if we opened our
eyes to the whole truth we would learn that envy ought not to be an attitude we
manifest. Here is his story.
"But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; My steps had nearly slipped. For I
was envious of the boastful, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For there
are no pangs in their death, But their strength is firm. They are not in trouble
as other men, Nor are they plagued like other men. Therefore pride serves as
their necklace; Violence covers them like a garment. Their eyes bulge with
abundance; They have more than heart could wish. They scoff and speak wickedly
concerning oppression; They speak loftily. They set their mouth against the
heavens, And their tongue walks through the earth. Therefore his people return
here, And waters of a full cup are drained by them. And they say, "How does God
know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?" Behold, these are the ungodly,
Who are always at ease; They increase in riches. Surely I have cleansed my heart
in vain, And washed my hands in innocence. For all day long I have been plagued,
And chastened every morning. If I had said, "I will speak thus," Behold, I would
have been untrue to the generation of Your children. When I thought how to
understand this, It was too painful for me-- Until I went into the sanctuary of
God; Then I understood their end. Surely You set them in slippery places; You
cast them down to destruction." (Psa. 73:2-18, NKJV).
DRUNKENNESS
Paul said plainly, "And be not drunken with wine, wherein is riot, but be filled
with the Spirit." (Eph 5:18). Peter points out that the Christian does not now
run to the same riot of excess that formerly characterized his behavior. "For
the time past may suffice to have wrought the desire of the Gentiles, and to
have walked in lasciviousness, lusts, winebibbings, revellings, carousings, and
abominable idolatries: wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them
in the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: " ( I Pet. 4: 3 4).
Jesus said, "Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but the corrupt
tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit,
neither can a
corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good
fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Therefore by their fruits ye shall
know them."
(Matt. 7: 16-21 ).
Notice the moral and spiritual effects or the fruit of drunkenness:
1. Maladministration of justice - Prov 31:5; Isa. 5:23.
2. Provokes anger, contentions, brawling - Prov. 20:1; 23:29.
3. Conduces a profligate life - Eph 5:1~.
4. Is allied with gambling, licentiousness - Joel 3:3 and indecency - Gen
9:21ff.
5. Deadens the spiritual sensibilities, producing a callous indifference to
religious influences and destroys all serious thought - Isa 5 :12.
"Do not mix with winebibbers, Or with gluttonous eaters of meat; For the
drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, And drowsiness will clothe a man
with rags. Listen to your father who begot you, And do not despise your mother
when she is old. Buy the truth, and do not sell it, Also wisdom and instruction
and understanding. The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice, And he who
begets a wise child will delight in him. Let your father and your mother be
glad, And let her who bore you rejoice. My son, give me your heart, And let your
eyes observe my ways. For a harlot is a deep pit, And a seductress is a narrow
well. She also lies in wait as for a victim, And increases the unfaithful among
men. Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who
has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? Those who linger long at the
wine, Those who go in search of mixed wine. Do not look on the wine when it is
red, When it sparkles in the cup, When it swirls around smoothly; At the last it
bites like a serpent, And stings like a viper." (Prov. 23:20-32, NKJV).
REVELLINGS
This word "revellings" is used in only two other passages in the New Testament
besides out text. It is used in Rom. 13:13 "Let us walk becomingly, as in the
day; not in revelling and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in
strife and jealousy" and also in 1 Peter 4:3, "For the time past in our life may
suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in
lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable
idolatries."
Webster's collegiate dictionary defines the word as, "To be festive in a riotous
or noisy manner." Thayer says, ". . .a nocturnal and riotous procession of
half-drunken and frolicsome fellows who after supper parade through the streets
with torches and music in honor of Bacchus or some other deity, and sing and
play before the houses of their male and female friends; hence used generally,
of feast and drinking-parties that are protracted till late at night and indulge
in revelry:" Donnegan's Lexicon says, "A jovial assembly of friends, who met at
an entertainment, or to celebrate a festival, with music, dancing, and singing
hymns and odes - a band of revellers, who, after a feast, go through the streets
and visit their friends, or mistresses, singing, dancing, and indulging in
wanton and boisterous merriment; hence revelry, and the wanton conduct of
persons elated with wine; licentious indulgence."
Unfortunately, much of the entertainment of the day involves merrymaking with
others wherein divine limitations are ignored, loud sensual suggestive and
provocative music, drinking, and other forms of carnal pleasure. Such is classed
as revelling.
"THEY . . . SHALL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD"
We rejoice to see so many righteous souls that are warring effectively against
the flesh and are producing the fruit of the Spirit. However, we are saddened
when we see those who profess to be children of God loosing the battle against
the flesh. With the rise of emphasis on sensuality, premarital and extramarital
sexual relation
are claiming some. Uncleanness and lascivious doings are the cause of others
departing from the faith. Today, surprising as it is, we are being exposed to
liberal doses of idolatry and sorcery. Oriental cults and Satan worship are
becoming more common, especially among high school and college groups. Even more
insidious are the things that cause discord: enmities, strife, jealousies,
wraths, factions, divisions, parties, envyings. Somehow these sins, since they
have to do with attitudes and resultant consequences, are bad but not too bad
and are relegated to naughty misdemeanors. As a result many excuse themselves
and others even attempt to justify the practice. Those who are loosing this war
and those who see it as inconsequential along with those who are just drifting
along sort of lackadaisical need to wise up, wake up, repent of their sins, live
and act so as to honor Him who died for us. Remember those who loose this war
shall not inherit the kingdom of heaven.
"Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the
lust thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness
unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead,
and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God" (Rom 6:12-13).
From The Preceptor - August 1992
By Danny Brown
From Expository Files 3.4; April 1996
