Since the flesh and the Spirit are contrary to each other, Paul felt like it was necessary to describe the works of the flesh as well as the works of the Spirit. In Galatians 5:19 Paul gives a list of the works of the flesh and even seems to divide them into three different areas of life: sexual immorality (5:19), spiritual impurity (5:20a), and selfish human attitudes (5:20b-21a). First, Paul mentions the area of sexual immorality and describes those things which characterize a person who lives by the flesh…”adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness.” The sexual choices of those controlled by the flesh are evident through all kinds of perversions. Adultery is when a spouse is unfaithful. Fornication encompasses many forms of sexual sin such as premarital sex, homosexuality, and adultery. Uncleanness is a simple description of those who have compromised their sexual purity and whose life is characterized by all sorts of sexual impurity. Lewdness describes uncontrolled sexual desires. Paul’s point is clear – a person who is controlled by the flesh will live a lifestyle of sexual immorality. Next Paul enters the area of spiritual impurity. He uses two words to describe those who are in this category…”idolatry, sorcery.” Idolatry describes those who worship anything other than the one, true God and sorcery includes magic as well as drug induced contact with spirits. The last area Paul addresses is selfish human attitudes. Out of the three areas, Paul uses the most words to describe this group of people. Most of these attitudes are self explanatory with terms such as “hatred, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, envy, drunkenness.” Paul ends his description of those who live by the flesh with these significant words: “those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” The key word is practice. Paul was not saying that Christians do not commit these sins, but he was saying that these things do not characterize their lifestyle; in other words, these sins are not continual without repentance. If a person habitually and continually is involved in sexual immorality, spiritual impurity, and selfish human attitudes he cannot claim to be inhabited by the Spirit and furthermore will not enter God’s future kingdom. Why? If a person is living by the Spirit He will produce good works in the life of that person. What are those fruits? We will look at those characteristics in the next few verses tomorrow.
Dear God, protect me from the works of flesh.
