In verses 19–23, Paul contrasts the acts of the flesh with the fruit of the Spirit. The acts of the flesh symbolize spiritual death, but the fruit of the Spirit is evidence of spiritual life. Since a Christian has the same sinful nature they possessed before salvation, they may fall prey to the sins that nature produces if they do not live by means of the Spirit.
Paul now lists some of the ugly “works of the flesh” (similar lists in Mark 7:20–23; Rom. 1:29–32; 1 Tim. 1:9–10; 2 Tim. 3:2–5). The flesh is able to manufacture sin but it can never produce the righteousness of God. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked” (Jer. 17:9).
The person who continually practices these sins shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Paul is not talking about an act of sin, but a habit of sin. There is a false assurance of salvation that is not based on the Word of God. The fact that the believer is not under Law, but under grace, is no excuse for sin (Rom. 6:15). If anything, it is an encouragement to live in obedience to the Lord.
19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: sexual immorality, impurity, indecent behavior, 20 idolatry, witchcraft, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, 21 envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (NASB)
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- The acts of the flesh symbolize spiritual death
- While a Christian may intermittently get pulled into these sins, those who live like this habitually and continually will not inherit the kingdom of God.
- Let us not be controlled by anything but the Holy Spirit
CLOSER LOOK:
Verse 19: The deeds of the flesh include, but go well beyond, the destructive contentions and jealousies portrayed in v.. Where there is such behavior, it is positive proof that the person is not living in the power of the Holy Spirit (vv. 16, 18, 22, 23) but is being energized by Satan and his hosts (Matt 16:23; Acts 5:3). The apostle declared that the sins of the flesh “are evident” (i.e. obvious), meaning either, as some suggest, that they are public and cannot be hidden, or since some are private sins, they originate with the “flesh” (or sinful nature) and not with the new nature indwelt by the Holy Spirit.
The word “flesh,” which comes from the Greek word sarx is also seen in Gal 5:24; 6:8, 12-13; Rom 7:18; 8:3, 13 (Strong’s 4561).[1] In Greek literature, the word sarx usually meant nothing more than the human body.[2] It was also used this way in the NT (Jn 1:14; Rev 17:16; 19:18, 21). However, Paul often used the word to denote the entire fallen human being—not just the sinful body but the entire being, including the soul and mind, as affected by sin. Thus, Paul often pitted the “flesh” against the “Spirit” as being two diametrically opposed forces. The unbeliever can live only in the flesh, but the believers can live in the flesh or in the Spirit. Paul repeatedly encourages the believers to overcome the deeds of the flesh by living in the Spirit.
The listed sins are commonly seen to fall into four categories. First, three sexual sins are mentioned. Sexual immorality (porneia) is often translated “fornication.” From this word comes the term “pornography.”[3] Porneia refers to any and all forms of illicit sexual relationships and has common definitions such as “unlawful sexual intercourse, prostitution, unchastity, and fornication.”[4] Impurity (akatharsia) is a broad term referring to moral uncleanness in thought, speech, and deed (cf. Eph. 5:3–4). Generally, a state of moral corruption, immorality, or vileness. Sensuality or debauchery (aselgeia) connotes an open, shameless, brazen display of these evils (cf. 2 Cor. 12:21 where the same words occur; aselgeia is included in Rom. 13:13). Further, it is really a lack of self-constraint which involves one in conduct that violates all bounds of what is socially acceptable.[5]
Verse 20: Following the sexual sins, Paul cited two religious sins. Idolatry involved the worship of pagan gods by bowing to idols, and because of its mention just after the listing of sexual sins it probably includes the male and female prostitution so often a part of heathen religion.[6] Sorcery (or Witchcraft) is the translation of the Greek word pharmakeia from which the term “pharmacy” comes.[7] In ancient times the worship of evil powers was accompanied by the use of drugs to create trances. Sorcery or witchcraft refers to the magical potions administered by sorcerers. Through these magical potions, these sorcerers were able to control the evil powers. This vice will also be prominent in the Tribulation period (cf. Rev. 9:21; 18:23).
Eight societal evils are then listed (the last one, envy, is in Gal. 5:21). Loving others is not easy. When the flesh controls us, interpersonal problems are the result. Enmities or hatred (echthrai) is in the plural form, denoting primarily a feeling of enmity between groups. Strife or discord (eris)[8] is the natural result of “enmity” and no doubt a problem in the Galatian church. Jealousy (zēlos)[9] refers not to the godly form but to the sinful and self-centered type. (These two words, eris and zelos, are also listed in Rom. 13:13.) Outbursts of anger or fits of anger (thymoi)[10] often come as a final eruption of smoldering jealousy. Disputes or selfish ambition (eritheiai) is a self-aggrandizing attitude which shows itself in working to get ahead at other’s expense (cf. Phil. 2:3; Rom 2:8; Jas 3:14). Dissensions (dichostasiai) and factions (haireseis)[11] describe what happens when people quarrel over issues or personalities, causing hurtful divisions.
Verse 21: Envying (phthonoi) is an evil feeling, a wrongful desire to possess what belongs to someone else. Thus the sinful nature is seen to be responsible for the breakdown of interpersonal relationships in homes, churches, and in public society.
Two sins associated with alcohol fall in a fourth category of evils. Alcohol and addiction has the ability to control people and distort their thinking. We have all seen or heard about situations were a person under the influence committed some grievous sins. Rather than being controlled by alcohol (or any addiction), the Christian is to be controlled by the Holy Spirit (Eph. 5:18). Drunkenness (methai) refers to excessive use of strong drink by individuals, and carousing or orgies (kōmoi) probably refers to the drunken carousings commonly associated with such things as the worship of Bacchus, the god of wine.[12] Finally, to show that this long list was only representative and not exhaustive, Paul added the words “and things like these” (see 1 Cor 6:9, 10 for a different listing).
The apostle then solemnly warned the Galatians, as he had done when he was in their midst, that “those who practice such things,” who habitually indulge in these fleshly sins “will not inherit the” future “kingdom of God.” This does not say that a Christian loses their salvation if they lapse into a sin of the flesh, but that a person who lives continually/habitually on such a level of moral corruption gives evidence of not being a child of God. No Christians are so spiritually strong or mature that they need not heed his warning, but neither are any so weak or vacillating that they cannot be free from the tyranny of the flesh through the power of the Spirit.
[1] Much has been written on the word sarx and it has been studied to a great degree due to how it is used and often compared against the Spirit. Due to time and space, we cannot cover much here, but this is a very, very brief intro.
[2] Earl D. Radmacher, Ronald B. Allen, H. Wayne House, eds., Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Commentary (Nashville: Nelson, 1999), 1527.
[3] Donald K. Campbell, “Galatians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, eds. John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton: Victor Books, 1985), 607.
[4] BDAG
[5] BDAG. self-abandonment
[6] Donald K. Campbell, “Galatians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, eds. John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton: Victor Books, 1985), 607.
[7] Donald K. Campbell, “Galatians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, eds. John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton: Victor Books, 1985), 607.
[8] BDAG – “Engagement in rivalry, especially with reference to positions taken in a matter, strife, discord, contention”
[9] BDAG – “intense negative feelings over another’s achievements or success, jealousy, envy”
[10] BDAG – “a state of intense displeasure, anger, wrath, rage, indignation”
[11] May also see divisions or heresies. BDAG – “a group that holds tenets distinctive to it, sect, party, school, faction”
[12] Donald K. Campbell, “Galatians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, eds. John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton: Victor Books, 1985), 608. BDAG defines kōmoi as “excessive feasting; revelry”