Tuesday, February 9, 2010

The Sinful Nature - Part Two

Galatians 5:16-21So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

We continue now with the Apostle Paul’s list of attributes of sinful nature, so that we can recognize and reject the desires of the flesh that are contrary to God’s perfect will. Here is the remainder of the “works of the flesh” list, defined and associated with a Bible verse or two for meaning, that we may identify and truly understand what we, as Child of God, do not gratify when we, by the grace of God, live and walk in the Spirit daily.

Selfish ambition - Prideful care of ones own needs and desires for advancement in wealth, honor and power, which include worry and strife towards others. Psalm 119:35-37Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight. Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain. Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.” Philippians 2:3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.” Selfish ambition, not of God

Dissensions & seditions- Fostering the offensive spirit and maliciously stirring up hate, discontentment and rebellious feelings among the people. It is non-conformity and disagreement for the sake of making trouble, disturbing the peace, and messing with the mind; to hurt. Colossians 3:7-9You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices.” Dissensions & seditions, not of God

Factions - heresies - A belief contrary to Christ for the sake of sin with a Party spirit. Not only not of God, but against God and the people of God. 1 Corinthians 12:24-26God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body (of Believers in Christ), but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.” 2 Corinthians 12:20-21I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder. I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged.” Factions, not of God

Envy - to covet. A feeling of discontent with resentful dislike or ill will because of another’s advantages, qualities, possessions, position, wealth, et cetera, that one desires. Proverbs 23:17Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD.” Ecclesiastes 4:4And I saw that all labor and all achievement spring from man's envy of his neighbor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.” Mark 7:21-23 “For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man 'unclean.James 3:16For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.” Envy, not of God

Murders – Homicide, mentally or physically with malice aforethought. Matthew 5:21-22 "You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment." Romans 1:28-31Since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless.” Murders, not of God

Drunkenness
– Inebriation; consumption of alcoholic beverages with the purpose of intoxication; drinking to get drunk. 1Corinthians 5:11I meant that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people. Don’t even eat with such people.” 55% of all accidents are alcohol-related and Liver disease is the most prevalent cause of alcohol-related deaths, followed by car accidents and cancer. Ephesians 5:15-18Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” Drunkenness, not of God

Orgies & revelries – Any excess of indulgence & self-gratification or boisterous carnal partying. Romans 13:12-14The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.” 1Peter 4:1-3Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.” Orgies & revelries, not of God

And the like, meaning any thought word or deed contrary to the word, will or way of God. This list of obvious acts of the sinful nature ends with a promise: “I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” There are only two roads at the judgment seat of Christ – eternal life in Heaven & eternal punishment in the lake of fire (aka Hell). It’s our choice where we put our heart and which road we choose to follow. This gives a more clear meaning to Psalm 118:8It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.” But the Passage doesn’t not end here – Galatians 5:16-21 tells us what the Holy spirit produces in the regenerated heart of the Believer and disciple of Jesus Christ; that lives in the Spirit and walks in the Spirit of God. This is what every heart desires in life and truly seeks for contentment.

I shall pick up there on the next blog post. May you & I live in the light and truth of our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ, to be a light in this dark and sinful world. May we glorify God, our Maker and Father in Heaven, and live a life worthy of our salvation.

John 8:31-32Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

In Christ, Brian

No comments: