Intro

Welcome again to another Bible Study with me Dreamwalker1960

Discussion

In the last few weeks I have been a bit rough in my messaging. I do not deny or regret this. As I stated the evidence is stacking up which points to the return of Jesus Christ and that the turmoil that will occur during the Tribulation. I have been led to Galatians 5 and the exhortation to allow yourself to be led by the Holy Ghost. This is how you allow yourself to turn away from the life within the lukewarm to retuning to be a fruitful part of the Holy Vine, which is Jesus Christ.  So let us start to look into these verses.

Verses 16-17 – So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. 17 The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.

First and foremost we see here that our humanity is at conflict with that which is holy. Even after being filed with the Holy Ghost. This once again confirms that we have an active part in our relationship with God in our salvation. But let us break this verses down even further as we look first into the KJV and then into the Greek.

Verse 16 – This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

Walk – G4043 – peripateo – to tread all around, i.e. walk at large (especially as proof of ability): figuratively to live, deport oneself, follow (as a companion or votary) [Strong’s]

1. Deport – to behave or conduct (oneself) in a specified way
2. Votary – a person who has made a promise to serve a particular religion or god

Ye shall not – G3364 – ou me – a double negative strengthening the denial: not at all

Fulfil – G5055 – teleo – to end, i.e. complete, execute, conclude, discharge (a debt) [Strong’s]

The lust – G1939 – epithymia – a longing (especially for what is forbidden) [Strong’s]

Of the flesh – G4561 – sarx – flesh (as striped of the skin), i.e. (strictly) the meat of an animal (as food), or (by extension) the body (as opposed to the soul [spirit], or as the symbol of what is external, or as the means of kindred), or (by Implication) human nature (with its frailties [physical or moral] and passions) or (specially) a human being (as such)

This is my version of this verse:

I say to those that have promised themselves to the Holy Spirit. You shall not allow yourselves to enter into your human longings of that which is forbidden.

Verse 17 – 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.

Lusteth – G1937 – epithymeo – to set the heart upon, i.e. long for (rightfully or otherwise) [Strong’s]

Contrary – G480 – antikeimai – to lie opposite. i.e. be adverse (figuratively repugnant) to [Strong’s]

1. Repugnant – Extremely distasteful; unacceptable

This verse shows the internal conflict that we all experience daily. Fortifying that we are to strive toward that which is holy over the wants and desires of our human nature. It also shows that we do have a corrupt body even after being filled with the Holy Spirit. This results in the need to be ever aware of our own weaknesses. To struggle through these lust and desires by turning our eyes toward the one who died upon the cross for us. So we would not have to suffer like He did but for all eternity in the pit of fire.

Verse 18 – But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the Law of Moses.

Now let’s see what the KJV and the Greek says for this verse.

“But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.”

Ye be led – G71 – ago – properly to lead, by implication to bring drive (reflexively) go (specifically) pass (time) or (figuratively) induce

a)      Induce – to persuade someone to do something

My version: If you are led by the Holy Ghost you are not under the law given to Moses.

In the next verses we are shown the rotten fruit that is born when you allow our corruptible to be our master:

Verse 19 – When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures,

So let’s look at each of these sins that we can still fall into if we do not allow ourselves to be led by the Holy Spirit.

Due to time restrictions I will not go into full detail of these sins. However, you can read the full breakdown at dreamwalker1960.com for the blog of this podcast #23.

We will use the KJV for this list:

1)       Adultery – G3430 – moicheia – sex between a married man or a woman that is not who they are married to.

2)    * Fornication – G4202 – porneia – harlotry (including adultery and incest) figuratively idolatry – sex between people not married to each other.

a)      Harlotry – prostitution

3)       Uncleanness – G167 –akatharsia – impurity (the quality) physically or morally

a)      Impurity – impure – containing something unclean, ritually unclean

b)      Unclean – morally wrong

4)    * Lasciviousness – G766 – aselgeia – licentiousness (sometimes including other vices)

a)      Licentiousness – Behavior that is sexual, in a way that is uncontrolled and socially unacceptable

The list continues in verse 20

“Idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division,”

We will still go through the KJV of this list:

5)      Idolatry – G1495 – eidololatrria – image worship (literally or figuratively)

6)      Witchcraft – G5331 – pharmakeia – medication (pharmacy) that is (by extension) magic (literal or figurative) sorcery

a)      Sorcery – a type of magic in which spirits, especially evil ones, are used to make things happen

7)       Hatred – G2189 – echthra – hostility, by implication a reason for opposition, enmity)

a)      Enmity – a feeling of hate

8)    * Variance – G2054 – eris – of uncertain affinity, a quarrel that is (by implication) wrangling: contention debate strife

a)      Wrangling – wrangle – an argument, especially one that continues for a long time

9)    * Emulation – G2205 – zelos – properly heat that is (figuratively) zeal (in favorable sense ardor, in unfavorable one jealousy as of a husband [figuratively of God] or an enemy malice)

10)   Wrath – G2372 – thumos – passion (as if breathing hard)

11)  * Strife – G2052 – eritheia – properly intrigue that is (by implication) faction

a)      Faction – a group within a large group, especially one with slightly different ideas from the main group

12)   Seditions – G1370 – dichostasia – disunion that is (figuratively) dissension

a)      Dissension – arguments and disagreement, especially in an organization, group, political party

13)   Heresies – G139 – hairesis – properly a choice that is (specifically) a party or (abstractly) disunion

the list continues into verse 21

“envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

14) * Envyings – G5355 – phthonos – ill will (as detraction) that is jealousy (spite)

a)      Spite – a desire to hurt, annoy, or offend someone

15)   Murders – G5408 – phonos – (to slay)

16)   Drunkenness – G3178 – methe – an intoxicant that is (by implication) intoxication

17)    Revellings – G2970 – komos – a carousal (as if a letting loose)

The implication here, when joined with verse 16, is that we are still able to fall into these sins one again and we should diligently turn away from them. For as is made clear at the conclusion of this verse is that those that do these sins will not make it into heaven.

I must also note a trend that I have noted throughout the books of the New Testament that do list sins showing various other sins. This is due to different sins affecting the different cities to which these individual letters were sent to.

People have used the fact that these sins are not all exactly the same sins as those shown in other books within the Bible. So they use this as to say there is a flaw in the message within the Bible. That is not the case, as I noted a bit ago. Each group is being addressed for their particular sins that are afflicting these servants of God in each of these locations throughout the region between and including Israel and Rome.

What is the important take away from this list of sin aren’t the sins. But what is being asked for all of us that have the Holy Spirit within us. It is to know and realize that we are still vulnerable to sin as long as we live within this earthly realm. So when we find ourselves lacking in self-control and stumble over sins like those listed here and elsewhere in the Bible. Is that we strive to note that we are slipping and do our best with the help of God through prayer that we stop indulging in any and all things that are considered sinful in the eyes of God.

I reiterate that it is made clear as to why we are to seek to have the self-control to end sin. For those that live in sin will not be welcome in Heaven.

As prove of this we are given a list of the fruits of the Holy Ghost:

Verses 22 – 23 -But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

Again we are exhorted to live in the Holy Spirit whose fruit we just read about. If we do not see these more in our lives than we see the sins. Then we need to do some self-reflection.

This chapter ends adding three more sins. These are those sins as shown in the KJV:

Desirous of vain glory, provoking one another and being envious of one another.

*Desirous of vain glory – G2755 – kenodoxos – self-conceited

1. Self-conceited – having an excessive sense of one’s own importance, abilities, and value

*Provoking – G4292 – prolaleomai – to call forth to oneself (challenge), i.e. (by implication) to irritate

1. Irritate – to make someone angry or annoyed

*Envying – G5354 – phthoneo – to be jealous of

Now these last three sins that are shown are very telling when you look out into the world we now live in. Many people have an attitude of self-importance. Many are jealous of what others have and so they seek after it, to the point of irritation or worse. That is something we all must individually think upon and even pray upon in many cases.

However, let us end today’s message with what that is within us if we are filled with the Holy Ghost.

Love not only for our fellow Christians but for all of humanity. Happiness with what we have and who is in our lives. Peace in our hearts, which results in no anger towards others. Patience to not allow ourselves to become angry or envious, but to approach those that are this way in a way that disarms them and opens their hearts to the Truth. Kindness to those in need of comfort. Goodness in every aspect of our lives. Faithfulness not only to God but to those that we ask to apart of our lives. Which allows us to be gentle to all. And above all is the ability to have control over our own bodies and not be tempted by or into sin.

God Bless

• *- indicates I went into detail with these definitions in the podcast