In Galatians 5 we find Paul teaching unto to Gentile Church of several issues they have encounters. One the need or not the need to be circumcised. On that Paul states it was not a requirement and held further that since it came from the Old Testament law you are held to that law if they made it necessary to do it.
Paul does re-emphasis what I like to call the true second command since I feel there has been twelve but people do not wish to acknowledge this even though Christ Himself spoke of this as the greatest commandments. Anyway the second was to treat the neighbor as you would treat yourself. In the Golden Rule model: Do unto other as you would have others do unto you.
Would you degrade or belittle yourself?
Then why do you do so to others?
This goes against God when people do this and is seen as higher than the original Ten Commandments.
What is to follow is the section I have been draw to talk about though:
Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 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.
This first part is quite insightful when you really get into it.
First off he beseeches the reader and listener of this letter to walk in the Spirit. This being the Holy Spirit. To allow those partaking of the word to become aware of the difference between that which is the Spirit and thus inspired by God and which is the corrupt and carnal nature of humanity itself. Since all the New Testament were letters sent out to churches of believes in the first century after Christ’s crucifixion we must realize that those hearing and reading this message are Christians being attacked not only by others wishing to degrade and besmirch them, but from the temptations of base human nature. The human nature being seen in the word “flesh.”
It clearly states that when walking in the Holy Spirit it is complete opposite of human desires. He makes it clear that when following the Spirit it allows us to overcome the lusts and you “cannot do the things that ye would.”
In the next verse it round out the give elements of the overall discussion before it:
Galatians 5: 18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
Then Paul goes into detail on what is seen when living in the flesh:
Galatians 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 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.
So from the flesh, our human nature, these sins come from. So let’s break each one down so there is no doubt what these sins are and what they equate to in today’s world. Some will be straight forward while others will not be. Hopefully shedding light on the more confusing ones will help people out. In addition others sins are listed in Mark (7:20-23) and Corinthians (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).
NOTE: I was once asked why different sins listed and not the same are every time in the different books of the New Testament. At that time I did have an answer. Now I do. It is due to which sins were the most prevalent for these communities to which these letters and gospel were covering. Mark the Jewish community, Galatians to Galatia, Corinthians for the city of Corinth. Each having their own group of major sins which plagued them.
Adultery – moicheia – sex between a married person and someone who is not that person’s wife or husband
Fornication –porneia – harlotry, whoredom (including adultery and incest) consensual sexual intercourse between two persons not married to each other this would include also pornography.
Uncleanness – akatharsia – impurity (the quality), physically or morally, not innocent and good: morally pure
Lasciviousness – aselgeia – wantonness, lewdness (outrageous conduct, conduct shocking to public decency, a wanton violence)
Idolatry – eidololatreia – image-worship, worship or service of an image (an image is not limited to a statue, but sports and celebrities)
Witchcraft – pharmakeia – magic, sorcery, enchantment
Hatred – echthra – hostility; by implication, a reason for opposition:–enmity, hostility, alienation
Variance – eris – contention, debate, strife, wrangling
Emulations – zelos – fervent mind, indignation, jealousy, eagerness, zeal, enthusiasm, rivalry
Wrath – thumos – fierceness, indignation, an outburst of passion
Strife – eritheia – (the seeking of followers and adherents by means of gifts, the seeking of followers, hence) ambition, rivalry, self-seeking; a feud, faction
Seditions – dichostsis – division, dissension, standing apart
Heresies – hairesis – a self-chosen opinion, a religious or philosophical sect, discord or contention
Envyings – phthonos – envy, a grudge, spite
Murders – phonos – murder, slaughter, killing
Drunkenness – methe – deep drinking
Revellings – ko`mos – a feasting, reveling, carousal
So now as Paul continued, we look and see what the living of the Holy Spirit should appear to be.
Galatians 5: 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
Can’t add to this.