Written by Chad Dollahite
The majority of the New Testament writings of Paul the apostle were addressed to Christians. In Galatians, Paul reminded the brethren of their liberty in Jesus Christ (Galatians 2:4; 5:1), but he also told them that liberty is not license. “For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another” (Galatians 5:13).
Having reminded Christians that liberty is not license to sin, Paul’s writes, “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16). Walking in the Spirit is indicative of living according to the Spirit’s teaching (see also Galatians 5:25; Romans 8:1,4). To walk according to the Spirit’s teaching is to walk according to Scripture, since Jesus said, “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63). A person’s “walk” indicates how he lives his life. This definition is important, for one walking in the Spirit may stumble and sin, but he maintains his walk with God and is eager to repent whenever he realizes he has sinned. One who walks in sin, however, has no hope unless and until he repents and again walks with God.
One of the greatest enemies of a Christian’s walking in the Spirit is the temptation of this world through “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” (1 John 2:16). In Galatians 5:19-21, Paul lists what he calls “the works of the flesh” and says God expects His children to avoid these sins. In fact, the Spirit says through Paul, “Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:21). The emphasis is again upon one’s walk (or habit) and whether such is with God or in sin.
While a detailed discussion/study of each individual sin mentioned in Galatians 5:19-21 is beyond the scope of this article, it is notable how the sins are grouped into four categories: (1) sensual sins (adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness); (2) sins of an idolatrous nature (idolatry, sorcery); sins involved in interpersonal relationships (hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders); and (4) sins involving alcohol (drunkenness, revelries). The Spirit-inspired phrase “and the like” makes it clear this list is not meant to be exhaustive, but representative of the fleshly works God expects Christians to avoid.
Christians are not perfect and stumble from time to time, but in the words of Galatians 5:19-21, God makes it abundantly clear: no Christian can live in these sins and enter into the heavenly realm.