Galatians 5:16-18

Victory over the flesh Galatians 5:16-26

TEXT 5:16-18

(16) But I say, Walk by the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. (17) For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are contrary the one to the other; that ye may not do the things that ye would. (18) But if ye are led by the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

PARAPHRASE 5:16-18

16 I command then, Walk according to the dictates of your spiritual part, and so you will not gratify the lust of your animal nature; particularly, ye will not gratify the sinful passions of envy, malice, anger, revenge.

17 Ye have great need to subdue the lusts of the flesh: For the flesh strongly inclines men to act contrary to reason and conscience; and these principles are often contrary to one another, so that he cannot always do the things which your better part inclines you to do. See Romans 7:18.

18 But, to encourage you to subdue the flesh, know, that if ye habitually follow the dictates of your better part, ye are not under the curse of any law, so as to be punished.

COMMENT 5:16

But I say, Walk by the Spirit

1.

MacKnight uses spirit to indicate man's spiritual partthe mind and conscience enlightened by the doctrines and precepts of the gospel revealed by the Spirit.

2.

Walking in the Spirit places one above carnal ordinances.

ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh

1.

Fulfill means to satisfy.

2.

Satisfaction is the desire of the carnal man.

a.

the mind of the flesh is enmity against God. Romans 8:7

b.

Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may spend it in your pleasures. James 4:3

COMMENT 5:17

For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit

1.

The definition of lust.

a.

Unholy desire.

b.

Unlawful desire.

2.

The working of lust.

a.

It burns. Burned in their lusts one toward another. Romans 1:27

b.

It draws away. Each man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed. James 1:14

c.

It brings forth sin. Then the lust when it hath conceived, beareth sin: and the sin, when it is full-grown bringeth forth death.

d.

It is defilement. But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of defilement and despise dominion. 2 Peter 2:10

e.

It allures. entice in the lusts. 2 Peter 2:18

3.

The end of lust.

a.

Passes away with the world. 1 John 2:17

b.

Brings death. James 1:15

and the Spirit against the flesh

1.

These beastly traits God is against.

2.

The Spirit seeks to constrain the flesh.

these are contrary the one to the other

1.

They do not attract, but repel.

2.

Man's being is always locked in mortal combat.

3.

A saint is not a piece of wood that has no feeling but is a combination that is in constant struggle.

that ye may not do the things that ye would

1.

Paul expresses it in Romans completely. See Romans 7:15.

2.

The spiritual person is aware of the conflict within, while fleshly people do not care.

COMMENT 5:18

But if ye are led by the Spirit, ye are not under the law

1.

A wise person would select the Spirit in place of the lust.

a.

No doubt law here refers to law of sin, not the Mosaic law.

b.

It is used in connection with a discussion of sin.

2.

Now if you make this wise choice, your choice frees you.

STUDY QUESTIONS 5:16-18

694.

Is this exhortation to produce fruit of the Spirit?

695.

How can a person walk in the Spirit when he walks in a world of flesh?

696.

Can a person be so full of goodness that there is no room or time for evil?

697.

Can you walk in the Spirit and walk with the devil's crowd?

698.

What does the word fulfill mean? Will a man get ulcers frustrating the flesh?

699.

How can a person have the mind of Christ instead of a carnal mind?

700.

What does Paul mean by flesh?

701.

Define the word lust.

702.

How do we know lawful desires and unlawful ones?

703.

What is the end of lust?

704.

Does he mean that the Spirit lusts too?

705.

Define contrary.

706.

Are men aware of this awful combat within them constantly?

707.

Is the saint more conscious of the warfare than the worldly person?

708.

Describe a life led by the Spirit.

709.

If we are led by God's Spirit, are we leading our own lives?

710.

What law is meantlaw of Moses or of sin?