We spent several weeks going through the fruits of the spirit, and last week we began
the transition into the works of the flesh. In Galatians 5 these 2 sets of characteristics are
set against each other and contrasted, and today we’ll begin looking at these things and
breaking them down.
Now, it may or may not surprise you that as we get into these, we’re basically going to be
tying up a noose for our contemporary American culture. Something that struck me, is how
in the definitions for several of these words was the added context “often contrary to social
norms…” which would indicate the word was defined in a time of a generally moral society.
Unfortunately, that is NOT the case today. This list is essentially a list of social norms,
which will begin to highlight for those of us willing to take God’s Word seriously how
contrary we MUST be to our culture.
Not only worldly culture, but modern church culture et large also. Hopefully you wore flip-
flops this week, and when your toes get stepped on remember it’s God’s Word doing the
stepping.
We’ll cover things that I’ve heard people ask our position on before, so if you ever wondered
where FUEL stands on certain issues, the answer is we stand where God’s Word stands,
which means this might end up being my most offensive message yet, both to heathen and
self-proclaimed righteous alike. Ought to be fun.
Randall often says we’re not afraid to slay golden calves, and bet ur britches we’re setting
up a bunch to knock down now.
As a note, this isn’t just something to do for the sake of being “edgy…” When God calls
Ezekiel to be a prophet, in Chapter 3 there’s a particular warning He gives Ezekiel.
God warns him that if he fails to let the wicked know about God’s warning, they’ll die in
their sin and bear the consequences, but God will require their blood of Ezekiel. However,
if Ezekiel warns them about God’s standard, and they don’t listen, they’ll die all the same
but at least Ezekiel would have delivered his own soul.You see, we have an obligation to be faithful to God’s Word, and unashamed of it, and to
give the warning. The burden for those who teach is high, and we here at Fuel fear God, not
men.
This will also be one of those rare instances where I’m not pulling out a ton of support
scriptures as we go. Unlike many of the spiritual things we’re trying to understand, these
aren’t so sophisticated any mystical where we need to hunt down other uses to get an idea
about what its saying.
In fact, most other occurrences of these terms in scripture are, like Galatians 5, in list form
and in the same context of “don’t do these or else…”
Examples would be 2 Cor 12, Eph 5, Col 3, Romans 1, Acts 15, Matt 15, Mark 7, and so on.
The thrust of today will be understanding the breadth of what these sinful fruits are, so that
we can know to avoid them and repent for those of which we are partakers now; because I
can almost guarantee we’ll find ourselves somewhere in this list, and this is a call to
repentance.
Getting started then, our source text is, as it has been, Galatians 5. We’ll read verses 16-21
to get us going, and then we’ll focus in on verse 19 for breakdown today.
Gal 5:16-21 ESV - 16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the
flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are
against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things
you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the
works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery,
enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness,
orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such
things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Quite the warning there. I doubt anyone here desires NOT to inherit the Kingdom of God,
but I guarantee every one of us has, is, and/or will struggle in at least one of these areas;
probably several.
Something Paul says in the middle there, is that the Spirit is there to keep you from doing
things you WANT to do… it’s a battle, it’s not easy, but it’s critically important that we
engage this battle and actively fight against these things by actively cultivating the fruits of
the Spirit we’d discussed previously.Now, important point before we dig in. As you find yourself in this list, don’t immediately
conclude that you’re going to lose your salvation for it. There are casualties in battle, and
for us in this battle it often means reaping the consequences for our failings, but so long as
we’re striving to align with God, and feel the proper remorse for our failings, His Grace is
sufficient and we’ll make progress.
The last one we’ll cover today, however, would be an alarming one notice in ones self, and
we’ll talk about more when we get there.
Now, our list for today, from verse 19. This is one of those instances where we’ll look at the
ESV to get started, but I’ll quickly jump over to the King James for one critical reason. The
New King James works here too, if you want words more familiar to your ears, and in fact I’ll
show all 3 as we get started.
Gal 5:19 ESV - Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity,
sensuality,
Gal 5:19 KJV - Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]; Adultery,
fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Gal 5:19 NKJV - 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication,
uncleanness, lewdness,
Notice the difference? There’s actually 4 listed in most Greek manuscripts, but the
particular manuscript from which the ESV was translated is shortened. This isn’t one of
those more offensive omissions, wherein they remove whole verses, particularly because
the first word they omitted does essentially get covered by the second, but as a strict purity
check I’m sticking with the more complete versions on this one.
The first of these then, is Adultery. As much as we can often glean additional insight from
looking into these words from a Greek cultural sense, this one’s just as concise in English.
You cannot have sex with someone else’s spouse. Period, end of story.
Consent doesn’t matter, context doesn’t matter, if you show up at a party and they say to
throw your keys in the bowl…. Leave that party.
Now my first thought here was to look back at Matthew 5 where Jesus expands on the idea
of adultery in the Levitical law pertaining to more than the mere act, but in this case Paul is
using a restrictive sense of the word which solely implies the act. But fear not, the list will
be all-encompassing.
Anyone need more clarification on that one? Hopefully not.
2nd in our list is Fornication. This will take some more time to cover.This is the Greek word “porneia” which is where the ESV list begins when it says “sexual
immorality.” No surprise this is also where we get our English word “pornography,” which is
the depiction of things described by “porneia” for distribution and consumption.
As a measure of how far our modern culture has fallen from being a moral one, this
forbidden work of the flesh is now, globally, a roughly 100 billion dollar a year industry.
But what all does this entail? One point to make up front, is that while these words do get
used idiomatically in other passages to denote a spiritual sense, this list, in context, is
specifically speaking to WORKS of the FLESH, and are entirely speaking to how these
things are taking place, manifesting in our actions, thoughts, and intentions.
Therefore, you have no excuse in permitting such things by saying things like “oh you’re
being legalistic,” or “we’re not bound by law.” If you really dig into it, Jesus only RAISED the
bar for how we should act, not lower it. The main point about not being under the law is
that the physical judicial sense of the Levitical law isn’t in place, and the sacrificial sense
was complete in Jesus. The standard for how we live, however, did NOT decrease, it
increased.
That being said, fornication then includes:
Fornication – Sex outside of marriage, homosexuality, lesbianism, bestiality, incest, or sex
with someone who divorced for unlawful (God’s Laws) reasons.
Most of these, are again, fairly self-explanatory.
- If you’re single, wait until marriage.
- There are only 2 genders, and you’re only allowed to have relations with the opposite of
yours, and ONLY in the context of covenantal marriage.
- Humans are not animals, despite what your science class taught you, we’re a distinct
creation and you cannot marry an animal.
- There became a point at which it was no longer lawful to marry a close relative. remains true today.
That
The divorce part is complex. I will highlight the main points here, but I suggest if you’re
needing more on this to go to youtube, search for Mike Winger, and watch his series on
divorce. It’s the most thoughtful and comprehensive deep dive on the topic I’ve seen.
In both the Old and New testaments there are, despite what God would want for us,
tolerable reasons for divorce. In most cases, one partner was the offender and the other
was offended.If you just decide to get divorced, for some benign reason like “we just don’t love each other
anymore…” both of you commit adultery if you ever decide to remarry.
The most clearly defined justifiable reason for divorce is adultery. If you were cheated on,
divorce, and remarry, you’re ok.
IF you cheated, end up divorced, and remarry, the person you remarry commits adultery
with you.
Now, hear me out, IN EVERY CASE of marital infidelity, it is God’s desire that, as He has
forgiven us we should work to forgive each other and repair that relationship, maintain the
covenant.
The extent to which we’ve been forgiven so far exceeds the extent to which we must forgive
the person who defiled that covenant. Since Jesus offered that to us, we must offer it
likewise to them.
It’s hard, extremely hard, but not impossible. God can absolutely redeem that marriage,
and He wants to.
The fact of the matter is, many of us fail in that regard. This is where we have to lean on
God’s grace, heavily.
If you’ve failed in this regard, and both you and your former spouse are single, God’s desire
is for reconciliation. In the same way we were estranged from God, having been fornicators
with false gods, yet He pursued us to forgive us and bring us back into relationship with
Him, we are to follow that example.
If you had been party to any of the forbidden types of divorce, remarriage, adultery, etc… it
is NOT now Ok to divorce the current spouse and seek reconciliation with the prior. You
have created a new covenant, albeit inappropriately, but you must keep it, and allow God to
make it clean. Confess your sin, and let the blood of Jesus cleanse you and your marriage
of all unrighteousness.
God’s grace, and the powerful forgiveness available in Christ’s blood can redeem your
situation, and you can move forward with that new partner, with Jesus.
All of these principles we just spoke about, however, only apply to normal male-female
marriage. If you’re engaged in homosexuality, pretending to be married, you’re not married
in the eyes of God. You’re committing fornication and are absolutely commanded to break
off that false marriage and repent.
No government on earth can overwrite or redefine the absolute and permanent laws of
God. Forgiveness requires repentance, and you can be forgiven for the lifestyle you’reliving, but you must repent and allow Jesus to restore in you a right mind, right affections,
and right relationships.
The same would apply to incestual relationships, or bestiality.
The last thing, and depending on the audience, equally or more “offensive” than what we
just covered, which is implied in the Greek word for “fornication” is probably the most
rampant form of it in our modern culture.
You thought roughly 50% divorce rates were bad, this next one is visible everywhere from
school yards to the $100B porn industry we mentioned, and everywhere in between.
The root of the word “porneia” indicates setting yourself up to be the object of lust for
others.
This is the antitheses of modesty. How we dress, make ourselves up, present ourselves,
the pictures we post, etc… if what we’re doing is in any way intended to invoke lustful
desires in anyone else, we’re committing fornication.
This is so common that I think we’re desensitized to it almost entirely. So many clothing
companies are designing their products for this express purpose, to make us appear
sexually desirable. We might not even be considering what we’re buying or putting on, but
ignorance is no excuse.
Mind you, this is publicly. If you’re married, in the privacy of that marriage, go ham. Just
leave the provocative adornments at home so as not to entice others who are not your
spouse.
Public ally then, It is imperative for us, as Christians, to be mindful of how we dress, how we
adorn ourselves; to consciously present in a way that will NOT provoke others to lust after
us. Because, if we don’t, it isn’t just the other person committing fornication by lusting,
we’re committing fornication by being provocative.
Standards of modesty MUST be applied by anyone professing to be a Christian.
Moving on to our 3rd entry on the list today, Uncleanness.
This is not like when your mom tells you to wash your hands before supper, or the way you
would be when you just got done digging a trench somewhere.
There was a Levitical sense which, like circumcision, is moot now. The Spiritual and
character sense of uncleanness however, is very much in view.
So, not including Levitical uncleanness, the Greek word “ak-ath-ar-see-ah” refers to:Being lustful
Overly Luxurious – which is to say flaunting wealth
Being reckless, i.e. impulsive; not thoughtful about one’s actions
Being wasteful, particularly the over extravagant use of the resources God’s blessed you
with for personally elevating yourself
Doing any otherwise good thing with improper motives.
This word for uncleanness then is digging into what Jesus was talking about in the sermon
on the mount, the intentions of the heart. People had been overly concerned with simply
moderating their actions, but their hearts and minds were corrupt. Jesus had made the
point that God’s concern is for your heart, and out of the abundance of your heart, the
mouth speaks.
Whatever you DO, begins in your HEART. When we are indwelled with the spirit a
transaction takes place.
In Ezekiel chapter 36, God is giving a promise for what will happen in the end days, as He
reconciles Israel back to Himself. It speaks to them finally receiving Jesus as their Messiah
and describes what happens when salvation comes.
Eze 36:26 KJV - 26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I
will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
Our hearts are hardened, like stone, determined to sin and profane God. Becoming
Christians, we receive the Holy Spirit, and shed the heart of stone for a new heart, which
can be fertile ground from which the fruit of the Spirit can grow.
Therefore, like any good farmer we must inspect our hearts, and allow the Holy Spirit to
convict us as weeds grown amongst the good fruit. Such things must be plucked up and
cast into the fire, so as not to choke out the Spiritual fruit being grown.
So often Randall and I have spoken about not only doing well, but for the right reasons.
Uncleanness really boils down to selfish desires which satiate the flesh, and actions which
serve ourselves, rather than serving others.
If presented with the option to either benefit yourself and the expense of someone else, or
sacrifice for the sake of someone else, the right answer is ALWAYS to sacrifice.
Because Jesus has made the ultimate sacrifice for us, we don’t need anything else. Our job
now is to live as an example of that to others, ultimately so we can point to Jesus.While the primary meaning comes down to motives, there are a few tangible things being
discussed; lust being well encapsulated already through fornication, but how we treat
wealth is on the table still.
Jesus uses this word for uncleanness in Matthew 23 to describe, well I’ll let Him tell you.
Mat 23:27 KJV - 27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto
whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead
[men's] bones, and of all uncleanness.[G167]
The idea of flaunting your wealth to elevate someone’s opinion of you like the Scribes and
the Pharisees did, would fall under this fleshly fruit of uncleanness. Similarly we see it
linked to greed in Ephesians 4.
Eph 4:17-19 KJV - 17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not
as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, 18 Having the understanding darkened,
being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the
blindness of their heart: 19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto
lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
Generosity, being one of the “Kingdom Keys” Randal talks about, is something to which
we’re all called. The more resources God’s blessed you with, the more you’re equipped to
show generosity to others. A clean heart prefers to bless others rather than elevating
yourself.
An unclean heart boasts in it’s wealth, and seeks to elevate itself among men to appear
more important, significant; wanting the praise and approval of men.
Jesus said:
Mat 10:22 KJV - 22 And ye shall be hated of all [men] for my name's sake: but he that
endureth to the end shall be saved.
We’ll need endurance for how the world thinks of us and treats us. Endurance, because if
we follow Jesus, if we lead CLEAN lives, we’ll be hated of the world.
If we’re seeking to find favor in the world, to be loved by the world, we are contrary to how
Jesus called us and have compromised in our hearts and become unclean.
The last one. Lasciviousness. Particularly diabolical.
I’ll give you the list, but for the sake of time we’re really going to focus on what may be the
deadliest aspect of this work of the flesh.
Lasciviousness, the Greek word here being (es-e’l-gai-a) “aselgeia” includes-Unbridled Lust -Excess -Licentiousness -Lasciviousness -Wantonness -
Outrageousness -Shamelessness -Insolence
This word characterizes the throwing off of constraint, ignoring conscience with regards to
lust, sexual acts, wealth, one’s demeanor, respect for authority, how we speak, or acting in
reckless, malicious, and/or intentional disregard for rights, property, or safety of others.
Ultimately, this is a trait of lacking self-control. It is the freedom from inhibition and worry.
Now, I said up front that we’re going to find parts of this list which apply to us, and the
process of sanctification is cleaning us up making us more like Christ. It’s not that its OK to
struggle with these, rather it’s forgiven, so we can identify with our salvation, and not with
our sin.
This leads us to becoming greater in fruits of the Spirit, and shedding the works of the flesh.
Basically, saved people still struggle with things on this list, until we throw off the flesh
permanently.
This last one today, however, tread carefully. If you have the Holy Spirit in you, it will convict
you of your sin, and push you towards repentance. If you’re saved, you have the Holy Spirit
in you.
If you are characterized by lasciviousness… you’ve subdued your conscience. You don’t
care about self-control. This is having a hard heart of stone, being unconcerned with your
sin.
It’s hard to say if a saved person can have this trait, because it runs contrary to what the
spirit does in us. I’ve thought for some time now the way we’ve cheapened the gospel, too
many people recited their incantation of salvation but continued to walk in death..
deceiving themselves.
The end of this list says “shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” This tells me something in
this list is the disqualifying factor, because certain pieces are struggles for us all and things
for which we’ve been forgiven.
This one, however, if you notice you don’t care about your sin… you need to seriously
consider your position regarding Jesus Christ.
Sin should bother you, and if it doesn’t you need to work out your salvation in fear and
trembling, surrendering to Jesus and pleading with Him to rescue you from your hardened
heart.
Jude warns us this would creep into the church, and what it means.Jde 1:3-4 KJV - 3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common
salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort [you] that ye should earnestly
contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. 4 For there are certain men
crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men,
turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our
Lord Jesus Christ.
The heart of lasciviousness is one which denies the only Lord God, and denies Jesus.
If you’re free from inhibition and worry, you might also be free to justify yourself before the
throne, apart from Jesus. Not recommended.
So long as you draw breath, however, it isn’t too late. Confess your sins and He is faithful to
forgive them, and cleanse you of all unrighteousness. Don’t wait.
Christian or not, there is nothing gained by continuing in these works of the flesh, only lost.
While the flesh desires these things, to “feel good” in the moment, you’re only storing up for
yourself death, pain, and suffering.
Whether temporary as you reap the consequences of your bad decisions, or permanently if
you deny the cross and choose the flesh instead.
If you’re uncertain, please talk to one of the leaders here.
None of us got to where we are because we’ve been exempt from these things, we all
struggle too. The difference ultimately comes down to Jesus, and the degree to which
we’ve placed our trust in Him.
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