THE WORKS
OF THE FLESH
T H E B O N D A G E O F S P I R I T U A L F R U I T
Text: Galatians 5:19-21
G A L AT I A N S C H A P T E R 5
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery,
fornication, uncleanness, 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.
INTRODUCTION
• The Bible is full of contrasts.
• They are put there very plainly so that we can understand
differences between one truth and another, or the truth versus a
deception.
• If we study the nine aspects of the fruit of the Spirit, it is much
better to first study and learn what prevents us from bearing
these aspects of the fruit of the Spirit.
• The works of the flesh create a bondage stronger than any
prison, for they prevent us from any meaningful manifestation
of the fruit of the Spirit.
INTRODUCTION
• In other words, when we allow these works to abundantly exist in our lives, we
cannot manifest love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
meekness, and temperance the way we are supposed to.
• In fact, it may be impossible to manifest them even a little.
• It’s not as if we don’t know what the works of the flesh are.
• The law has been given to show us what they are.
• Only when we follow the command of Galatians 5:16 will we be able to break free
from the bondage of spiritual fruit, the works of the flesh.
• Sin is divided in three categories: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the
pride of life.
• By looking at this list Paul gives that there are three basic divisions in the works of
the flesh, and that is what I want to show you now.
G A L AT I A N S C H A P T E R 5
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery,
fornication, uncleanness, 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.
I. SEXUAL SINS
• it is interesting Paul first lists four works of the flesh relating to sex, and
this is no accident.
• We are sexual beings.
• God created us that way, and there is nothing wrong with that aspect
of our creation unless we use it in one of these four manifestations of
the works of the flesh relating to sex.
A. Adultery—sex outside of marriage
B. Fornication—sex before marriage
C. Uncleanness—any other sexual deviation (homosexuality,
lesbianism, pornography, for example)
D. Lasciviousness—uncontrolled, uninhibited sexual excess, lewdness
(Taglog: kahalayan, kalibugan)
G A L AT I A N S C H A P T E R 5
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery,
fornication, uncleanness, 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.
I I . S ATA N I C S I N S
These sins relate directly to Satan and his demons
A. Idolatry—putting anything before our relationship
with God
B. Witchcraft—includes drug abuse (because of Greek
word root here), any dabbling in occult practices
C. Heresies—false doctrines and teachings, cults,
erroneous religions
G A L AT I A N S C H A P T E R 5
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery,
fornication, uncleanness, 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.
III. SOCIAL SINS
These sins relate to our behavior in society in general
A. Hatred—a dislike for another
B. Variance—being argumentative
C. Emulation—unhealthy desire for superiority
D. Wrath—vengeance, desire to get even
E. Strife—angry contention
F. Sedition—raising commotion
G. Envying—jealousy or unhappiness with another’s benefits,
blessings, etc.
H. Murder—premeditated hatred or murder as well as the act
I. Drunkenness—overpowered by alcohol
J. Reveling —partying, carousing in evil ways
G A L AT I A N S C H A P T E R 5
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery,
fornication, uncleanness, 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.
CONCLUSION
• What does the writer mean, then, when
he says, “They which do such things
shall not inherit the kingdom of God”?
• Is he talking about any one time or
infrequent occurrence of such an act?
CONCLUSION
• If he were, I doubt any of us would have hope.
• No, he is focusing on a way of life, a practice, a condition of behavior in a
person here.
• Granted, some of these are harder to draw a line about than others.
• But these are all works of the flesh that, as they get stronger and more
frequent, will place us in bondage from the bearing of the fruit of the Spirit.
• The better we can identify them and control them, the more the fruit of the
Spirit can grow and be evident above the works of the flesh.
• Of course, our fruit will never be completely perfect, but that does not
excuse us from cultivating, watering, and fertilizing it with the Word of
God, which will ultimately bring us closer and closer to that fruit of the
Spirit against such there is no law.
