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2 Conflict between the Spirit & Flesh

3 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.

The flesh stands for the natural birth; The Spirit stands for the new spiritual birth.

5 19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.

The work of the flesh is manifested in four realms.

7 Sexual: immorality, impurity and debauchery. Religious: idolatry (good thing into god), witchcraft. Social: hatred, discord, jealousy, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, and envy. Drinking: drunkenness, orgies.

8 Two categories. Some of the sins are characteristic of the religious people (selfishness, envy, jealousy, factions). While other sins are more characteristic of non-religious people (immorality, drunkenness and orgies).

9 V21b, I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

10 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace; forbearance, kindness, goodness; faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. The fruit of the Spirit is a triad of virtues.

11 God ward virtues: love, joy and peace in Christ. Men ward virtues: patience (towards those who aggravate), kindness and goodness. Self ward virtues: faithfulness (reliability), gentleness (humble), and self-control.

12 The fruit tells us three other things. Christian growth is gradual. Christian growth is symmetrical. Christian growth is inevitable.

14 V16, So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh … 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law … 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Walking is not a passive. It requires active participation from us.

15 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. The victory is within reach and possible for every Christian; we need to decisively reject the old nature, and actively walk with the Spirit daily.

16 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. A conceited person is vain and insecure and he feels the need to prove his worth to himself and others.

17 When we feel superior we challenge somebody to a contest. When we feel inferior we envy those who have more talents and achievements

Phil 2:3, Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility count others better than yourselves. C.S. Lewis, “humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.”

19 The gospel gives Christians a self-image that is both bold and humble. The gospel humbles me before everyone because I am a sinner saved by grace. The gospel emboldens me because I am loved and accepted by Christ.

Whenever you are feeling defensive around someone, remind yourself the gospel. What you think of me is not the most important thing. Christ’s acceptance of me, not yours is my identity and my worth.

21 Whenever you find yourself looking down on someone, remind yourself the gospel. What I think of me is not the most important thing. I am just as much a sinner, and undeserving of Christ’s love and acceptance for me, as this person.

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