Tag: the flesh

What Are the Works of the Flesh?

works of the flesh

“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 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.”
–Galatians 5:19-21

Works of the flesh.

God’s Word cautions that the works of the flesh will continuously wage war against the Holy Spirit which takes up residence in each believer.

“For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.”
–Galatians 5:17

Paul the apostle, in Galatians 5, listed 17 SPECIFIC manifestations of the works of the flesh.

So WHAT, exactly, are these “works of the flesh“?

    1. Adultery |moiceia. Illicit [sexual] connection with a married person.
    2. Fornication | porneia. Illicit [sexual] connection between single or unmarried persons; yet often signifying adultery also.
    3. Uncleanness | akayapsia. Whatever is opposite to purity; probably meaning here, as in Ro 1:24; 2Co 12:21, unnatural practices; sodomy, bestiality.
    4. Lasciviousness | aselgeia. Whatever is contrary to chastity; all lewdness.
    5. Idolatry  | Worshipping of idols; frequenting idol festivals; all the rites of Bacchus, Venus, Priapus, &c., which were common among the Gentiles.
    6. Witchcraft | farmakeia, from farmakon, a drug or poison; because in all spells and enchantments, whether true or false, drugs were employed. As a drug, farmakon, might either be the means of removing an evil, or inflicting one, etymologists have derived it from feron akov, bringing ease, or feron acov, bringing pain. So spells and incantations were used sometimes for the restoration of the health; at others, for the destruction of an enemy.
    7. Hatred | ecyrai. Aversions and antipathies, when opposed to brotherly love and kindness.
    8. Variance | ereiv. Contentions, where the principle of hatred proceeds to open acts; hence contests, altercations, lawsuits, and disputes in general.
    9. Emulations | zhloi. Envies or emulations; that is strife to excel at the expense of another; lowering others to set up one’s self; unholy zeal, fervently adopting a bad cause, or supporting a good one by cruel means. Inquisitions, pretending to support true religion by torturing and burning alive those who both profess and practise it.
    10. Wrath | yumoi. Turbulent passions, disturbing the harmony of the mind, and producing domestic and civil broils and disquietudes.
    11. Strife | epiyeiai. Disputations, janglings, logomachics, or strife about words.
    12. Seditions | dicostasiai. Divisions into separate factions; parties, whether in the Church or state.
    13. Heresies | aireseiv. Factions; parties in the Church separating from communion with each other, and setting up altar against altar [when one challenges the Word of God]. The word, which is harmless in itself, is here used in a bad sense. In stead of aireseiv the Slavonic has skandala, scandals, offences or stumbling-blocks.
    14. Envyings |fyonoi. “Pain felt, and malignity conceived, at the sight of excellence or happiness.” A passion the most base and the least curable of all that disgrace or degrade the fallen soul.
    15. Murders |fonoi. Similarity of sound to the preceding seems to have suggested the word in this association. Murder signifies the destruction of human life; and as he who hates his brother in his heart is ready to take away his life, so he is called a murderer.
    16. Drunkenness |meyai. Taking more wine or any kind of inebriating liquor than is necessary for health; whatever unfits for public, domestic, or spiritual duties; even the cares of the world, when they intoxicate the mind.
    17. Revellings |kwmoi. Lascivious feastings, with obscene songs, music, etc.
    18. And such like | kai ta omoia toutoiv. All that proceeds from the evil passions of a fallen spirit, besides those above specified; and all that the law of God specifies and condemns.

–From Adam Clarke Commentary on Galatians 5

The preceding are the works of the flesh–as well as an explanation of what they might mean.

When listed, the works of the flesh sound positively WICKED.

However, in practice, such works function as GREAT TEMPTATIONS.

Even, at times, to the believer

The works of the flesh–which are manifested in the acts/behaviors listed above–are those things which actively war against the believer and attempt to drag him back to the cesspit from which he has escaped.

The Bible says that the believer–even with the assistance of the Holy Spirit–will not always emerge triumphant in his battle against these fleshly enemies. (The believer is still, after all, housed in flesh.)

Still, the believer is to strive; to contend; to fight; to war against these fleshly competitors, even if he is not always successful in his battles with the flesh.

Through it all, the believer will have the “fruit of the Spirit” to comfort him during these fights.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
–Galatians 5:22-23

DOES the reader feel repulsed or excited by the various works of the flesh?

Few are tempted by ALL of the works of the flesh.  IS there one specific works of the flesh which seems attractive to the reader?

It is not YET too late: there is still time to change direction (repent), place your faith for the future entirely on Jesus Christ and enter the kingdom of heaven.

DOES the reader believe he is saved?

Make Your Calling and Election Sure: End Times Survival

DOES the reader believe he is NOT saved?

Time is Running Out: Today is the Day of Salvation

THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST

“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. ”
–1 Corinthians 15:1-8

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
-–Romans 1:16

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RELATED ARTICLES

by Jeremiah Jameson
–with Mondo Frazier

image: ETPR/Kheat, FreeDigitalPhotos.net/ETPR

© Jeremiah J. Jameson and End Times Prophecy Report, 2012-18. © Mondo Frazier and End Times Prophecy Report, DBKP 2007-2018. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jeremiah J. Jameson and End Times Prophecy Report with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Link Disclaimer: inclusion of links to other blogs/websites is not necessarily an endorsement of all content posted in those blogs/website.

Related articles

THE FLESH: What is the Flesh?

The Flesh warreth against the Spirit

“For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.”
—Galatians 5:17

What is the Flesh?

How Does One Battle the Flesh?

In this Age’s battle for souls, the devil (Satan) has two strong allies: the world and the flesh.

When speaking of spiritual matters, The world refers to the corrupt, sinful system of values set up by men which is antagonistic to the aims and purposes of God.

The flesh refers to the suit of sin every human is encased in, which is a bundle of appetites and lusts and is antagonistic to the aims and purposes of God.

Many sinful activities spring from the flesh.

“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 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.”
—Galatians 5:19-21

All of the listed “works of the flesh” are on public display (and most have their defenders in the Corporate Media) in the World’s Most Christian Nation Ever!™

One of the ways one can tell the times in which we are living is the increase in the works of the flesh.

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”
—2 Timothy 3:1-5

The main reason works of the flesh become much more public over the works of the Spirit in the end times can be summed up in one sentence. This sentence was spoken by Jesus Christ.

“And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.”
—Matthew 24:12

Sign of the End Times: Wicked Men Being Evil in Public

The lost and the wicked continuously give in to the appetites of the flesh. When there is any resistance (say against gluttony), it is for cosmetic or selfish reasons.  Not because the activity is sinful.

But the born again believer is constantly at war with the flesh and the appetites and lusts of the flesh. The reason for this warfare is that the man who is a believer now has the help and comfort of God’s Holy Spirit to assist him in his battle against the flesh.

There is no giving in; there is no compromise. The ONLY remedy for the sins of the flesh is to mortify (kill) the flesh.

“Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:”
—Collosians 3:5

And how is one to mortify the flesh?

“And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.”
—Galatians 5:24

However, even with the Spirit’s aid, this does not mean that the believer wins every round against the flesh.

What it means is that when the believer stumbles, he is dragged resisting to such appetites, not running headlong to embrace them.

“For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.”
—Romans 7:15,18

The flesh and its lusts are a powerful ally of Satan and sin.

BUT, with the help of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, the believer can emerge victorious over the appetites of the carnal nature of the flesh.

“For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.”
—Romans 8:13

Are you warring against the flesh?

OR, have your surrendered and are being led around by your nose? Are you a slave to sin or are you free?

Fighting the flesh through purely human means is a losing proposition; the Holy Spirit can deliver men from the enslaving poisons of the flesh.

Help is available.

Time is Running Out: Today is the Day of Salvation

“But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:”
—2 Corinthians 4:3

THE GOSPEL

“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. ”
–1 Corinthians 15:1-8

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
-–Romans 1:16

​RELATED ARTICLES

by Jeremiah Jameson
–with Mondo Frazier

image: ETPR/Simon Howden, FreeDigitalPhotos.net/ETPR

© Jeremiah J. Jameson and End Times Prophecy Report, 2012-15. © Mondo Frazier and End Times Prophecy Report, DBKP 2007-2015. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jeremiah J. Jameson and End Times Prophecy Report with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Link Disclaimer: inclusion of links to other blogs/websites is not necessarily an endorsement of all content posted in those blogs/websites.