What was Paul talking about when he wrote about works of the flesh? He gave a list of sins we are to avoid. In this devotion, the first of three discussing that lists, looks at sexual sins.
Nuggets
- Jesus expanded adultery from the physical act to the wanna-be act.
- The key words in the discussion of fornication, to me, are moderation, self-control, sound moral judgment, and purity.
- The promotion of others feeling the lustful desires is just as much a sin as feeling inappropriate desires.
- The Bible specifically — unequivocally — forbids homosexuality.
To read devotions in the Walk in the Spirit series, click the appropriate button below.
I was all set to give this devotion the title What Are the Sins of the Flesh? That is the terminology I grew up with – sins of the flesh. I googled it and got a whole bunch of verses under the heading sins of the flesh.
Only two of them were discussing sins. After that, the verses focused on the flesh. We have said that the flesh is our human nature, but that doesn’t tell us what to avoid.
The two verses really didn’t call it sin, though. They talked about lust of the flesh (I Jn 2: 16 NIV, KJV); desires of the flesh (I Jn 2: 16 ESV); acts of the flesh (Gal. 5: 19 NIV); and works of the flesh (Gal. 5: 19 ESV, KJV). The closest I got was desires of your sinful nature (Gal. 5: 19 NLT).
So, we have lust/desires and acts/works. My vote is for translations indicating lust/desires.
Does it make a difference? Did Shakespeare have it right? Would a rose by any other name .…?
Let's Put It into Context
Our flesh is considered naturally corrupt because it pursues what is pleasing, not necessarily what God commands. It is the root of sin and evil.
My definition of sin is when we disobey God and break one of His laws and commandments. The Holman Bible Dictionary says, “Actions by which humans rebel against God, miss His purpose for their life, and surrender to the power of evil rather than to God.”
I have described works as generally being considered the good things we do for others. The Holman Bible Dictionary says, “Deeds leading to planned results, both by God and people.”
To read a related devotion, click the appropriate button below.
Works are good things. Sins are bad things. So, what is Galatians 5: 19-21 talking about?
A List of What?
“Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar” (Gal. 5: 19-21 CSB)
Hmmm. It sure looks like a list of sins to me. Why don’t we look into these more closely to see what makes them sins? It is going to take us a couple of devotions to look at all of these.
Sexual Sins
Paul warns us to “Flee sexual immorality! Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the person who is sexually immoral sins against his own body” (I Cor. 6: 18 CSB).
In Galatians 5: 19, the Christian Standard Bible translates it as “… sexual immorality … [and] promiscuity.” To me, those are broad definitions. Let’s see if we can break it up some more.
Adultery
Holman Bible Dictionary defines adultery as is the act of unfaithfulness in marriage that occurs when one of the marriage partners voluntarily engages in sexual intercourse with a person of the opposite sex other than the marriage partner.
The law regarding adultery is found in Exodus 20: 14. “You must not commit adultery” (Ex. 20: 14 NLT). Yep. That makes it one of the Ten Commandments.
Punishment for those who commit adultery is in Leviticus 20: 10. “If a man commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife, both the man and the woman who have committed adultery must be put to death” (Lev. 20: 10 NLT). This is also in Deuteronomy 22: 22.
Jesus expanded it from the physical act to the wanna-be act. “But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Mt. 5: 28 NLT).
This shows us how important faithfulness in marriage is to God. 1) Don’t even think about cheating. 2) Punishment is meant for both parties. 3) Marriage is a life-time commitment (Mt. 19: 9, Lk. 16: 18, Rom. 7: 2-3).
Fornication
Fornication — that is an old-time word. The definition of fornication, according to the Holman Bible Dictionary, is “various acts of sexual immorality, especially being a harlot or whore.”
Silvester had this to say about fornicators. “The ‘fornicators’ are there also, those sinners against the laws of moral purity which teach us to keep our bodies in temperance, soberness, and chastity.”
We just talked about temperance. Temperance means, according to Merriam-Webster, “moderation in action, thought, or feeling — restraint.” We were talking self-control. So, this would be controlling our bodies.
Soberness is interesting. The Holman Bible Dictionary defines sober as “characterized by self-control, seriousness, and sound moral judgment.”
Chastity means “abstention from unlawful sexual intercourse.” I also like its third definition: “purity in conduct and intention.”
Regroup. The key words in all of that, to me, are moderation, self-control, sound moral judgment, and purity.
I am wondering if it was a broad definition to counter the culture at the time. Remember, temple prostitution was a biggy in the Gentile cities.
Jesus did preach against sexual immorality. “And then he added, ‘It is what comes from inside that defiles you. For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder’” (Mk. 7: 20-21 NLT).
Defile means “to make ritually unclean.” Cleanness had to do with “… the establishing and preservation of holiness in the Israelite community.”
Sexual immorality does not lead to holiness (Eph. 5: 3). It leads to God’s anger and judgment. God calls us to be saints — holy and pure.
Lasciviousness
Okay, it is olden-times word day. Lasciviousness means an unbridled expression of sexual urges. “They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity” (Eph. 4: 19 NLT).
We would probably just call it lust today. We said a couple of devotions ago that most of the versions I use translate lust as desires.
There is one verse that I found that really gives a good example of how we promote lust. “A woman came to meet him dressed like a prostitute, having a hidden agenda” (Prov. 7: 10 CSB).
The promotion of others feeling the lustful desires is just as much a sin as feeling inappropriate desires. We know that those desires are fueled by revealing clothing, seductive gestures, and inappropriate discussions.
Homosexuality
I have read statements from the Bible doesn’t address homosexuality to Jesus doesn’t care who we love. Homosexuality is “sexual preference for and sexual behavior between members of the same sex, considered to be an immoral life-style and behavior pattern throughout the biblical revelation” (Holman Bible Dictionary).
Yes, specifically — unequivocally — forbids homosexuality. “If a man practices homosexuality, having sex with another man as with a woman, both men have committed a detestable act. They must both be put to death, for they are guilty of a capital offense” (Lev. 20: 13 NLT).
No, the New Testament did not rewrite that. “Don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit God’s kingdom? Do not be deceived: No sexually immoral people, idolaters, adulterers, or males who have sex with males, no thieves, greedy people, drunkards, verbally abusive people, or swindlers will inherit God’s kingdom” (I Cor. 6: 9-10 CSB).
Making the Connections
Bottom line of all this: God expects marriage to be between a man and a woman (Gen. 2: 24). He also expects sex only to take place within the marriage (Heb. 13: 4).
I can kind of see what the translations use the word works. At least with this list, these are actions. Actions are the product of our intention to accomplish something (anything from run to cook a meal).
This list is the product of our giving in to Satan’s promptings instead of the Holy Spirit’s promptings.
How Do We Apply This?
That generally means we have to watch our lustful desires. We have to avoid situations that tempt us. That may be avoiding certain people or certain movies/pictures etc.
When we get into situations, we need to think about the consequences. We need to really think about what we are doing. Most of all, we have to remain holy.
Gracious Lord. You call us to be holy. You call us to follow Your laws and commandments. Help us to resist our lustful desire and remain clean in Your eyes. Amen.
What do you think?
Leave me a comment below (about this or anything else) or head over to my Facebook group for some interactive discussion.
If you don’t understand something and would like further clarification, please contact me.
If you have not signed up for the email daily or weekly providing the link to the devotions and the newsletter, do so below.
If God has used this devotion to speak with you, consider sharing it on social media.
Pingback: What Are Moral Sins? – Seeking God with Elaine
Pingback: How Do We Let the Spirit Lead? – Seeking God with Elaine
Pingback: The Battle Between Flesh and Spirit – Seeking God with Elaine
Pingback: What Does It Mean to Walk in the Spirit? – Seeking God with Elaine
Pingback: Paul’s Take on Children of God – Seeking God with Elaine
Pingback: Does God Really Forgive and Forget Sin? – Seeking God with Elaine
Pingback: How Are We Debtors to God? – Seeking God with Elaine
Pingback: The Rewards of Faithfulness – Seeking God with Elaine
Pingback: What Is Chastity to Disciples of Christ? – Seeking God with Elaine