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Paul makes no exhaustive list of the works of the flesh--he does not say `The works
of the flesh are manifest, which are--" but atina `such as are'. In Rom. 9: 4 he uses
the word in the sense who are of such a kind that whatever else they may or may not be,
they are Israelites. These works of the flesh will be representative, and were the Apostle
alive today he would probably omit some and add others. We must therefore not dwell
so much upon each individual work of the flesh, as to observe what sort of act it is,
consequently we discover upon examination that the works of the flesh to fall into
groups:
(1) Sensual passions. (2) Superstitions. (3) Disruptive movements. (4) Excesses.
The inclusion of sensual passions and idolatry may sound strange to our ears, but the
pagan world had too long looked upon such practices with condonement for the Galatians
to have the same moral outlook as a believer who has never had contact with the awful
degradation of idolatry. The works of the flesh that come under the third heading
however, are, alas, never long absent from Christian testimony.
"Hatred, variance, emulation, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings."
"Hatred", in this, we have the negation of love, and from this lack of true charity, all
the rest spring.
"Variance and emulations." "Here we have strife and rivalry, leading to exhibition of
wrath and `factious cabals' a stronger development of `emulations'; and at `sedition and
heresy' we reach the point where the contending parties separate; such separation is
either temporary dichostasia (seditions or divisions), or permanent aireseis (sects,
heresies)" (Lightfoot). After adding murder, drunkenness and revellings to the dreadful
list the Apostle said: "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" (Gal. 5: 21).
Salvation is not at stake, but all that goes to make up the conception of `inheriting the
kingdom of God' is. This most solemn warning is as applicable to the church of the
Mystery as it was to the church of the Galatians.
"Walk in love . . . . . but fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be
once named among you, as becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor
jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no
whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolator, hath any
inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God" (Eph. 5: 2-5).
As in Eph. 5:, Paul passes from these works of the flesh, to speak of the `fruit of the
spirit' (Eph. 5: 9) so he does here in Gal. 5:: he says, "Be not deceived, God is not
mocked".
The fruit of the spirit is a lovely cluster, a refreshing subject after the uncleanness of
the previous list. If the works of the flesh commenced with `hatred' the fruit of the spirit
commences with `love'. Those who produce this fruit are in an enviable position
"Against such there is no law". After urging the believer to walk in the same sphere as
he now lives, namely in the spirit, the Apostle makes one more reference to the evils