“Deeds of the Flesh, or Fruit of the Spirit?”

Galatians 5:19-25

19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,

20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions,

21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

23 gentleness, self-control.  Against such things there is no law.

24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk in step with the Spirit. 

 

Quotes:

“What Paul means by ‘kingdom’ is God’s final kingdom—the place of His eternal rule, namely, heaven.  To inherit God’s kingdom is to come into its rightful possession by receiving the free gift of eternal life.”  (Dr. Philip Graham Ryken)

 

“The first great secret of holiness lies in the degree and the decisiveness of our repentance.  If besetting sins persistently plague us, it is either because we have never truly repented, or because, having repented, we have not maintained our repentance.  It is as if, having nailed our old nature to the cross, we keep wistfully returning to the scene of its execution.  We begin to fondle it, to caress it, to long for its release, even to try to take it down again from the cross.  We need to learn to leave it there.”  (John R. W. Stott)