Works of the Flesh vs. Works of the Spirit

Dylan Stewart

There are countless scriptures that tell us what sin is and what kind of actions are sins.   There are also an abundance of scriptures that inform us how we can engage in righteous activities.  Galatians 5:19-23 is a part of the Bible that actually informs us of both righteous and unrighteous works.  Paul begins by stating, “The flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another” (Gal. 5:17).  Paul very plainly informs us of the kind of activities that can cause us to miss out on that Heavenly reward by saying, “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal. 5:19-21).  Fortunately, he also tells of righteous works that can lead us into Heaven, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Gal. 5:22-23).

Which of these lists are your actions categorized in?  We all need to be sure that the activities we are involved in are not works of the flesh, but instead, are producing fruits of the Spirit because we know that if we are involved in fleshly works, we will not inherit the kingdom of God, “For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life” (Gal. 6:8).