HAVING BEGUN IN THE SPIRIT, ARE YOU NOW MADE PERFECT BY THE FLESH?”- Gal.3:3

Are you kidding me? Don’t you know that if you believe that Paul told the Galatians they would not inherit the kingdom of God if they did certain works when he wrote to them saying, “19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

21 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”, that you are believing in salvation by works?

Paul tells the fellowship of believers at Rome the same thing in Rom.8 when he says, 5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Rom.8:5-8

This passage of scripture parallels what Paul wrote to the fellowship of believers at Galatia saying, “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

17 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.

18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

21 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.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

Gal.5:16-25

The main thing we need to see here is that being carnally minded or being in the flesh is synonymous here with being under law and focused on works. Or put another way, being in the flesh is a focus on works that makes us focus on sin. Whether the avoidance of it or its practice. Rather than on Jesus as righteousness by faith and walking in the spirit is expressed.

This is what Paul means when he writes in Gal.5:21, “they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” Because what they are doing is focusing on works rather than relationship. On the flesh rather than on Jesus for righteousness. It is they that do this that will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Because when we walk in the flesh we are constantly aware of the imperative the law is for avoiding sin as defined by the law. And while constantly focused on avoiding that sin you can not be focused on Jesus. Your focus is on the flesh or works. This is the person that is carnally minded.

This person is someone that has trusted in the doctrine of original sin and sin nature. Because it forces them to focus on sin. Being told they can’t help sinning every day. They must beg forgiveness for them every day because even one uncleansed sin will keep them from heaven.

But, it is knowing and trusting Jesus that is righteousness. The kind of righteousness that Jesus told Israel they must have if they would see the kingdom of God. The only righteousness that He said would exceed the righteousness of the Pharisees. The righteousness that is expressed in the fruit of the Spirit Paul speaks of here in Gal.5:22,23 and Rom.8:5,6.

A righteousness in which the love of God is manifested in us. Love that creates the necessary “good ground” Jesus spoke of in the parable in Mark4 for the joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance Paul refers to in Gal.5 to grow in that removes and replaces any need for the law whatsoever.

This is why Paul says that against these things there is no law. Because the law is made for the lawless. For those who because they will not govern themselves, will be governed by others.

Something I have been seeing first hand lately happening to a family of lawless people that live close to us. And because they are very lawless, even demonic, they are not taking it very well. But, the more they struggle against the truth the more they sink into their own kind of quicksand. The only way out is the deliverance of the gospel they so vehemently hate at this point.

But, what Paul was addressing here in Rom.8 and Gal.5 goes to the heart of what it means to be a part of the fellowship of believers in Jesus. The ecclesia of God. Because he is using the law/flesh/works, synonymously. And spirit/faith/grace synonymously as well.

Yet there are some after reading all that Paul wrote about in Galatians that still can’t see this. They think that he was talking about being naughty as the works of the flesh. And being nice as the fruit of the Spirit. Even though there is nothing in the entire letter that should cause anyone to come to such an unBiblical conclusion.

The context of the entire letter of Galatians is law/works/flesh vs spirit/faith/grace. We can see this clearly as we look at each chapter.

In ch.1 Paul tells us how important it is that we do not preach righteousness by works when he says “6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:

7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”

And in ch.2 he addresses the issue of works righteousness vs faith righteousness when he withstood Peter to his face about the works righteousness of circumcision. And in vs.16 that it is only by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law, that any man can be justified.

In ch.3 he asks these people at Galatia “2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” Showing as he did in Rom.8 that works and flesh are synonymous.

And in ch.4 he assures these people that the law is not an option for them saying, “3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:

4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” Do you see that when Paul says “elements of the world” he is talking about their being under the law? And how in Christ they are delivered from its bondage?

So in all of Galatians and Romans Paul’s main objective is to show the difference between how we live in this covenant and how Jews lived under the Old Covenant. Saying again in ch.5 that what they should be doing is to “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.

3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.

4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.

6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.”

What is this yoke of bondage? The bondage of living under the law, which is to be in the flesh, with its constant treadmill of trying to attain righteousness by works. As opposed to living in the spirit with its righteousness that is of faith. Which is why Paul said here that neither circumcision, that is works, availed anything. Nor uncircumcision. But, only faith that works by love, not law/works.

So when we get to Gal.5:19-23 we need to make sure we understand the context of what Paul has written in this whole epistle. So that it comes through this portion of the epistle too. So that we do not read into these verses the flesh that is righteousness that is of works. But, instead see through the spirit the same righteousness that he has talked about throughout the whole epistle. The righteousness that is of faith.

And this is true as well in Rom.8 when Paul said, “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” As in Galatians, here too Paul is referring to carnally minded in terms of law or works. And spiritually minded in terms of faith without works.

Paul continues saying, “7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”

The carnal mind “is enmity with God” for the same reason he told the Galatians “the works of the flesh are these”. Because they are the result of a constant focus on the law and works. Which Paul says is to be in the flesh. As opposed to what our hearts and minds should be focused on. And that is our relationship with Jesus.

I asked a friend recently if he could think of the last time he asked God for direction in choices he makes. Where he talked to God about something he thought about doing. Because this is something that we should all be doing every day.

Because it is only when we talk to God about our choices that we can begin to realize He really does hear and answer us. And wants to lead and guide us in all our ways. Most times through His word. Sometimes through a peace the Holy Spirit gives us. But, I have found that the word of God answers pretty much every question we can ever ask.

So don’t be fooled by what seems like a sudden change of direction by Paul when he wrote Gal.5:19-23. He wasn’t changing directions. He was saying the same thing he said in the rest of the letter. Just this time he named some of the works those under the law are so focused on in their pursuit of moral perfection rather than personal relationship.

A personal relationship that Jesus made possible for everyone who hears the gospel and trusts in Jesus. Where we learn to walk by faith in the spirit, and not by sight by the works of the flesh under the law.

When we confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus. And believe in our hearts that He raised from the dead. We are saved so that we begin to walk in the spirit by faith. And not in works by the flesh.

If we will do this then we will have eternal life now. And immortality at the resurrection. If we will do this then a spirit will be created in us that makes us God’s child and heir to His kingdom. So that we will inherit the kingdom of God.

Do this and you will be saved. Do this and you will inherit God’s kingdom. Do this… and I will see you there or in the air!