True to Yourself?

“Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:19-26‬ ‭ESV‬

We live in a time when we are encouraged to be true to ourselves. We live in a time when we are encouraged to follow our heart. And we live in a time when we’re told that God wants only for us to be happy.

We, then, are encouraged to gratify our desires. If we desire these things, we are told, they cannot be sinful. In fact, we’re told these desires have been given to us by God.

According to Scripture, however, we do have sinful impulses. And, because they are sinful, we are encouraged to resist them. We are encouraged to flee from them.

Paul had encouraged the Galatians to walk by the Spirit. If they did so, he said, they would not gratify the desires of the flesh. If they did so, they would not gratify the desires of their sinful nature.

This is necessary because, as believers, we live continually with a tension between the two. Our sinful nature pulls us to do things that will gratify its desires. And, in the same way, the Spirit of God leads us to do those things that will glorify God.

In the above passage, he goes on to give several examples of the works of the flesh. He lists several works that are contrary to the desires of the Spirit. And, as we look at this list, we can each find ourselves in several of them.

Paul says that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. And we have to be careful with this. Paul isn’t saying that if we’ve ever fallen into any of these sins, even once, we stand condemned.

He’s referring to those who keep doing these things. He’s referring to those who make a practice of doing these things. He’s referring to those who perform these actions repeatedly or habitually. In essence, he’s referring to those who are living in unrepentance. He’s saying that, if we defy God ongoingly, if we violate his will without remorse, we stand condemned. 

He then goes on to list for us the fruit of the Spirit. In other words, these are the qualities that the Spirit of God will produce in our life. And it’s in these qualities that we are called to live.

Those who belong to Christ, he says, have crucified the flesh along with its passions and desires. In other words, they have sacrificed their flesh. They have put their sinful desires to death. They have rejected these desires, casting them aside, in favor of the Spirit’s leading.

If we live by the Spirit, we’re to keep in step with the Spirit. If he’s the source of our life, we will follow his leading. If he is our life, we will follow his guidance.

In short, Paul is calling us to a life of repentance and faith. Even though our sinful nature is a part of us, and will remain a part of us until the end, we are to turn from its desires. We’re to turn from its desires and live according to the Spirit of God. 

The Battle Within

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:16-18‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Inside of the Christian, a war is being fought. And it's not a one time battle. It’s a daily experience. The desires of the flesh battle against the desires of the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit battle against the desires of the flesh.

As Christians, we generally know how God has called us to live. There are some exceptions to this, of course, where we seek his will in his Word. But, generally speaking, this is true. And we also, generally, want to live for him. We want to live for the desires of the Spirit.

Yet, that being true, we are continually tempted. We are continually lured by our sinful nature to do that which is wrong. And, at times, we give in to the desires of the flesh.

This reality often causes us to question our faith. Worse yet, it causes us to question our salvation. We think that, if we were truly saved, if we had a strong enough faith, this wouldn’t be the case.

This, however, is fiction. The reality of our situation is that, although we have faith, and although the Spirit of God dwells within us, we also possess a sinful nature. And this sinful nature will remain a part of us until we meet Jesus face to face. It will remain part of us until we are made to be like Christ.

This battle, then, reveals not a lack of faith. It reveals that we do, in fact, have faith. It reveals to us that we have received the grace of God.

I say this because, apart from faith, this battle would not be fought. We would care nothing about the desires of the Spirit. Our only interest would be the desires of the flesh.

As we’re born in sin, as our natural condition is one of rebellion against God, we would live that out. We would do anything and everything that we wanted to do. And we would do so with no regrets.

Rest assured, this battle is the normal experience of a Christian. It reveals that the Lord is at work in us. And, because this is true, we are not under law. Because this is true, we do not stand condemned before God.

Living in Freedom

“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.”

(Galatians 5:13-15 ESV)

What a blessing it is to know that we’ve been freed from the law. No longer must we live according to the regulations of the Old Testament ceremonial law. And no longer are we bound to the teachings of men, in their efforts to ensure that the law is followed.

We are free to worship on Sunday, rather than Saturday (the Sabbath). We are free to mow our lawn on Sunday. We are free to eat pulled pork, for which I am extremely thankful. And we’re free to wear clothing made of a cotton/polyester blend.

None of these things will condemn us. And none of these things contribute to our salvation in any way. Our salvation is found in Christ alone and is received through faith alone.

However, that being said, care must yet be taken. As with anything, there are two extremes to which we can go. Just as we can easily fall into legalism, we can also fall easily into antinomianism.

I realize that many of you may not be familiar with that term. It literally means “no law.” And what I’m saying is that, because of the freedom given to us in Christ, many of us go to the extreme of believing that we can do anything and everything our heart desires.

Our freedom, Paul tells us, is not to be used as an opportunity for the flesh. In other words, our freedom is not to be used as an excuse to indulge our sinful desires. Instead, he says, we’re to use our freedom to serve one another through love.

Loving others, then, is a stark contrast to the indulging of our sinful desires. Loving others means denying the self. It means repenting of selfishness that we might live selflessly.

We're free from the burden of the law, we're free from the burden of trying to earn our salvation, that we might love one another. Our freedom is given that we might serve one another. Our freedom is given that we might bless one another.

Loving others as we love ourselves fulfills the law. If we love our neighbor, we will seek not to harm him. If we love our neighbor, we will seek only his blessing.

Point Them to Jesus

“The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God!" The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.”

(John 1:35-37 ESV)

Ministry can take on many different forms. And people, churches, and church bodies tend to focus their ministry in specific ways. Some will focus on feeding the poor. Others will focus on providing medical care. Some will focus on providing clothing or shoes. Some will focus on ministry to abused women. Some will seek to provide clean water for those who do not have it. And others will focus on the ministry of the Word.



For many, ministry and mission work is nothing more than the “social gospel.” It’s nothing more than demonstrating love for others in a tangible way. There is nothing, in their ministry, that sets them apart from a government funded social service agency.



Please don’t misunderstand what I’m trying to say. This type of ministry is needed and should be carried out. We see, in the New Testament, how the early church took collections for the poor. However, as the church, as a people called by Christ, the primary focus of our ministry must be something more.



The focus of our ministry is seen in the above passage. As John the Baptist looked at Jesus walking by, he said: “Behold, the Lamb of God!” In saying this, he was declaring Jesus to be the Savior. He was declaring Jesus to be the sacrifice who would redeem us from our sin.



Two of John’s disciples, who heard this statement, then followed Jesus. One of these men is not identified. Some believe him to be the apostle John. However, the other was Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter.



John the Baptist pointed people to Jesus. He testified to others regarding Jesus’ identity and purpose. And these men, then, followed Jesus.



This, you see, must be the primary focus of our ministry. While we can and should meet the needs of our neighbors, and while we should reach out to them in a spirit of love, this cannot be the extent of our ministry. Our love for others should be demonstrated as we, first and foremost, point people to Jesus.



We cannot lose sight of this. We cannot lose sight of this because the greatest need of mankind is salvation. We can meet every worldly need people may have. But, apart from Jesus, it will mean nothing. It will mean nothing because, as Jesus asks in Matthew 16:26, what will it profit a man if he gains the world and loses his soul?

The Offense of the Cross

“You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion is not from him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump. I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view, and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is. But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves!”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:7-12‬ ‭ESV‬‬

We think of an offense as a bad thing. None of us like to be offended. And, for this reason, we try not to offend others.

It happens, usually unintentionally. But, again, it’s never our goal. And when we do offend others, we try to make it right. We try to make it right by either explaining ourselves or apologizing.

This mindset creeps even into our life of faith. We don’t want to offend anyone. And, for this reason, we try to soften the message of Scripture. For this reason, we explain away the clear teaching of Scripture.

The message of the cross, however, naturally offends. And, as we see in the above passage, this is a good thing. The offense of the cross is absolutely necessary.

Anything else hinders us from obeying the truth. Anything else is not from God. And the one who brings another message will bear the penalty. Paul was so adamant about this that he wished those who preached circumcision would emasculate themselves. 

Why is the cross so offensive? It’s offensive because it reveals to us our sin. It’s offensive because it reveals to us the penalty we deserve. And it’s offensive because it reveals that we can do nothing to save ourselves.

In other words, it reveals to us that we’re not good people. It reveals to us that we are undeserving of God’s blessings. In fact, it reveals to us that we’re deserving of death and hell.

It reveals to us our helplessness. It reveals to us that we can do nothing to attain our salvation. It reveals to us that we can’t play even a partial role. 

This message is offensive to us. No one wants to believe these things about themselves. But, if we’re to be saved, we must.

We must be offended in this way because it’s only then that we’re able to receive the message of the gospel. It’s only then that we will trust in Jesus. And it’s only then that we will rely on his atoning work.

It’s for this reason that others must be offended as well. If they’re to be saved, they must. So we must not soften the gospel message nor explain it away.

Christ and

“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.”

Galatians 5:1-6 ESV

As much as we speak against legalism, Christians, today, tend to be very legalistic. Although we confess that we are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, this is not how we teach the Christian faith. And this is not where our confidence lies.

Our faith tends to be in Jesus and. I realize that’s an incomplete sentence, but hear me out. We tend to add to Christ other factors on which we believe our salvation to be dependent.

We tend to believe that, in addition to Jesus, our salvation is dependent upon works. It may even be one specific aspect of the law. It may be the way in which we keep the Sabbath. It may be a certain worship practice. It may be the amount of time we spend in prayer and Bible reading. It could even be the types of recreation we enjoy.

This, you see, is exactly what the Galatians were doing. By accepting circumcision as a condition of salvation, they were placing it alongside Christ. And, in this way, they were perverting the gospel.

Paul told them that, if they accepted circumcision, Christ would be of no advantage to them. He told them that, by relying on the law in addition to Christ, they had fallen from grace. He told them that, in this way, they were severed from Christ.

He’s telling them that, if they rely on anything other than Christ, they are not saved. He’s telling them that, if they rely on anything in addition to Christ, they are not saved. Requiring circumcision, in addition to faith in Christ, is not the gospel.

The same is true for us as well. If we rely on anything other than Christ, we are not saved. And if we rely on anything in addition to Christ, we are not saved.

If we rely on a certain worship style or practice, we are severed from Christ. If we rely on our practice of reading Scripture and prayer,  Christ is of no advantage to us. If we rely on our method of observing the Sabbath,  we have fallen from grace.

Our salvation is not dependent upon Christ and. It’s dependent upon Christ alone. Anything else places all or a part of the burden of our salvation upon ourselves rather than Christ. 

Cherishing the Assembly

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” 

(Hebrews 10:23-25 ESV)

I think it’s safe to say that, when this situation with Covid-19 blows over, and when life begins to feel more like normal, we will never look at the above verses in the same way again. Let’s face it, before this virus upended our lives, we took the gathering together with other believers for granted. We felt and acted as if it’s no big deal.

We told ourselves, repeatedly, that going to church is not what makes us a Christian. We did so, often, to alleviate our guilt for our failure to go. We took for granted that, when things were less busy, when we were less tired, when the kids were a little older, or whatever the case might be, we’d go to church more often.

In the meantime, however, we neglected to meet together with the church. We may have done so on special days, days like Christmas, Easter, or Mother’s Day. We may have done so when special events were happening in the life of a family member, things like a baptism, a confirmation, or a performance in the Christmas play. But going to church every Sunday, not to mention participation in things like Bible studies, was out of the question.

We’ve always had something more important going on. We’ve always had needs that were a greater priority. And, quite frankly, going to church just didn’t compare.

But now, in the midst of a season of isolation, we’re beginning to understand that need. We’re beginning to understand the need to gather together with our fellow believers. We’re beginning to see what we’ve been missing.

As we hold to our confession and hope, we need the encouragement of our fellow believers. We need them to speak into our lives with the hope of the gospel. We need to see examples of how we can live in faith in the face of hardship. We need those who will weep with us when we weep. And we need those who will rejoice with us in our rejoicing.

We also need to be stirred up to love and good works. We need to be stirred up because our natural tendency is anything but that. Our natural tendency is selfishness. Our natural tendency is laziness.

And not only do we need these things to be provided for us by our fellow believers. Our fellow believers need us to provide these things for them as well. As we interact together, as a body, we’re able to minister to one another with the grace that we, ourselves, have received from Christ.

In the meantime, however, continue to watch our services as they’re shared on YouTube and Facebook. Continue to take part in our Sunday School classes on Go-to-Meeting. Continue to call or to send a message to your fellow church members in their loneliness.  And, above all, anticipate the day that we can come together, once again, as the assembly of believers.