We want to be those who usher in the Kingdom of God. So we need to pay attention when Paul says, “The unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9).[1] Then Paul gives a long list of those who will not inherit the Kingdom, including adulterers, homosexuals, thieves, drunkards, revilers, and the covetous. In Galatians 5:19–20, Paul adds other deeds of the flesh: enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, and things like these. The culture around us teaches that these things are okay. But the Scriptures are saying, “No, you need to be concerned about these things and understand that there is a problem here.”
We recognize that we all have the same basic human nature; it is the root from which all these varieties of sin and unrighteousness grow. And God is not concerned about just trying to lop off the leaves and branches of our actions. He brings forgiveness for that; we can take Communion and apply the blood of Yeshua (Jesus). But continual sinning and seeking forgiveness is not the lifestyle we want. God is looking for us to dig in and find the root of the problem. Paul is being specific here to help us identify the flesh nature that God is trying to expose.
However, Paul also gives us the answer: “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh” (Galatians 5:15). Do not focus on your problems. Instead, keep filling up with the Spirit of God and soon from the inside out the things of the flesh will drop off. God is not just interested in reforming people’s behavior; He is growing a new nature. We are to mature and attain “to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13). That is the ultimate solution to the problem. The new nature grows and becomes the overriding force in our lives until out of us come different thoughts and actions from a new nature.
Paul continues, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22–25). We are to “put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him” (Colossians 3:10). Man was created in God’s image, and we are being renewed into His likeness. I love that word renewed. The margin of my Bible says “renovated.” God is literally renovating us into a new nature that is in the image of God.
When people saw Yeshua, they saw the Father (John 14:9). They were drawn to Him because He ministered life to them rather than condemnation. That is what the world needs to see again. When they experience the love, faith, and obedience coming from us, they will be drawn to the Father. God is creating you as the example, and He will not let you do it in yourself. You must do it through the blood and provision of Christ. So focus on the new nature. Whatever is true, whatever is pure, lovely, and worthy of praise, dwell on these things (Philippians 4:8). Let there be joy in your heart because the power and authority of this new nature is growing and overwhelming every other thing in your life.
[1] All Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB1995).