The Two Walks

The Two Walks

by Vincent C. Finnegan

GOD

… Reconciling the world unto God …

The Scripture used throughout this study is quoted from the King James Version. Any explanatory insertions by the author within a Scripture verse are enclosed in brackets [ ].

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

When a person believes that Jesus Christ is lord and that God raised him from the dead (Romans 10:9), he receives a gift from God — the gift of salvation. God’s Word informs us clearly and emphatically that this salvation is by grace, not works.

Ephesians 2:8 and 9:
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Salvation is also referred to as the new birth (I John 3:3-6). With salvation, God Who is Holy Spirit places in us His incorruptible seed which is holy spirit (I Peter 1:23). God becomes our Father. As part of this gift of grace, God gives His children spiritual blessings including remission of sins, redemption, righteousness, justification, and many, many more. "Incorruptible" means that the seed, the gift, cannot be altered or lost. Neither the seed, nor any of the spiritual blessings received with it, can ever be altered or lost because "the gifts and calling of God are without repentance" (Romans 11:29).

Far too many well-intentioned Christians confuse the unalterable gifts of God with their own walk. Many wrongfully fear losing the spirit and its blessings because they sin. Sin-consciousness, condemnation, and fear are more prevalent than praise and love for God because we evaluate His relationship with us by our actions, rather than His grace. The only way to evidence the incorruptible gift and spiritual blessings in our daily living is to walk by the spirit. When we are not walking by the spirit, truly we are not pleasing our Father, nor are we manifesting spiritual abundance. Nevertheless, this does not mean we destroy or lose that which was received by grace and is eternally ours.

This writing is offered to help those who are born again to walk by that which they already have in Christ. Please do not confuse this work as a means to attain that which can only be received by God’s loving grace. God is very merciful and long-suffering with His children. He understands our frailties and weaknesses. When we are attempting to walk by the spirit and fall, sin-consciousness and condemnation are not proper responses. We should immediately get back up, ask for forgiveness, and again start walking by the spirit.

God’s children have two natures which come from two different births. In the first birth our nature comes from Adam, and in the second birth from Christ. The qualities inherent in the two different natures are diametrically opposed one to the other. The presence of both in one person causes great conflict. To live victoriously we must learn to walk by the divine nature, then we will have no room to walk by the sin nature.

This booklet is aimed at assisting in this endeavor. The Two Walks is a continuation of a study entitled The Two Natures written by the same author. Your comprehension of the booklet at hand would be enhanced by first reading the former study.

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God gives holy spirit to those who believe so that they may walk by the spirit.¹ However, Christians have a challenge because they have two different natures living within which are diametrically opposed one to another. Both of these natures are inherited by birth. The one nature, called the sin nature, is innate in every person because all are descendants of Adam. The new nature, called the divine nature, is within each born-again believer because he is a child of God.

Because we have two natures, we must continually choose by which to live. We can walk by the flesh, which is the old sinful nature, or we can walk by the new divine nature. When we walk by the flesh, we manifest the works of the flesh which are destructive. When we walk by the spirit, God produces in us the fruit of the spirit resulting in godly living filled with abundance. We are always walking by one or the other. Walking by the spirit is always a self-determined choice. Whenever we fail to choose to walk by the spirit, we automatically walk by the flesh.

This study is designed to help a person distinguish between the walk by the flesh and the walk by the spirit. Galatians chapter five gives a succinct description of both and shows how to avoid the works of the flesh while walking by the spirit. The chapter begins by encouraging us to stand fast in the freedom we have in Christ and not allow ourselves to be entangled.

Galatians 5:1:
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Christ has made us free from the yoke of bondage which is the flesh. When we succumb to walking by the flesh, we cause ourselves to be entangled again with the yoke of bondage. The flesh evidences itself in two predominate behavior patterns called circumcision and uncircumcision.

Galatians 5:6:
For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

"Circumcision" represents man's works via religious regulations and legal restrictions. Man’s religious works have no power, strength, or ability. "Uncircumcision" represents man's works also, but rather than religious regulation and legal restrictions, living governed by the lust of the flesh. This too has no power. Faith, which is energized by love, has true power in it.

In Christ we are free from the flesh. This freedom should not be used for religious legalism or lust; our freedom should be used for loving service one to another. We are free from the sin nature and the walk of the flesh so we can now serve. We are free to serve!

Galatians 5:13 and 14:
For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

We will see as we continue in this chapter that love is the essence of walking by the spirit. When we walk by the spirit, we walk in love. Already we have noted that faith, energized by love, is the only thing with true power or ability. Our call to liberty is for loving service one to another, and all the law is fulfilled as we love our neighbor as ourselves. Love is the antithesis of the flesh. The flesh is self-centered and selfish. Love is God-centered and compassionately concerned for others. When we walk in love, we prefer one another.

Romans 12:10:
Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

Love seeks not her own (I Corinthians 13:5), esteems others better than self, and has the concerns of others above self-concerns.

Philippians 2:3-5:
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Jesus Christ gave us the commandment to love as he loved.

John 15:12:
This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

When God gave us holy spirit, we received the ability to love God and love others as Christ loved. When we walk by the spirit, we walk in this love.

When the flesh rules over the spirit, love disappears and selfishness abounds. The mind becomes occupied with one's own interests and affairs while being oblivious to others. One becomes concerned too much for oneself and too little for others. Selfishness is a disease to the soul of man, worse than any deadly cancer is to the body.

Love is walking by the spirit. Self-centeredness and selfishness are walking by the flesh. With self as the fixed point around which everything else moves, we become blind to the obvious and deaf to the clear, loud sound of logic and truth. This state is similar to blinders on a horse which narrow the animal's vision. Self-centeredness causes narrow-mindedness. Everything is viewed solely or chiefly in relation to oneself.

When we fail to walk in love, we walk by the flesh and devour one another.

Galatians 5:15:
But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.

The tragedy of the Christian Church is how the believers bite, devour, and destroy one another. The destruction of the Church is from within and is caused by those who walk by the flesh. The legalists criticize, judge, condemn, and zealously canvass others, while labeling and ostracizing fellow brethren who are not as they are.

The liberals, at the other extreme, have an insolent pride about their emancipation from the restraints of personal conscience or public opinion. They willfully pursue their lustful passions and look down on those who do not the same. They too criticize, judge, condemn, and zealously canvass to get others to their way of thinking and behavior.

Neither the legalists nor the liberals are content to live their wrong way by themselves. Both have a zeal to evangelize others to their way of thinking and are very quick to point fingers at those who do not live as they do. The results are biting, devouring, and destruction of our Father's family.

The only resolution to this terrible behavior is to walk by the spirit.

Galatians 5:16-18:
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
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.
But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

These verses contain a very important, fundamental truth. The only way to avoid the flesh and the ugliness of its deeds is to: WALK BY THE SPIRIT AND YE SHALL NOT FULFILL THE LUST OF THE FLESH.

Christians often make the mistake of endeavoring to do the reverse of this truth. We try to stop walking by the flesh to walk by the spirit. Because this is impossible, the attempt causes much failure and condemnation.

We have two natures, and we are always walking by one or the other. Our focus should not be on avoiding the old, but on pursuing the new. As we walk by the spirit, the influence of the old nature is gone. Again, to walk by the spirit is to walk in love by obeying God's Word.

Galatians chapter five continues with a comparison of the "works of the flesh" to the "fruit of the spirit." The word "works" is contrasted with the word "fruit." The works of the flesh are something man does on his own according to his own will. In contrast, fruit of the spirit is something God gave us with His gift, and He brings into evidence in our lives as we walk by the spirit. Work is something man does; fruit is something God does for man.

The works of the flesh are the evil attitudes and actions we evidence in our lives as we walk by the flesh. Because evil is innate in the flesh (the old nature), these works are common and seem normal to us when we walk by the flesh. The only time these works seem abnormal is when we are walking by the spirit and producing the fruit thereof.

The fruit of the spirit are the attitudes and actions we evidence in our lives as we walk by the spirit. These qualities, inherent with the spirit, are godly. When we received the gift of holy spirit, we acquired the characteristics of God our Father. God is holy; His gift is holy. God is spirit; His gift is spirit. God is love; with the spirit we receive God's love. God is peace; with the spirit we have God's peace, and so on. All nine of the fruit listed are received within us at the time of the new birth and remain with us. As part of the gift, our new nature, these inherent qualities of love, joy, peace, etc. are found only in children of God. These qualities are manifested in our lives as we walk by the spirit. By this godly walk, we evidence in our lives that which is already within us. Similarly, just as the works of the flesh are natural to those who do them, the fruit comes naturally to those who walk by the spirit. Godly fruit now seems normal because it is part of our new nature.

Because we have two natures, we always have two possible ways to walk. According to whichever nature we are walking, our corresponding attitudes and actions seem normal to us because they are a part of our current orientation. When we walk by the flesh, to be hateful or angry is normal and instinctive. When we walk by the spirit, to be loving and kind is normal. Since we are just doing that which comes naturally, we are challenged to discern which is right. However, Galatians chapter five has more to consider.

Galatians 5:19:
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, ...

God shows us these works so that we can clearly distinguish the difference between the two walks. At each hole on a golf course is a pole with a flag on it so the golfer can see where he is aiming. The object is to get the ball in the hole. The works of the flesh are like flags in the course of our lives. But, these flags are there so we can avoid the holes.

The reason to review these works of the flesh is so we can readily perceive when we are walking by the flesh. These works identify the thoughts and behavior of the sinful nature. Our adversary deliberately deceives us into thinking ungodly actions are normal and even acceptable. Because of ignorance regarding the works of the flesh and the fruit of the spirit, many well-intentioned Christians do not distinguish between truth and error. How often Christians have been beguiled into thinking that by having strife or division, by choosing of sides, and ostracizing fellow Christians they are taking a stand for God!

Individuals in the Church have indeed been guilty of biting and devouring one another because they were walking by the flesh, not recognizing the difference between works and fruit. When we clearly understand that which God states here, we can more readily choose to walk by the spirit thus avoiding the flesh.

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WORKS OF THE FLESH

The works of the flesh result from our sinful nature and are against God and against our fellowmen. These works violate the two great commandments.²

Galatians 5:19-21:
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like ....

As we review these works, we should note that the King James’ translators were not always consistent with their translations of Greek words into English. For example, the Greek zélos is translated here "emulation," while elsewhere, "indignation" or "envy." Therefore the following Greek words are written in italics next to the English, so comparisons can be made in Greek for further study.

Adultery — Moicheía

This word is not in most critical Greek texts. Indeed, "adultery" is a work of the flesh, but including it here misleads us into thinking about a human relationship, while that which immediately follows refers to spiritual misconduct in our relationship with God. Extramarital sex is covered later in the listing, and other words are used.

Fornication — Porneía

Today’s meaning of "fornication" is voluntary sexual intercourse between unmarried persons. In the scriptures, it is most often used regarding spiritual fornication, that of whoring after other gods, rather than faithfully loving the one true God. This is most probably its use here because other words in this listing deal with sexual behavior. Following are some of the many places porneia is used regarding spiritual fornication — Exodus 34:15 and 16; Leviticus 17:7; 20:5 and 6; Numbers 15:39; 25:1-5; Judges 8:27,33; II Kings 9:22; Psalms 106:39; Isaiah 23:15-17; Jeremiah 3:1ff; Ezekiel 16:1ff; Hosea 4:1ff; Acts 15:20,29; 21:25; I Corinthians 6:13ff; II Corinthians 12:21; Ephesians 5:3; Colossians 3:5; I Thessalonians 4:3.

Uncleanness — Akáthartos

"Uncleanness" is contrasted with the holiness of life that one enjoys who is faithfully loving the true God. "Akáthartos" is the opposite of cleanness. Uncleanness or filth comes into a man’s life when he rejects the true God and embraces someone or something in His place. The first time this word is used in the Church Epistles gives clear understanding of its meaning.

Romans 1:21-25:
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness [akatharsía] through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

The verb form, akáthartos, is used most often before the word "spirit" when referring to devil spirits — "unclean spirits."

Lasciviousness — Asélgeia

"Lasciviousness" covers a broad range of unbridled passions including greed, drunkenness, and debauchery, as well as sexual lust. It also may include an insolent pride about being free from the restraints of personal conscience or public opinion. The person has no sense of shame. The essence of lasciviousness is a love of self instead of God.

Idolatry — Eidôlolatreía

One form of idolatry is the worship of an inanimate object. Psalm 115 communicates God’s thoughts on this.

Psalms 115:4-8:
Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands.
They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not:
They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not:
They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat.
They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them.

Also, idolatry as the worship of another individual is very common today. The mass media provides excessive exposure and a distorted image of public figures. Therefore, athletes, entertainers, and politicians are commonly revered to the point of being idolized. Loved ones, such as children or spouses, also can become the objects of idolatry.

The Church Epistles give us added understanding about idolatry, corresponding idolatry with covetousness.

Ephesians 5:3-5:
But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Colossians 3:5:
Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

"Covetousness" is to want more and more. This is also con-sidered idolatry. "Covetousness" is the love of possessing things which includes the love of money.³

"Idolatry" is the love of idols, others, or things instead of God.

Witchcraft — Pharmakeía

Pharmakeia specifically and literally refers to drugs or magical potions used in sorcery and witchcraft. However, its usage here represents all spiritualism including the occult, sorcery, witchcraft, astrology, psychic practices, etc. In the Old Testament God clearly states that these practices are an abomination (disgusting) to Him.⁴

Hatred — Ekthra

Ekthra is translated five times "enmity" and only here "hatred." Romans 8:7 tells us the carnal mind is enmity against God. "Enmity" is to have a hostile opposition in mind to God, to make oneself God’s enemy.

Another Greek word, miseo, translated "hate" often refers to hostility or hatred towards men. This too is a manifestation of the flesh.

I John 2:9-11:
He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.
He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.
But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

The first great commandment is to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. The acts of the sinful nature contrary to loving God are fornication (loving other gods), uncleanness, lasciviousness (love of self), idolatry (love of idols, others or things), witchcraft (love of spiritualism), and enmity against God.

v v v v v v v v v v v v

The works which follow are the acts of the sinful nature against our fellowmen.

Variance — Éris

A pagan goddess named Eris was the goddess of discord and was believed to excite war. In the King James version of the Bible, éris is translated "debate," "strife," "contentions;" and here in Galatians, "variance." We can disagree with someone and have a loving debate without allowing ourselves to be snared into word wrangling and contentions. Discussions can quickly disintegrate into variance when pride arises. When we are ardently convinced we are right and adamantly determined to convince the other, love ceases to rule, and fighting ensues. When being right becomes more important to you than being loving, contentions arise.

How pathetic, yet so common, for Christians to be contentious with each other over the things of God. Do you think the Father is pleased when His children fight over His Word? How can we be so deceived as to think we are taking a stand for God by striving with a brother? The Christian Church will never be unified on doctrine. We are all learning and growing. The unity of the Church is realized only as we love. We should never allow ourselves to be baited into fighting with someone, especially over the things of God. Someone may be contentious with you, but you do not have to respond in kind. We are to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). If God’s spoken Word does not convince someone, our ungodly word battles will not work either. Just love, and let God have sovereignty.

We all answer to God, not each other. We are told to love, not fight. We should not feel compelled to "make" someone else think or act the right way. God is over all, and each of us answers to Him. No one has been appointed the "muscle man" in the Body of Christ, responsible for forcing others to do God’s Word. We are simply to speak the truth in love to those who want to hear.

Before continuing to study the works of the flesh, pause and consider something of utmost importance.

Clearly written throughout the pages of God’s Word, in many ways, is man’s responsibility for his own life. One of the major aspects of man’s mind is the ability to choose freely. God has blessed man with the privilege of free will and holds him accountable to utilize it correctly. Man has the God-given authority corresponding with the ability to control his mind and therefore, his actions.

Parents quickly learn the importance of teaching children accountability, but it is not an easy task. Children seem to be born with an instinct to rationalize. A child can be caught "red-handed," yet excuses flow from his lips like water from a faucet. Mom, in shock at the child’s behavior, shouts, "Why are you doing that?!?" She does not really expect an answer, but the child without flinching responds, "He made me do it!" Unfortunately, many people grow up still blaming others, circumstances, and situations, and never really take responsibility for their own lives and actions.

Even though a man may rationalize, he is still accountable for his own life. The crafty deception that we face is thinking ungodly thoughts and actions are justified because of someone or something outside of ourselves. The hate, anger, and lack of forgiveness in our lives come from within and have absolutely nothing to do with anyone or anything outside of ourselves. We are hateful because we allow it, not because of someone who has made himself our enemy. Our anger is due to our own thoughts, not someone else’s thoughts or actions.

In the past twenty-five years Freudian philosophy has become deeply rooted into the thinking patterns of our society. His ungodly reasonings have greatly influenced the moral fiber of our nation in a very evil way. Sigmund Freud’s convictions were based upon atheistic and cynical beliefs. He called religion a "universal, obsessional neurosis!"⁵ Freud was an unbelieving humanist who devised psychology as a substitution for religion. He is called the father of modern psychology.

His unbiblical theories about human behavior are pretentiously disguised as scientific reasoning. Yet his philosophy is interwoven throughout today’s thinking and values, even replacing plain "horse sense." The wide acceptance of Freudian psychology has intimidated many into believing that the moral and spiritual code of the Bible is obsolete. Spiritual deliverance, by means of the Word of God, has been almost completely abandoned in favor of psychotherapy. People run to their therapists and clinics instead of God.

True deliverance comes only from God. However, these influences have duped most into believing that God and His Word are incomplete, insufficient, unsophisticated, and unable to help those with "real" problems. Freud’s words are embraced over God Almighty’s Words! Freud is dead. His thoughts and reasonings, despite the intellectual disguise, are no substitute for God and His Word which "liveth and abideth forever" (I Peter 1:23).

The following commonly held ideas, which were influenced by Freud, are completely contradictory to the Word of God:

Human nature is basically good. The Bible says everyone is born with sin nature and is basically evil (Romans 7:18; Ephesians 2:1-3).
People have the answers to their problems inside themselves. The Bible says man has no answers and needs the counsel of the Lord (Jeremiah 10:23).
The key to understanding and correcting a person’s attitudes and actions lies somewhere in that person’s past. The Bible says forget the past and renew your mind to God’s Word today (Philippians 3:13; Ephesians 4:17-32).
An individual’s problems are the result of that which someone else has done to them. The Bible says each man is responsible for his own life (Romans 12:2; II Corinthians 10:3-5).

Too many therapists are calling sin "sickness" to which they advise therapy instead of repentance. Habitual sin is called addictive or compulsive behavior which can only be treated by medical care.

Society has declared that alcoholism and drug addiction are diseases. If they are diseases, the person involved is a victim and not really responsible for his plight. God’s Word says they are sinful lusts which can be and should be controlled (Ephesians 5:13). By making these things diseases, we help those self-afflicted souls to stay hopeless and helpless.

Today, when someone manifests hate, anger, and violence, we blame his dysfunctional family or the environment in which the individual was brought up. God’s Word says hate, anger, and violence are works of the flesh, and we are accountable to change. The most recent atrocity of human logic is blaming genetics for the sinful actions of homosexuals. This false theory claims that the homosexual person is born with dominant genes from the opposite sex, and therefore he or she is a homosexual or lesbian. The reason someone is a homosexual has nothing to do with genetics, but has everything to do with the uncontrolled, sinful lust of man (Romans 1:21-32). If people blame genetics, they think of themselves as hopeless victims. This rationale absolutely contradicts God’s Word and dooms those involved. The truth makes us free (John 8:32) and enables us to control our own lives and make right decisions.

We are all responsible for our own thoughts and actions. With God’s help, we can walk by the spirit and not by the flesh.

Emulations — Zélos

"Emulation" today means imitation, but its obsolete meaning is envy or jealous rivalry. Zélos means to have discontent or ill will at another’s good fortune because one wishes it had been his. "Emu-lation" can also mean to have dislike for a person who has what you want. It may deteriorate into a jealousy which makes war upon the good it sees in another, thus troubling that good and diminishing it. Éris and zélos are used together often.

I Corinthians 3:3:
For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying [zélos], and strife [éris], and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

Remember that love prefers one another, seeks not her own, esteems others better than herself. Envy is a selfish attitude, quite the opposite of love.

Wrath — Thumós

"Wrath" is an outburst of anger. When Jesus Christ spoke confrontational truth in the Nazareth synagogue, the listeners were offended and manifested wrath.

Luke 4:28 and 29:
And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath,
And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong.

Two Greek words are used for anger: orgé which is a mental state of anger and thumós which is an outburst of anger. Thumós is usually an outburst of orgé. Neither of these is desirable, and both should be put away from us.

Ephesians 4:31:
Let all bitterness, and wrath [thumós], and anger [orgé], and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

Thumós is always wrong because it is a work of the flesh. We know from Jesus Christ’s life one can have mental anger without sinning.

Mark 3:5:
And when he had looked round about on them with anger [orgé], being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.

Jesus Christ did not have an outburst of anger, rather he controlled his mental anger and healed the man.

When we have mental anger, we must deal with it quickly, or it could cause us to sin.

Ephesians 4:26:
Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

The root word here for anger and wrath is orgé. This verse is not a command to be angry, but a command to deal with our anger quickly before we sin. We are not told to deal with the provocation but rather with our personal anger. We are always to control our minds. We cannot always control the situation, circumstances, or people that provoke anger, but we can always control our minds.

I Corinthians 13:5:
Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

Do not allow yourself to be provoked. Sometimes we think that anger can bring about the godly results we want. James 1:20 tells us differently: "the wrath [orgé] of man worketh not the righteousness of God." We should rest in the Lord and be patient instead of being angry.

Psalms 37:7-9:
Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
Cease from anger [orgé]⁶, and forsake wrath [thumós]: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.

Proverbs 15:1:
A soft answer turneth away wrath [orgé]: but grievous words stir up anger [thumós].

Proverbs 15:18:
A wrathful [thumós] man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger [thumós] appeaseth strife.

When we control our minds, we control our lives.

Proverbs 16:32:
He that is slow to anger [orgé] is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

Mental anger is cruel, and an outburst of anger is outrageous.

Proverbs 27:4:
Wrath [orgé] is cruel, and anger [thumós] is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?

Some records do speak of mental anger [orgé] as being appropriate as it corresponds to God’s direction, as in Romans 13 regarding the gift ministers, but an outburst of anger is always wrong.

The way to avoid anger is to walk by the spirit. When love guides us, anger subsides.

Strife — Eritheía

"Strife" is a desire to put oneself forward with a motive of self-interest or a mercenary interest. This word was used of canvassing which causes faction. It was used in profane literature of a self-seeking pursuit of political office by unfair means. When someone has strife, he looks to arouse the interest, desire, or curiosity in others, which causes division. The Greek word was used of those electioneering for office.

Christians who have a conflict with one another should forgive each other (Colossians 3:13), or work out their differences between themselves (Matthew 18:15). If a third party is needed as a mediator, everyone involved should be present at the point of communication (Matthew 18:16). Sadly, the more common behavior has been for one or the other to canvas (to go to a third party to solicit agreement and support, or at least validation) for his own point of view. This selfishly motivated communication introduces evil thoughts in the mind of the uninvolved third party. The carnally minded one baits the third party into division or contention with a fellow believer. Evil communication, motivated by selfish concern for support or sympathy, causes strife.

God tells us nothing should be done through strife or vainglory. Our only appropriate behavior is love. By the way, if you are approached by someone who is trying to speak evil of another — however subtly — the loving response would be to say, "I do not want to hear it!" Then simply refuse to listen. You could also instruct the person doing the canvassing to speak directly to the person with whom he has the problem.

Philippians 2:3:
Let nothing be done through strife [eritheía] or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

If someone chooses to strive against you and campaign others to his way of thinking, you do not have to respond in an ungodly manner. Let love be your guide, and trust God to resolve the situation. God is much more able than we are to handle those who oppose Him and us. Paul had to deal with those who had strife and contention against him.

Philippians 1:15-18:
Some indeed preach Christ even of envy [phthónos] and strife [éris]; and some also of good will:
The one preach Christ of contention [eritheía], not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:
But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.
What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretense, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.

Paul controlled his mind and did not allow the ungodly actions of others to pull him off God’s Word. Paul was able to see through the evil and embrace the good. Christ was being spoken; therefore, he was thankful. When others attack us with envy, strife, or contention, responding in kind is a temptation, but God shows us by Paul’s example that love and thankfulness are the best response.

Romans 12:17-21:
Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

The orientalism, "heap coals of fire on his head," means to warm your enemy’s head and therefore his mind. By doing good to someone who has done you harm, you warm his mind and heart by your love, just as the "coals of fire" warm a man’s head.

Seditions — Dichostasía

Works of the flesh have the tendency to degenerate if they are not rectified by walking in love. Contentions and envy give way to outbursts of anger or stirring up of strife. When these attitudes are allowed to linger, seditions seem to follow. A seditious person stirs up discontent or rebellion in the family of God. When someone is carnally minded, he often separates himself from fellow believers first in his mind and then in his actions. He starts to feel different than everyone else and "naturally" blames others, not himself. He begins campaigning to get others to divide off with him. When someone has allowed seditions to infiltrate his heart, the best response is to avoid him.

Romans 16:17:
Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions [dichostasía] and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

Avoiding someone does not mean speaking evil regarding him or appointing yourself the policeman of the body of Christ, warning everyone about this "evil" person. When someone is seditious, our heart of love is still open to help him, but we must be cautious not to get entangled ourselves.

Heresies — Haíresis

Seditions is the plotting of division while heresies is the carrying out of division. The heretic has formulated doctrinal beliefs contrary to God’s rightly divided Word. He becomes adamant in his new-founded beliefs and convinced he is right and everyone else who thinks differently is wrong. The heretic cares little about winning the unsaved but, thinking he is doing God’s will, is driven to convince the believers of his "new" doctrine.

God’s people should always hunger to understand more about the things of God. However, this desire can be misplaced and often is, by those who have failed to maintain their relationship with God. Godly hunger is replaced with "itching ears" (II Timothy 4:3-5) that lust after some new doctrine. The heretic feeds on this weakness, rallying the discontented around his "new doctrine." Once this doctrine is considered, the adherents divide themselves from everyone else who have not embraced the same.

In the Bible heresies is translated "sect" which most often refers to the sect of the Pharisees.

Usually when a person gets to this point, you can do little to help because he will avoid you and even label you as the wrong one. You are not to harbor resentment towards him, but God does instruct us to withdraw from such a one.⁷

Envyings — Phthónos

"Envy" is jealousy or pain felt, and malicious behavior conceived at the sight of excellence or happiness in others.

Envy is a more powerful, evil work than the previous word "emulations." Envy is often followed by murder. Envy was the motive behind those who gave Jesus over to Pilate to be crucified. Pilate understood their motive and wanted to release Jesus.

Matthew 27:18:
For he knew that for envy [phthónos] they had delivered him.

In the Bible, the word "envy" is most often used to describe the sincere religious leaders who persecuted Jesus Christ and the believers.

Murders — Phónos

Unbridled envy often leads to murders. Murder seems like such a drastic action to be considered in the context of a Christian’s walk. However, when considering the history of the Christian Church since the first century, we can see clearly that this work of the flesh has indeed been prevalent. How many thousands were murdered by Christians during the Crusades? How many millions have marched to war for religious reasons before and since? Millions of people have been murdered because sincere religious people have walked by the flesh and not the spirit.

Drunkenness — Méthê

Drunkenness is the epitome of self-centeredness and selfishness. The drunkard is oblivious to those around him. When someone is drunk, he willingly surrenders the ability to control his thoughts so that walking by the spirit is forfeited. The drunkard hurts himself and those around him.

Proverbs 23:29-35:
Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?
They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.
Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.
At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.
Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.
Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.
They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick;
they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.

Drunkenness can take your heart away.

Hosea 4:11:
Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.

Instead of being drunk with wine, one should be filled with the spirit.

Ephesians 5:18:
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

Revellings — Kómos

"Revelling" was used pertaining to a nocturnal and riotous procession of half-drunken and frolicsome people. These people paraded through the streets after supper with torches and music in honor of Bacchus or some other deity, and sang and played before houses of friends. Kómos was used generally of feasts and drinking parties.

Romans 13:13 and 14:
Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting [kómos] and drunkenness [méthê], not in chambering and wantonness [asélgeia], not in strife [éris] and envying [zélos].
But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

They that are walking by the flesh are not allowing God to reign in their lives. God has given us His spirit by which to walk. When we walk by the spirit, God is first in our lives, and we are living in

His Kingdom. Conversely when we walk by the flesh, we do not inherit the Kingdom of God in our daily living.

Galatians 5:21:
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.

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FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

With the new birth, God gave us His gift of holy spirit. Holy spirit lifts us to a completely different realm — God’s realm. He is our Father; we are His children and inherit His nature. With God’s nature, we have the characteristics of God living in us. This gives us an entirely different and far superior life. To live by the spirit, we walk in love by obeying God’s Word. When we walk by this spirit, we evidence the fruit of the spirit.

Galatians 5:22 and 23:
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Fruit is the result of something planted. The new nature is planted within us, and fruit is produced when we live in that newness of life. Circumstances, situations, or people have nothing to do with the fruit in our lives. We are cunningly deceived when we blame our lack of manifesting fruit on anything outside of ourselves. This reasoning is faulty since walking by the spirit within is that which produces the fruit. Fruit of the spirit is the result of our relationship with God and is always the outcome of a godly walk.

The works of the flesh are relatively easy to define as compared with the fruit of the spirit. The works are in the senses realm, while the fruit is in the spiritual realm. As such, to define spiritual fruit completely is impossible. Whenever man tries to define spiritual matters in finite words, he falls short and often limits the full meaning. Perhaps the best way, and only way, to understand the fruit of the spirit is to walk by the spirit and experience it for yourself. We will briefly consider some of that which the Word says about each fruit.

Love — Agápé

Romans 5:5:
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

"Love of God" should be understood as love towards God.⁸ The words "shed abroad" are translated elsewhere "poured out." When we received the gift of holy spirit, God poured out in us the ability to love Him. From the beginning God’s purpose for man was love. God wanted to love man and for man to love Him in return. When we read the Old Testament, our hearts break because of the lack of love and faithfulness people had towards Him. Christians, however, have been given an unparalleled ability to love God. As we walk by the spirit, we love our Father. Also innate with the spirit is the ability to love others as Jesus Christ loved.

Jesus Christ gave a new commandment before his death which would be available to carry out after the new birth spirit was given.

John 13:34:
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

With the spirit, we have the ability to love other people as Jesus Christ loved. Love is to saturate and dominate our lives. It is not a technique or principle for right living, rather it is our lifestyle. Love propels us to a higher plane of life — far above all the works of the flesh. This love is beyond human knowledge, yet God wants us to know it.

Ephesians 3:19:
And to know the love [agápé] of Christ, which passeth

knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

Joy — Chará

The joy we have, walking with God, is unspeakable.

I Peter 1:8:
Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy [chará] unspeakable and full of glory:

A common dictionary definition of "joy" is: a strong feeling of pleasure, gladness, delight, and happiness! The fruit of the spirit "joy" is that and more because it is unspeakable. Psalm 16 tells us that living in His presence we have "fulness of joy." Jesus Christ explains how by living in oneness with him and God we will experience this fruit.

John 15:11:
These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

This joy is spiritual and emanates from God when we walk by the spirit. Often people talk of the joy they have because of relationships with others, or activities they participate in, or things they own. The word is the same, but the quality of the joy is light years apart. Pursuing joy without God is like trying to swim without water. For the believer, joy need not be pursued, and no man can take it from you (John 16:22) because it is the result of walking by the spirit.

John 16:22:
...your joy no man taketh from you.

Romans 15:13:
Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing...

Peace — Eirénê

The carnally minded have enmity with God, while the spiritually minded have a peaceful life.

Romans 8:6 and 7:
For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace [eirénê].
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God....

Peace is the absence or end of all strife — quiet seas rather than troubled waters. Peace is a state of health in mind, a state of untroubled, undisturbed well-being. Peace is having trust and confidence in God so we have no worry, anxiety, or fear. When the fight with God is over and we have surrendered all to Him, that which is left in our minds is called peace. To endeavor to receive peace without God is as impossible as to breathe without air. Peace comes to an individual only one way: walking by the spirit.

This peace is so complete it passes understanding.

Philippians 4:7:
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Longsuffering — Makrothumía

In Noah’s time the wickedness of man was so great that "every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually" (Genesis 6:5). God was grieved in His heart, but Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. Because of Noah, God patiently endured everyone else until the ark was prepared.

I Peter 3:20:
Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering [makrothumía] of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

"Longsuffering" is forbearance, self-restraint before proceeding to action. It is to be long on patience with others, even when their actions are evil.

God’s longsuffering for all of mankind from the beginning is breathtaking. He placed the ability within us to have the same longsuffering towards others. Much of the fighting, anger, and division in the Church will be eliminated as we manifest this fruit in our lives.

Ephesians 4:1-3:
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering [makrothumía], forbearing one another in love;
Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

When we walk by the spirit, we are long on patience, and much joy abounds in our lives.

Colossians 1:11:
Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;

Gentleness — Chrêstótês

Chrêstótês is translated in the Bible "goodness" four times, "kindness" four times, "good" once, and "gentleness" here in Galatians chapter five. All these words aid our understanding of this fruit. Gentleness and kindness are synonyms expressing a generous, sympathetic, considerate attitude towards others.

Kindness is contrasted with the hardhearted attitudes of bitterness, wrath, anger, etc.

Ephesians 4:31 and 32:
Let all bitterness, and wrath [thumós], and anger [orgé], and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
And be ye kind [chrêstós] one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Rather than being harsh, rough, severe, or violent, kindness is being tender with people. As a file bears down on its object, wearing and tearing until it eventually grinds down the surface, so is the harshness of this world on the hearts of humanity. Kindness is the opposite of harshness. So rarely is this quality manifested that when someone is truly kind it shines out just as a halogen light in darkness.

No man of himself has this quality of life. Kindness comes from God and is manifested in the life of one who is born again and walking by the spirit.

God manifested forth His kindness to us when we were hateful and totally undeserving of it.

Titus 3:3-5:
For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
But after that the kindness [chrêstótês] and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

As God’s chosen ones, He wants us to manifest this same kindness to others.

Colossians 3:12:
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness [chrêstótês], humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

Goodness — Agathôsúnê

Before the new birth we were sinful, depraved, and evil. After the new birth, by God’s loving grace, we are made to be righteous and good. Goodness is a quality of character and disposition that one has being holy and right with God. God is good and places His goodness in us. Because we are good within, we manifest goodness to others with active benevolence as we walk by the spirit.

Matthew 12:35:
A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things....

God is good. He lives within us so we, too, are good. As we walk by the spirit, our goodness is manifested to others.

The next three fruit — faith, meekness, and temperance — provide the necessary enablements to have and maintain a Christ-like life.

We marvel at the intellectual agility of the computer genius, the Herculean feats of the Olympic athlete, and the extensive range of the concert vocalist. We too have a brain, body, and voice, but these few are "gifted" beyond the normal person. They possess extraordinary abilities which have been harnessed and honed. We understand that some people are born more talented than others.

With this reasoning we can mistakenly view the "spiritual elite" of the Bible as being specially "gifted" above the normal believer. We can marvel at the faith, meekness, and temperance evidenced by men like Paul and Peter. We are tempted to think they were extraordinary, and we just ordinary. This would be a grave error. Yes, some people are born more talented than others, but no one is born again with more ability than another. We all have been given the same gift of holy spirit with the same nature and spiritual ability. No one gets more; no one gets less. Some may believe to use more, but this is not because they have more.

Every believer is given the same faith, meekness, and temperance that Paul and Peter had. As we walk by the spirit as they did, we too will bring this fruit into evidence in our lives. Too often believers look without, when that which they desire is within already. All we need to live a godly, more than abundant life was provided spiritually when we received the gift of holy spirit. As we walk in love by obeying God’s Word, that which is within will be manifested in our lives.

Faith — Pístis

Jesus Christ always did the will of his Father without doubting, wavering, or resisting. While he walked the earth, he maintained a oneness with God that resulted in a walk of trust, confidence, and believing. His intimate relationship with God caused him to be fully persuaded concerning all the things of God. He trusted in the Lord with all his heart without leaning to his own understanding. In all his ways he acknowledged God; therefore, God always directed his paths. His walk is a sterling example of a perfect walk of faith. We have Christ in us; therefore, we have his faith also.

Romans 12:3:
For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith [pístis].

Each believer has the same measure of faith. We all have the ability to live the walk of faith that Christ walked. Thus he said, "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father" (John 14:12). We have the power and authority to be fully persuaded, trusting, and confident just as Jesus Christ was. We have the ability and authority to believe, just as he did.

Meekness — Praótês

Matthew 11:28-30:
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly [humble] in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

The humility and meekness of Christ can be manifested by us as we come unto him. We have within us the meekness of Christ. Meekness is the disposition of mind to accept God’s Word and ways without disputation or stubborn resistance. When the mind is quiet and without self-interest and self-assertiveness, it is ready to receive from God. This state of mind is called meekness and is always necessary to receive God’s Word. Meekness also includes the willingness to act on the information received.

James 1:21 and 22:
Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

Meekness is to be our attitude not only towards God but also towards our fellow believers. When we endeavor to help someone, meekness is mandatory.

Galatians 6:1:
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness [praótês]; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

To maintain the unity of the spirit, meekness is necessary.

Ephesians 4:2 and 3:
With all lowliness and meekness [praótês], with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Temperance — Egkráteia

When we consider the two natures and the challenge of walking by the spirit, we see very apparently that human ability is not enough to be successful. To gain dominion over the evil and deceptive old nature, we need God’s help.

Jesus Christ walked perfectly because he always maintained self-control and self-restraint and never gave in to personal desire above the will of God. With the new birth spirit we have Christ within us, and all his spiritual ability is now ours. We have been given the power to walk as he walked which includes temperance.

Temperance is the means by which the flesh is controlled. It is the God-given ability to maintain self-control and restraint regarding all our habits, actions, and speech. With temperance we can walk victoriously.

Successful athletes are those who exercise self-control, disci-plining themselves to compete in their sport. Their discipline is human ability and is given as an analogy in the Scriptures of the God-given spiritual ability we have to be temperate.

I Corinthians 9:24-27:
Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Temperance gives us the ability to bring the flesh under sub-jection as we walk by the spirit. The laziness, excessiveness, self-indulgence, and lack of moral restraint common to the flesh can be controlled because of the spiritual fruit, temperance.

Some people are highly self-motivated and have a propensity for self-discipline; perhaps genetics or upbringing is responsible for this. Others are not self-motivated and are lazy. Our natural abilities or limitations, however, have nothing to do with the ability we have in us spiritually. With Christ in us, we have the potential to be as disciplined as Christ himself.

If you allow yourself to think, "I’ve never been disciplined; it’s impossible to start now," then you never will. You must believe God’s Word and not your experiences if you want to walk with Him. God has given you temperance, and as you walk by the spirit, it will be manifested in your life. Ask God to help you!

The works of the flesh and the fruit of the spirit both correspond to their natures and are diametrically opposed one to another. God gave us holy spirit so we would walk by the spirit and produce the fruit thereof. We should choose to crucify the flesh and live by the spirit.

Galatians 5:24-26:
And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

A great contrast exists between a life governed by the flesh and a life governed by the spirit. They are vastly different — as opposite sides of a magnet, they repel one another. Although we still have the capacity to walk by the flesh, we were given freedom in Christ so that, by love, we can serve one another. When we walk by the spirit, producing the fruit of the spirit in our lives, we are qualified to help when others are overtaken in a fault.

Galatians 6:1 and 2:
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

The born-again person has two natures, and must therefore choose between two walks with two results. Let us not walk by legalism or lust, but by love. Let us not bite and devour one another, but by love serve one another and bear one another’s burdens. We must obey the Words of God not the dictates of the flesh. May God help us to walk by the spirit and thus be pleasing to Him.

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CONCLUSION

The Christian Church is bound together in unity by God because we have only one body, one spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all Who is above all and through all and in all (Ephesians 4:4-6). Even with this obvious oneness, a great diversity of sects exists today. There are thousands of different Christian religious groups, and will be, until we all come into the unity of the faith when Christ returns. Until such time, we should all strive to walk by the spirit and not by the flesh biting and devouring one another. Such behavior has been common for Christians far too long.

God has accepted all those whom He has chosen, regardless of that which we have decided to label ourselves or one another. So, who is any man to cast evil disparagement or judgement on those God has chosen? Can we not take heed to the lessons given in Romans 14 and 15 about lovingly accepting those who are different than ourselves as still having been called by God to be in His family?

We are all different, but we are all the same. When the roll is called up yonder, all those born again will live in love eternally without any dividing labels or egotistical judgements. So why not start now to please our loving Father by loving all His chosen children? Apparently our Father has enough love, longsuffering, mercy, and grace for all His people, as have we, if we walk by His spirit.

Footnotes:

¹ The word "walk" as used in this study means to conduct oneself in a particular manner, behavior; to live.

² Matthew 22:37-39: Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

³ I Timothy 6:5-10

⁴ Deuteronomy 18:9-13; Jeremiah 14:14-16; Ezekiel 13:6-9; II Kings 17:16 and 17; 21:5 and 6.

⁵ Cited in Frank B. Minirth, Christian Psychiatry (Old Tappan, N.J.: Revell, 1977).

⁶ Greek words in the Old Testament are taken from the Septuagint.

⁷ I Timothy 6:3-5: If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. But godliness with contentment is great gain.

⁸ "Of God" is the genitive of relation.

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Copyright © 1970 by Vincent C. Finnegan
Source: http://www.bibelcenter.de · E-Mail: editor@bibelcenter.de
Last changed: 01.01.1970