The Sermon: Galatians 5:16-24

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷ 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. ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. ¹⁹ Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, ²¹ 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. ²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. ²⁴ And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.

Theme: THE BATTLE WITHIN

Summary: The Christian is involved in a daily battle between his sinful flesh and the Holy Spirit working within him. The flesh is so completely corrupted by sin that it cannot be rehabilitated; it can only produce sinful works. Unrepentant people who keep on doing these works reveal that they are not inheritors of heaven. By God’s grace, the Holy Spirit has raised us to life through faith in the gospel—the good news of Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection. We are alive by the Spirit and led by the Spirit. We daily ask the Holy Spirit to lead us to flee the works of the flesh and pursue the fruits of the Spirit.