New Testament: Gal 5.16–17

To read the Bible in a year, read Galatians 5 on September 27, In the year of our Lord Christ 2022

By Don Ruhl 

The battle between what the flesh wants us to do and what the Spirit wants us to do has been going on since the creation of Adam and Eve. Sometimes we try to fool ourselves into believing that we can have both, but Paul wrote: 

I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.

– Galatians 5.16–17 

If we try to follow both, we end up not accomplishing anything. In fact, have you wondered why you have not achieved or become what you think you should be as a Christian? Do you find yourself frustrated often because you are not growing? 

Paul revealed the problem. In those cases, we are following the flesh and doing so keeps us from becoming what we know we should be in the Spirit. 

Questions: 

• What have you done to overcome the flesh? 
• How long have you been a follower of Christ? 

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Don preaches with the Savage Street Church of Christ in Grants Pass, Oregon. 

Listen to his sermons here: GrantsPassChurchOfChrist.com