16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.
Are there Bible passages that you slide right past because you’re not quite sure what they’re talking about and they make you uncomfortable, not just because you don’t know what they’re talking about but also because you suspect they’re talking about something that nails you? This is the way the passage in Galatians 5:16- 26 has been for me. Today I read this explanation in Tim Keller’s Galatians study. It really helped me understand two of the key words in this passage: “flesh” or “sinful nature” and “Spirit.” See what you think.
Paul is contrasting the “sinful nature” with the “Spirit” (v.16 and v.17). On the one hand,
Paul speaks of the sarx, which in older translations is rendered the “flesh” and in more
modern translations is called the “sinful nature.” The flesh in the New Testament, when
opposed to the Spirit, does not refer to our physical nature as opposed to our spiritual
nature, but to the sin-desiring aspect of our whole being as opposed to the God-desiring
aspect. How do we know that? Just look at the list of “the works of the sinful nature [i.e.
flesh]” in v.19. “Hatred… jealous… ambition… envy” (v.19-21) have nothing to do with
the physical body at all, but with the spirit. Other works of the flesh do have to do with
the body. Therefore, the sarx is our sinful heart. It is the part or the aspect of our hearts
which is not yet renewed by the Spirit.
On the other hand, Paul speaks of the “Spirit.” At first sight, it may seem that this is a
battle between something inside us (our sinful nature) and outside us (the Holy Spirit). But
since Paul talks of each side as producing character qualities within us, and because of his
language of two kinds of “desires” (v.17), it is evident that this conflict takes place within
us. Therefore, “the Spirit” could be thought of as the renewed Christian heart, renewed
by the Holy Spirit. Our sinful nature was there, naturally, before we were Christians. The
Spirit, however, entered supernaturally when we first became Christians and has begun a
renewal that is now our “new nature.” Paul refers to these two natures as “the old man”
and “the new man” (often translated “old self/new self”) in Ephesians 4:22-24.
Good stuff, Elizabeth! I was just teaching on this “flesh/Spirit” stuff at youth group last night. I told them that the best way for me to understand these concepts is something we’ve talked about with our kids since they were little: having a “me-first-heart” vs. a “you-first-heart”.
The flesh is our “me-first-heart” that we inherited from Adam. It looks at God, people, and creation and says “me first!” Our new heart (New Covenant heart, New Creation heart) is the “you-first-heart” that the Spirit produces. It looks at God, people, and creation and says “you first!”
Anyway, it helps me to think like a little kid sometimes. 😎
Jimmy — you are an AWESOME teacher…And how it fits with teaching and learning the Word — Jesus said, “Unless they become like little children…” We do need to set aside our know-it-all-grownup ways of thinking to understand a lot of what the Scripture said. I know I’ll never forget “me-first” vs. “you-first” now!
Thanks Elizabeth! I meant to add, too, that though we get a “me-first” heart from Adam, we get our “you-first” heart from the Second Adam, the Lord Jesus. Jesus lived in my place with a “you-first” heart that wasn’t mine, and died in my place for a “me-first” heart that wasn’t His. Thanks be to God!!