As previously noted, here we are looking at Galatians 5, more specifically the contrast between the works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit, which is followed by Paul’s exhortation to walk in the Spirit. Here we will also examine the role of repentance. Our background is that in Romans 6 we were instructed to consider ourselves dead to sin, as a recognition of what our baptism symbolized, and then to present ourselves, our whole being, to God as ‘being alive from the dead.’ We were called to live out our new life in Christ. Galatians 5 lists the types of things we are to consider ourselves dead to and what we are to be alive to, in two lists.
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. Galatians 5:19–26 (NKJV)
These two contrasting lists are illustrative, and come across as comprehensive. I think we can find any sin we are aware of or have committed falling in or subsumed somewhere in Paul’s list of the ‘works of the flesh.’ In a similar way, what more needs to be seen in our lives to reflect Jesus beyond the list we have of the ‘fruit of the Spirit?’
Now while it is easy to say that we are to consider ourselves as dead to sin and alive to God, in practice it doesn’t seem to be that easy. This is where repentance comes in. The gateway to salvation is repentance. We may have heard or been told that repent means ‘to turn and go the other way.’ Yet that isn’t actually what John and Jesus were preaching.
4 John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. Mark 1:4 (NKJV)
14 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” Mark 1:14–15 (NKJV)
The word in Greek means to change our mind not our behaviour. A change in behaviour is the fruit of repentance. John and Jesus were both after a change in behaviour but as the outcome of a changed mind and heart.
Understanding this brings us full circle back to Romans 6. When we change our mind about how we view and understand what happened at our conversion and the implications, we engage in a corresponding change in behaviour. We need to see the works of the flesh in Galatians 5 as something we no longer are, nor need to participate in. Then as we consider ourselves alive to God our behaviour undergoes a corresponding change and the fruit of the Spirt grows in our lives.
Now, back to repentance. Imagine you are walking East, you realize you are going in the wrong direction and should be headed West. You stop and change direction. Your repentance was the realization that you were going the wrong way and needed to change direction. Changing direction is the fruit of repentance. Now there is an important qualifier. If we change direction from East to West but continue looking back East, longingly or otherwise, we will find ourselves continually being tripped up because we cannot see where we are going. We will apply this more practically.
Imagine that you struggle with bitterness toward someone over a wrong they have committed against you. You realize that it is constantly intruding on your thought life, and that you want to let go of it. So, you get alone with the Lord and repent of holding onto bitterness and pray for the individual as Jesus instructs us (Matthew 5:43-48). However, the negative thoughts keep returning, here is where we need to choose to consider ourselves dead to bitterness and alive to Jesus in this scenario. This is where our feelings begin to change. We begin to feel His peace in our lives, and we may begin to feel love toward the individual who wronged us.
Now, I am not suggesting this is an easy process. It may be very emotionally painful and it may take a protracted period of time. We may find ourselves looking back and tripping at times. However, the important element is choosing to engage in the process to walk in spiritual victory in our lives. That has been my goal in these posts on spiritual victory, the practical application of scripture to our daily lives. I trust they have been helpful.
