16 I say be guided by the Spirit and you won’t carry out your selfish desires. 17 A person’s selfish desires are set against the Spirit, and the Spirit is set against one’s selfish desires. They are opposed to each other, so you shouldn’t do whatever you want to do. 18 But if you are being led by the Spirit, you aren’t under the Law. 19 The actions that are produced by selfish motives are obvious, since they include sexual immorality, moral corruption, doing whatever feels good, 20 idolatry, drug use and casting spells, hate, fighting, obsession, losing your temper, competitive opposition, conflict, selfishness, group rivalry, 21 jealousy, drunkenness, partying, and other things like that. I warn you as I have already warned you, that those who do these kinds of things won’t inherit God’s kingdom. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against things like this. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the self with its passions and its desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let’s follow the Spirit. 26 Let’s not become arrogant, make each other angry, or be jealous of each other. (Galatians 5:16-26, CEB)
The actions that are produced by selfish motives are obvious, because they include sexual immorality, moral corruption, doing whatever feels good, 20 idolatry, drug use and casting spells, hate, fighting, obsession, losing your temper, competitive opposition, conflict, selfishness, group rivalry, 21 jealousy, drunkenness, partying, and other things like that.
What is sexual immorality? In a society where men could have multiple wives and concubines? Is this obviously clear what is sexually immoral?
Doing whatever feels good? It feels good to work at the soup kitchen and to serve those who are being held down by circumstances outside of their control, so according to this I shouldn’t do that.
Losing your temper, not sure but I do not think that Jesus was calm when he flipped tables in the temple. He burned with a holy anger, but we can’t lose our temper because that is selfish.
Following after your own desires is not clear cut as this passage wants to make it, but if we can be fruity and live in the fruit of the spirit, which is love. Love all, and spread the love that God has given you.
some say there are 9 fruits of the spirit, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. But I read this as the fruit of the spirit is love. Joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are elements of love. If we love, we will be focused outside of ourselves and the things we do will be for others, not ourselves.
Love People. Love God
aSacredRebel 