The Flesh in the Church of Galatia

One of the most well-known texts about the flesh and its works is in Galatians 5. But think about it: shouldn’t this passage be in Corinthians instead? A church full of sexual immorality, divisions, disorder, and so on. But no—it’s in Galatians, whose situation was not the same as Corinth. The problems in Galatia, at least outwardly, were much smaller. They had placed their confidence in keeping the law. So why does Paul warn them about the flesh and its harmful expressions?

The answer:

Because the flesh is one and the same: energetic powers that operate through the things of this world, through what is earthly.

When a person moves by earthly powers—whether doing yoga, meditating, or even praying—they are filled with the same energies that fuel greed, fornication, divisions, shouting, and quarrels. Though the forms of the flesh may vary—whether through religiosity and morality, or through stealing and killing—it is ultimately the same force moving within.

It is only a matter of the right stimulus for that same force to shift from praying to violating and abusing a child.

That is why we understand that religious circles are often where corruption scandals abound—money, double standards, and problems of sexual immorality.

When Paul presents the list of the works of the flesh to the Galatians, he is telling them: at any moment, you may end up doing these things, because you are in the flesh—even if in the form of the law—you are still in the flesh. In contrast, when one lives in true grace and the freedom of the Spirit, no earthly power can move your consecration. It is the pure love of God. And when your flesh is stimulated, you do not respond with the flesh, but with the fruit of the Spirit:

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!”

(Galatians 5:22–23, NLT)

There is no need for rules or warnings, because you will always respond with God’s power to any situation of the flesh. Finally, we also understand why carnal churches have so many rules and regulations to control the flesh:

“You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as, ‘Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!’? Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them. These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires.”

(Colossians 2:20–23, NLT)

“For the law was not intended for people who do what is right. It is for people who are lawless and rebellious, who are ungodly and sinful, who consider nothing sacred and defile what is holy, who kill their father or mother or commit other murders. The law is for people who are sexually immoral, or who practice homosexuality, or are slave traders, liars, promise breakers, or who do anything else that contradicts the wholesome teaching.”

(1 Timothy 1:9–10, NLT)

The only way for the carnal person not to act out the flesh is by external repression, leaving the inside unresolved, concerned only with outward appearance—just like the Pharisees. That is why Paul gives such a strong warning against the flesh in its form of licentiousness and harm, even in a church whose main issue was trusting in the law for salvation. In the end, both are earthly powers at work, controlling people. It is no surprise that one easily mixes with the other:

“For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. … But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.”

(Galatians 5:13, 15, NLT)

So, brother, if you are in legalism, when your interests are touched or your pride or your body is stimulated, you will easily fall into the other face of the flesh…