16 But I say, walk by the Spirit

The grammatical voice that signifies that the subject is performing the verbal action or is in the state described by the verb

The “second person” points to the person being addressed (“you”

and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

Walk by the Spirit implies both direction and empowerment; that is, making decisions and choices according to the Holy Spirit’s guidance, and acting with the spiritual power that the Spirit supplies. To “walk” in Scripture regularly represents the pattern of conduct of all of one’s life.

Having contrasted the flesh with love (vv. 13–14), Paul now sets it against the Spirit. The only way to conquer the flesh is to yield to the Spirit.

Having contrasted the flesh with love (vv. 13–14), Paul now sets it against the Spirit.

The Gr. word is porneia, from which the Eng. word “pornography” comes. It refers to all illicit sexual activity, including (but not limited to) adultery, premarital sex, homosexuality, bestiality, incest, and prostitution.

Any kind of sensual indulgence, whatever it may be—a lustful glance, the cherishing of an unclean desire, the utterance of a foul expression—all this is condemned, as well as the overt acts of adultery and fornication.

Which is secret, not known to others, but which is fully known to God—fleshly thoughts and fleshly words and fleshly acts.

Any kind of sensual indulgence, whatever it may be—a lustful glance, the cherishing of an unclean desire, the utterance of a foul expression—all this is condemned, as well as the overt acts of adultery and fornication.

The outward uncleanness that society condemns, yet often practices. This includes all conversation that excites the passions, all songs that suggest lewdness, all gestures and thoughts that lead up to unlawful gratification. All works of art that are contrary to modesty are here condemned, and the most pleasing poetry if it creates impure imaginations. These unclean things are the works of the flesh in the stage of putridity—the very maggots that swarm within a corrupt soul.

To bow in worship before an “altar” so-called, or a cross, or an image or picture of a saint, or before a real or supposed “holy” relic, or anything of the kind, is nothing but sheer idolatry. Yet multitudes are committing this great sin under the notion that they are doing God service. There is a form of idolatry that is not as gross as this, yet it is also sinful—the idolatry of loving ourselves, or our wife, or husband, or child, or father, or mother, or sister, or brother, more than we love the Lord.

The Gr. word pharmakeia, from which the Eng. word “pharmacy” comes, originally referred to medicines in general, but eventually only to mood-and mind-altering drugs, as well as the occult, witchcraft, and magic. Many pagan religious practices required the use of these drugs to aid in the communication with deities

idolatry, sorcery. These are evidences of a desire to be in touch with the spiritual realm through humanly invented means: they supposedly have God as their ultimate object, but they reject the revealed way in which he should be worshiped. Because Christ is “the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6), all other ways to God are false.

The apostle mentions a habitual enmity, usually combined with a selfish esteem of one’s own person. Certain men cherish a dislike of everybody who is not of their clique, while they detest those who oppose them. They are contemptuous, ready to take offense at the weak, and care little whether they give offense or not. They delight to be in minorities of one. The more wrongheaded and pugnacious they can be, the more are they in their element.

If you give way to a contentious spirit, foster disagreements, are filled with hatred and envy, so that you cannot bear to know that others prosper more than you, and desire to drag them down to your level; if you give way to bursts of passion or indulge in backbiting, for that is strife—you are sowing to the flesh. I grieve to say that these evil things abound all around us. But, O men and women of God, keep clear of all these things!

This is the fury of angry passion and all the madness that comes of it. “But I have a quick temper,” says one. Are you a Christian? If so, you are bound to master this evil force, or it will ruin you. If you were a saint of God to the very highest degree in all but in this one point, it would pull you down. Indeed, at any moment an angry spirit might make you say and do that which would cause you lifelong sorrow.

The continual love of contention, the morbid sensitiveness, the overweening regard to one’s own dignity, which join together to produce strife, are all evil things. What is the proper respect that is due to poor creatures like us? I believe that if any one of us got our “proper respect,” we would not like it long. We would think that bare justice was rather scant in its appreciation. We desire to be flattered when we cry out for “proper respect.” Respect, indeed! If we had what we deserved, we would be in the lowest hell!

As far as our church life is concerned, this evil shows itself in an opposition to all sorts of authority or law. Any kind of official action in the church is to be railed at because it is official; rule of any sort is objected to because each desires to have the preeminence and will not be second. God save us from this evil leaven!

This is the kind of hate that makes every man set up to create his own religion, write his own Bible, and think out his own gospel.

Envy comes about when people are not content with what God has given them, longing instead for what he has given others.

Drunkenness and orgies are examples of how people misuse God’s good gifts in destructive and sinful ways, in rebellion against God as the gracious giver of all good things. In the OT, wine was associated with joy and celebration (e.g., Neh. 8:10; Ps. 104:15; see note on John 2:3) but when abused was seen as being highly destructive

and drunkenness is consistently condemned throughout Scripture (e.g., Eph. 5:18). Sex is a precious gift for husband and wife, but when abused it also has highly destructive consequences for all involved (1 Cor. 6:18).

refers to those who “make a practice of doing” such things, as a pattern of life. Their outward conduct indicates their inward spiritual status: that they are not born of God, do not have the Holy Spirit within, and are not God’s true children

refers to those who “make a practice of doing” such things, as a pattern of life. Their outward conduct indicates their inward spiritual status: that they are not born of God, do not have the Holy Spirit within, and are not God’s true children

Those who orient their lives toward the flesh will not inherit the kingdom of God because they have established a kingdom of their own

refers to those who “make a practice of doing” such things, as a pattern of life. Their outward conduct indicates their inward spiritual status: that they are not born of God, do not have the Holy Spirit within, and are not God’s true children

Having contrasted the flesh with love (vv. 13–14), Paul now sets it against the Spirit. The only way to conquer the flesh is to yield to the Spirit.

The only way to conquer the flesh is to yield to the Spirit.

The Spirit fights against sin not merely in defense but also in attack by producing in Christians the positive attributes of godly character, all of which are evident in Jesus in the Gospels

The Spirit produces fruit which consists of 9 characteristics or attitudes that are inextricably linked with each and are commanded of believers throughout the NT.

One of several Gr. words for love, agape, is the love of choice, referring not to an emotional affection, physical attraction, or a familial bond, but to respect, devotion, and affection that leads to willing, self-sacrificial service

is the love of choice, referring not to an emotional affection, physical attraction, or a familial bond, but to respect, devotion, and affection that leads to willing, self-sacrificial service

God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it

24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.

25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper,

25 In the same way also he took the cup

“This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all

so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.