Either—Or

Either—Or

“For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.”

What is it that we, as natural human beings, really want to do? It is to live a little bit according to the flesh and a little bit according to the Spirit, i.e., to “falter between two opinions.” This is what religious people throughout the ages have attempted to do, always arguing about what is and is not sin. This is the real reason why all these churches and denominations have sprung up in the first place. The one takes his worship service more superficially than the next. Each denomination has its rules and ordinances to which the members have to agree. The largest memberships are often to be found in those denominations which accept the most superficial worshipers.

In this scripture Paul explains that it does not work to falter between two opinions, for the flesh and the Spirit are contrary to one another, so that it is impossible to give liberty to the flesh and at the same time be in the Spirit. “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”

The Galatians had been hindered from obeying the truth and had come under the law. But the law was added “because of transgressions.” Ch. 3:19. It was valid until Christ came. With Jesus came Jesus’ death, the cross over the flesh with its passions and desires. We who walk in the Spirit bear this death with us in our body. 2 Cor. 4:10-11. By walking in the Spirit, we enter a race in which we are molded into Jesus’ image, resulting in growth and development. Rom. 8:29. There was no development under the law. The law kept Israel under guard so that they would not drift out into the vices and the wretchedness of the Gentiles. Gal. 3:23-25. The Galatians had begun in the Spirit, and they had run well. But they were hindered from running in the race by laws and rules that did not put the flesh to death; they only put a brake on the passions and desires; consequently, they were now in danger of ending up in the flesh. Ch. 3:3.

This is also what all these religious denominations do with their laws and ordinances and church discipline. They are not acquainted with the death of Christ, being crucified with Him; therefore they slave away under laws and regulations so they can still call themselves Christians and not end up in utter worldliness. They are not in the race of sanctification. “And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Only then can we be molded into His likeness.

If we are in the Spirit, we cannot give liberty to the flesh. It is impossible to do it the way people want to do it. It has to be either—or. Being in the Spirit means that we put to death the flesh with its passions and desires, and then we shall live. Living according to the flesh means that we must die. Rom. 8:13-14. “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” Then there is no more disputing about what is sin or not. A person who is in the Spirit is not slaving away under laws and regulations, for faith works through love. Then the person has come into liberty, which does not give free rein to the flesh; it is liberty to be transformed from glory to glory. 2 Cor. 3:17-18. This results in a race. It is impossible to run this race by faltering between two opinions—the way people would like to do it. It is either—or. The person who abides in the Spirit also abides in love. Rom. 5:5. And if we abide in love we are also in liberty.