May 15
Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Gal 5:19-21.
This passage is not unlike this saying of Christ: “You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit; but the bad tree bears bad fruit.” (Matt 7:16- 17). Paul teaches the very same thing which Christ taught, that is to say, that works and fruits sufficiently testify whether the trees are good or evil; whether men follow the guiding of the flesh or of the Spirit. And then Paul sets before their eyes the works of the flesh. There were many hypocrites among the Galatians, who outwardly pretended to be godly men, and boasted a great deal about the Spirit, and, as far as words go, they understood the true doctrine of the Gospel; but they did not walk according to the Spirit, but according to the flesh, and performed the works of it. By this Paul manifestly demonstrates that they are not truly the holy men that they boasted themselves to be. And lest they should ignore this his admonition, he pronounces against them this dreadful judgment, that they would not be inheritors of the kingdom of heaven, to the end that, being thus admonished, they might amend. They who are of Christ crucify their flesh with the affections and lusts thereof.
O watch, and fight, and pray,
The battle ne’er give o’er;
Renew it boldly every day,
And help divine implore.
FIVE MINUTES DAILY WITH LUTHER
Daily Lessons from the Writings of Martin Luther
By
JOHN THEODORE MUELLER
PROFESSOR OF SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY
CONCORDIA THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
ST. LOUIS, MO.
New York
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