Wouldn’t it be nice that we no longer struggled with sin after we accepted Jesus as our Savior? Unfortunately, that won’t be the case until we reach eternity with Him. Yes, we are redeemed by the blood Jesus shed for us. Having died in Christ, we no longer need to be slaves to sin (Romans 6:22). Still, we continue to fight against our sinful nature for the rest of our lives.
But this doesn’t mean we’re doomed. It simply means we must remain aware of what this battle looks like. We must remain on guard and alert, pulling from Christ’s power within us to overcome. We must be aware of what the works of the flesh look like—those actions and behaviors that go against God’s will and can lead us toward spiritual decline.
How can we overcome our sinful nature and strive to live godly lives?
We can start by seeing what the Bible says about these works of the flesh.
Where Does the Bible Talk about 'Works of the Flesh'?
When the Bible refers to “works of the flesh,” it describes actions and behaviors that draw us away from God. These are contrary to His will and are a byproduct of our natural sinful nature. If we do not gain control over this sinful nature and learn to walk by the Spirit, these temptations and actions can soon become destructive and lead us away from God.
In Galatians, Paul writes to Jewish Christians falling away from the Lord and gravitating back into their sinful lifestyles. In Galatians 5, he teaches them about the importance of putting this sinful nature to death and instead “living by the Spirit.” This chapter lists these vices as “sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like” (Galatians 5:19-21). This list is followed by Paul’s admonition that “those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:21).
These acts are seen as sinful and detrimental to our spiritual growth and development.
This phrase also appears in Romans 13:14. There, Paul encourages the church of Rome to “do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.”
The Bible also speaks about works of the flesh in passages like Romans 8:5-8 and Ephesians 5:3-7. In these passages, we learn that the works of the flesh hinder us from living a life that pleases God. These works lead us away from holiness and closer to sinfulness. Romans 5:8 reminds us that “those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.”
Therefore, we need to recognize when we are engaging in works of the flesh; that way, we can repent and turn back toward living under God’s will.
Does 'Flesh' Mean All Worldly Things?
The term “works of the flesh” can be a bit confusing. Some might automatically assume that all acts of the body are sinful. And yet that’s not exactly what the Bible says.
When the Bible mentions the “works of the flesh,” it refers to the acts of our sinful nature. If we look at the list of these sinful behaviors—such as lying, stealing, cheating, hatred, etc.—we see that these actions are self-centered. They bring harm not only to ourselves but to those around us too.
Since God has given us free will, we can make our own choices in life—for better or worse. But will we use this freedom of our flesh to please God or the enemy?
I like how the Message translation phrases this in Galatians 5:21: “If you use your freedom this way, you will not inherit God’s kingdom.”
When we struggle with knowing whether an action displeases God, let’s ask ourselves: Will this behavior, action, or thought please God or displease Him? If I follow through with the temptation, will it reap spiritual life or spiritual decay?
Knowing what Scripture says about this topic can also help us with discernment. It will be easier for us to know when others are speaking or acting in the flesh or if the Spirit prompts them.
We can also consider what the action may produce if followed through. Galatians 5:22-23 reminds us that if we follow the Spirit, then we will produce the fruits of the Spirit. These include “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”
Rather than following through on the works that produce decay, let us follow Paul’s instructions in Galatians 5:13,16: “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… So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.”
Why Is Doing the Works of the Flesh Not Freeing?
There’s a reason why carrying out the works of the flesh can be so tempting. Our natural, sinful inclination is driven to pursue selfish desires. These temptations are alluring because they often promise quick and easy gratifications. And just like the apple in the Garden of Eden, we may even fall into the trap of believing that these works are harmless. Just like Eve, we may believe that giving into this temptation will grant us a freedom (and a power) that we’ve never known before.
Yet I think we all know how the end of that story went for Eve.
The enemy attempts to use the same trap he used for Adam and Eve. He wants to make these works of the flesh as appealing to us as possible. He does this by planting lies in our minds, such as, “Just think about how freeing it’ll be to tell this one small lie,” or “Is it really going to be harmful to have just one more drink?”
But if we believe these lies and give in to these temptations, we will soon discover the truth. We will find that these acts do not lead to freedom; they only bring shame, guilt, and regret, ultimately leaving us trapped in a cycle of sin. This happens when we become enslaved to our desires and passions. This sin’s consequences can physically and emotionally harm us, harm others, and our relationships.
Ultimately, following through with the works of the flesh does not lead to true freedom but leads to captivity and despair.
This explains why Paul writes in Galatians 5:1, “So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.”
How Can We Help Each Other Avoid the Works of the Flesh?
We don’t need to face this battle against our sinful nature alone. Through prayer and accountability, we can work together to keep ourselves from succumbing to the works of the flesh.
Hebrews 10:25 reminds us that we should “not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” We are stronger together than apart. By encouraging and supporting each other, we can help each other avoid activities that lead us down a dangerous path. We can also learn from each other’s mistakes and strive to follow in Jesus’ footsteps in our own lives.
If we are committed to bringing about the desired changes, we often need outside help. Let’s try to find a community that can help us along our journey against fighting our fleshly desires.
In the same way, we must also help our fellow brothers and sisters who are caught in the works of the flesh. We must be willing to come alongside them, listen to their struggles, and offer love, support, and practical advice. We can point them toward God’s Word and remind them of the importance of resisting temptation and relying on the power of the Holy Spirit. We can pray for strength and wisdom as they fight against the works of the flesh. And we can offer a listening ear as they share their struggles and victories on their journey toward holiness.
With patience and prayer, we can help others find freedom from the bondage of sin that so often entangles us all. And by showing compassion and understanding (rather than condemnation), we can encourage others to turn away from their sinful habits and embrace a life of holiness.
The good news that I want to leave you with is this:
God has, in fact, given us the power to resist the temptations of our flesh.
Our sin no longer binds us. The same Spirit that raised Christ from the grave abides within us. We can rely on this authority as we battle against this sinful nature. As 1 Corinthians 10:13 reminds us, “God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.”
God wouldn’t have called us to live in a certain manner if it were impossible. Let us make it our daily goal, then, to “let the Holy Spirit guide your lives” so that we avoid “doing what your sinful nature craves” (Galatians 5:16).
Yes, the temptation to act on the works of the flesh might be real. But those actions will only reap death in the end. And through Christ, we have already gained victory over death because the Son has set us free from the chains of our flesh.
And if the Son has set us free, then that means we are free indeed (John 8:36).
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Andry Djumantara
This article is part of our larger resource library of popular Bible verse phrases and quotes. We want to provide easy to read articles that answer your questions about the meaning, origin, and history of specific verses within Scripture's context. It is our hope that these will help you better understand the meaning and purpose of God's Word in relation to your life today.
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