Sex
The Sinful Nature – Part 1

Scripture Reading: Galatians 5:13-18

Key Verse: Galatians 5:19

The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery

The sinful nature is the part of all of us that drives us to act in ways that dishonor God. As our Key Verse makes clear, these acts that dishonor God are obvious. In other words, our conscious will let us know when we are operating with the sinful nature! Sexual immorality is mentioned as one of the most obvious characteristics of sinful nature.

The opposite of the sinful nature and that which only can overcome it, is God’s Spirit in us. When we become Christ followers, we receive the Holy Spirit to work in our hearts and minds. Just as the sinful nature has obvious characteristics, so God’s Spirit in us has obvious characteristics. Galatians 5:22-23 lists the traits or, as the Bible calls them, “fruits” of God’s Spirit in us. Comparing the two lists of characteristics, we can see how opposite they truly are.

As we identify these two lists, we must then choose, on a daily basis, what characteristics we will allow to dominate our behavior. The apostle Paul tells us to crucify the sinful nature characteristics. They must die; become non-existent in our lives. As Paul writes in Galatians 5:17, these two sets of traits conflict with each other. There is no harmony, no compromising. One set of characteristics will dominate; we must choose one over the other! We make this choice daily and with the Spirit’s help we can choose Godliness!

Father, I choose you and your way of living. I need your Spirit reminding me and strengthening me. Thanks for victory over sin. In Jesus’ Name, amen.