But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you won’t fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, that you may not do the things that you desire.
Galatians 5:16-17 · WEBRead the whole chapter →
Where you find this verse
From this verse, the Word reaches
In parallel withRomans 8:5-8
Paul names the war precisely: the mind set on the flesh is hostile to God, the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.
“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace; because the mind of the flesh is hostile towards God; for it is not subject to God’s law, neither indeed can it be. Those who are in the flesh can’t please God.”
In contrast toGalatians 5:22-23
The works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit are the two outcomes of this war.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
That reaches back to this verse
In parallel with (this verse)Romans 8:5-8
The same two powers at war: the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh.
“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace; because the mind of the flesh is hostile towards God; for it is not subject to God’s law, neither indeed can it be. Those who are in the flesh can’t please God.”