Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity (1881)

Galatians 5:16-24 It is a glorious title of honor that Paul ascribes to the believing Corinthians, when he calls them "saints."1 This honorable title, though the world resents it, rightly belongs to all true believers. They are called "saints" for the sake of the righteousness imputed to them by God and the holiness of their mediator, Jesus Christ, Whose blood and merit they apprehend by faith, whereby they are just, pure, holy, and saved. "Christ's blood and righteousness, that is" etc. - Subsequently true Christians are therefore also called "holy" because they cultivate a pious, godly life in the power of Christ and by the grace of the Holy Spirit and pursue holiness2, seriously guard against all willful and intentional sins and are in a constant struggle against sin, as for this purpose St. Paul earnestly exhorts at this in our text when he says: "Walk in the Spirit, and you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh; for the flesh lusts against the Spirit" etc. So let us direct our attention to this latter matter. Of the struggle of the Flesh and the Spirit; 1. the nature of this struggle; a. what is meant by flesh and spirit? . Scripture calls flesh, in contrast to Spirit, the entirely natural, unconverted man in body and soul, with reason and all senses. For we are by nature all children of Adam, flesh born of flesh3, incapable of anything good4, inclined to everything evil, indeed, sold under sin5; . Spirit is what is born of the Spirit6, the new man born from above who is heavenly minded, who has the desire to do all things good, who walks happily from heartfelt love according to His commandments7, and willingly sacrifices in holy garments8; b. in whom does the struggle of the flesh and of the Spirit take place? . not in the unregenerate and unconverted; for these are only flesh without spirit. Even though they sometimes feel an inner struggle, it is still worlds apart different than the struggle between flesh and Spirit. There is neither right knowledge of sin nor knowledge of their own powerlessness for good, neither repentance nor faith, neither Christ nor the Holy Spirit in the heart. The inner struggle of the unregenerate
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1 Corinthians 1:2. Hebrews 12:14. 3 John 3:6. 4 1 Corinthians 2:14; 2 Corinthians 3:5. 5 Romans 7:14. 6 John 3:6. 7 Psalm 1. 8 Psalm 110:3.

is only partly in excruciating remorse, who want to be rid of it and cannot get rid of it, partly in an unconscious reluctance against the firm chains of their vices and passions that cause them physical and temporal ruin and shame and disgrace before the world; . the struggle between flesh and Spirit can only occur in the regenerate, in true, living Christians. These alone are indeed the ones whom St. Paul speaks to when he says: "Walk in the Spirit" etc. Therefore they have in their difficult trials the consolation that they may still think, despite their sins and infirmities that cause them so much fear and grief, that they are not Christians and children of God because they still feel in themselves the struggle of the flesh and the Spirit; c. Why is the struggle of the flesh and the spirit inevitable in the true Christian? By regeneration they indeed are born another man, a new creature9, but the flesh, the old nature, original sin is not entirely dismissed and eradicated in them.10 Therefore two persons are in a Christian, the new and the old, the flesh and the spirit, and these two are against each other.11 When the Spirit is also willing to do anything good, the flesh opposes and hates the good, etc. A lifelong struggle! A difficult struggle12 not without stumbling, "that you do not do what you want".13 - But a victorious struggle at the end ("not fulfill").14 The exhortation of the apostle nevertheless remains necessary; for some not only fall away, but also fall away completely and forever and finally are lost! 2. to where does it go, depending upon either the flesh or the Spirit winning the day; a. if the flesh triumphs and reigns, then very soon appears those horrible fruits whereupon one recognizes the bad tree, and its consequences are sad in the highest degree; . hideous fruits15: nothing but deadly sins against the first, fifth, and sixth commandment (of which in particular these should be treated and highlighted in detail in preaching, which have occurred recently in the congregation or to those facing particular risk); . the sad consequences of them. Of faith and Christianity there can be no question where such sins prevail, and provided that righteous repentance and reformation is not made, condemnation is inevitable. The consequences are God's wrath and displeasure, agony and eternal death. St. Paul foretells this with all seriousness to all who do such things16;
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2 Corinthians 5:17. Romans 7:18. 11 Galatians 5:17. 12 Romans 7:24. 13 Galatians 5:17. 14 Galatians 5:16. 15 Galatians 5:19-21. 16 Galatians 5:21.
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b. if the Spirit wins the day and dominion is retained, then, on the other hand, glorious, sweet fruits are manifested, whereby one recognizes the good tree, and its consequences are blessed; . the glorious fruits of the Spirit17 (Description and recommendation of them); . its blessed consequences. Although they bring about no merit before God, it is all grace, and one can only "inherit"18 the kingdom of God, but how blessed a man who is "no longer under the Law"19, "against such things there is no Law".20 He does good not from fear and coercion, but with a willing spirit in Christ, in which he also has forgiveness of his sins; therefore the Law no longer is able to condemn him.21 Final exhortation from verse 24: " And those who belong to Christ" etc. Georg Stckhardt

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Galatians 5:22. Galatians 5:21. 19 Galatians 5:18. 20 Galatians 5:23. 21 Romans 8:1.