Brothers and sisters:
If you are guided by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Now the works of the flesh are obvious:
immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry,
sorcery, hatreds, rivalry, jealousy,
outbursts of fury, acts of selfishness,
dissensions, factions, occasions of envy,
drinking bouts, orgies, and the like. …
In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, generosity,
faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
Against such there is no law.
Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires.
If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit.
Now the works of the flesh are obvious:
immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry,
sorcery, hatreds, rivalry, jealousy,
outbursts of fury, acts of selfishness,
dissensions, factions, occasions of envy,
drinking bouts, orgies, and the like. …
In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, generosity,
faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
Against such there is no law.
Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires.
If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit.
Galatians 5:18-25
We are a consequentialist culture, dismissing as antiquated any objection to “victimless crimes” even if they clearly diminish us. My legal education tells me unequivocally that it would be inappropriate to make illegal “impurity” and the other characteristics Paul condemns, but I’m not ready to dismiss him altogether. I suspect he is right that if we fully appreciated our status as children of God we would be more inclined to love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and even self-control - not because they bear good consequences - but because we are proud of who we are.
