What is the definition of Galatians 5:17? ๐ ๐
For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
Explanation:
Okay, let's break down this passage from Galatians 5:17. Itโs a really important idea about temptation and our choices. Hereโs what it means in simpler terms:
Basically, it says:
"We have a struggle between our desires (our flesh) and the will of God (the Spirit)."
Let's unpack that a little further:
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"For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit..."
: The "flesh" refers to our physical body โ our wants, desires, and impulses. The "Spirit" represents Godโs guidance, His purpose, and His will for us. โLustethโ means to desire intensely or crave something. It's a strong, sometimes overwhelming urge.
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"...and the Spirit against the flesh..."
: This is similar โ our desires are fighting against Godโs direction.
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"And these are contrary the one to the otherโฆโ
: This is the key part! The struggle isn't just a mild disagreement; it's an ๐opposite๐ battle. It's like a tug-of-war.
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"...so that ye cannot do the things that ye would."
: This is the consequence of this struggle. If weโre constantly fighting against God's will, weโre more likely to do things that go against what He wants for us โ things that are wrong, sinful, or not aligned with our true purpose.
In a nutshell:
We have a natural desire to do ๐wrong๐ things (our flesh), and the Spirit tells us to do ๐right๐. This struggle keeps us from following Godโs path.
Why is this important?
This verse is about resisting temptation and staying on the right track. It's about aligning our lives with God's plan for us, which ultimately leads to a happier and more fulfilling life.
Does that make sense? Do you want me to:
๐ Explain it in a different way?
๐ Give some examples of temptations?