Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Recently, while teaching about the fruit of the Spirit, I thought that Matt 6:1-21 might be dealing with the same distinction, the works of the flesh versus the fruit of the Spirit.

In Matthew 6, the Lord said that we should not pray, fast, and give to be seen by men. Instead, we should do those things privately, secretly.

The Lord Jesus said that if we pray, fast, and give to impress others, that is all the reward we will ever get. But if we do those things secretly, then we are laying up treasure in heaven and will be rewarded openly.

In his letter to the Galatians, Paul was battling people we call Judaizers. They were like the Pharisees and scribes that the Lord Jesus battled, wanting the praise of men.

If we walk in the flesh, that is, legalistically, then we will be laying up treasure on earth, not in heaven.

Of course, God wants us to do good works. But He does not want us to do works of the flesh. Works of the flesh are not good works. Those are works done by those who are seeking to be justified or sanctified by works (Gal 5:4). These are works designed to please men, not God. We don’t produce God-pleasing works by being legalistic. We do so by walking in the liberty with which Christ set us free (Gal 5:1).

Have you ever noticed that Lordship Salvation and works salvation pastors sometimes have secret lives that are dishonoring to God? That should not be too surprising since the deeds of the flesh include adultery and fornication. Some of the most religious preachers fall into immorality.

It is sadly true that some Free Grace pastors have fallen as well. However, I think they have done so far less often, and in many such cases, they, too, became legalistic. Free Grace people can remain assured of their salvation and yet fall into a legalistic mindset regarding sanctification. I may think, If I just practice the spiritual disciplines, then I’m pleasing to God even if I’m enslaved the works of the flesh. No. If I’m producing the works of the flesh, then I’m not pleasing God.

I recognize that we all sin. But what Paul is talking about in the works of the flesh are works that enslave a believer in his experience. Believers are free from sin’s bondage in our position, but not necessarily in our experience (John 8:30-32; Rom 6:16-17). If we are spiritually minded believers (1 Cor 2:14-16), then the Holy Spirit is producing His fruit in and through us.

Of course, He produces His fruit in us when He renews our minds via the regular preaching of God’s Word (Rom 12:2). That is why it is so important that we hear sound Bible teaching each week.

I think that Gal 5:19-24 is parallel with Matt 6:1-21. Check it out and see if you agree.

Keep grace in focus.