THE TRENTON BULLETIN

THE TRENTON BULLETIN

Trenton Church of Christ, Trenton, Florida

The conclusion to the list of the works of the flesh is just as important as the beginning. It would be impossible to list every sin committed by man. Nor was the intention of the Lord to attempt such. The highlight of sins listed in Galatians 5 is to understand the nature of Jehovah’s view toward the evil passions of the fallen spirit of man. This list is not complete as a list and so the final statement of truth concerning those things that men engage in that damn the soul is summed up in the words, “and such like”; “and things like that”; “and things like these.” Our modern term is “et cetera.”

When the Lord looked upon man in Genesis 6:5 He “saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” Man can create evil in many ways. The nature of man was so corrupt in the days of Noah all humanity was destroyed save eight souls (Genesis 7:23; 1 Peter 3:20). Eliphaz observed man “drinks iniquity like water” (Job 15:16). The Preacher of Ecclesiastes declares while God has made man upright, they have sought out many schemes to pursue evil (Ecclesiastes 7:29).

There are many “et cetera” sins that men commit. Critics will argue that such and such a sin is not listed in the Bible so it must not be condemned. While men change societal views through the centuries the nature of sin remains the same. The intent of the thought of man is to enjoy the pleasure of his own lusts. He creates all kinds of evil to follow. All of this is rebellion to the righteousness of God and the clearly revealed word of truth.

The conclusion of Paul to the works of the flesh reminds us that while not listed in Galatians 5, the works of the flesh find themselves in “All that proceeds from the evil passions of a fallen spirit, besides those above specified; and all that the law of God specifies and condemns” (Adam Clarke). For children of God it is not a matter of how close to sin we can go; but how far we can stay away from anything that resembles the character of evil. “Abstain from every form of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:22). Abstain from everything and anything that even looks like evil.

What set Job apart from others? He was “blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil” (Job 1:1). In every part of his life he sought to refrain from evil and anything that looked like evil. He knew the danger of the “et cetera” sins of his day. "The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverted mouth, I hate” (Proverbs 8:13).

We like to make fools of ourselves in convincing our hearts that this ‘sin’ is not so bad and what harm can there be in just a little bit of whatever we want to do. Rat poison is 98% corn meal and 2% death. Those who are guilty of ‘such like sins’ will not “inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:21). Hell will be full of those who never committed murder or adultery but wallowed in ‘such like sins.’ "’Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,’ says the Lord. ‘and do not touch what is unclean; and I will welcome you’” (2 Corinthians 6:17). The works of the flesh are evident (Galatians 5:19). Can you see them?

The caution or exhortation itself, not to mingle with unbelievers, not to be unequally yoked with them, (verse 14). Either,

[1] In stated relations. It is wrong for good people to join in affinity with the wicked and profane; these will draw different ways, and that will be galling and grievous. Those relations that are our choice must be chosen by rule; and it is good for those who are themselves the children of God to join with those who are so likewise; for there is more danger that the bad will damage the good than hope that the good will benefit the bad.

[2] In common conversation. We should not yoke ourselves in friendship and acquaintance with wicked men and unbelievers. Though we cannot wholly avoid seeing, and hearing, and being with such, yet we should never choose them for our bosom-friends.

[3] Much less should we join in religious communion with them; we must not join with them in their idolatrous services, nor concur with them in their false worship, nor any abominations; we must not confound together the table of the Lord and the table of devils, the house of God and the house of Rimmon.

The apostle gives several good reasons against this corrupt mixture. [1] It is a very great absurdity, (verses 14,15). It is an unequal yoking of things together that will not agree together; as bad as for the Jews to have ploughed with an ox and an ass or to have sown divers sorts of grain intermixed. What an absurdity is it to think of joining righteousness and unrighteousness, or mingling light and darkness, fire and water, together! Believers are, and should be, righteous; but unbelievers are unrighteous. Believers are made light in the Lord, but unbelievers are in darkness; and what comfortable communion can these have together? Christ and Belial are contrary one to the other; they have opposite interests and designs, so that it is impossible there should be any concord or agreement between them. It is absurd, therefore, to think of enlisting under both; and, if the believer has part with an infidel, he does what in him lies to bring Christ and Belial together.

[2] It is a dishonor to the Christian's profession (verse 16); for Christians are by profession, and should be in reality, the temples of the living God - dedicated to, and employed for, the service of God, who has promised to reside in them, to dwell and walk in them, to stand in a special relation to them, and take a special care of them, that he will be their God and they shall be his people. Now there can be no agreement between the temple of God and idols. Idols are rivals with God for his honor, and God is a jealous God, and will not give his glory to another.

[3] There is a great deal of danger in communicating with unbelievers and idolaters, danger of being defiled and of being rejected; therefore the exhortation is (verse 17) to come out from among them, and keep at a due distance, to be separate, as one would avoid the society of those who have the leprosy or the plague, for fear of taking infection, and not to touch the unclean thing, lest we be defiled. Who can touch pitch, and not be defiled by it? We must take care not to defile ourselves by converse with those who defile themselves with sin; so is the will of God, as we ever hope to be received, and not rejected, by him.

[4] It is base ingratitude to God for all the favors he has bestowed upon believers and promised to them, (verse 18). God has promised to be a Father to them, and that they shall be his sons and his daughters; and is there a greater honor or happiness than this? How ungrateful a thing then must it be if those who have this dignity and felicity should degrade and debase themselves by mingling with unbelievers! Do we thus requite the Lord, O foolish and unwise?

“Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1).

There are at least 16 prophecies which were fulfilled in one 24-hour period surrounding the death of Christ. These prophecies were written up to 1,000 years or more before the time of their fulfillment. They had all been translated from Hebrew into Greek nearly 300 years before their fulfillment by the enemies of Christ who would not intentionally fulfill a single verse of Scripture.

9. The people were to shake their heads at the crucified one (Psalm 22:7; Matthew 27:39).

13. He was to cry, “My God, Me God, why has thou forsaken Me?” (Psalm 22:1; Matthew 27:46).

4 The Passover lamb was a type of Christ (Exodus 12:46; John 1:29; 1 Corinthians 5:7).

4 Crucifixion was not used at the time of the prophecy (Time of David: c. 1000 B.C.). Crucifixion was introduced by the Persians.

16. He was to be buried in a rich man’s tomb (Isaiah 53:9; Matthew 27:57-60). This is a marvelous prophecy. Jesus died with wicked men and arrangements for His burial were undoubtedly made by the Roman authorities. Joseph of Arimathea went to Pilate and requested the body of Jesus and placed it in his own new tomb, an unforeseen change took place. This was one of the “innumerable contingencies” of prophecy.

One could hardly imagine a more remarkable example of fulfilled prophecy than this. Imagine these 16 prophecies being fulfilled in a 24-hour period.

As we go about the business of serving God, there are many distractions along the way. We go to church, we sing, we pray, we listen to the sermon or class, we take the Lord’s Supper, and we suppose we have done our duty. We have done “God’s will in God’s way”. But, because of the repetitive nature of these acts, we sometimes go through the motions without any participation of the mind and heart. In Hosea 6, the prophet complains that Israel had done this. They thought that, if they offered the prescribed sacrifices, they could devote their affections to themselves and even to idol gods. “For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings” (Hosea 6:6 NKJV).

The Hebrew word for “mercy” in this passage is a hugely important term in the Old Testament, something like “agape” in the N.T. The word is “hesed” (H2617). It is used 248 times in the O.T. In the KJV, it is translated “mercy” 149 times, “kindness” 40 times, and “loving kindness” 30 times. It is translated by other similar words 27 times.

Thus, in our passage, the word expresses a tender affection that should be directed to God. In Matthew 9:13, the Pharisees criticized Jesus for eating with tax collectors and sinners. He reminded them of this passage in Hosea. They were offering sacrifices. They practiced their religion with incredible fastidiousness, but they did not love God. And they had no tender compassion for their fellow man. Their religion was defined by pickiness and faultfinding.

“I desire” – The whole idea of religious activity is to give God what He desires.

“Mercy” – “Hesed” may include loving kindness, loyalty and holiness. In the Maccabean period, the righteous were called the “Hasidim”, “godly”, “devout”.

“Not sacrifice” – Of course, God did want sacrifice. He instituted sacrifice at the dawn of creation. From Adam to Christ, He required animal sacrifice. This is one of those “not/but” statements in which one thing is negated in order that something else may be emphasized. He desired sacrifice, but He desired hesed, “loving kindness”, even more. Note the last line: “…more than burnt offerings”.