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The Spirit and Human Nature

16 So I tell you: ·Live [Walk] ·by following [guided by; in the power of; L by] the Spirit. Then you will not do what your ·sinful self [sinful nature; T flesh] ·wants [desires; craves]. 17 Our ·sinful self [sinful nature; T flesh] ·wants [desires] what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit ·wants [desires] what is against our ·sinful self [sinful nature; T flesh]. [L For] The two are ·against [opposed to; or hostile toward] each other, so you cannot do just what you ·please [want]. 18 But if the Spirit is leading you, you are not under the law.

19 The ·wrong things the sinful self does [works of the flesh/sinful nature] are ·clear [evident; obvious]: ·being sexually unfaithful [sexual immorality], ·not being pure [impurity], ·taking part in sexual sins [depravity; promiscuity], 20 ·worshiping gods [idolatry], ·doing witchcraft [sorcery], ·hating [hostility; antagonism], ·making trouble [discord; strife], being jealous, ·being angry [rage], ·being selfish [rivalries], ·making people angry with each other [dissensions], ·causing divisions among people [factions], 21 feeling envy, being drunk, ·having wild and wasteful parties [carousings; orgies], and doing other things like these. I warn you now as I warned you before: Those who do these things will not inherit God’s kingdom. 22 But the ·Spirit produces the fruit of [L fruit of the Spirit is] love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, ·faithfulness [or faith], 23 gentleness, self-control. ·There is no law that says these things are wrong [or No law can oppose such things]. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified ·their own sinful selves [the sinful nature; the flesh]. They have given up ·their old selfish feelings and the evil things they wanted to do [L its passions and desires]. 25 ·We [L If/Since we…] ·get our new life from the Spirit [live by the Spirit], so we should ·follow [be guided by; walk in step with] the Spirit. 26 We must not be ·proud [conceited] or ·make trouble with [provoke] each other or be ·jealous [envious] of each other.

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16 So I say, walk by the Spirit,(A) and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.(B) 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh.(C) They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever[a] you want.(D) 18 But if you are led by the Spirit,(E) you are not under the law.(F)

19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality,(G) impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.(H) I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.(I)

22 But the fruit(J) of the Spirit is love,(K) joy, peace,(L) forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control.(M) Against such things there is no law.(N) 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh(O) with its passions and desires.(P) 25 Since we live by the Spirit,(Q) let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited,(R) provoking and envying each other.

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Footnotes

  1. Galatians 5:17 Or you do not do what