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"THE FLESH AND THE SPIRIT"
Infractions Of The Law Of Love - II
INTRODUCTION
1. As we continue discussing the "works of the flesh" as found in Ga 5:
19-21, we are focusing on that large group of sins that can be
categorized as "Infractions Of The Law Of Love"
2. They include "hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath,
selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy" (NKJV)
3. Our last study examined the first two:
a. "hatred" (echthra) - hostility that one may harbor in one's heart
toward another
b. "contentions" (eris) - strife or quarreling that results from
such hostility
4. In this lesson we will focus on two more sins...
a. "jealousies" (zelos) - Ga 5:20
b. "envy" (phthonos) - Ga 5:21
5. Though not together in the same verse, they sometimes occur together
in the Scriptures...
a. There are cases where one has to be defined in contrast to the
other
b. And it helps to better understand them when we consider them
together
[With that in mind, let's take a look at the first one...]
I. ZELOS (jealousies, emulations)
A. THIS WORD CAN BE USED IN BOTH A GOOD SENSE AND A BAD SENSE...
1. Examples where it is used in a good sense
a. Isa 9:7 - "The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this"
b. Ro 10:1-2 - "...they have a zeal for God..."
c. 2 Co 11:2-3 - "For I am jealous for you with godly
jealousy."
-- In these and many other such passages, it is used to
describe an excitement of mind, ardor, fervor of spirit,
for something that is good
2. Examples where it is used in a bad sense
a. 1 Co 3:3 - "For where there are envy..."
b. 2 Co 12:20 - "For I fear...lest there be...jealousies..."
-- In such cases, there is a fervor of spirit that is
misdirected, resulting in a form of envy and jealousy that
is destructive of personal relationships
B. IN GA 5:20, "ZELOS" IS CLEARLY USED IN A BAD SENSE...
1. When we find ourselves swelling up with zeal for something
which is not good or right to desire, then that is "zelos"
2. Zeal that is misdirected is mostly directed toward self, i.e.,
"selfishness"
a. When we are zealous for God, that is good
b. When we are jealous in behalf of others' good welfare, that
is good
c. But when we are jealous for selfish reasons, it is wrong!
3. We saw where such jealousy was a mark of carnality in the
Christians at Corinth - cf. 1 Co 3:1-3
4. In view of the coming of Christ, "zelos" (envy) is one of the
"works of darkness" we need to cast off - Ro 13:11-14
5. Indeed, remember "that those who practice such things will not
inherit the kingdom of God" - Ga 5:21
[We learn a little more about "zelos" when we compare with "phthonos",
so let's move on to consider that word...]
II. PHTHONOS (envy, envyings)
A. COMPARED WITH "ZELOS"...
1. William Barclay offers this distinction between the two:
a. "zelos" is the envy which casts grudging looks
b. "phthonos" is the envy which has arrived at hostile deeds
2. We might also add this distinction:
a. "zelos" is less serious, less bitter, less malignant than
"phthonos"
b. But "zelos", left unchecked, can result in "phthonos"
3. Whereas "zelos" has both a good and bad sense, "phthonos" is
always bad
B. EXAMPLES OF "PHTHONOS" IN THE NEW TESTAMENT...
1. It was "phthonos" that moved the Jewish leaders to deliver
Jesus to Pilate - Mt 27:18; Mk 15:10
2. "phthonos" is indicative of a reprobate mind that has denied
God - Ro 1:28-29
3. It is often the result of striving over words - 1 Ti 6:3-4
4. It is typical of our lives prior to salvation - Ti 3:3
5. But it is part of that which we are to "lay aside" - 1 Pe 2:1
C. AN EXAMPLE TO HELP US BETTER UNDERSTAND "PHTHONOS"...
1. Some were preaching Christ "even from envy..." - Ph 1:15
2. Their motive was to cause Paul harm - Ph 1:16
a. Thus "phthonos" is more than a desire to have something
which someone else has (that would be "zelos")
b. It is a desire to have it at the detriment or loss of the
other person
3. I.e., "phthonos" describes that strong desire of something...
a. Not just because someone else has it (again, that would be
"zelos")
b. But because we don't want that person to have it (this is
"phthonos")
4. It is therefore a sin which generates harmful actions toward
others
CONCLUSION
1. Once again I hope we are impressed with the high standard of conduct
to which Christians have been called...
a. The world thinks lightly of such things as jealousy and envy,
often considering it to be normal behavior
b. While it may be normal behavior for the unregenerate, such sins
have no place in the hearts and lives of those who have been
"born again"! - Ti 3:3-5
2. As we realize this high standard of godly living expected of
Christians...
a. I hope we will not be discouraged, even though we often fall
short
b. But rather that we will accept the challenge placed before us
c. And remember that it is only as we "walk in the Spirit" that we
will not "fulfill the lust of the flesh" - Ga 5:16
Let us therefore encourage one another to put away "jealousies" and
"envy", and instead to...
"...put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the
flesh, to fulfill its lusts." (Ro 13:14)
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© Mark A. Copeland, 2001
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