“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. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.” Galatians 5:22-26
Your walk as a Christian must be a life that’s well disciplined. Disciplined in character and conduct. Disciplined in faith and life. This is true for you and all disciples of Christ. Never forget that discipline in all of its aspects (instruction, correction, and self-control/self-denial) is an essential piece of discipleship. It’s an essential part of your sanctification and growth in grace.
What is self-control? In his book, The Christian in Complete Armour, Puritan William Gurnall emphasizes the need for believers to take up the whole armor of God to stand against the wiles of the Devil, which includes mastering your desires and impulses. The Greek word that the apostle Paul uses for “self-control” in Galatians 5:23 refers to such “mastery”. It isn’t mastery by your own willpower, but by reliance on the grace of God and His transformative power in you by the work of His Spirit.
As many of you are well aware, the walk of spiritually dead men and women, the mindsets, affections, and ways in which you once walked in bondage according to your old man, among other things, lacked godly discipline. The flesh with its sinful passions and desires ran rampant and bore bad fruit. Therefore, the Apostle Paul’s instruction and encouragement to the saints in the churches in Galatia regarding the worthy walk of the Christian in the Spirit should also be of good help and encouragement to you.
For as the apostle makes clear in the preceding context in Galatians 5:19-21, “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.” Notice that by their very nature these “works of the flesh” are wild, unrestrained desires and lusts. Normal and natural human appetites have gotten out of control, resulting in widespread damage and destruction.
In contrast, see how what is good and beautiful is manifest in the fruit of the Spirit (showing forth the character of Christ), resulting in life and wholeness, along with sustained and growing godly health. Each of them are very active in healing and restoration. Further, don’t miss the intentional nature of Paul beginning the list with “love” and ending it with “self-control”.
What does he teach Corinth is true about love in 1 Corinthians 13? It’s often regarded as the supreme virtue. This is clear in Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 13:13 “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” And yet, what else is true about love? It must be directed and channeled. As you walk the self-disciplined, Christian life you recognize the existence of human appetites for food, drink, rest, sex, pleasure, play, etc., but by God’s grace, you also carefully direct and keep them in check so that they don’t become uncontrolled, sinful passions and lusts.
This is also why Paul wrote what he did to Titus and the saints in the churches in Crete. Remember what was true of Crete. It was an island full of people who had the reputation of being unruly. Consider Paul’s words in Titus 1:10-14 “For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain. One of them, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth.” As you consider these words, learn from and regularly meditate on what Paul taught Titus time and again- namely, that saints of all ages needed to be self-controlled. (Titus 2:1-12)
Beloved, the Bible consistently teaches you the godly necessity of self-discipline, of self-control. Solomon says in Proverbs 25:28, “Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls.” Living without discipline brings deadly consequences. Without defense, the weeds of your impulsive thoughts, words, and actions will take over all that is good and beautiful and choke it out.
Is the fruit of self-control manifesting itself in your life? In what ways do you specifically see it’s presence or absence? Take some time to examine its presence and work in your own heart, in your walk with the Lord, as well as then your relationships with others. I’ll unpack this more, along with other practical applications of the disciplined Christian life in the coming editions.
For additional reading, I commend a previous devotion I wrote on the fruit of self-control, Dr. Sinclair Ferguson’s book, The Christian Life, as well as William Gurnall’s book, The Christian in Complete Armour to your study.