The works of the flesh

1
The works of the flesh
Galatians

• Idolatry and Sorcery

2
Works of the flesh

• The things we may desire which lead us away from
  godliness
• We looked at moral impurities
• Now we look at idolatry and sorcery, Gal 520
• Many people today engage in some form of idolatry
• Many people today engage in some form of sorcery

3
Idolatry

• Greek eidololatreia
• In early stages, no one worships the idol itself
• The idol localized the god it represented
• The idol helped visualize the god it represented
• Eventually people worship the idol itself
• Catholicisms icons are claimed to be an aid
• But most end up worshipping the image
• Rom 119-23
• Exod 204-6

4
Idolatry

• Eph 55
• Paul defines covetousness as idolatry
• Any desire that replaces our desire for God is
  idolatry
• Money or possessions (Mt 619-21, 24)
• Family or friends (Mt 1037)
• Life (Mt 1039)
• Fame or power (Phil 23)
• 1 Jn 521

5
Sorcery

• Greek pharmakeia
• Has 3 basic meanings in Greek
• Use of drugs / herbs to treat a medical condition
• Use of drugs / herbs to cause medical problems
• Use of drugs/herbs to alter perceptions,
  behavior, etc
• The first is not condemned
• The second, and especially the third, are the
  ones under consideration here

6
Sorcery

• Sorcery condemned
• Ex 2218
• Rev 218
• Acts 1918-20

7
Sorcery

• Practices which could be sorcery
• Using drugs, chemicals, etc to get high
• Illegal drugs marijuana, cocaine, heroin, crack,
  etc
• Sniffing glues, solvents, etc
• Euthanasia (using drugs to harm another)
• Using alcohol to alter mood
• More on alcohol later in works of the flesh
• Using drugs which harm your body
• Nicotine and tar smoking, chew, etc.

8
Summary

• The works of the flesh are perversions of things
  given by God
• Immorality, impurity, and sensuality are
  perversions of sex meant to be between a husband
  and a wife
• Idolatry is a perversion of the worship we
  should grant only to God
• Sorcery is a perversion of the proper use of
  drugs / herbs God has supplied to cure medical
  conditions

9
(No Transcript)