Self―Control

Galatians 5

On October 2, 2017 Stephen Paddock took a position on the one hundred thirty―second floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. Armed with a semi automatic weapon that had been converted to an automatic firing weapon Stephen Paddock killed at least 58 people and injured over 500 people in a span of approximately eleven minutes. The victims were persons from around the world attending a country music festival. As usual this mass killing led to the repeated debate over gun violence and gun control in America.

In one camp are those that want to maintain citizen’s second amendment rights to own weapons. In the other camp are those who argue that the second amendment rights of citizens can be maintained and at the same time there can be legislation to control violence by making certain types of weapons illegal. There needs to be tougher criminal and mental background checks to prevent dangerous people from purchasing weapons. Those who want to protect citizen’s second amendment rights argue that guns do not kill. People kill and in most cases those who own weapons and receive proper education and training are not the ones that are doing the killing. So, this is the question: Can laws change the behavior of people? Will laws stop the violence? Can laws give us self―control? In this article I want to address the character trait of self―control. I agree that laws are good and they are useful in protecting society, but we shall see that the apostle Paul informs us that laws alone are insufficient to control human behavior. Paul’s message to the church at Galatia is that the solution for controlling human passions and appetites is to live by the Spirit.

In this letter Paul is arguing that the law of circumcision cannot make a person righteous. Circumcision cannot bring a person closer to Jesus. Circumcision cannot determine the kind of life a person will live. The Law does not make one free from sin. Instead, the Law makes one a slave to sin because the Law can do nothing about our inclination to sin according to our passions and appetites.

Paul writes that the proof of this claim is in how the people in the church are treating each other. They are biting and devouring one another because with the Law alone they are still living according to the flesh. “For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, ‘you shall love your neighbor as yourself’” (Gal. 5:14, NASB). Instead of relying on the Law alone Paul writes, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the deeds of the flesh” (v.16). Those who live by the Spirit have been set free from the controls of the Law. They have been set free from the Law, and they now are free to live according to the law of love. Thus, Paul writes that there are appetites and passions of the flesh that cannot be controlled by the Law. These can only be controlled when the Spirit changes our character.

Paul writes in verses 16-18 that that the desires of the flesh and the Spirit are in constant conflict and opposition to each other. In verses 19-21 Paul gives us a list of how we live when we are controlled by our passions and appetites. These passions and appetites affect our mind, our emotions, our attitude, our behavior, and our will. Paul warns the church that this list is not exhaustive and has grave consequences. “I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (v. 21, NASB). As we shall see those who live according to the flesh do not have the Spirit of God; and they are not saved from their sins.

After giving his list of passions and desires that are natural to the person that lives by the flesh, Paul introduces us to an alternative way of life. He introduces this alternative way of life using the conjunction “but” which indicates that one has a choice between the appetites and passions just mentioned and the fruit of the Spirit that he is about to tell his audience about. As we read through this list we notice that these characteristics are opposite of those listed in verses 19-21. In, fact, the development of the characteristics of the Spirit is an antidote to the deeds of the flesh. We can compare this to a deadly disease that is treated with the best known meditation and therapies.

Paul list nine characteristics of the Spirit. The last mentioned is self―control. What is self―control? In the King James Version the Greek word enkrateia is translated to the English word temperance. Self―control is the restraint of all passions and evil inclinations. It is the mastery over all our evil inclinations and appetites. In Acts 24:25 self―control follows the word “righteousness.” God claims us and we respond to His claims. Self―control is necessary for one to be righteous before God, and we are made righteous by God’s Spirit. With His Spirit we are able to develop self―control. As stated above when we live by the Spirit, we live according to the ways of the Spirit.

In 2 Peter 1:6 self―control follows “knowledge.” This is knowledge that comes from the Gospel. It is receiving the right kind of knowledge that comes from knowing Christ. Human societies need laws, but human laws are based on human knowledge, understanding, and wisdom. The effectiveness of human laws is unpredictable. The longevity of human laws is uncertain. Why is this true? It is true because of the nature of sinful humankind. Let us look at two examples.

The first example is that of infections treated with antibiotics. Medical science has learned a lot about human disease. In order to combat these infectious diseases scientists have developed antibiotics to control the disease’s damaging and deadly effects. However, in time many of these infections build up a tolerance and resistance to the antibiotics making the antibiotic ineffective. It is the nature of sinful man to learn ways to get by the laws.

A second example is the cancer disease. Over past years scientist have developed many medications and treatments that prolong life. Yet, scientists have not found a sure way to prevent cancer. We pray and hope for prevention and cure, but the fact remains, everyday cancer is killing people. What then is the value of self―control?

As stated earlier, self―control is our response to the Spirit. It means that we make a decision to live by the Spirit. We do not simply memorize laws and give mental ascent to their goodness: We make a conscious decision to yield ourselves to the leading and empowerment of the Spirit. We allow the words of Jesus to give us new and right knowledge along with understanding and wisdom from God. We submit our emotions to the power of the Spirit so that when we become emotional we do not sin. The Spirit gives us the attitude of Christ which causes us to put the needs of others before our own desires. The Spirit gives us the will to live God’s way. Our behavior is changed because our character is changed.

Finally, Paul uses the word self―control in 1 Corinthians 9:25. Paul compares his life to that of a runner in a race. He says, “Everyone who competes in the games exercises self―control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable (NASB). This imperishable crown is not received in this life; rather it is the crown that we receive when Jesus returns.