Works of the Flesh, Continued

Hatred

Hatred- the Greek word for hatred is echthra, meaning enmity. Bitter dislike against anyone. Hatred is malice, abhorrence, holding grudges and being angry to the point of unforgiveness.

Galatians 5:20

Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

This is another of the "Works of the flesh" mentioned in Galatians and should be avoided along with sexual types of the works of the flesh. Hatred is the very opposite of "love thy neighbor as thyself." Christ also gives victory and strength to overcome hatred. We do not have to hate. The Holy Spirit will shed the love of God into our hearts if we really desire to be filled with that love and refuse to allow the "Works of the Flesh" into our lives.

Luke 23:12 And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves.

. At one time Pilate and Herod hated each other but for some reason they had made friends. Enmity means to hate passionately.

Romans 1

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Hatred is another trait that comes when one forsakes their walk with God and does not retain the knowledge of God in their lives. I cannot stress enough how very much we need daily fellowship with our Lord. We cannot pray enough or read the word enough. We need God.

One form of hate here is hatred of God. The only reason I could possibly think that a person could hate God is that they want to sin and do not want His interference to keep from sinning. Little do we realize how much God loves us. He knows that sin will destroy us and cause us many harms. He is not a person who sits back and desires us to be miserable and not have any laughter or joy. On the contrary, His Holy Spirit gives us a greater joy and peace than any worldly pleasure we could possibly enjoy.

Romans 8:7

Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

Being carnal, mindful only of the things of the flesh or the things of this life only is the very opposite of a spirit filled life with our minds filled with the knowledge of God continually. It is even a enmity or hatred against God to be fleshly minded instead of spiritual minded.

Ephesians 2:15

Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

Before coming to Christ there is a enmity or hatred separating us from God. This enmity is caused by sin in our lives. When we come to Christ repenting of sin and making peace with God that separation and enmity against God is destroyed and abolished.

Ephesians 2:16

And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

We become reconciled or reunited with God through faith in Jesus Christ. Before we were separated, alienated, and without the life of God flowing through us by His Spirit. After coming to Christ, we become a new creature and the old things have passed away. Sin is now washed away by the shed blood of Jesus Christ.

James 4:5

4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?

If we love the world and give attention to the things of the world, we actually hate God. We can't love God and the world too. The two things do not mix. Walking is the Spirit will enable us to hate the world and love God. This does not mean we hate sinners but we hate the sin that separates us from God. To truly love God is to abhor anything that would keep us from walking close to Him.

Variance

Variance - The Greek is eris meaning discord, quarreling, debating and disputing. Another word is dissension. Also recorded in Galatians 5:20 as one of the works of the flesh.

Those who are filled with these "Works of the flesh" actually desire others to be the same. They not only walk this way themselves but it bothers them when others do not fulfill the same lust and walk in variance, sexual immorality and strife.

Have you ever heard of someone making fun of a "Goodly two shoes?" We actually have to choose to serve God or to please men. We live in a day that evil is called good and good is called evil. WE can overcome by the blood of Jesus Christ and faith in His keeping power.

Works of the Flesh - Emulation