Throughout history mankind has attempted to control behavior by rules and regulations. However, the problem with this approach is that it cannot change human nature. A person may conform to the law because of fear of the consequences of breaking the law, but law can never curb desire. This is one of the fundamental problems with any religion which is based on law. The Holy Scriptures recognize this problem. It says, “Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.” (Colossians 2:23 NIV) For example, a person might refrain from theft because his religion forbids it, but a rule against theft will not prevent greed.
Since rules can only control outward behavior, not inward desires, people will often find ingenious ways to keep the letter of the law while indulging their sinful desires. These people may appear righteous because they practice religious rituals, but their religion is a surface thing. They are not pleasing to God in spite of their religious practices. Scripture says, “…The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7 NIV)
While outward righteousness may not reflect a heart that is right with God, evil behavior is an indicator of inward evil. Jesus said, “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.” (Matthew 15:19 NIV)
Since evil behavior is a reflection of inner evil we can use attitude and behavior as a test of whether we are pleasing to God or not. It is not religious ceremonies, but the kind of person we are which determines whether we are acceptable to God. The followers of Christ in the Roman province of Galatia were very attracted to the idea that the way to please God was to govern their lives by religious rules and regulations. In his inspired letter to these people, the Apostle Paul demonstrated that the attempt to attain righteousness through law was, in reality, to turn away from Christ and to subject oneself to slavery. Not only that, since law can never produce righteousness, the people would still be prey to their old sinful nature. In chapter 5, verses 19 through 21, Paul warned them about the consequences. An unchanged heart; an unredeemed character; the nature of one who has turned away from Christ, will inevitably manifest itself in wicked behavior. He writes, “Now the works of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these; of which I forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.”
The point is very clear: Those who indulge in sin and live wicked lives will not be able to enter God’s presence in spite of keeping religious rituals and performing religious duties. God is looking for true righteousness. Conforming to a set of rules does not excuse or give a license to sin.
What does Paul mean by the words ‘kingdom of God’? At the very least it means the place where God rules. The reason that people who live according to their fleshly desires will not be included in God’s kingdom is that they are not submitted to God. Instead, they have put self on the throne. God will not share His throne. Either we submit to His rule, or we will be excluded from His kingdom.
If righteousness cannot be obtained by following rules and our fleshly desires lead to sinful behavior, then how can we lead righteous lives and please God? The answer is to change our nature. This change of nature can only take place through placing our faith in Jesus Christ and following Him. When we give our live to Christ, God sends His Holy Spirit to live in us. Our behavior is no longer controlled by external rules, but from within. We avoid sin because we no longer want to do what is contrary to God’s will.
Just as living according to our fleshly desires results in all kinds of sin and wickedness, living according to God’s Spirit results in godly behavior. When we are in Christ and have submitted to the Spirit, not only our outward behavior, but our very character will be righteous. In verses 22 through 26, Paul writes, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts. If we live by the Spirit, let’s also walk by the Spirit. Let’s not become conceited, provoking one another, and envying one another.”
When we have the Spirit, no law is needed because there is no law against godly attitudes and righteous behavior. We are free to do anything we like because we only want to do what is right. Paul writes that we “have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts.” In other words, we have put to death the things which compelled us to sin. How can this be? In another place Paul writes, “…don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. …our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, that we should no longer be slaves to sin… count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:3-10 NIV)
As these verses point out, when we are baptized into Christ, one of the things which happens is that our old self dies. In place of it a new person is resurrected. This new self has the character of Christ and is filled with God’s Spirit. Sin no longer controls or has power over this new person.
The question we need to ask ourselves is whether our old self has died. Have we been buried with Christ in baptism so that we have new life? As Paul said if we have the Spirit we will show it in the way we live. We will no longer put self first and provoke each other in pride.