One of the most dangerous creatures in the animal kingdom is the lion. Lions and Lionesses have immense speed and power, incredibly strong jaws and huge teeth. But the same jaws by which these animals grip and tear their prey apart are used with self-control to carry their young cubs to safety.
Gentleness and self-control are connected. A person can’t be gentle without having good self-control. We began this series by reflecting on the reality that anything good only comes from God, who is good—as James says: “Every good and perfect gift comes from above…”
In our natural condition human beings do not have self-control. The Galatians 5 text shows that what comes naturally are things like sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. Paul says: “I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this (that is—those who willingly, unashamedly live like the world without restraint or repentance) will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19-21).
It’s worth remembering again that Paul is speaking to the church, the congregation at Galatia. He urges the people there not to live like the world, led by the flesh. These words are for us today, too. God’s own people can actually expect fiercer temptation from the devil to live by the flesh.
As most people again turn their TV stations to the Olympic Games—the sinful nature was again on display last week, with a sabotage attack on France’s high-speed rail network. Most people might think they are going OK because we might not have murdered anybody—or even attempted to murder anybody—but the temptation to live by the flesh isn’t just things done physically. It is in the secret thoughts and attitudes of the heart—things of which we would be ashamed if they were ever brought out openly in the public. Have we ever been so angry with someone in our heart that we are bitter, resentful and unforgiving towards them, treating them with contempt?
Jesus taught: “You have heard that it was said…‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca!’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell” (Matthew 5:21-22).
Jesus went on to say that even if a man or woman hasn’t committed the act of adultery—like King David in our Old Testament reading today—the very thought is just as bad, because the thought shows where a person’s heart is: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (verses 27-28).
It’s the human way to conceal things in our heart to outwardly appear righteous. In Isaiah 29 the Lord says:
“These people come near to me with their mouth
and honour me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
Their worship of me
is based on merely human rules they have been taught.
Woe to those who go to great depths
to hide their plans from the Lord,
who do their work in darkness and think,
“Who sees us? Who will know?” (Isaiah 29:13, 15).
The Psalmist declared: “Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely” (Psalm 139:4). “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:13). Self-control is not just needed in our outward words and actions, but at the very core of our being—our will, our heart, our imaginations, desires and emotions.
In Proverbs 25, Solomon said that a person who lacks self-control is like a city without walls (Proverbs 25:28). In Solomon’s day cities were surrounded by walls to protect the citizens from attack. If the walls were broken down it meant that they had been brought to ruin and ended up being mastered by the invading enemy. So is the person who lacks self-control.
A lack of self-control results in the divisions and factions in the church that Paul warns against in Galatians 5. But the Good News for us is that we are not left to combat temptation and exercise self-control by our own strength. Rather than being harsh with us and punishing us for what our sins deserve, God sent his own Son into the world:
“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good” (Titus 2:11-14).
It was Jesus who had complete self-control to submit to his Father’s will to be the world’s Saviour, and ours. He was tempted in every way, just as we are, yet he did not sin. (Hebrews 4:15). No deceit was found in his mouth (1 Peter 2:22). He entered Jerusalem not to take control of people with force, but to humbly ride in on a donkey and gently win people over with self-sacrificial love. When mocked on the Cross, Jesus prayed: “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). He was “obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8).
Paul said we too are to count ourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus (Romans 6:11). For In baptism, God gives us a way to die to sin, yet live on forever. In baptism you are united with Jesus who gives you all of his saving work from the Cross so that you are under ‘new management’—not your own, but his. In baptism you have been joined to Jesus’ own death. Our sinful nature was crucified with Jesus on the Cross and done away with. We were buried with Jesus in the tomb. Paul could confidently, joyfully declare: “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. For if we have been united with him in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection” (Romans 6:4-5).
In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace” (Romans 6:11-14).
This does not mean that we will never sin again. Nor does it does not mean that the struggle between the sinful nature and the new life in the Spirit means there is a problem with our faith. It means the very opposite—it means that we have received the Holy Spirit, who goes to work in us, fighting against our sinful nature, and growing the spiritual fruit of self-control in us.
True self-control is not about trying to bring ourselves under our own control by our own strength, punishing ourselves, even as Luther himself once did, whipping himself in penance. Luther discovered the gospel that it is by Christ’s stripes—his flogging, his punishment, suffering and death—that we have been freed.
True self-control is about bringing ourselves under Christ’s control by the power of the Holy Spirit.
The key to self-control is not looking inward for the source of strength, but looking to Jesus, the victorious Christ for you, who strengthens you with his own strength. It is looking to Jesus who invites you to come to him: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29).
It is looking to the Father, who keeps on sending the Holy Spirit to whoever asks him, for spiritual power, not human strength, by which to exercise self-control. Then, by God’s grace and strength in the Holy Spirit, we are able to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5) as we take up our Cross and follow Jesus. This is living in the power of our baptism. This is what daily drowning the old sinful nature looks like, so that day after day a new self should arise to follow Jesus in righteousness and purity forever. As you do, hear God’s own words to you: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10). Amen.
