In Focus over the last term, we have been looking at what the book of Proverbs has to say about the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5). In the last week of the series, we took a closer look at self-control and many of us felt a tension between the victory we know we have in Christ and the reality that we so often fail, especially where there are addictive behaviour patterns. This article seeks to explore that tension and offer some practical help from the rest of Galatians.

Old me has died

We can talk about being a Christian in quite binary terms. For example in Galatians 2:20 Paul writes, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live but Christ lives in me.” We see this note of victory in Galatians 5, speaking of the fruit of the Spirit: “we have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires; since we live by the Spirit let us keep in step with the Spirit”. This is a right way to think about ourselves as Christians – when Christ died, old Linda died. When Christ was raised, Linda in Christ was raised. Old Linda no longer exists

These are the weapons with which we fight old self – ‘old self you are dead, I am new in Christ’. To use the metaphor from Proverbs the city walls were broken down, the enemies were running rampant and we would follow our passions and desires. But old Linda was crucified and raised with Christ, now in place of our broken walls we have his Spirit filled walls of power (see the cross reference from the Focus passage in Luke 4:14). Strong and secure. There is a decisive break with sin when we died in Christ.

New me still experiences conflict

But notice in Galatians 5:17 there is also a conflict still raging: “For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other.” There is an already – you are already saved, alive, free from sin; but there is a not yet, there is still conflict. Oscar Cullman compares this to the distinction between D-Day and VE-Day in WWII. On D-Day Allied troops entered France, in principle dooming the Nazis, but it took many months of bitter fighting before they fully surrendered. We live in the tension of the already-not-yet; and during that time we continue to battle with the desires of the flesh.

When we think about addiction this is where the battle is most acute – those pathways we keep going back to are well worn pathways. They are actually neural pathways that have been laid down and habitually followed for years. Glynn Harrison speaks really powerfully about this tension in an interview that we as a staff team heard at a local FIEC conference. He says that justification has this binary feel – we are justified, we died with Christ and have been raised with him. But when it comes to the appropriation of that we can think that too should be binary, as if a switch is flipped in my mind and I am free from sin, from addiction, and the temptation to follow those old passions and desires. God can and does do that, but Paul’s expectation as he writes to the Galatian church is that they will continue to experience a conflict within them; they will need to control the self so that they keep in step with the Spirit.

Glynn helpfully speaks about these well-worn pathways and encourages us to recognise the passions and desires; to feel the pull; but to bring Scripture to bear on them and say no. “I see this thought I, it’s part of me. I’m not going to pretend it’s not there. I own it. It’s there. But the answer is no. And even though my feelings take a while to follow on, I’m going to behave, on the base of the truth that I’ve been given.” We can be self-controlled because Christ has replaced our broken walls with his Spirit filled walls of power that enable us to say no to self and yes to walking in step with the Spirit.

Fight by serving others

God gives us another powerful weapon to say no. Look at Gal 5:13 where Paul writes “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh, rather…”

I would expect him to say open your Bible, your worship playlist, pray in your flat by yourself. Of course, these are all good things but Paul suggests the way to fight is by filling that empty space with serving others in love. This is so insightful! Fight sin by helping at the conversation café. Visit a family with little kids who aren’t so able to get out in the evenings. Go to the prayer meeting. Serving others is a powerful weapon in the battle. This is one of the helpful things about addiction support groups that they offer daily support in community with others who are fighting similar addictions.

One downside of these groups is that when a group celebrates milestones (how many months sobriety you’ve had for example) it can make you feel your status is tied up with when you last had a drink, so every time you fail you are back to square one. It’s not difficult to see how we actually mimic this as Christians – ‘I’m a bad Christian because I gave in to addiction yesterday’.’ ‘I’m a good Christian because I have managed a whole week’.

Our status and assurance as a Christian does not rest on when we last sinned, but on Christ’s finished work. We don’t fight out of guilt, as if we could make ourselves new through overcoming this temptation. We have been crucified with Christ, we are already new, justified, that is who we are and that is how we fight. We fight to walk in step with the Spirit and live the new life he has won for us. “Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control.” In place of our broken walls, we have his Spirit filled walls of power. Let us not with our own hands tear them back down. Rather let’s declare with Paul: I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. When I struggle, I often sing verses like this defiantly – I sing them defiantly to Satan, to sin, to the sickness of my mind when I am struggling mentally.

I often find in the heat of the battle I can’t even find the words to say to God so here’s a song version of Galatians 2:20 (sorry it’s a kids one but I find it helpful!), and a prayer to help you in the fight. “Lord Jesus, I feel the pull to sin again, but give me your Spirit, who raised you from the dead to say no – how could I go back to sin again when you have died for me and raised me and indwell me? Help me instead to use my freedom to serve others humbly in love.”

If you want more support in a struggle you’re facing, there is support available from our Pastoral Care Team. All requests are kept confidential, and you can email care@globe.church to get in touch. Or speak to someone on the staff team.