Ethical Reflection: Round 2

Here is my second shot at a passage the informs ethical reflection, from Galatians Chapter 5:

¹⁶So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. ¹⁷For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. ¹⁸But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.

¹⁹The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; ²⁰idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions ²¹and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,²³gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ²⁴Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. ²⁵Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. ²⁶Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

I think this passage does a great and simple job of revealing ethical reflection. In his writing, Paul spells out rather clearly the conflict that exist between life in the spirit and life in the sinful nature, noting that they cannot coexist in the life of an individual. These two contrasting ways of life have their consequences, and Paul details that clearly.

The passage certainly is a cause and effect way of looking at moral actions. Paul obviously gives us the choices and outcomes, but so effectively portrays the right choice to make. I think this is a good example of Ethical reflection.