The first thing we need to define, when studying what works of the flesh really are, is the proper use of the word righteousness.

The Bible refers to two kinds of righteousness: self-righteousness and God's Righteousness. When we come to the Lord and repent and start our new lives as new creatures in Christ, God imputes His Righteousness in us:

"For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." (2Corinthians 5:21)

"What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." (James 2:14-17)

On the contrary, self-righteousness is one's own attempts at making oneself right with God. The belief that anyone of us can make atonement for their own sins and short-comings is a lie; ONLY Jesus has that power to Atone!

Abiding in this falsehood; believing we are doing God's Work, when we are actually being distracted with works of the flesh, falls into the category of spiritual dysfunction, (just sayin'.....)

When trying to discern our own condition on this subject, it may help to ask ourselves what our intentions are, as God cares about 'the why' behind what we do and understanding this distinction can make all the difference, (as was just pointed out in James 2:14-17):

Say you do routine work for your church, in the office typing sermons, planning events or putting on functions, maybe taking care of everyone's kids during services and you do it in response to our overflowing heart of love, that is God's Righteousness in you, showing itself.

However, those same good deeds are mere works of the flesh, if they are done with the intention of gaining good-standing with church members, trying to make an impression to hold a certain post or as an attempt to manipulate something or someone or for the simple and highly human, but ungodly purpose of feeling good about oneself. Those same "good deeds," are like a filthy rags before our Lord God:

"For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God." (Romans 10:3)

"For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends." (2Corinthians 10:18)

"Who can say, “I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin”?" (Proverbs 20:9)

"All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs the spirits." (Proverbs 16:2)

"There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes, Yet is not washed from its filthiness." (Proverbs 30:12)

Now that we have defined God's Righteousness in us, as opposed to self-righteousness; we can define works of the flesh as anything we do apart from God.

"Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." (Galatians 5:19-21)

Verses on God's Righteousness.....

"For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish." (Psalm 1:6)

"For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." (2Corinthians 5:21)

"and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;" (Philippians 3:9)

"To do righteousness and justice Is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice." (Proverbs 21:3)

"Sow for yourselves righteousness; Reap in mercy; Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the Lord, Till He comes and rains righteousness on you." (Hosea 10:12)

"For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world." (1John 2:16)

Verses illustrating that legalism stems from self-righteousness, NOT the righteousness of GOD:

"But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind Have taken us away." (Isaiah 64:6)

"Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin." (Romans 3:20)

"For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another." (Galatians 5:13)

***As previously mentioned, checking our motives is of vital importance and quite helpful in our assessment of ourselves. 

NOTE: Works of the flesh covers all things done out of fleshy desire. Moreover, when one tends to abide in self-righteousness, there is also the propensity for unfair and undue judgment of others.

"Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are adultery, fornication, uncleaness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, self ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." (Galatians 5:19-21)

NKJV

Linzy is a certified Bible Counsellor, with countless republications on her viewers blogs, Bible Studies, Ezines and the like. Her portfolio includes, non-fiction articles, short stories for all ages, and Christian poetry.