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Galatians 5:19-21 “Now the works of the
flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness,
lewdness,
(20) idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts
of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,
(21) 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.”
There is a grave danger lurking ahead for some
who profess to be Christians. It is the danger of being
deceived into thinking that we will not be held accountable for a
continued lifestyle of sin. The Bible says, “Do you not
know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do
not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers,
nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor
drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom
of God” (1 Cor. 6:9-10).”
The sinful acts of the flesh described in
Galations 5:19-21 is a reference to a lifestyle -- not mere isolated
acts of sin. If believers “fall” into such sins, and sincerely
repent (1 John 1:9), God will forgive and restore His fellowship.
But a continued “lifestyle” identified with this behavior
reveals an absence of God’s presence — a soul who is lost,
destined to spend eternity in the lake of fire (Rev 21:8). “Dear
friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who
does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not
seen God” (3 John 1:11 NIV).
The following is an incomplete list of 17
sinful works of the flesh, along with the original Greek words and
their definition. The Bible warns that persons with these kind of
lifestyle acts will not inherit the kingdom of God. So, read them
carefully and take a self examination of your own life.
1. Adultery - MOICHEUO —
“...to apostate (to depart), or to break the marriage covenant.”
The Hebrew word for adultery, NAAPH, is similar, meaning to break
wedlock. The word adultery does not necessarily refer to sex, but
deals primarily with the betrayal of a sacred covenant and
commitment. Adultery is a sin of unfaithfulness (Matthew 5:28).
2. Fornication - PORNEIA —
“Harlotry, sexual impurity [sometimes used as a spiritual metaphor
of idolatry].” This would include premarital sex, homosexual sex
or any sexual activity outside the sanctions of marriage (1 Cor.
6:18).
3. Uncleanness - AKATHARSIA
— “Impure, or foul, [demonic]” (2 Cor. 7:1).
4. Lewdness - ASELGEIA —
“Licentiousness, lasciviousness, lack of restraint” (1 Cor.
9:25).
5. Idolatry - EIDOLOLATRES
— “Image worship.” Idolatry is often associated with
worshipping an idol, but scripture links it to covetousness (Col.
3:5), because it can also be the worship of material possessions.
6. Sorcery - PHARMAKEIA —
“Drugs, magic, witchcraft [that which deceives, manipulates or
controls.]” (1 Sam. 15:23).
7. Hatred - ECHTHRA —
“Hostility, opposition, enmity.” (1 John 3:15) Bitterness,
hatred and unforgiveness is contrary to every principle of
Christianity (1 John 3:15), inasmuch as those who retain
unforgiveness cannot be forgiven of their own sins (Matt. 6:14-15).
8. Contentions - ERIS —
“Quarrel, wrangle, Variance, contention, debate, strife” (Col.
3:12-13).
9. Jealousy - ZELOS —
“Heat” jealous, envy, indignation, emulation (zeal) from ZEO;
hot or boil.”
10. Wrath - THUMOS —
“Passion [as if breathing hard], fierceness, or indignation”
(James 1:20). Romans 2:8-9 says that those who are contentious and
who yield to indignation and wrath, are doing evil, and can expect
tribulation and anguish.
11. Selfish Ambition -
ERITHEIA — “Faction, contention [provocation]” (James 3:16).
12. Dissension - DICHOSTASIA
— “Disunion, dissension, division” (Rom. 16:17).
13. Heresies - HAIRESIS —
“A choice, disunion, or sect. [from HAIREOMAI ‘to take for
one’s self,’ or to prefer.]” Heresy is a term which can
describe false teachings, but it means even more than that. It is
teaching of certain “preferences” which brings disunity in the
body, and draws persons apart into dissenting groups. Heresy does
not necessarily have to be false teaching, but can be pressing
opinions which serve to divide, rather than unite God’s people (2
Pet. 2:1).
14. Envy - PHTHONOS — “Jealousy, spite, ill-will” (2
Cor. 12:20).
15. Murders - PHONOS — “Slaughter, unjust killings”
(John 8:44).
16. Drunkenness - METHE — “Intoxication, under the
influence, drunk” (Eph. 5:18).
17. Revelries - komos — Rioting, wild partying [letting
loose] (1 Pet. 4:3).
As we have already stated, the Bible warns “...they which do such
things shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal. 5:21). It goes
without saying, this is an extremely serious warning.
Unfortunately, there are professing believers... people who go to
church on Sundays, who assume that because they call Jesus their
Lord, He’ll wink at these so-called little “character flaws.”
However, Jesus warned that not all those who profess to be His
followers would enter heaven — only those who follow Him with
their lives. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall
enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father
in heaven” (Matt. 7:21).
If one’s lifestyle consists of works of the flesh, there’s only
one thing can detour their dreadful destination. They must repent
and forsake a lifestyle of sin, to turn about and live for the Lord.
Repentance means to “turn around and walk in a new lifestyle” (2
Cor 7:10).
Any person who truly repents and becomes born-again, is empowered by
the Spirit of God to walk in a new lifestyle. The
Scriptures say that “old things pass away and all things become
new” (1 Cor. 5:17). Instead of justifying continued sinful
behavior, persons who wish to follow Christ must forsake a lifestyle
of sin and walk in the newness of Christ’s life. “Therefore do
not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil
desires” (Rom. 6:12 NIV).
Do not misunderstand. In no way do we suggest that you must
“earn” salvation by doing good works (Eph. 2:8-9) — nor are we
implying that Christians will never stumble in sin or imperfection
(1 John 2:1). But what we are saying is that a genuine experience of
salvation “produces” good works (James 2:20) — in effect, a
godly change in a person’s lifestyle. The same Holy Spirit who
brings grace to cover all our sins (Rom. 8:2), also brings a new
nature, to which we are to yield our lives. “Walk in the Spirit,
and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh” (Gal 5:16).
Confess and forsake Sin
His grace and forgiveness is available for all
manner of sin, whatever it may be. Jesus will forgive all sins that
we confess to Him (1 John 1:9) — but remember, we must also
“forsake” them. “He who covers his sins will not prosper, But
whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy” (Prov.
28:13).
True repentance means that we will
make every effort not to repeat our former sins and will seek to
walk in the nature of Christ. Such was David’s desire in
his repentant prayer. “Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out
all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a
steadfast spirit within me” (Psa. 51:9-10).
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