Perhaps you are hearing or reading Paul’s letter and you had gotten to the previous section about the ‘lust of the flesh’. In the middle of vs 17 he said that because the flesh and The Spirit get along like the Hatfields and the McCoys, you can’t do the things that you want. I think hidden in there a little bit is the idea that you are then already doing the things that you don’t want.
And Paul also says it is pretty clear what those things are…here is the full text from Galatians 5:19-21…”19 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.“
The works of the flesh are pretty obvious…anyone who inhabits a human body can come up with a very similar list to what Paul has here. I always thought it interesting that Paul says the works of the flesh are clear and then goes to give a list of them just in case anyone is a little self-deceived on any of it.
I am not going to go through this list systematically other than to note a couple of things. The first is that when he uses the term ‘which are’ in vs 19…that essential means ‘for instance’. He is giving examples of the works of the flesh and not an exhaustive list…would such a list be possible? Man seemingly keeps coming up with new ways to sin. That is why also in the middle of vs 20 he uses the phrase …’and the like’…strongly implying that there were many more things he could have added to the list but chose not to.
The second thing that I really want to pay attention to comes at the end of vs 21…that somewhat ominous phrase that says “those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Is Paul saying that if you do any “Christians also fall and perform the lusts of the flesh. David fell horribly into adultery. Peter also fell grievously when he denied Christ. However great as these sins were, they were not committed to spite God, but from weakness. When their sins were brought to their attention these men did not obstinately continue in their sin, but repented. Those who sin through weakness are not denied pardon as long as they rise again and cease to sin. There is nothing worse than to continue in sin. If they do not repent, but obstinately continue to fulfill the desires of the flesh, it is a sure sign that they are not sincere.” (Luther)of these things, especially after ‘becoming a Christian’ that you are out of the kingdom of God? That engaging in any of these things automatically disqualify you even if you have professed true faith in Christ?
It may sounds pretty rigid and harsh here but this ides goes along with the Biblical idea of what conversion is. When our soul is saved and our sins forgiven, we are changed by Christ. Our life is never the same. The idea is not that a Christian could NEVER commit these sins but rather that a Christian will never STAY in these sins.
I want to close with this quote from Martin Luther…” “Christians also fall and perform the lusts of the flesh. David fell horribly into adultery. Peter also fell grievously when he denied Christ. However great as these sins were, they were not committed to spite God, but from weakness. When their sins were brought to their attention these men did not obstinately continue in their sin, but repented. Those who sin through weakness are not denied pardon as long as they rise again and cease to sin. There is nothing worse than to continue in sin. If they do not repent, but obstinately continue to fulfill the desires of the flesh, it is a sure sign that they are not sincere.”
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