Galatians 5: 19-21

[2scoops]

19Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,



20Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

I was wondering how others interpreted these verses. i have heard dfferent things from different people.

 

[aReformedPatriot]

adultry can be 2 things, lust and the physical act; fornication is sex before marriage by definition; Not sure about uncleanliness. Drunkeness by sheer principal refers to anything intoxicating, IE drugs.

Thats all I feel like listing right now, but they are lifestyle sins. Do you have any question on a particular thing?

Remember, "be holy as the Lord you God is holy"

 

[hindsey]

Based on the context, I understand those verses to say that if you are in the flesh, then those sins are what will be manifested in your life. But if you have the Holy Spirit dwelling in you, which means you have saving faith and are not trying to work your way to Heaven, then the Spirit's fruit will be manifested in your life (that's verses 22-24).

 

[2scoops]

I was always taught once saved always saved. The verses in Galatians state that one cannot inherit the Kingdom of heaven if he/she practice those things in the flesh. I know that once we are saved we should do our best to turn from sin, but I know we all fall short. But let's say one accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior, but still drinks or whatever, then that means they will not inherit the Kingdom of heaven.

 

[FreeinChrist]

Gal 5:13 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only {do} not {turn} your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

Gal 5:14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the {statement,} "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF."

Gal 5:15 But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.

Gal 5:16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.

Gal 5:17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.

Gal 5:18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.

Gal 5:19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,

Gal 5:20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,

Gal 5:21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

Gal 5:23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.Gal 5:24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Gal 5:25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.

Gal 5:26 Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.
I think it is key to remember the reason Paul is writing in the first place. Judaizers came in to the Galatian church:
Gal 1:7 which is {really} not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.
These Judaizers were trying to bring the Galatians under the Law, saying they had to be circumcized, and the Galatians were falling for it. So Paul is asking - why go back under the Law? Were you saved by the Law?
Gal 3:1 You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed {as} crucified?

Gal 3:2 This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?

Gal 3:3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?
Then Paul goes on into a wonderful discussion about Abraham, who was BEFORE the Law, being declared righteous even before the command for circumcism came. We are children of Abraham by faith in Jesus Christ.

The essence, I beleive of Galatians 5 is that we cannot work for salvation, that the fruit of our own labors will end up faulty - and the fruit of the flesh (our will, our efforts) is as described in 19-21. But if we live by the Spirit, letting God's will prevail, we have the fruits listed in 22-23.

 

[Andyman_1970]

First, the idea in this passage is that a person's habitual lifestyle would reflect those actions.

Second, you're assuming the Kingdom of Heaven means when we die and go to Heaven - I would argue this is not the understanding that a Jew had in the 1st century. It's more like, one cannot be a part of or function in God's Kingdom on earth if they live a life of habitual (insert list from Galatians here).

 

[FreeinChrist]

I was always taught once saved always saved. The verses in Galatians state that one cannot inherit the Kingdom of heaven if he/she practice those things in the flesh. I know that once we are saved we should do our best to turn from sin, but I know we all fall short. But let's say one accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior, but still drinks or whatever, then that means they will not inherit the Kingdom of heaven.

You wrote this while I was composing my last post. I think you are mistaken in your understanding of "in the flesh". It is referring to where our true belief is - our heart. A true believer will walk by the Spirit. those who live a lifestyle of immorality, etc. do not exhibit a faith in Christ, as the fruit of the Spirit is not evident in them.

 

[Fat]

I was always taught once saved always saved. The verses in Galatians state that one cannot inherit the Kingdom of heaven if he/she practice those things in the flesh. I know that once we are saved we should do our best to turn from sin, but I know we all fall short. But let's say one accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior, but still drinks or whatever, then that means they will not inherit the Kingdom of heaven.

Go back a bit,

1 Christ has liberated us into freedom. Therefore stand firm and don't submit again to a yoke of slavery. 2 Take note! I, Paul, tell you that if you get circumcised, Christ will not benefit you at all. 3 Again I testify to every man who gets circumcised that he is obligated to keep the entire law. 4 You who are trying to be justified by the law are alienated from Christ; you have fallen from grace! 5 For by the Spirit we eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness from faith. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision accomplishes anything; what matters is faith working through love. 7 You were running well. Who prevented you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion did not come from Him who called you. 9 A little yeast leavens the whole lump of dough. 10 In the Lord I have confidence in you that you will not accept any other view. But whoever it is who is troubling you will pay the penalty. 11 Now brothers, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. 12 I wish those who are disturbing you might also get themselves castrated!
13 For you are called to freedom, brothers; only don't use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in one statement: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 15 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another. 16 I say then, walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don't do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Galatians is about the Law vis Grace. Paul tells us that if you choose to follow the Law (old covenant) you will go to hell for you sins. He was talking to a group of Jews that were trying to take over Peters teachings and were demanding that all must be circumcised because of the law. They had gone as far as not eating at the same table with their Christian brothers that were Gentiles because of the meat they ate. He is also saying that if you walk with the Holy Spirit you will not be able to walk in the flesh.

Fat

 

[Ginny]

I interpret through conviction that these sins are "lifestyle" sins....that they are a way of life...continual, if you will. One may have homosexual relations once, but are forgiven, but to continue in the sin constantly with no remorse/repentance is a totally different thing......you can substitute any other sin in that place and it is the same thing...

You can lie, or be a liar.
You can have a drink, or be a drunkard.
You can commit premarital sex, or be a fornicator.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=52&chapter=6&verse=6&version=31&context=verse2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
Galatians 5:24
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.
Romans 6:15-23 ***********************
15What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 16Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey–whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. 18You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.19I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to everincreasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness. 20When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. 21What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! 22But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. 23For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in[a] Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

[Matthan]

Ginny, your last post (above) is the heart of this matter, and sooooo true!

Christians must never live for a drink, or for an illicit affair, or for any of the other things in Paul's list. We are better than that when we walk in the Spirit instead of the (pleasures of the) flesh.

May God continue to bless you in your wisdom.

Matthan <J><

 

[SonOfThunder]

Based on the context, I understand those verses to say that if you are in the flesh, then those sins are what will be manifested in your life. But if you have the Holy Spirit dwelling in you, which means you have saving faith and are not trying to work your way to Heaven, then the Spirit's fruit will be manifested in your life (that's verses 22-24).

Well said hindsey. These passages are about 'walking' in the spirit.

James

 

[aReformedPatriot]

I was always taught once saved always saved. The verses in Galatians state that one cannot inherit the Kingdom of heaven if he/she practice those things in the flesh. I know that once we are saved we should do our best to turn from sin, but I know we all fall short. But let's say one accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior, but still drinks or whatever, then that means they will not inherit the Kingdom of heaven.

Read 1 John my friend, it will blow your mind!

A saved soul will not continue in these sins, whether your arminian or once saved always saved. The bible indicates that one can decieve themselves hence Jesus saying "Why do you say 'Lord,' 'Lord' and do not do what I say. 1 John will compliment that verse very nicely.

 

[2scoops]

I had been doubting my salvation. I have been reading more of the word and I am really seeing through God's eyes just what a filthy sinner I truly am.

Romans 10:9-12 (King James Version)

9That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.


10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

11For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

These verses are what I based my salvation on. If you will confess with my mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart God raised him from the dead, then you will be saved. I guess I was looking for the minimal way to be saved. I am realizing there is more to it, but I know I have met those requirements in Romans. I know Jesus is the son of God, and that He was sinless and died for our sins, and was ressurrected. I know I have asked Jesus to come into my heart and save me. Actually I have done that many times. I am really trying to seek the truth out now. Not just to meet those minimal requirements, but to truly live by what God shows us in the word.

 

[Ginny]

I had been doubting my salvation. I have been reading more of the word and I am really seeing through God's eyes just what a filthy sinner I truly am.

We all are...you are not alone...but He covered all our sins with His blood and we are freed!!!

These verses are what I based my salvation on. If you will confess with my mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart God raised him from the dead, then you will be saved. I guess I was looking for the minimal way to be saved.

Once we realize that we are truly His, the desire to do more for the Kingdom of God and have a continuing relationship with Him only comes natural.... I do not feel you can truly 100% ask Jesus into your heart and then do nothing else after that moment....no change, no conviction, etc....after all...we are a new creation!!!!!! If there is no transformation, it may have been a "religious experience".

2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

I am realizing there is more to it, but I know I have met those requirements in Romans. I know Jesus is the son of God, and that He was sinless and died for our sins, and was ressurrected. I know I have asked Jesus to come into my heart and save me. Actually I have done that many times. I am really trying to seek the truth out now. Not just to meet those minimal requirements, but to truly live by what God shows us in the word.

I am so happy for you, 2 scoops! You are truly seeking out God's will in your life... BTW, the moment you truly asked Him into your heart was the moment you were saved. I understand that Satan can make us doubt our salvation, and I, too, have said that prayer early in my years as a Christian as confirmation just so God knows for sure-LOL!

I have heard it preached that some people get to heaven by the skin of their teeth (so to speak). Jesus also said that you will know a tree by its' fruit....how can one be a true born again Christian, experience salvation... yet there is no change in their life or difference from "before" and "after".

Keep seeking God's will in your life as a Christian. I guarantee you he will not keep you idle...

 

[hindsey]

Lest there be any misunderstanding though, once you are truly saved, there is no way to lose it...

 

[9-iron]

I am really seeing through God's eyes just what a filthy sinner I truly am.

Congratulations! That is exactly how you should see yourself. Just an old sinner saved by grace. However, now that you are saved what are you? The Bible says once saved 'we are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus'. WOW!!

So while yes, we see our sinful nature fighting against our righteous nature everyday. BUT, God looks at us through Christ and sees us as righteous. We are in Christ and that is really the only way God can even look upon us!!!

See you sinful self and then say 'whew, I am glad Christ saved me from actually myself'. Now before God you stand righteous!!!

 

[Andyman_1970]

Congratulations! That is exactly how you should see yourself.

(With all due respect) Except no where in the New Testament are we given permission to fundamentally identify ourselves once we have been spritually reborn in the Messiah Jesus a "sinner" - we are a new creation. Granted we still sin, but our fundamental identiy is that of a new creation in Jesus. No where are we given permission to get loaded up with shame and guilt for our past - it's as far as the east is from the west.

 

[9-iron]

(With all due respect) Except no where in the New Testament are we given permission to fundamentally identify ourselves once we have been spritually reborn in the Messiah Jesus a "sinner" - we are a new creation. Granted we still sin, but our fundamental identiy is that of a new creation in Jesus. No where are we given permission to get loaded up with shame and guilt for our past - it's as far as the east is from the west

I thought the was to indentify my method of deliver. If not the 'old sinner saved by grace' should have given it away. Besides my lost quote agrees with what you say:

See you sinful self and then say 'whew, I am glad Christ saved me from actually myself'. Now before God you stand righteous!!!

No where are we given permission to get loaded up with shame and guilt for our past - it's as far as the east is from the west

Yep, I totally agree. However, the Bible also says not to be naive and profess we are without sin. I think we should see ourselves in as being righteous in Christ, but also fully capable of falling into sin if we aren't careful.