Galatians 5:19-21 (WEL) Now the works of the flesh are obvious. They are adultery, sexual sin, moral corruption, unrestrained lust. 20 Idolatry, sorcery, enmities, contentions, provoking jealousies, hot angers, pushing to be first, dissensions, heresies. 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, wild partying, and so on, about which I have told you before, and as I have also told you in the past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
V19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious. They are adultery, sexual sin, moral corruption, unrestrained lust.
The works of the flesh are those which are natural to humans. Compare Romans 7:18, 2 Peter 2:10, and Jude 1:7. They include all sexual sins of deeds and thoughts. It should be obvious that these are evil, but humans suppress truth (Romans 1:18). Lust might be any unapproved desire for money, sex, house, lands, fame, power, etc.
V20 Idolatry, sorcery, enmities, contentions, provoking jealousies, hot angers, pushing to be first, dissensions, heresies.
Idolatry is having something other than Jesus as the person of highest priority greater than any god, person, idea, thing, philosophy, etc.
Sorcery is anything related to altering the mind, judgment, or actions, be it a trance, drugs, shamanism, etc.
Enmities is uncalled-for, unreasonable, and without warrant anger, hate, assault, slander, etc.
Contentions is full-voice angry arguments as in road rage, etc.
Jealousy is a fear of losing something, thus someone might consider murder as a way to stop someone from taking what is theirs.
Hot angers are an anger to harm, destroy, or kill someone who disagrees with another.
Pushing to be first is similar to sociopathy.
Dissensions are arguments that never get resolved.
Heresies are having an opinion as a belief greater than the Bible standard, even “God told me,” if it disagrees with Scripture.
V21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, wild partying, and so on, about which I have told you before, and as I have also told you in the past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
Envy is wanting what someone else has. That desire might be another person’s spouse, car, dog, house, position, money, fame, talent, etc.
Murder is killing in anger. Self-defense is not murder.
Drunkenness hinders judgement, reactions, and self-control.
Wild partying for the purpose of getting high, drunk, having sex, etc.
We learn:
- Some broad classes of sin.
- How God hates these sins.
- The source of our sin—following our fleshly desires.
Questions:
- How does your life measure up to these sins; are you guilty of any of them?
- Have you repented of them?