It Might Keep You Out
Galatians 5:16-21 is the Gospel according to the Apostle Paul and what he said about sexual sin and going to heaven … or not going to heaven.
Galatians 5:16-21
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit , and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that you cannot do the things that you want to. [18] But if you be led of the Spirit, you are not under the law. [19] Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, [20] Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, [21] Envyings, 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.
[works of the flesh are manifest, which are these ... notice the first 4 “works of the flesh” are all talking about sex.]
Four divisions of these sins:
1. Sins of lust and sex, nos. 1-4 (Galatians 5:19)
2. Sins of impiety and superstition, nos. 5-6 (Galatians 5:20)
3. Sins of temper, nos. 7-15 (Galatians 5:20-21)
4. Sins of appetite—eating and drinking, nos. 16-17 (Galatians 5:21)
Seventeen Works of the Flesh in Galatians 5:
1. Adultery. Greek: moicheia unlawful sex relations between men
and women, single or married (Matthew 15:19; Mark 7:21; John 8:3; Galatians 5:19).
2. Fornication. Greek: porneia unlawful sex relations between men
and women, single or married, besides all manner of other unlawful relations
3. Uncleanness. Greek: akatharsia whatever is opposite of purity; including the following list and all other forms of sex perversion (Galatians 5:19)
Sodomy- any abnormal sexual intercourse such as anal sexual intercourse between two males.
- Homosexuality- having sex with some one of the same sex as oneself.
- Lesbianism- homosexuality between women.
- Pederasty- sodomy between a man and a boy.
- Bestiality- sex with animals.
4. Lasciviousness. Greek: aselgeia licentiousness, lustfulness, unchastity, and lewdness. Translated "lasciviousness" (Mark 7:22; 2 Cor. 12:21; Galatians 5:19; Ephes. 4:19). Lasciviousness is the promoting or partaking of that which tends to produce lewd emotions, anything tending to foster sex sin and lust such as pornography etc.
5. Idolatry. Greek: eidololatreia image-worship (1 Cor. 10:14; Galatians 5:20; Col. 3:5; 1 Peter 4:3). Idolatry includes anything on which affections
are passionately set; extravagant admiration of the heart
6. Witchcraft. Greek: pharmakeia sorcery, practice of dealing with
evil spirits; magical incantations and casting spells and charms upon one by means of
drugs and potions of various kinds (Galatians 5:20)Enchantments were used to inflict evil, pains, hatred, sufferings, and death or to appease the devil
7. Hatred. Greek: echthra enmity (Luke 23:12; Romans 8:7; Ephes.
2:15-16; James 4:4); hatred (Galatians 5:20). Bitter dislike, abhorrance, malice and
ill will against anyone; tendency to hold grudges against or be angry at someone.
8. Variance. Greek: eris Dissensions, discord, quarreling, debating; and disputes.
9. Emulations. Greek: zeloi envies, jealousies; striving to excel at the
expense of another; seeking to surpass and out do others; uncurbed rivalry spirit in
religion, business, society, and other fields of endeavor. (Galatians 5:20).
10. Wrath. Greek: thumos "wrath" (Galatians 5:20). Turbulent passions; domestic and civil turmoils; rage; determined and lasting anger.
11. Strife. Greek: eritheia "strife" (Galatians 5:20; 2 Cor. 12:20; Phil.
2:3; James 3:14,16); "contention" (Phil. 1:16; Romans 2:8). Disputations; jangling;
strife about words; angry contentions; contest for superiority or advantage; strenuous
endeavor to equal or pay back in kind the wrongs done to one.
12. Seditions. Greek: dichostasia "divisions" (Romans 16:17; 1 Cor.
3:3); "seditions, parties, and factions" (Galatians 5:20). Popular disorder; stirring up
strife in religion, government, home, or any other place.
13. Heresies. The word itself has no evil meaning. It only takes on an evil meaning when sound doctrine is rejected and fallacy is accepted and taught in preference to truth.
14. Envyings. Greek: phthonoi (Galatians 5:21) Pain, ill will, and jealousy at the good fortune or blessings of another; the most base of all degrading and disgraceful passions.
15. Murders. Greek: phonoi to kill; to spoil or mar the happiness of another; hatred (1 John 3:15).
16. Drunkeness. Greek: methai (Galatians 5:21; Luke 21:34;
Romans 13:13). Living intoxicated; a slave to drink; drinking bouts.
17. Revellings. Greek: komoi (Galatians 5:21; 1 Peter 4:3); rioting
(Romans 13:13). Lascivious and boisterous feastings, with obscene music, and other
sinful activities; pleasures; carousings.