Galatians 5:19-21
"Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 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," Galatians 5:19-21. We will pick up in verse 20.
"Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies," Galatians 5:20. Idolatry is idol worship. This is not specifically speaking about little statues etc.. We are little idol factories. Are there things in our lives that we love and worship in place of God? Any one can attend church services but not be there to corporately worship God. People will say things like, "I'm going to get my Jesus on this morning, then I am going to spend the rest of the day doing what pleases me." In other words, let me check this box on my list so I can really go do those things which pleases me. This is self-idolatry. The next word is witchcraft. This is the Greek word "pharmakeia" which means medication ("pharmacy"), i.e. (by extension) magic, sorcery, witchcraft. This is a mixing of potions. Often this went along with idol worship, and witch doctors. We see this today in the drug culture. This horrible activity affects every family. The next word is hatred. This is hostility; a reason for opposition;- enmity, hatred. If you hate others and are always looking for a reason to hate, according to the bible you are not saved. Christians are to be peacemakers, and are supposed to live a life of peace with all men according to the bible. If you hate someone because they are different than you in any way, then it is obvious you are not a Christian. The next word is variance. It means a quarrel, wrangling;- contention, debate, strife, variance. This is an extension of hatred. Some people cannot live life if they are not in a quarrel with someone else. This person is not a Christian. The next word is emulations. Used here in an evil sense and means envy, jealousy, anger. Obviously, this comes back to self-idolatry. You are wanting what someone else has, you are coveting. The next word is wrath. This is bursts of anger. This is someone who is always losing their temper and throws a fit. They will go into a rage. This is just the opposite of what a Christian is to do. We will learn that a Christian has self-control. If you have no self-control, the bible says you are not a Christian.
The next word is strife. It means canvassing for public office, scheming, promoting political factions. The basic meaning is that you go door to door to get people on your side in opposition to others. Today we would call it the phone or social media ministry. This person is always going about causing division for their own profit. These are very opinionated, and are loud about their opinions, especially on social media. There are a lot of people in church houses today who are faithful to do this. The Bible says these people are not Christians. The next word is seditions. This is dissention and discord. The next word is heresies. This is also discord and dissention. This would include gossipers and pot stirrers and drama. If you are always mixed up in drama, you are probably the reason. If you are full of drama, and you gossip and are always causing division, whether in the open or behind the scenes, the bible says you are not a Christian.
"Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, 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," Galatians 5:21. "Envyings" in this verse means ill-will, i.e. jealousy, spite, envy. In this verse it indicates bursts of envy. This is when you are angry with the success of others. You envy them and you wish ill-will on them. The bible says this person is not a Christian. The next word is murders. This is to slay; murder. This one is pretty simple. If you murder, you are not a Christian. Abortion is murder. The next word is drunkenness. This is to be intoxicated, drunkenness. The next word is revellings. This means reveling and carousing. It is a gathering of people who are drinking, and are dancing to music and songs in honour of idolatry. This idolatry also includes worshipping yourself. You are living to please yourself. If you are a drunkard, or are attending events where drunkards gather, then the bible says you are not a Christian.
These descriptions from these verses are a general description of someone who is not a Christian. The bible makes this clear in Galatians 5:21 when it says "and such like." It is obvious Paul had already taught the Galatians these truths. Remember, they were in the middle of a pagan society who lived to please themselves. Some people would want to join themselves to the church because it was the newest thing, or for many other reasons. Paul makes it clear that if their lifestyle fits any of these descriptions, then they are not a Christian. I must point out their "lifestyle". None of us are above sin. When the Lord saves us, we are truly new creatures in Christ. There are times we will get out of character, but our lifestyle will not be defined as that which God calls sinful. I am also thankful that these are the kind of people Jesus Christ saves. If He did not save these kinds of people, none of us would be saved. The Bible is also clear that even if someone has made a profession of faith, but if they live this kind of lifestyle, they will not inherit the kingdom of God. They will not go to heaven, but instead they will spend eternity in the torments of hell suffering the wrath of God.
After the Lord saves us, we live the rest of our lives battling with this flesh. This battle is an evidence that the Lord has saved us. An evidence that the Lord has not saved us is the works of the flesh that we just went over in these verses. Let us test ourselves by the Scriptures. If the bible says you are lost, I beg you to look to Jesus Christ for forgiveness of your sins. He came to seek and save that which was lost. "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out," John 6:37. Please send questions and comments to richardsonbaptistchurch@gmail.com. Soli Deo Gloria.
