MONDAY March 22, 2021

The Evident Works of the Flesh

Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 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.
Galatians 5:19-21

In Galatians 5:16-17, Paul described for us seventeen evident works of the flesh. Most are commonly understood. The word fornication is sex before marriage. Interestingly, the word sorcery is translated in the Greek language “pharmakeia.” This is where we get our English word for pharmacy. In its context, the word pharmakeia means “drugs.” I do not mean medicine such as aspirin, but addictive drugs––Marijuana, Heroin, Crystal Meth, and LSD drugs.

Again, who was Paul speaking to in Galatians 5:21? Christians! In the Bible, there are more references to the works of the flesh:

Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).

For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God (Ephesians 5:5).

But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death (Revelation 21:8).

Heed the warnings. Those who practiced such things would not inherit the kingdom of God. I did not say it; you would have to argue with Paul, the Bible and the Holy Spirit.

Sin denies man the power of God in this life and the presence of God in the next.
~John Blanchard~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!