Comments on: Galatians 5:21g

By: Grant

Grant — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 15:09:22 +0000

Mike, thank you for your thoughtful and well-reasoned blog.
Let me put my response in number form:
1. The most important interpretative principle of any passage is the argument of the book. The argument of Galatians is warning to Christians about reversion into legalism and not living by the principle of grace; they were falling from the grace principle (5:4). Thus, the thesis of Galatians is not about non-Christians.
2. It is very important not to be selective about the “sins of the flesh.” Note the sins of “hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy” are included in the list of “works of the flesh.” If a person argues that a person who commits the sin of anger will not go to heaven, for example, that would make salvation impossible. It is inconsistent to say that an adulterer will not inherit the kingdom but a person with an outburst of wrath will.
3. True believers do commit adultery, such as David for example, and the believer in 1 Cor 5. The issue is what a true believer does with that sin. David confessed and made his life right (Ps 32; 51). Note Alexander Jacob’s blog above. The New Testament often refers to the “flesh” as the sin capacity of the believer such as 5:24.
4. The argument of chapters five and six of Galatians is how to apply the principle of grace to the Christian life. In this immediate passage, the Holy Spirit through Paul argues the Spirit-filled life. Those who walk in the Spirit are Spirit-controlled and those who walk according to the sin-capacity (the flesh) produce different kinds of result. We find the sins of the flesh in 5:19-21 and the fruit of the Spirit in 5:22-23.
5. Re your point about the kingdom. This is Paul’s only mention of the kingdom in the book of Galatians. The kingdom does not always refer to the Millennial kingdom so it is possible that the kingdom here may be heaven itself. That is a valid point. However, the word “inherit” indicates reward and heaven is not a reward; it is a gift. That is why I take this usage of kingdom as the Millennium. The book of Revelation indicates that there will be a rebellion against the King so there will be sin in the Millennial kingdom. Believers will be ushered into the Millennial kingdom with their rewards.

By: Alexander Jacob

Alexander Jacob — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 03:42:44 +0000

There are three kinds of people.(i)Natural man(unbeliever)-These people are not born again.1 Cor.2:13(ii)Carnal man(Immature Christian):
These people have not sufficient growth in the Christian life & are like babes.Many Christians are struggling in their Christian life. (1 Cor.3:1-4.(iii)Spiritual man(Mature Christian):These people are having close relationship with God & are having victorious Christian life.1 Cor.2:15,16

By: Mike Oakes

Mike Oakes — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 08:52:35 +0000

In your comments above you associate the practice of the sins of the flesh with Christians. I find that very hard to understand, and believe that those who practice such sins are not born again. I think it is wrong to suggest that those habitually indulging in these things are saved but will not inherit the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is entered by the new birth (John 3:5). The truly converted person turns away from such living to produce the fruit of the Spirit. True he might stumble and be overtaken in a fault (Gal 6:1) but that is contrary to the tenor of his life.
The “flesh” stands for what we are by natural birth, the “Spirit” what we become by new birth. God’s kingdom is a kingdom of godliness, righteousness and self control; those who indulge in the works of the flesh will be excluded from it.
I notice also that you introduce the term “millenial kingdom”. I know that refers to the 1000 year reign of Christ upon earth, but on what basis have you introduced it into Gal 5?