“The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:19-21 NIV
Christians and most non-Christians agree the first three are sins or ‘not good’. The next two violate the first and second of The Ten Commandments. Next are eight specific states of mind that lead to actions that then create animosities, divisions, violence and destructions among us. These verses conclude with two others that again, Christians and most non-Christians would condemn. Why did Paul sandwich these eight ‘lesser sins’ between the obvious ‘bigger sins’?
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I believe the admonitions within this collage are not only ‘lesser’ as Paul clearly says: WE WILL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD! Old and New Testament passages state God’s grace and our ticket to heaven is not cheap. His grace was made free, but the fare was paid by His Son’s brutal death by crucifixion. Without repentance and turning from our sins, including the middle eight, can we get thrown off the bus? What exactly is the Kingdom of God?
Today’s instant gratification, feel good culture lean more to ‘church light’ if there is church at all. Jesus made possible our claim to a place in heaven and His position should take precedent over others. The admonitions to the Galatian church were Paul’s words, but what did Jesus say on the matter? To be continued………
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What Do We Really Want? 
I have always had a difficult time understanding how I can not loose my salvation, yet “will not enter the Kingdom of God” passage. So is this for unrepented sin? We are all sinners, so all have done one or more transgressions on this list. In the end, I ask God to forgive me, believe he has removed them as far as the east is from the west, and press on. Dennis
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This is always a subject that brings great debate. Some months ago, during Evangelism Training Zoom meetings, it was clear among our own deacon group that beliefs differed here. I believe there to be more evidence from Scripture, we can lose it than not. My short answer is this is for unrepented sin, but the truth I will write more about will be from Jesus’ own words. Thanks for commenting Dennis!
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