Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultry, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissentions, 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.
Galations 5: 19-21 NKJV
Lately, the subject of morality has become a big issue in this country. Maybe it's the state of our society as a whole, or the depravity of some people among us. The truth is, there has been a marked increase in bad behavior in the world around us. Taking a look at the verses in Galations 5, can we in all honesty say that the behavior of people today is all that different from the antics of those in the apostle Pauls day? It seems that the bad behavior we are warned of in Galations and other parts of scripture is alive and well today. So, it doesn't look like we heeded Pauls warning at all. At least as a society we've proven God correct once again. Even if the world is going to hell in a decorated hand basket, we still can all still abstain from bad behavior. I could have avoided participating in bad behaviors many times, yet I'm guilty, we all are. Call it our fleshly or sin nature, but eventually we'll all fail badly. "Little white lies" are still just that, lies. I can't go through the list of behaviors in Galations 5 without coming across something wrong I've done. A very loose translation of the word "Practice" in the Greek language is to "Meditate" on something. So, if we put that in context, if we ""Meditate" on these behaviors, if we dwell on them, we will not inherit the kingdom of God. There is a major difference between constantly "Practicing" or engaging in bad behavior and failing occasionaly. I can think of one clear example of someone who engaged in bad behavior and yet entered Gods paradise. In Luke 23:43 we are introduced to a criminal who was crucified right next to Jesus. His partner in crime taunted and blasphemed Jesus, but this fellow obviously saw something different happening and asked that Jesus not forget him when he entered his kingdom. Jesus' response to this request is one we'd all like to hear..."Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise." For his part, this criminals past was wiped clean as he followed the risen Lord into his kingdom.
Although we are warned against engaging in bad behavior, there is hope when we ultimately fail.
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2: 8-10
Yes, even though we will ultimately stumble and fail, we are saved by Gods loving grace if we will believe in Jesus. Gods desire is that we all will be saved. We all have sinned and fallen short of the grace of God, but we are all still his loving creation.
~Scott~
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