I'm always happy to explain what passages mean.
No thanks.
I can read what these words plainly say.
- just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 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
This was stated to people who probably had much less education that you or I, and Paul expressed this in a way these people could understand.
I understand perfectly what is being said, as it couldn't be any clearer.
- just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
I know exactly what Paul means by practicing the works of the flesh, because he described what the works of the flesh are:
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;
These Gentiles came from a background and culture that accepted these types of practices as the norm, much like what our society in America has degraded into today.
In obeying the Gospel, we are called to repent from practicing these sinful works.
Going back to these works, if not stopped and repented of, could indeed result in a Christian brother or sister, not inheriting God;s kingdom on the Day of Judgment.
For you to claim that people who do not practice these works, because they have chosen and learned to walk according to the desires of the Spirit, in doing good, rather than walking according to the desires of the flesh, and doing evil, are Pharisee's, who practice a Pharisee religion, seems to violate what the whole of the New Testament teaches us about walking in love, and loving God, by loving our neighbor.
JLB